Question

the following is a draft of a student essay. it may contain errors.
school uniforms
(1) the idea of requiring students to wear school uniforms in schools is a growing conversation across the united states. (2) since the 2013 - 2014 school year, a higher percentage of public schools located in cities required students to wear uniforms compared to schools located in suburban areas (3) more schools require students to wear school uniforms because they benefit student safety and academic performance.
(4) school uniforms discourage crime and increase the level of student safety at school, especially in schools located in urban areas. (5) in a recent study of an urban school located in atlanta, reports of vandalism, student fights, and gang activity seemed to decrease. (6) even though it had only been a few months since students began wearing uniforms, school administrators already knew it would change the school atmosphere. (7) the administration reported that the uniforms prevented students from concealing things under baggy clothing. (8) furthermore, the teachers stated that it was easier to keep track of students while on field trips and intruders were easier to recognize because they stood out from the rest of the student body. (9) overall campus safety
1
which evidence is best to add to paragraph 3 after sentence 14 to provide a counterclaim to the authors claim?
○ a. many parents maintain that school uniforms are actually very expensive when they are limited to buying a certain selection of clothes, increasing the financial burden on families.
○ b. supporters add that uniforms promote a sense of belonging because students who may have felt like they did not belong before now feel like they are part of a unified whole.
○ c. by taking away the pressures of wearing certain clothing, school administrators and teachers can spend more time focusing on teaching rather than trying to enforce dress codes.
○ d. some students argue that school uniforms strip them of their right to express themselves freely, which prevents them from having individual thoughts and forces them into conformity.

Explanation:

A counterclaim opposes the author's claim. The author likely supports school uniforms. Option D presents a view against uniforms (students losing self - expression), which is a counterclaim. Option A is about cost (a different aspect not directly countering the main claim of benefits like safety and academic performance). Option B supports uniforms (not a counterclaim). Option C also supports uniforms (ease for administrators and teachers).

Answer:

D. Some students argue that school uniforms strip them of their right to express themselves freely, which prevents them from having individual thoughts and forces them into conformity.