<p>I'm taking the test tomorrow and aiming for at least an 8.</p>
<p>This is one of the essay prompts from the red book:</p>
<p>In your opinion, should high schools require students to complete a certain number of hours of community service?</p>
<p>My essay:</p>
<p>Attending a Catholic high school, community service has been an integral part of my high school experience. Just last month, I spent two weeks volunteering at a senior citizens' center for my junior service project. The issue of whether to require community service for all high school students can be a controversial one. Should students in every high school have to serve their community before graduating? While both sides of this issue have their merits, having compulsory service for high school students has far more benefits than repercussions. Community service is beneficial not only for those being served, but also for those serving.</p>
<p>First, and most obviously, community service is a great benefit to those being served. The poor, the sick, and the other types of less fortunate people who would be helped by mandatory service are the people in our communities who most need it. By working at hospitals, nursing homes, food pantries, and other such places, high school students could make a significant and real difference.</p>
<p>Less obviously, but perhaps even more importantly, required service would benefit the students themselves. Speaking from the personal experiences of my fellow classmates and me, I can honestly say that service through school has been a very good thing for me. I have become more aware of the need and poverty around me, and more empathetic toward others. Doing mandatory service has allowed me to see how much I can help the community and given me the motivation to continue doing so into the future. Many of my classmates feel the same way I do, and so would students at all high schools.</p>
<p>In conclusion, community service should be compulsory for high school students. Not only will it help the community in the short run, but the positive effects it will have on the students will cause the effect to be magnified in the long run. With all the potential good that could be done, it seems only logical that all high school students should be required to perform community service.</p>
<p>Thanks for taking time to grade and give feedback!</p>