Section 3: Making Arguments Explicit pp. 23-35
Task 1: In this article I found persuasion argumentation. Persuasion argumentation is when the
source it trying to influence and compel the reader into believing their point of view.
Task 2: (1)It claimed the school district engaged in “unconstitutional activities” over the years,
including “school-directed prayer during mandatory assemblies; the distribution and display of
Bibles during classes; Bible verses posted in hallways and shared in notes from school staff to
students; prayers broadcast through loudspeakers at school sporting events … and a large Latin
cross painted on the wall of a school athletic facility.” The injunction forbids district officials
from (2) “promoting, advancing, endorsing, participating in, or causing Prayers during or in
conjunction with School Events for any school within the School District,” promoting their
religious beliefs in class, and taking retaliatory action against the plaintiffs who brought the case
against the school district. “Today’s victory is a (3) reminder to school districts all over the
country that public schools have no right to push religion on students or create a religiously
exclusionary and hostile environment,” said Heather L. Weaver, a senior staff attorney with
the ACLU’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
Task 3:
Premise A: It claimed the school district engaged in “unconstitutional activities” over the years,
including “school-directed prayer during mandatory assemblies; the distribution and display of
Bibles during classes; Bible verses posted in hallways and shared in notes from school staff to
students; prayers broadcast through loudspeakers at school sporting events … and a large Latin
cross painted on the wall of a school athletic facility
Premise B: “promoting, advancing, endorsing, participating in, or causing Prayers during or in
conjunction with School Events for any school within the School District,” promoting their
religious beliefs in class, and taking retaliatory action against the plaintiffs who brought the case
against the school district.
Conclusion: reminder to school districts all over the country that public schools have no right to
push religion on students or create a religiously exclusionary and hostile environment
1 + 2
3
Task 4:
Analysis: This is a good example of a persuasion type of argument because the article is
protesting having religion forced into school learning. I reason I chose that statement as the
conclusion is because it wraps up what the article is trying to convince the reader to think. The
premise helps support the conclusion because it is evidence of the way religion was actively
forced into their students. In my opinion I do believe the argument is sound and valid because
premises are relevant to the conclusion and the argument adheres to the structure of the type of
argument used.
Link: https://www.christianpost.com/news/tenn-school-district-settles-lawsuit-with-aclu-agrees-
to-stop-imposing-religion-on-students.html
Published: SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
A school district in Tennessee has agreed to an injunction requiring district officials to cut back
on religious expression during the school day and at sporting events. A federal judge in
Tennessee issued the injunction Monday, putting an end to a nearly yearlong legal battle that
began when the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Tennessee brought a lawsuit on
behalf of two parents concerned about the school district “unconstitutionally imposing religion
on students.” Now that the school district has agreed to abide by the terms of the order, the
lawsuit has ended. In a press release, the ACLU of Tennessee described the ruling as a “victory
for religious freedom.” It claimed the school district engaged in “unconstitutional activities” over
the years, including “school-directed prayer during mandatory assemblies; the distribution and
display of Bibles during classes; Bible verses posted in hallways and shared in notes from school
staff to students; prayers broadcast through loudspeakers at school sporting events … and a large
Latin cross painted on the wall of a school athletic facility.” The injunction forbids district
officials from “promoting, advancing, endorsing, participating in, or causing Prayers during or in
conjunction with School Events for any school within the School District,” promoting their
religious beliefs in class, and taking retaliatory action against the plaintiffs who brought the case
against the school district. “Today’s victory is a reminder to school districts all over the country
that public schools have no right to push religion on students or create a religiously exclusionary
and hostile environment,” said Heather L. Weaver, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s
Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. Plaintiff Kelly Butler commented, “I’m relieved the
school district recognized that its widespread promotion of religion was unconstitutional. My
children, and all children, deserve an education that is free from the type of religious coercion
that our family has suffered.” The Smith County Board of Education released a statement in
response to the settlement: “The Complaint filed to initiate the lawsuit made numerous
allegations and asserted claims that the Board violated the Establishment Clause of the First
Amendment to the United States Constitution through its ‘customs, policy and practice.’ “Most
of the Complaint’s 82 paragraphs of allegations were determined to have no factual support, but
some allegations potentially violated the requirements of the First Amendment as determined by
the United States Supreme Court.” The district maintained its “desire to ensure that its students’
rights to freely exercise their religious beliefs including their right to engage in constitutionally
appropriate prayer continue to be protected.” “This resolution ensures Constitutionally
appropriate prayer remains in schools,” explained the Board of Education. The settlement comes
