Dillman 1

Tara Dillman
10/16/2016
English 1010
Evaluation Argument Essay
The Essentials of Homework
A topic that tends to be very popular in the education community is whether or not
homework is important or not. Some people will think homework is not essential for the
students success, while others believe it is very important and serves many different purposes.
Almost every student will get at least some amount of homework each night. Homework is very
crucial for a students success in school and their well-being. It can teach a student time
management and responsibilities. Homework is important for a students achievement in school
because it allows the student to practice their skills, build relationships with their family, and for
personal development.
When students are given homework from a teacher or educator, its main purposes is to
allow them to practice the skills they learned in class. When a student goes home to do their
homework they are practicing the skills that were taught in class. After practicing those skills, a
student will feel more confident in their abilities. Repetition of the right skills make them less
likely to mess up in tests or quizzes. It also helps them remember the information for a longer
period of time (Warton). Janine Bempechat, who is a senior research associate at the center for
the study of human development at Brown University, stated homework and assignments
provide children with the time and experience they need to develop the beliefs about
achievement and study habits that are helpful for learning. Homework gives the student the
confidence they need to achieve in school.

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Student will sometimes struggle with their homework from a certain class and have their
parents assist them. Students, especially elementary schoolers and middle schoolers, like to feel
that their parents have an interest in what they are doing (Haapanen). When a student feel that
the parents are interested in their schooling, they are more motivated to do better. With the
assistance from adults, students have shown that they can reach higher and more difficult levels
(Haapanen). While parents are helping their child, it gives them time to bond and connect. Sirpa
Eskela-Haapanen believes that homework gives the family more bonding time. Getting help
from my parents led to frustration and arguments. There wasnt much bonding happening.
Family and adult involvement in a students learning especially at the younger ages and lower
grade levels, is very important on their learning and achievement.
Some students dont completely understand a topic thats being taught in class and the
homework assigned to them is designed to help them better understand the material. Not all
students in a class are verbal, so the teacher doesnt always know if the student understands the
material (Van Voorhis). By giving the students homework, the teacher can see who understand he
material and who doesnt, allowing he or she to better help those in need. With homework,
teachers can better understand a child in particularly and the class as a whole. By looking at how
the class did, the teacher can better design the classes based on the students needs. Homework is
a good source of understanding for the students who need a little more help.
While many people believe homework is a great idea, some think there are possible
issues with it. Stephanie Brant, a principle at Gaithersburg Elementary school, says homework
can leave a student feeling anxious and stressed out. Research has proven that there is no
correlation between homework and a students academic achievement. Brant is saying that
homework should not be given or should be limited. Happanen, a senior lecturer of special needs

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education at the University of Tampere, states the amount of homework is a critical issue. Every
child is entitled to rest, play, recreation, and leisure activities daily. Haapanen believes student
should have free time and shouldnt be consumed by homework every day. I agree that
homework can make a student more stressed out and anxious at times, however I disagree with
Happanen that teachers give out too much homework. Teachers give out homework to make sure
the students understand the material and are better prepared for the class. Homework can teach
time management and responsibilities to students. Students can have the time to do recreational
activities if they manage their time right. Homework can cause stress, anxiety and possibly
prevent the student from doing some actives.
Homework is used by teachers to help students succeed and to help better understand
where a student stands in their class. If homework was no longer given out, students would not
have the confidence to pass a test or succeed. Students would not have the practice they need to
understand the material. Some students use homework as a sense of practice, some use it as extra
help. Teachers use homework as a basis of how their students are doing in class. Students also
use it as a way to bond with their family.

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Works Cited
Bempechat, Janine. "The Motivational Benefits of Homework: A Social-Cognitive Perspective."
Theory into Practice, vol. 43, no. 3, Summer 2004, pp. 189-96. EBSCO eBook
Collection, web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=15806e7a-b157-4cb4-970b0620ccf525c5%40sessionmgr120&vid=0&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2Z
Q%3d%3d#AN=14361315&db=aph. Accessed 13 Oct. 2016.
Brant, Stephanie, and Sirpa Eskelia-Happanen. "How Should We Approach." Literacy Today, pp.
16-17. EBSCO eBook Collection, web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=da1c6561037e-43ab-b414-76bdba65fa5d
%40sessionmgr120&vid=0&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d
%3d#AN=110165720&db=aph. Accessed 13 Oct. 2016.
Van Voorhis, Frances L. "Reflecting on the Homework Ritual: Assignments and Designs."
Theory into Practice, vol. 43, no. 3, Summer 2004, pp. 205-12. EBSCO eBook
Collection, web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=be64f8e2-9baa-4b80-80f246583bdc7b33%40sessionmgr4008&vid=0&hid=4112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbG
l2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=14361345&db=aph. Accessed 13 Oct. 2016.
Warton, Pamela M. "The Forgotten Voices in Homework: Views of Sudents." Educational
Psychologist, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 155-65. EBSCO eBook Collection,
web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?sid=934526df-e534-4853-a7677524778e39d1%40sessionmgr107&vid=0&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2
ZQ%3d%3d#AN=6311884&db=aph. Accessed 13 Oct. 2016.