Question 6 (Foundation and Higher) Recap

This question has the most marks – 24! Therefore it is important that you nail your timings and give this question the time it requires – 35 minutes! The question will ask you to either argue or persuade. You still need to use a variety of sentence structures, interesting vocabulary and solid discourse markers in this task.

Writing to Argue

If the question asks you to Argue – you show both sides of the argument. Ensure you squash the other sides view. Use the ‘Boxing to Argue’ structure to create a response: use AFOREST techniques, strong discourse markers and squash the other side of the argument.

Writing to Persuade

If the question asks you to Persuade – you must be biased and give just one view. Use the plan/structure you compiled in class and AFOREST techniques – start and end with a rhetorical question.

Past questions have included:

Higher

• There is evidence that many young people are not eating, exercising or spending their leisure time properly and that this is damaging their health and life chances. Write an article for Living Today magazine which persuades young people to improve their diet and lifestyle.
• ‘There’s no point making the effort and taking the risk of travelling the world, disturbing people and animals as you go, when you can see it all on TV or the Internet.’ Write a magazine article which persuades young people either to travel or stay at home.
• A recent report states: ‘Homelessness in the UK is a crisis that is destroying the lives of people, especially young people.’ Write an article for your school or college newspaper persuading young people to support charities which help the homeless.
• It has been said that: ‘People who save lives or help improve the lives of others are the true role models of today.’ Write an article for a newspaper in which you argue your view about what makes a good role model.
• ‘Life is too easy for young people today. They lack challenges and don’t have to fight for anything.’ Write an article for a magazine of your choice which persuades your readers that this statement is either right or wrong.
• Many people believe that it is our duty to cut back on our use of the world’s resources, and that we must invest in greener forms of energy for the future – whatever the cost. Write an article for an environmental website which argues for or against this idea.
• Your school or college is inviting entries for a writing competition. The topic is “Dangerous sports activities and pastimes are selfish, often put others at risk and should be discouraged.” Write your entry arguing for or against this view.

Foundation

• “Young people today waste too much time watching TV and playing computer games.” Write an article for a magazine of your choice arguing for or against this statement.
• Write the text for a leaflet to persuade students to help make your school or college more environmentally friendly.
• ‘Governments, doctors, and the media are right to tell us what to eat and what not to eat.’ Write a speech for a classroom debate arguing for or against this opinion.
• Write a letter to a well-known person persuading them to visit your school or college for the benefit of the students.
• ‘Sports stars are good role models for young people.’ Write an article for a magazine of your choice arguing for or against this view.

You could have a go at the above questions – you could plan a response or even write a response. Alternatively make up your own questions (you never know they might be in the exam) and plan/write a response.

Alternative revision tasks:

1. Write to the Examination Board to persuade them to award GCSEs on controlled assessment grades alone and to stop all examinations. Write five paragraphs and then check your work. What do you need to do to improve your work? Have you used AFOREST? Make those improvements!
2. Write a plan where you compare arguments for and against the sport of boxing. Now create a speech in which you argue for or against the sport, supporting your points with reasons, evidence and references to wider social and moral issues.
3. Here is the opening to an essay: ‘Write a persuasive article for a teenage fashion magazine about whether following fashion is important’: “Whether or not you choose to follow fashion depends very much on you. Some people like to wear whatever is cheapest. Others want things that are warm or practical and others want to look like they’ve stepped off a catwalk or out of a high street shop. Some people just HAVE to be seen in the latest trends, whatever the cost.” Rewrite this essay so that it is really punchy and persuasive – remember who your audience is and what your purpose is.

Miss O

I did. You didn’t. I did. You didn’t … writing to argue

In today’s lesson I introduced you to a clear structure to help you write to argue. Question 6 tends to ask you to write to persuade or argue. When writing to argue you are going to:

• Use persuasive techniques – AFOREST
• Identify 5 reasons for your argument ( 1 for each paragraph) – your conclusion sums up your argument!
• Squash the other side’s view
• Use a range of interesting discourse markers – use this website to help you!

You are ALWAYS going to use the following structure for your writing:

1. Touch gloves – start by showing respect/finding common ground.

We all want the best for our school don’t we?

2. Jab – make your first point. Make sure it’s a strong one.

Firstly …

3. Rumble – show that you can be fair by considering someone else’s point of view. Then SQUASH it with yours!

However …

4. Rumble – same as above. SQUASH IT!

On the other hand …

5. Jab – Add a final point to strengthen your argument.

Furthermore …

6. Knock out – Conclude your piece by summing up your thoughts.

In conclusion …

I’ve also included some useful videos that include writing to argue examples and tips.

And for a bit of light relief! Enjoy!

Keep working hard guys. Biscuits on Thursday!

Miss O

Revision tips for Question 6 – Writing to Persuade

For questions asking you to persuade or argue you will always use the key persuasive techniques we looked at during Thursday’s lesson. Watch the two videos below to help you understand how to do well in Section B.

Revision ideas for Question 6

• Write your own Q6 task and plan how you would respond to it.
• Create a poster of the features you might find in a persuasive text.
• Look at a charity leaflet/letter/website and identify how they use persuasive techniques.
• Write to the Examination Board to persuade them to award GCSEs on controlled assessment grades alone and to stop all examinations. Write six paragraphs and then check your work. What do you need to do to improve your work? Have you used AFOREST? Make those improvements!
• Here is the opening responding to the following: ‘Write a persuasive article for a teenage fashion magazine about whether following fashion is important’. Rewrite this to create a punchy and persuasive opening paragraph. Remember GAP!

“Whether or not you choose to follow fashion depends very much on you. Some people like to wear whatever is cheapest. Others want things that are warm or practical and others want to look like they’ve stepped off a catwalk or out of a high street shop. Some people just HAVE to be seen in the latest trends, whatever the cost.

Revision ideas for improving your own writing

• Find synonyms (alternative words) for common words such as said, nice, good etc to vary your vocabulary
• Produce a list of different connectives that you could use in your writing
• Go on the following website which will give you a range of strategies to help you learn the spellings you find difficult: http://www.ldonline.org/article/6192/

In tomorrow’s lesson we will continue to work on persuasive writing – your homework will be to respond to a Question 6 from a past exam. Tuesday and Thursday we will focus on writing to argue. Next Monday we will spend some time looking at Question 5 before your mock on Tuesday. Keep working hard guys!

Miss O