Practise arguing a clear case with reasons and evidence. Try each before revealing; the prompts are our own original material.
1Write the introduction to an argumentative essay defending the view that schools should teach personal finance.
Show plan, model opening & checklist
Plan: State your thesis clearly and early. Preview your main reasons and adopt a confident register.
Model opening: Every school teaches trigonometry, yet few teach a pupil how to read a payslip. Schools should treat personal finance as an essential subject, not an optional extra.
Checklist:
- Clear, arguable thesis
- Confident, purposeful register
- Previews the main reasons
- Takes a definite side
2Write a body paragraph arguing for your view and answering the strongest objection to it.
Show plan, model opening & checklist
Plan: Make one reason, support it, then raise and dismantle a counter-argument. Use a clear topic sentence.
Tried these practice tasks? A teacher can mark your child's attempt and explain the next step in a paid one-hour trial.
Model opening: The clearest reason is fairness: pupils from homes where money is never discussed begin adult life at a disadvantage that school could easily close.
Checklist:
- Focused topic sentence
- Reason supported with development
- Addresses a counter-argument
- Persuasive but reasoned, not shouting
3Write the conclusion to an argumentative essay arguing that public transport should be free for students.
Show plan, model opening & checklist
Plan: Restate the case with force; end on a strong final thought or call to action, without new evidence.
Model opening: A student who cannot afford the bus cannot fully afford their education. Free travel is not a luxury for them; it is the price of a fair start.
Checklist:
- Reasserts the thesis with conviction
- No new arguments introduced
- Strong closing thought
- Maintains a persuasive register
See the worked annotated model response for argumentative essay, or the method in our argumentative essay skills guide.