Welcome to Argumentative Writing!
Have you ever tried to convince your parents to let you adopt a pet? Or tried to explain to your best friend why football is the most exciting sport? If you have, you already know how to make an argument! In English writing, this text type is often called an opinion essay or a discussion.
(Note: For telling imaginary tales, see "Narrative writing" or "Picture-aided story writing"; for sending friendly messages to friends, see "Personal letter / Email".)
Argumentative writing is not about shouting or being angry. Instead, it is about stating your opinion clearly, giving strong reasons, and helping your reader understand your point of view. Let's explore how to become an opinion superstar!
1. What is Argumentative Writing?
In Key Stage 1 (P1–P3), you learnt how to state simple likes, dislikes, and preferences. In Key Stage 2 (P4–P6), you learn how to organise information, explain your reasons, and draw conclusions to persuade your reader.
The Golden Rule: Opinion + Reason + Example
A strong argument never just says: "I like dogs."
A strong argument says: "Dogs make the best pets because they are friendly. For example, they greet us happily when we come home."
Did you know?
The word persuade means to use your words to help someone agree with your idea. Words are powerful tools!
Key Takeaway: Whenever you state an opinion, always ask yourself: "Why do I think this?" Your answer is your reason!
2. Knowing Your Purpose and Audience
Before you write a single sentence, stop and think about two important questions:
1. Who is my audience?
Are you writing to your principal, your teacher, your classmates, or a family member? If you are writing to your teacher, you should use polite and respectful language.
2. What is my purpose?
What do you want the reader to do or think? For example, your purpose might be to suggest healthier snacks in the school tuck shop or to explain why students should read every day.
3. The 3-Part Burger Structure
Don't worry if organising your writing seems tricky at first! You can picture your writing like a delicious burger:
Top Bun: The Introduction (Paragraph 1)
Start by introducing the topic and clearly stating your main opinion.
Helpful sentence starters:
• In my opinion, ...
• I strongly believe that ...
• It is important to ...
Juicy Filling: Supporting Paragraphs (Body Paragraphs)
This is where you give your main ideas and supporting details. In Primary 6 writing, you are expected to write about 80 words, so sharing two well-explained reasons is perfect!
• State the main idea: First, healthy food gives us energy to learn.
• Elaborate and explain: If we eat too many sweets, we feel tired in class. Therefore, fruit is a better choice.
Bottom Bun: The Conclusion (Final Paragraph)
Wrap up your writing neatly. Remind the reader of your main idea and end with a final suggestion or hopeful thought.
Helpful sentence starters:
• All in all, ...
• In conclusion, ...
• Therefore, we should ...
Key Takeaway: Organise your writing into clear paragraphs: one for the introduction, one or two for your reasons, and one for your conclusion.
4. Super Connecting Words (Cohesive Devices)
Connecting words glue your sentences together so your writing flows smoothly. Here are the most useful connectives for argumentative writing:
To Give Reasons and Results
• because / since: We should exercise every day because it keeps our hearts healthy.
• so / therefore: Exercise makes our bodies strong. Therefore, we feel energetic all day.
• so that: We must eat vegetables so that we get enough vitamins.
To Add More Ideas
• also: Reading improves our English. It also helps us learn about the world.
• first, next, then: First, cycling is fun. Next, it protects our environment.
To Show Another Side (Contrast)
• although: Although playing computer games is exciting, spending too much time on screens is bad for our eyes.
• however: Fast food tastes delicious. However, it has too much salt and oil.
Memory Trick: Think of connectives like traffic signs—they show your reader which direction your thoughts are going!
5. Using Modal Verbs for Advice and Rules
Modal verbs help you express how strongly you feel about an idea:
• should / ought to: Use these to give friendly advice or suggestions.
Example: Students should drink plenty of water every day.
• must: Use this for strong duties, rules, or obligations.
Example: We must keep our classroom clean.
• can / could: Use these to talk about abilities or possibilities.
Example: Walking to school can reduce traffic jams.
6. Step-by-Step Sample Writing
Let's look at an example written for a Key Stage 2 topic (around 80 words).
Topic: Should primary students bring mobile phones to school?
Paragraph 1: Introduction
In my opinion, primary students should not bring mobile phones to school.
Paragraph 2: First Reason with Supporting Details
First, phones cause serious distractions. If students play games or message friends during lessons, they cannot pay attention to their teachers. Therefore, their grades will drop.
Paragraph 3: Second Reason
Also, phones are very expensive. Students might lose them in the playground or classroom by accident.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
All in all, although phones are useful tools, they are not necessary during school hours. We should focus on learning and talking with our classmates instead.
Word count: about 85 words — exactly right for Primary 6!
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Forgetting to give a reason.
Weak: We should not eat snacks. It is bad.
Better: We should not eat too many snacks because they contain too much sugar and fat.
Mistake 2: Missing capital letters and punctuation.
Remember to start every sentence with a capital letter and end with a full stop (.). When using connecting words like However, or Therefore,, remember to place a comma right after them!
Mistake 3: Changing your mind halfway through.
Pick one clear side and stick to it! If you say you love homework in Paragraph 1, do not say homework is terrible in Paragraph 2 without explaining why.
8. Quick Revision Checklist
Before handing in your writing, ask yourself:
• Did I state my opinion clearly in the first paragraph?
• Did I give at least two good reasons with details?
• Did I use helpful connectives like because, also, however, and therefore?
• Did I use modal verbs like should or must correctly?
• Is my handwriting neat and easy to read?
• Did I check my spelling and full stops?
Well done! You are now ready to write convincing and well-supported argumentative texts!