Y05W38PA - Is the Student Mentoring Program Worth It?

This week you wrote an opinion piece about the student mentoring program. Now you'll read another student's writing and decide how strong it is. Looking at someone else's work helps you spot moves you can use in your own.

Part 1

The Assessor Scorecard for

Persuasive – Opinion piece

Markers look for writing that shares a clear view and real thinking. Check each strand below to see what strong work looks like.

Ideas & Content

Reasons that feel real, not made up to sound good. Real thought about what mentoring does for students. Reasons tied to your view, not random.

  • Real thinking: reasons that show you have really thought about the issue.

Structure & Cohesion

A clear opening that states your view. Reasons set out so each one builds. A close that pulls the reasons together.

  • Organised opinion: a clear view with reasons set out in a logical order.

Audience & Purpose

Writing aimed at the program coordinator. Language that names what they need to know. Awareness of their likely worries.

  • Direct address: writing speaks to the reader's interests and likely worries.

Language Choices

Sure words that show you believe your view. A tone that is calm, not angry. No wishy-washy lines like 'maybe' or 'I guess'.

  • Sure words: sure, calm word choices that show you mean what you write.

Conventions

Spelling and grammar that don't trip the reader up. A pattern of mistakes lowers the mark — one or two does not. Clean writing keeps your view credible.

  • Grammatical accuracy: correct spelling and well-built sentences throughout.

Part 2

Today’s Marking Targets

Task in one sentence

Write to the program coordinator giving your view on whether the mentoring program is worth it.

Let’s Focus

Two strands matter most this week: Ideas & Content and Structure & Cohesion. Real reasons show honest thinking about the program. A clear shape helps the coordinator follow your view.

Ideas & Content

Strong writing this week gives real reasons for your view — maybe mentoring helps younger kids feel safe, or maybe you worry about time. Reasons should feel honest, not made up to sound good.

What markers scan for

  • Reasons tied to real things you know about students.
  • Honest thinking, not lines just to sound good.
  • Reasons linked to your main view.
  • Detail that shows you have weighed the program up.

Score Bands

  • Basic

    Reasons are given but feel general or thin.

  • Strong

    Reasons feel real and show thinking about the program.

  • Excellent

    Reasons feel real and show careful thinking about the program.

Structure & Cohesion

Strong writing this week opens with your view, then builds each reason so it links to the next. The close should pull the reasons together and back your main view.

What markers scan for

  • Open with a clear statement of your view.
  • One reason per paragraph, fully built out.
  • Linking words between reasons.
  • A close that ties back to your main view.

Score Bands

  • Basic

    Some order is there but reasons don't link smoothly.

  • Strong

    Clear view and reasons linked in a logical order.

  • Excellent

    Clear view, linked reasons and a close that ties it together.

Now read · Student sample

Is the Student Mentoring Program Worth It?

Year 5 sample · ~150 words

Student sample for assessment

Written by a Year 5 student in Mooroolbark, Victoria, Australia.

I think the student mentoring program is an excellent idea. There are real reasons why our school should start it.

The main reason is that younger students need help settling into school. When I was in Year 1, I was confused about where everything was and what the rules meant. A Year 5 student helping me would have made it much easier. Mentoring shows younger kids that older students care about them.

Secondly, mentoring helps the older students too. It teaches us patience and responsibility. We'd have meaningful time with younger students instead of just scrolling on our phones.

Another reason is that our school has older students who genuinely want to help. Several students have asked me if they could volunteer. The enthusiasm is already there.

Some people say younger students already have enough support from teachers. But teachers are busy. A peer mentor can spend time that teachers don't have. Older students remember being small and confused. They understand the feeling better than adults do.

The program creates a stronger school community and helps both groups of students learn. The school should start the mentoring program.