Y08W25WR Should Products Be Designed to Be Repaired?

Part 1

How to Write

Persuasive – Formal submission

A persuasive submission argues for a clear position on an issue and aims to influence a specific decision-maker. It is written for a formal audience — often a committee, council or leadership group — and must be credible and well-reasoned. The tone should be confident and respectful, demonstrating careful thinking about the issue.

  • Ideas & content: Take a clear position and develop it with logical, well-supported reasons. Acknowledge complexity where it exists, but always return to your core argument.
  • Structure & cohesion: Open with your position, develop your reasons in a logical order and close with a clear recommendation. Use connecting language to move from point to point smoothly.
  • Voice & audience: Write for your specific audience — formal, measured and credible. Avoid emotional exaggeration. Show you understand the issue from multiple sides, even while arguing one position.
  • Language choices: Use precise, formal vocabulary. Control modality carefully — words like should, must and strongly recommends signal conviction. Vary sentence structure for impact.
  • Conventions: Spell key terms correctly. Use punctuation to manage complex sentences. Check that your sentences are as clear as they are persuasive.

Common pitfalls: Arguing from passion alone without evidence or reasoning — a good submission shows logical thinking, not just strong feeling. Failing to acknowledge the other side even briefly, which makes your argument look one-sided.

Part 2

Your Task Plan for Today

The brief

Question: Write a submission to the government consultation arguing for or against requiring manufacturers to design consumer products to be repairable. Take a clear position, support it with reasoning and address at least one credible argument on the other side.

Stimulus: The federal government is considering introducing a right-to-repair policy that would require manufacturers to design products so they can be repaired rather than discarded. Environmental advocates support this as a way to reduce waste. Manufacturers argue repair requirements could increase costs and compromise product innovation. The consultation has invited public submissions from all stakeholders.

Task Analysis: This task asks you to take a position on requiring product repairability and support it with reasoning, while addressing at least one counterargument. You are making a case on a real environmental and consumer policy question. A strong response argues persuasively while demonstrating you understand industry and environmental perspectives.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • Your position — should repairability be required?
  • Three reasons that support your view
  • One manufacturer concern you acknowledge
  • How you address that concern
  • What policy you recommend

Thesis / position

State your position clearly and directly from the start.

Evidence and reasoning

Support each reason. Why does repairability matter? What would change if your recommendation was adopted?

Counterargument

Acknowledge a legitimate industry concern or practical limitation.

Rebuttal

Explain why your position still makes sense despite that concern.

Tone & voice

Write professionally and thoughtfully. You are addressing real policy-makers.