Y10W10WR One Change Secondary School Genuinely Needs

Part 1

How to Write

Transactional – Opinion piece

An opinion piece argues a clear position on an issue with confidence and evidence. It is written for a broad audience who may not share the writer’s view, so the argument must be compelling. The tone should be direct and assertive — a strong, considered voice, not an aggressive one.

  • Ideas & content: Take a definite position and build a logical argument. Use specific reasons, evidence or examples to support each point. An opinion piece is not just a list of feelings.
  • Structure & cohesion: Open with your position, develop your argument in a clear order and close with a strong final point or call to action. Use linking language to connect your reasoning.
  • Voice & audience: Write with conviction. You can use first person, but keep the tone credible rather than purely emotional. Acknowledge the other side briefly to show you understand the full issue.
  • Language choices: Use precise vocabulary and active verbs. Vary sentence structure for emphasis and impact. Use rhetorical questions or short emphatic statements sparingly for effect.
  • Conventions: Write in present tense for your position and arguments. Spell accurately and use punctuation purposefully.

Common pitfalls: Relying on emotion or repetition rather than reasoning — a reader who disagrees needs a logical argument, not stronger feeling. Failing to acknowledge the other side, which can make the piece feel one-dimensional.

Part 2

Your Task Plan for Today

The brief

Question: Write your piece for the publication. Choose one specific change you believe secondary school in Australia genuinely needs. Argue for it directly, support your position with reasoning and write with full awareness of your audience — senior education decision-makers who expect students to engage with the question seriously and precisely.

Stimulus: A national youth organisation is compiling a publication called ‘What School Should Be’ — a collection of short opinion pieces written entirely by current secondary students from across Australia. The publication will be distributed to education ministers, curriculum bodies, school principals and teacher education faculties. The editors have asked contributors to write a piece of 300 to 400 words that argues clearly for one specific change to how secondary school operates in Australia. The editors’ brief states: be direct, be specific and write as though the people reading this have the power to act on what you say — because they do.

Task Analysis: This task asks you to communicate clearly and effectively for a specific audience and purpose. Your writing should be direct, well-organised and appropriate to the context. A strong response demonstrates awareness of what readers need and what is actually at stake.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • Your purpose — what exactly do you want to achieve? What should happen as a result?
  • Your audience — who will read this? What are their expectations and constraints?
  • Your main point — what’s most important to communicate?
  • Key information — what specific details must you include?
  • Your tone — what register fits this context (formal, professional, direct)?

BLUF line

Lead with your most important point (BLUF = Bottom Line Up Front). Don’t make readers dig through context to understand what you want. State it clearly and early.

Thesis/position

Make your position, request or statement unmistakable. This is not a place for ambiguity. Readers need to know exactly what you’re saying or asking for.

Key details to include

Include specific, relevant information. Be concrete, not vague. Provide dates, names, numbers, evidence—whatever readers need to understand fully.

Format rules

Follow the conventions for this type of writing. Formal letters need formal structure (date, recipient, greeting, closing). Statements need clarity and directness. Follow the form.

Tone & voice

Match your tone to your context and audience. Formal situations need professional tone. Personal contexts can be more conversational. Urgency should sound urgent; respect should be respectful.

Check before you submit: Have you included all necessary information? Is your tone appropriate to the context? Would your reader know exactly what you want or what you’re saying? Is your communication clear?