Y05W43WR Should Phones Be Banned at School?

Part 1

How to Write

Persuasive – Letter (formal)

A persuasive letter argues a clear position to a specific decision-maker in a format that is formal, direct and respectful. It is written for an audience with the power to act on the writer’s request. The tone should be confident and credible — the writer is making a case, not expressing frustration.

  • Ideas & content: Develop two or three well-supported reasons rather than listing many weak ones. Use evidence, examples or reasoned argument to back each point.
  • Structure & cohesion: Open with your purpose, develop your reasons clearly, address any obvious counterargument briefly and close with a specific request or call to action. Use formal paragraphing throughout.
  • Voice & audience: Match the formality of the audience. Write respectfully but with conviction. Avoid being aggressive or sarcastic — persuasion works best when the reader feels respected.
  • Language choices: Use formal vocabulary and control modality such as should, believe and urge. Avoid contractions. Vary sentence structure to maintain authority.
  • Conventions: Use correct letter conventions. Spell formal vocabulary accurately. Use punctuation to control the pace and authority of your argument.

Common pitfalls: Writing a list of complaints rather than a reasoned argument — every point should support your position with logic or evidence. Using an aggressive or demanding tone, which often reduces persuasive impact.

Part 2

Your Task Plan for Today

The brief

Question: Write a letter to the principal giving your opinion on the proposed phone rule. Use clear reasons to support your view and try to persuade the principal that your position is the right one.

Stimulus: Your school is considering a new rule: students must hand their phones to their teacher at the start of each school day and collect them at the end. Some students think this is a good idea. Others strongly disagree. The school principal has asked students to submit a written response sharing their view before a final decision is made.

Task Analysis: Choose your view: should phones be banned or not? Give two or three clear reasons the principal would understand. Write a formal letter that shows you have thought carefully about this.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • Your position — ban phones or allow them?
  • Two or three reasons that support your view
  • One reason the other side might have — but why yours is stronger
  • What you ask the principal to do

Thesis/position

Say your position clearly: ‘I think phones should be banned’ (or not). The principal needs to know what you think from the first paragraph.

Evidence chain

Give a reason and explain it clearly. ‘Phones distract students’ is a reason. Better: ‘When students have phones, they text instead of listening, and I see their grades go down.’ Make it real.

Call to action

End by asking the principal: ‘Please ban phones during school’ or ‘Please let students keep their phones.’ Be respectful but clear.