Y07W39WR Should Our School Have a Uniform?

Part 1

How to Write

Persuasive – Persuasive 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 your principal arguing for or against introducing a school uniform. Make your position clear and support it with reasons that go beyond personal preference. Your submission will be read by the principal and school council.

Stimulus: Your school is deciding whether to introduce a formal uniform for all students. Supporters argue a uniform reduces social pressure around clothing and creates a stronger sense of school identity. Opponents argue it restricts students’ freedom of expression and that the cost of uniforms places an unfair burden on some families. The principal has asked for written submissions from students.

Task Analysis: This task asks you to argue a clear position on the school uniform debate to a formal audience with real decision-making power. A strong response will go beyond personal preference to make a principled argument with specific reasoning, and will show that you have considered the issue from the perspective of the whole school community.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • Your position — clearly for or against the proposed uniform
  • Two or three reasons that go beyond personal preference
  • The strongest opposing argument and your response to it
  • Your recommendation to the principal and council

Thesis / position

State your position clearly from the opening paragraph. A formal submission should be direct — the principal needs to know exactly where you stand before reading your reasoning.

Evidence chain

For each reason, argue it fully. If you argue about the equity impact of uniform costs, explain specifically what that means for different families in your school community. Developed reasoning is more persuasive than a list of claims.

Counterargument

Acknowledge the main argument on the other side and explain why it does not outweigh your position. Show that you have considered the interests of the whole school community.

Call to action / Recommendation

Close with a clear, direct recommendation to the principal and school council. Name exactly what you are asking them to decide.