Y07W25WR Should Our School Accept the Offer?

Part 1

How to Write

Persuasive – Persuasive letter

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 your school principal arguing whether your school should or should not accept the offer. State your position clearly and support it with reasons. Your letter will be read by the principal and the parent community board.

Stimulus: A technology company is offering your school free tablets for every student in exchange for permission to collect anonymous data on how students use the devices — including which apps they open, how long they spend on tasks and what kinds of content they access. The school sees the free equipment as a significant benefit. Some parents and teachers have raised concerns about data collection involving minors, even when anonymised. The school is seeking views from the community before accepting or rejecting the offer.

Task Analysis: This task asks you to take a clear position on a complex issue where both sides have genuine merits. The audience — the principal and parent board — is weighing practical benefits against ethical concerns. A strong response will show you have genuinely thought about both sides and will argue your position with specific reasoning, not just an emotional reaction.

Quick Plan

Before you write, plan:

  • Your position — accept or decline, and why?
  • Two or three specific reasons — go beyond the obvious
  • The strongest argument on the other side — and how you respond to it
  • What you are asking the principal to do

Thesis / position

State your position clearly in the opening paragraph. The principal and board are busy — make your position unmistakable from the start and signal that your reasoning follows.

Evidence chain

Develop each reason fully. For example, if you argue the data collection is a concern, explain specifically why — what kind of data is collected, who has access to it, and what the risk actually is. Vague concerns are less persuasive than specific ones.

Counterargument

Acknowledge the merit of the other side — the equipment benefit or the privacy concern, depending on your position — and explain why it does not outweigh your reasoning.

Ending technique

Close with a direct and respectful request: what exactly do you want the principal to decide? State it clearly and close with confidence.