Persuasive Writing and Debate in Room 4

There is always a great buzz going on in Room 4 after we finish our Persuasive Writing. We always look forward to share our work and express our ideas. After editing our writing, read to someone our work. After that we have to find our place on the mat with those who are positive or for the argument on the left side, and those who are on the negative side or against on the right. We surprise each other with our opinions or decisions - whether we agree or disagree with the argument of the day. We read our conclusions and make sure we have reasons for our opinions.

We explore a range of relevant topics to argue on each day such as, "Did you think John Key make the correct decision of going to America to watch his son play football, than attend the funeral of the two soldiers who died in Afghanistan?" or "Should our soldiers in Afghanistan come home after the recent deaths of three more soldiers in Afghanistan?"










Is it a good idea of Christchurch to save the cathedral in the square or not?






Is television a good or bad influence on children?







Do we learn more from experience or from books?







Do you think children should be permitted to have a sleepover?








Is space exploration a waste of money?


It has always been a fruitful session, debating on our arguments. We learn a lot of skills by speaking clearly and listening to each other. We become aware and knowledgeable with the appropriate issues we can discuss. Please read the examples of our work on this blog. Thank you.

Here are some examples of our  persuasive writing:

Are We to Reliant On Computers

By Benzo

We are learning to use topic sentence to focus on our paragraph.

It was a cold boring dark day I had nothing to do nothing to play watch or eat. I was only thinking are we becoming too reliant on computers.

I really didn’t now so I took a big black coat and ran to my friend’s house. I asked him he said yes. He said we always use computers we use it in every subject math RE story writing spelling and inquiry. We always use computers it’s the easiest way to find information 

I still didn’t know so I went to my old granddad house he said no I never use computers. I read books and the newspaper I don’t need computers books are more useful then computers he said

I think we are too reliant on computers we should all just read a book or ask a person is he knows.

Should Children Under 13 Be Allowed To Have Facebook?

By Isidora Lopez

We are learning to explain more details

in our paragraphs.

Should children under 13 have a face book page? Sometimes it’s dangerous to have a face book. Why? Because some bad persons might go on your friends’ account and say for example,  “meet me at the park”. When you get there someone can come up behind you and kidnap you.

On the other side it’s a good thing to have a face book because there are fun games and you can talk to your relatives and friends. You can use webcam and speak to them directly. You will to change your profile pictures, so that you can show your friends or family about your latest happenings.

Therefore, I reckon children should have face book because sometimes you can keep in touch with your friends and family that live in another country or city.  I feel happy that I can keep in touch with them. It is fun to swap photos and tell each other what we have been doing. I like having facebook.

Should the Olympics Be Held More or Less Every Four Years?

By Bradley

We are learning to use a lot of interesting adjectives in our main paragraphs.

Should the Olympics be held more or less every four years? No they should just stay the same. Why? It is because if it becomes yearly it will be annually and won’t be that special to us anymore. Also it will become of something like birthdays or Halloween and it may be too frequent.

Yes, they should be changed from 2 to 3 years and hopefully we won’t have to wait as long as four years! That means not much time to prepare and make the Olympic stadium in Rio Janeiro, Brazil in 2-3 years? The construction of the huge stadium will take at least four years.

So therefore, I think that the Olympics should stay the same as the athletes need time to practise like our shotput star, Valerie Adams and Mahe Drysdale, single skulling. They need practice to get gold medals.

Should we wear a helmet when

riding a bike?

By Ijaz Ah Kuoi

We are learning to explain the details

in our paragraphs.

Should we wear helmet when riding on a bike? I think we should wear helmet to protect our head and brain.

Just imagine that a boy or girl didn’t wear a helmet and they are riding a bike and then wham! An accident can happen. They get knocked out or injured and may have to stay in hospital for months or even years.

Well there are some down sides, like a small helmet can get stuck on your head and sometimes it can hurt your head and give you headaches. Your neck might get hurt because the one that clicks may hurt.

For my opinion I think we should wear helmets because if accidents happen it might damage the head and the brain. Besides, who would be irresponsible enough to not wear a helmet. Helmets can make you feel safe on the bike.

 

Did John Key make the correct decision of watching his son play football in America than attend the funeral or the two soldiers who died in Afghanistan?

By Ciaran

We are learning to write interesting beginning middle and endings.

I think that John Key should have stayed and attended the soldiers’ funeral so he could pay his respect for them.

Anyway, surely missing your son’s football game would make him sad but missing someone’s funeral who died serving for us, that is just harsh.

This is my last reason. The soldiers sacrificed themselves to make other people happy and safe. Missing their funeral is so sad. Shame on you, John Key.

Is it a Good Idea to Save the Cathedral?

By Lilly

We are learning to use connectives to add, compare

and conclude in our argument.

Yes, I think that it is a good idea to save the cathedral because it is a lovely old building. In fact it isn’t just old and lovely it has a lot of potential and history in it. On the other hand it was used by the community and loved doing things there. In fact they are going to spend millions on cardboard cathedral.

No, it is not a good idea to save the cathedral because it has a lot of damage. The cracks could make gaps and then the whole church will collapse. If you go inside it will not be safe. I think it might be a good idea to make the cardboard cathedral but it is so expensive.

My conclusion is tough on this but I think we have to save the cathedral because it has a lot of memories. Inside it would be not safe at all. I wish it could stay but it might be a good thing to have a cardboard cathedral. New things could be a good thing. 

 

Did John Key make the right decision of watching his son play football in America than attend the funeral of two soldiers

who died in Afghanistan?

By Lennon

We are learning to have in our writing a beginning, middle and ending.

My opinion is that John Key should go to the funeral of the two soldiers who died in Afghanistan because they died serving our country. Besides John Key can watch his son play football another day.

Anyway my other opinion is no, he can’t go to the funeral because it might be the only time that John Key watches his son play football in America.  It would have been special for him to watch his son.

Lastly my opinion is, John Key needs to go to the funeral. The soldiers died saving the people in Afghanistan and they didn’t make it because they were killed by the rebels. So he should go to the funeral so he can show his support for them and their families.

Is TV a bad or good influence on children?

By Jenna

We are learning to use an interesting

opening statement.

I agree that television is a bad influence on children. Why, because television can get you in some trouble. Your parents will get annoyed for asking them to buy you that and this if you follow the advertisements.

I don’t think we should have television. We can just have radio. When it’s your programme and your dad or mum want to watch their program then it gets into a big mess. If you are naughty and copy bad things on the television, you could be grounded. Therefore I agree television is a bad influence on children.

I disagree that television is a good influence for children because you might have to study for an important exam. I like television because I can write down my current events. I learn stuff on television. What would we do if there was no television? (I would melt.) There can often be problems but most of the time not if you know how to compromise which one to watch.

Therefore my conclusion ends with this: I believe children should be allowed to watch television but not all the time. They can learn things that are informative or useful from television.

Should the Olympics be held more

or less every four years?

By Molly

We are learning to use a lot of adjectives

in our arguments.

They should hold the Olympics for five weeks because this Olympics was only for12 days and but it was short and it happened so fast. Olympics only come every four years but they come very quickly.

The Olympics was a spectacular, magnificent, special, and incredible event. It was terrific to be in London, and it must be fantastic to be there to watch the games. If I was there I would love to watch my favourite synchronised swimming.

Should the Olympics be held more or less every four years? However, in my opinion, it should still be held every four years and go for longer than 12 days because people enjoy watching the different sports.

 

Should children have a curfew?

By Tim

We are learning to explain our arguments and use supporting ideas.

It really depends on what sort of curfew you have. If it was a curfew like you aren’t allowed out of the house after eight o’clock then I would agree. It can be dangerous if a kid goes outside at night, they could kidnapped or harmed. There are some bad people out there.

The good thing about not having curfews is that you would be able to walk down to your friend’s house that lived down the road. You could also go to the mall if you lived near one and meet up with your friends or just go shopping. But I think the risk is not worth it. You never know what people are capable of doing harm if you’re on your own.

I think some curfews are a good thing like not being able to go out of the house after eight o’clock. I agree on that curfew. Children aged eleven and ten are too young to go out by themselves after dark. It would be ok if you had your parents with you or your older sibling. Just imagine a kid going out by himself at dark. He walks down to the mall and he might get into trouble or meet a nasty stranger.

Should TV advertisements

for junk food be banned?

By Samantha

We are learning to use present tense in our persuasive writing.

Advertisements for junk food is not illegal, therefore I disagree that advertisements for junk food shall not be banned. If advertisements for junk food are banned supermarkets would have less customers checking for junk food. People wouldn’t know how much they’ll cost without advertisements for junk food on TV.

I agree that advertisements for junk food should be banned. Advertisements for junk food make you hungry. Some people get too much addicted to junk food. Junk food is not healthy for everyone, especially for children.

I think advertisements for junk food should not be banned. I mean some people can’t live without junk food. Some junk food may be bad. But it doesn’t need to be banned. You could just take it away from your children. 

Should sports be compulsory at schools?

By Nicholas

We are learning to write topic sentences

to focus on paragraphs.

Sports can make you fit and healthy. Sports should not be banned. If sports is banned you will get lazy because you will just watch TV and eat and not be fit.

Sports should be banned because it wastes your learning and you won’t be smart. You can learn more things like Mathematics and Reading if you don’t play any sports.

Finally playing sports is a good thing because you can be fit and healthy. You can make more friends and go to different places if you are really good and you have to join a team competition.

What is more important money

or happiness?

By Lexi

We are learning to use adjectives to describe

feelings and emotions.

What is more important money or happiness? If you think about it, you know some people who say money can’t always bring you happiness.  Well they may be right but it doesn’t. So can you think which one would you have?

Well, you do need money. Would you rather be poor but happy, or rich but never happy. Think about it. My opinion is I like to be poor but happy. What’s yours?

Well, the only reason you don’t need money is to keep you alive. All you need as my mum says is a spoonful of happiness can keep you alive.  So think what would you rather have and just remember what I said. All we need in life is a spoonful of happiness.  

Should you have a curfew? If so what time and on what days?

By Michelle Smading

We are learning to explain our arguments and use supporting ideas.

I just hate it when I need to wake up early in the morning. Especially on school days, it stops me from getting fully rested; I'm probably only half awake by the time I get to school.

On the other hand, waking up early will lead you to a better day. You will be able to get yourself ready easily and quickly it doesn’t only help you with hygiene but it helps you with your education it will make you do better at school and you will get great results in any tests you have.

Don’t be too down in the dumps about going to bed early, because before you know it, it will be the weekends and you will look forward to sleeping in and not worrying about going to school.

If you are ten years of age then I reckon you should go to bed at 9:00 so you can wake up at 7:30 in the morning fresh and early, but if it’s a weekend I think its fine to sleep in and stay up as late as you want! 

Should Mobile Phones Be Allowed In Schools?

By Lucy Sparks

We are learning to write an interesting story beginning.

You know, people think kids bring mobile phones to school just to text friends during class. I know for a fact that just isn’t true. They bring them if they need to contact someone desperately. For example if there was an earthquake and you couldn’t reach a phone, you could just reach into your pocket and call your mum to pick you up!

Children are just talking machines now a days, and if they aren’t they are plugged into their iPods or cell phones. Don’t you think it would be easy just to slip your phone under the desk and start texting in the middle of class? That’s what kids this era are smart enough to do!

Schools do not allow children to have cell phones because it could distract the class and it is not fair for everyone who wanted to study quietly.

It can be bad sometimes but I think it would be perfectly fine for a kid to bring their mobile phone to school so they can contact their loved one.

                                                                                               

 

Did John Key make the correct decision of watch his son play football in America than attend the funeral of the two soldiers who died in Afghanistan?

By Iuvale

We are learning to write an interesting introduction in our persuasive writing.

This is a tough one and I’m serious about it. I think John Key made the wrong decision to go to America. It’s sad he didn’t go to the funeral of the two soldiers.

Besides John Key has a whole life to go to watch his son play in America but unlike the funeral he only gets to be at the soldiers’ funeral once. They died serving our country.

I think John Key made the bad decision because he has a whole life to watch his son play football in America, but it was only once that he had to show his support to the families of the two soldiers who died.

 

    

 

 

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