Should Homework Be Banned?

Primary SchoolAdvancedDiscursive Writing

The Prompt

Writing Category: Discursive Writing (Looking at Different Ideas!)

Title: Should Homework Be Banned? Let's Discuss!

Imagine you're a judge listening to two teams argue about homework. One team thinks homework is super important, like a special exercise for your brain. They believe it helps you remember what you learned in school and teaches you to be organised and responsible. It's like practice for a big game – the more you practice, the better you get!

But then, the other team stands up. They say homework can cause a lot of stress, making children feel tired or worried. They argue it takes away time for playing, spending time with family, or enjoying hobbies. They might even say that sometimes homework doesn't really help you learn much new, it just feels like extra work.

Your job is to be fair and listen to both teams. In your writing, you need to talk about the good things (arguments for homework) and the not-so-good things (arguments against homework). Think about:

How does homework make students feel? (Their 'well-being' – are they happy, stressed, relaxed?)
Does homework really help students learn and get better at school? (Their 'academic progress' – does it make them smarter or just busier?)

Present both sides clearly, like you're explaining it to someone who has never thought about it before. What do you think after hearing all the arguments?

💡 Writing Tips

•
Think of homework as a coin: what are the 'heads' (good things) and 'tails' (bad things)?
•
Use phrases like 'Some people believe...' and 'However, others argue...' to show different points of view.
•
Remember to talk about how homework makes children feel (happy, stressed, tired?) and if it really helps them learn more.
•
Give a reason for each 'good' or 'bad' point you make, using examples if you can.
•
Try to finish by summarising the main ideas, or even saying what you think after looking at both sides!

📝 Sample Answer

Many people think homework is a really good idea. They say it helps us remember things we learned in class and gives us extra practice, like doing sums over and over until we're super speedy! Some grown-ups believe it teaches us to be organised and to finish tasks on time, which are important skills for when we grow up. For example, if we have a spelling test, doing homework helps us learn those tricky words. However, lots of children and some parents feel that homework can be a bit too much. It can make us feel tired or stressed, especially if we have a lot of subjects. Sometimes, it means we don't have enough time to play outside, read our favourite books, or just relax with our family after a busy day at school. If we're too tired, it might even be harder to learn from the homework anyway!

Did You Know?

You can use the atoply app to practise this prompt and get instant feedback to help improve your writing skills.

Practice This Prompt

← Back to discursive writing prompts