Pay for Good Grades?

Primary & ElementaryChallengingPersuasive Writing

The Prompt

Imagine this: What if every A you got, or every tricky maths problem you solved, earned you some money? Sounds great, right? Or maybe it's not such a good idea after all?

Your task is to write a powerful persuasive argument for a family discussion. You need to convince your family whether paying children for good grades is a brilliant idea that helps them work harder, or if it's a bad idea that could cause problems.

Think about:

  • Why it's a good motivator: Does it make children want to learn more? Does it teach them about earning money?
  • Why it's a problematic precedent: Could it make children only care about money, not learning? What if they get upset when they don't get paid?

Choose one side – either for paying or against paying – and gather your strongest reasons. Your goal is to make your family say, "Hmm, you've really convinced me!"

💡 Writing Tips

  • • Choose your side: Decide if you think children should or shouldn't be paid for good grades. Stick to just one idea!

  • • Give strong reasons: Think of at least two good reasons why your idea is the best.

  • • Explain your reasons: Don't just say "it's good", explain why it's good or why it's a problem.

  • • Use persuasive words: Words like 'definitely', 'clearly', 'everyone knows', 'important' can help convince your family.

  • • Imagine your family: Write as if you are talking directly to your mum, dad, or guardian, trying to make them agree with you.

📝 Sample Answer

I strongly believe that paying children for good grades is a brilliant idea and we should definitely try it in our family! Firstly, it would be a huge motivator. Imagine how much harder I'd work on my homework and tests if I knew a little bit of pocket money was waiting for me. It's like a reward for all the effort and brainpower I put in, and it would make me want to get top marks even more. Secondly, it teaches us about responsibility and earning. In the real world, adults get paid for their hard work, so why shouldn't we? It would show us that working hard at school has real benefits, not just for learning, but for earning too. Think how much more focused I'd be in class if I knew my hard work could lead to saving up for that new game!

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