Later School Start: One-Paragraph Debate
In English class, you have read two short sources about later school start times. Source A: a survey of 200 pupils at your school found that 68% would concentrate better if lessons began at 10:00 instead of 8:30. Source B: the regional bus company says it cannot change its timetable before 2027 because most routes serve commuters and schools at the same time. Your teacher asks you to write one paragraph (80-100 words) for a class debate. You must state your opinion, use one argument from Source A, acknowledge the bus problem, and respond to it. You may not simply list both sides. Your paragraph will be assessed on a clear position, use of evidence, and a counterargument. You have 15 minutes and may not use a dictionary.
1. Write the paragraph. Mark the sentence that acknowledges the counterargument.
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I believe our school should start lessons at 10:00. In our own survey, 68% of 200 pupils said they would concentrate better with a later start, which is a strong reason to trial the change. Admittedly, the bus company cannot adjust its timetable before 2027, so a full switch is unrealistic now. However, the school could begin with a later start for two year groups and arrange a shuttle bus, then expand when the timetable changes. This would test the benefit without ignoring the transport problem.
Counterargument sentence: 'Admittedly, the bus company cannot adjust its timetable before 2027, so a full switch is unrealistic now.'
2. Explain why 'However, the school could begin with a later start for two year groups...' is a response rather than a second counterargument.
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It answers the objection instead of adding a new one. The previous sentence concedes the bus problem; the 'However' sentence then proposes a partial solution that works within that limit. It does not say the bus company has another objection or that later starts are impossible. By suggesting a trial for two year groups and a shuttle bus, it keeps the writer's position alive. A second counterargument would weaken the case; this sentence defends it.
3. A classmate writes: 'Later is better because everyone is tired. The buses are a problem but I don't care.' What two weaknesses does this have for the task?
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First, it does not use the evidence from Source A: there is no reference to the 200 pupils or the 68% figure, so the claim that 'everyone is tired' is an unsupported generalisation. Second, it mentions the bus problem but dismisses it ('I don't care') instead of responding to it, so the counterargument is not addressed. The task asks for one argument from Source A and a response to the bus issue; this sentence does neither. It also uses informal language that is too casual for a class debate.