Make your point

Så fungerar det

Vi vill övertyga läsaren med skäl, inte bara säga vad vi tycker. En argumenterande text har en tes, alltså din åsikt, flera argument och en avslutning. Firstly, secondly och finally ordnar argumenten. In conclusion inleder avslutningen.

Ett starkt argument har ett exempel eller en källa: According to … Svara också på motsidan: Some people argue that … However, … Då visar du att du har tänkt på frågan från båda håll. Skriv vad som kommer från en källa och vad som är din egen åsikt.

Some people argue that homework is necessary. However, I believe that … Det betyder: en del menar att läxor är nödvändiga. Men jag anser att …

Should homework be banned?

Few things cause more arguments in families than homework. Some people think it is an important part of learning. Others believe it should be banned completely. So who is right? Those who support homework have several arguments. Firstly, practice helps us remember. If you only meet a new maths method once in class, you will probably forget it. Doing a few exercises at home helps it stick. Secondly, homework can teach useful habits, such as planning your time and working on your own. These skills are important later in life, both at work and in further education. On the other hand, many pupils and some teachers say that homework does more harm than good. Young people already spend six or seven hours a day at school. After that, they need time to rest, do sports, see friends and help at home. Too much homework can cause stress and less sleep. Another argument is fairness. Some pupils have a quiet room and parents who can help them, while others share a room with younger siblings or have parents who work in the evenings. Homework can therefore make the differences between pupils bigger. Research gives a mixed picture. According to a large review of studies by the American researcher Harris Cooper, homework seems to help older pupils more than younger ones, and a small amount works better than a lot. What also matters is the type of homework. Reading a good book or preparing for a discussion may be more useful than copying out exercises. Perhaps the best answer is not "yes" or "no" but "it depends". Short, meaningful homework, with help available at school for those who need it, could give the advantages without the stress.

Källor

1. Kursplan i engelska, Lgr22, Skolverket