FOCUS Bias, viewpoint, audience, analysis.

ARTICLE In the school newspaper, a student writer has argued that homework should be banned completely. The article opens with a personal story about arriving home tired after sport, music practice, and a long bus ride, only to face another hour of school tasks. The writer says this routine steals family time, increases stress, and leaves students feeling as though the school day never truly ends. Several examples are given of friends staying up late, losing sleep, and feeling anxious when homework piles up across multiple subjects.

The piece is passionate and easy to understand. It also uses strong emotional language. Homework is described as "a daily pressure that follows students into every corner of life." The writer claims that schools prove they do not trust students to learn during class when they keep sending work home. To strengthen the argument, the article includes a short survey from one class in which most students said they would prefer more time for rest, sport, or hobbies.

The article opens with a personal story about arriving home tired after sport, music practice, and a long bus ride, only to face another hour of school tasks.

However, the article spends little time on the other side of the issue. It does not explore why teachers may set homework for practice, revision, or preparation. It also does not include examples of students who use homework effectively or families who value it as part of routine study. As a result, the article feels powerful, but also one-sided.

TEXT TO ANALYSE The opinion piece claims that homework should disappear because it "steals family time, damages wellbeing, and proves that schools do not trust students to learn during the day."

ANALYSIS Opinion writing is meant to persuade, so readers should pay attention to how the persuasion works. The viewpoint here is clear: homework is framed as harmful rather than helpful. Words such as steals and damages are emotionally loaded. They may reflect a real feeling, but they also steer the reader strongly before all evidence has been considered.

AUDIENCE The likely audience is students and families who already feel pressure from school workload. The writer chooses language that will connect quickly with those readers.

BIAS Bias appears in what is included and what is left out. The article gives vivid examples of frustration, but not equally strong examples from the other side.

AFTER YOU READ What is the difference between a strong opinion and a well-supported argument?