Reading Willow Persuasive Writing & Essays Library
A curated collection of persuasive texts and essay models exploring argument structure, rhetorical technique, and critical reasoning — ideal for developing analytical reading and writing skills across all year levels.
Against Verified Age Checks on Social Media
TOPIC Should social media require verified age checks? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE VERIFY, PRIVACY, ACCOUNTABILITY, SAFETY, PLATFORM QUICK READ Strict verification can threaten privacy and create new data r...
Against Daily Reading Time in Every Class
TOPIC Should every class have daily reading time? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE HABIT, CONCENTRATION, EVIDENCE, REASONING, COMMUNITY QUICK READ A fixed reading block can reduce time for art, movement, and dir...
Against School Uniforms
TOPIC Should school uniforms stay? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE FAIRNESS, IDENTITY, DISTRACTION, COMMUNITY, EXPRESSION QUICK READ Uniforms can limit comfort, choice, and personal expression. A strict dress c...
Against AI Writing Tools for Senior Students
TOPIC Should senior students be allowed to use AI writing tools? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, LITERACY, DISCLOSE, ARGUMENT QUICK READ AI tools can hide weak thinking and blur who tru...
Against Phones Locked Away During Class
TOPIC Should phones be locked away during class? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ATTENTION, DISTRACTION, PARTICIPATION, RESTRICTION, RESPONSIBILITY QUICK READ Phones can be useful tools for research, translatio...
Against Clear Labels on AI-Generated Content
TOPIC Should online AI-generated content be clearly labelled? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE TRANSPARENCY, CREDIBILITY, DISCLOSE, MANIPULATE, ACCOUNTABILITY QUICK READ Labels can become shallow signals that us...
Against Limits on Weekend Homework
TOPIC Should homework be limited on weekends? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE BALANCE, WELLBEING, CURRICULUM, RESPONSIBILITY, CONSEQUENCE QUICK READ Weekend homework can protect momentum when the school week is...
Against Free Public Transport for Students
TOPIC Should students get free public transport? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ACCESS, TRANSPORT, FUNDING, FAIRNESS, PARTICIPATION QUICK READ Free transport would require public funding that could be spent el...
For Learning First Aid
TOPIC Should first aid be compulsory at school? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PRACTICAL, SAFETY, CONFIDENCE, CURRICULUM, RESPONSIBILITY QUICK READ First aid knowledge can protect people in real emergencies. S...
Against Banning Dark Patterns
TOPIC Should dark patterns in digital design be banned? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CONSUMER, DECEPTION, ACCOUNTABILITY, ATTENTION, REGULATION QUICK READ Defining dark patterns precisely can be difficult. S...
Against A Later Start One Day Each Week
TOPIC Should schools begin later one day each week? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE SCHEDULE, WELLBEING, FLEXIBILITY, CONSEQUENCE, TRANSPORT QUICK READ Later starts can create transport and family schedule prob...
Against Learning First Aid
TOPIC Should first aid be compulsory at school? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PRACTICAL, SAFETY, CONFIDENCE, CURRICULUM, RESPONSIBILITY QUICK READ Compulsory training adds pressure to an already crowded curri...
Against Protecting Minors from Political Advertising
TOPIC Should political advertising to minors face stronger limits? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ADVERTISING, CIVIC, FAIRNESS, ALGORITHM, REASONING QUICK READ Drawing the line between information and politica...
For Independent Algorithm Audits
TOPIC Should major algorithms face independent audits? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE AUDIT, ALGORITHM, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, BIAS QUICK READ Audits can reveal hidden bias, risk, and inconsistent outco...
Against Stronger Regulation of Addictive App Design
TOPIC Should addictive app design be regulated more strongly? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE REGULATION, ATTENTION, PLATFORM, WELLBEING, DESIGN QUICK READ Regulators may struggle to define addiction in design...
Against A Longer Lunch Break
TOPIC Should schools have a longer lunch break? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE WELLBEING, SCHEDULE, CONCENTRATION, COMMUNITY, FAIRNESS QUICK READ A longer break can shorten learning time in important subjects....
Against More Arts Electives
TOPIC Should schools offer more arts electives? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE EXPRESSION, FUNDING, SCHEDULE, CONFIDENCE, REPRESENTATION QUICK READ Extra electives can stretch staff and funding. Schools may ne...
Against Media Literacy as a Separate Subject
TOPIC Should media literacy be taught as a separate subject? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE LITERACY, MISINFORMATION, CURRICULUM, JUDGMENT, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Schools may integrate media literacy well across...
Against Portfolios and Interviews in Entry Decisions
TOPIC Should portfolios and interviews count more in entry decisions? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE MERIT, REPRESENTATION, FAIRNESS, RELIABILITY, ACCESS QUICK READ Interviews and portfolios can favour confide...
Against Community Service Before Graduation
TOPIC Should community service be required before graduation? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CIVIC, EMPATHY, RESPONSIBILITY, FAIRNESS, CONSEQUENCE QUICK READ Compulsory service can become performative rather t...
Against A Weekly Club Hour
TOPIC Should schools include a weekly club hour? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATION, SCHEDULE, DIVERSITY, RESPONSIBILITY QUICK READ Club time reduces minutes available for core learning. S...
Against Compulsory Work Experience
TOPIC Should work experience be compulsory for all students? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PRACTICAL, SAFETY, ACCESS, CONFIDENCE, INEQUALITY QUICK READ Not all placements are meaningful or safe. Rural or disa...
Against Clearer Labels on Opinion Pieces
TOPIC Should opinion pieces be labelled more clearly online? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE JOURNALISM, TRANSPARENCY, CREDIBILITY, REASONING, INFORMATION QUICK READ Rigid labels may oversimplify mixed forms of...
Against More Shade Trees at School
TOPIC Should schools plant more shade trees? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE SAFETY, CLIMATE, COMMUNITY, PRACTICAL, RESPONSIBILITY QUICK READ Trees take years to grow and need long-term maintenance. Some sites...
For Stricter Biometric Surveillance Limits
TOPIC Should biometric surveillance face stricter legal limits? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE BIOMETRIC, SURVEILLANCE, PRIVACY, BIAS, SECURITY QUICK READ Body-based tracking affects privacy at a fundamental l...
Against Buddy Reading Across Year Levels
TOPIC Should older and younger students do buddy reading? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CONFIDENCE, COMMUNITY, SCHEDULE, RESPONSIBILITY, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Pairing students can be hard to timetable well. Old...
Against Protecting Student Climate Protest
TOPIC Should student climate protest receive stronger protection? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CIVIC, CLIMATE, PARTICIPATION, SAFETY, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Frequent protest can disrupt learning and institution...
Against More Student Input into School Rules
TOPIC Should students have more input into school rules? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE FAIRNESS, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY, COMMUNITY, ACCOUNTABILITY QUICK READ Leaders still need authority to act quickly and sa...
For Restricting Political Microtargeting
TOPIC Should political microtargeting be restricted? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CIVIC, ADVERTISING, PRIVACY, TRANSPARENCY, MANIPULATE QUICK READ Microtargeting can hide inconsistent messaging from public s...
Against Financial Literacy Before Graduation
TOPIC Should financial literacy be compulsory before graduation? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE FINANCE, CURRICULUM, INEQUALITY, CONSEQUENCE, RESPONSIBILITY QUICK READ Schools cannot solve every gap through cu...
Against Stronger Youth Mental Health Funding
TOPIC Should governments increase youth mental health funding? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE FUNDING, WELLBEING, INEQUALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCESS QUICK READ Funding alone does not guarantee effective care....
Against Fruit for Every Child at Recess
TOPIC Should every school provide fruit at recess? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE WELLBEING, FAIRNESS, HABIT, FUNDING, WASTE QUICK READ Providing fruit for every child costs money and planning. Food choice is...
Against Libraries Open After School
TOPIC Should school libraries stay open after school? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ACCESS, FUNDING, TRANSPORT, FAIRNESS, COMMUNITY QUICK READ Longer hours require staffing, supervision, and funding. Some stu...
Against A Stronger Right to Explanation
TOPIC Should automated decisions come with a stronger right to explanation? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, ALGORITHM, FAIRNESS, REASONING QUICK READ Complex systems are not always...
Against Mandatory Deepfake Labelling
TOPIC Should deepfakes be required to carry clear labels? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE DEEPFAKE, TRANSPARENCY, VERIFY, DECEPTION, JUDGMENT QUICK READ Labels may be removed, ignored, or technically easy to ev...
Against Later Starts for Older Students
TOPIC Should older students start school later? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE SCHEDULE, TRANSPORT, CONCENTRATION, EVIDENCE, WELLBEING QUICK READ Later starts can disrupt transport, sport, and family schedules...
For Privacy-First Age Assurance
TOPIC Should age assurance systems prioritise privacy by design? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PRIVACY, VERIFY, REGULATION, SECURITY, CONSEQUENCE QUICK READ Age checks may be justified in some settings, but d...
Against Mixed-Age Mentoring
TOPIC Should schools create mixed-age mentoring programs? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE COMMUNITY, CONFIDENCE, RELIABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Mentoring needs training and supervision to work...
Against Independent Journalism Funding
TOPIC Should independent journalism receive stronger public funding? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE JOURNALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY, INFORMATION, INFLUENCE, CREDIBILITY QUICK READ Public funding can create concern...
Against Oral Presentations in Assessment
TOPIC Should oral presentations count more in assessment? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ASSESSMENT, COMMUNICATION, FAIRNESS, PRESSURE, RELIABILITY QUICK READ More oral assessment can increase anxiety for many...
Against A Weekly Art Afternoon
TOPIC Should schools have a weekly art afternoon? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE EXPRESSION, SCHEDULE, EVIDENCE, WELLBEING, COMMUNITY QUICK READ Schools already struggle to fit core subjects into the timetable...
Against Restricting Fast Fashion Advertising
TOPIC Should fast fashion advertising face stronger limits? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CONSUMER, ADVERTISING, CLIMATE, RESTRICTION, TRANSPARENCY QUICK READ Advertising limits may unfairly target one indust...
Against More Practical Life Skills Lessons
TOPIC Should schools teach more practical life skills? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PRACTICAL, CURRICULUM, RESPONSIBILITY, CONSEQUENCE, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Schools cannot teach every useful part of life. Add...
Against Recycling Bins in Every Classroom
TOPIC Should every classroom have recycling bins? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE HABIT, RESPONSIBILITY, PRACTICAL, CLIMATE, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Bins only help when schools sort waste correctly afterwards. Clas...
Against Limits on Public Facial Recognition
TOPIC Should public facial recognition face tighter limits? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE SURVEILLANCE, BIOMETRIC, PRIVACY, SAFETY, BIAS QUICK READ Facial recognition may help identify serious threats quickly...
Against More Local Excursions
TOPIC Should schools run more local excursions? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE EXCURSION, COMMUNITY, PRACTICAL, SAFETY, EFFICIENCY QUICK READ Excursions still require permission, planning, and supervision. Lea...
Against Climate Risk Disclosure
TOPIC Should companies disclose climate risk more clearly? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE DISCLOSE, CLIMATE, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, FINANCE QUICK READ Climate reporting can become complex, costly, and i...
Against Liability for Amplified Misinformation
TOPIC Should platforms face liability when they amplify misinformation? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PLATFORM, LIABILITY, MODERATION, INFORMATION, ACCOUNTABILITY QUICK READ Liability rules may encourage over...
Against More Youth Spaces in Communities
TOPIC Should governments invest more in youth spaces? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE COMMUNITY, FUNDING, WELLBEING, ACCESS, REPRESENTATION QUICK READ New facilities require ongoing funding and management. Poor...
Against Assembly Roles for More Students
TOPIC Should more students lead parts of assembly? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CONFIDENCE, COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATION, SCHEDULE, WELLBEING QUICK READ Too many presenters can make assemblies long and unfocused...
Against Guest Speakers Every Month
TOPIC Should schools invite guest speakers every month? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE COMMUNITY, PRACTICAL, FUNDING, INFLUENCE, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Frequent visitors can interrupt routine and cost money. Not...
Against Stronger Repair Rights
TOPIC Should consumers have stronger repair rights? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE REPAIR, CONSUMER, COMPETITION, SAFETY, RESTRICTION QUICK READ Some repairs involve safety risks or specialised equipment. Comp...
Against Climate Action Days at School
TOPIC Should schools hold regular climate action days? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CLIMATE, CIVIC, HABIT, EVIDENCE, REASONING QUICK READ Special action days can become symbolic without sustained change. Sch...
Against Device-Free Lunch Breaks
TOPIC Should schools make lunch breaks device-free? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE WELLBEING, RESTRICTION, COMMUNITY, FAIRNESS, CONSEQUENCE QUICK READ Some students use devices at lunch to relax safely and qui...
Against Platform Accountability for Misinformation
TOPIC Should platforms be more accountable for misinformation? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PLATFORM, ACCOUNTABILITY, MODERATION, INFORMATION, CIVIC QUICK READ Content moderation is difficult and can threate...
For Protecting Anonymity
TOPIC Should anonymity receive stronger legal protection online? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ANONYMITY, PRIVACY, CIVIC, TRUST, RESPONSIBILITY QUICK READ Anonymity can protect vulnerable speakers and dissent...
Against Revealing AI Use in Hiring
TOPIC Should employers disclose when AI is used in hiring? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS, ALGORITHM, ACCOUNTABILITY, PRIVACY QUICK READ Employers may argue that internal tools are part...
Against A Daily Screen-Free Lesson
TOPIC Should schools protect one screen-free lesson every day? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE CONCENTRATION, FLEXIBILITY, PRACTICAL, EVIDENCE, REASONING QUICK READ Digital tools are already part of modern lear...
Against Banning Energy Drinks Near Schools
TOPIC Should energy drinks be banned near schools? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE WELLBEING, RESTRICTION, CONSUMER, CONCENTRATION, JUDGMENT QUICK READ Bans can be hard to enforce and may simply move purchases...
Against More Student Choice in Reading
TOPIC Should students have more choice in what they read at school? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE REPRESENTATION, MOTIVATION, CHALLENGE, DIVERSITY, REASONING QUICK READ Too much choice can weaken challenge an...
Against More Cooking and Food Lessons
TOPIC Should schools offer more cooking and food lessons? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PRACTICAL, WELLBEING, FUNDING, SAFETY, CONFIDENCE QUICK READ Kitchens, equipment, and ingredients cost money. Food aller...
Against Moderation Transparency Reports
TOPIC Should platforms publish stronger moderation transparency reports? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE MODERATION, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, INFORMATION, FAIRNESS QUICK READ Reports can be selective, tech...
Against Celebrating Effort More Than Winning
TOPIC Should schools celebrate effort more than winning? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE EFFORT, CONFIDENCE, FAIRNESS, HABIT, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Winning and excellence can motivate students to train hard. Too...
Against Open Access to Publicly Funded Research
TOPIC Should publicly funded research be openly accessible? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ACCESS, INNOVATION, INEQUALITY, FUNDING, INFORMATION QUICK READ Publishing systems still require funding and quality c...
For Limits on Cashless School Systems
TOPIC Should schools limit fully cashless systems? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ACCESS, FAIRNESS, EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE QUICK READ Cashless systems can exclude families with uneven digit...
For Optional National Digital Identity
TOPIC Should national digital identity systems remain optional? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE IDENTITY, PRIVACY, INFRASTRUCTURE, EFFICIENCY, TRUST QUICK READ Optional systems respect plural views about privac...
Against More Outdoor Learning
TOPIC Should classes spend more time learning outdoors? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE PRACTICAL, CONCENTRATION, SAFETY, CLIMATE, EVIDENCE QUICK READ Weather, noise, and supervision can make outdoor lessons di...
Against More Projects and Fewer Exams
TOPIC Should senior years include more projects and fewer exams? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ASSESSMENT, COLLABORATION, PRESSURE, FAIRNESS, RELIABILITY QUICK READ Projects can invite unequal help or inconsi...
Against More Debate and Public Speaking
TOPIC Should schools spend more time on debate and public speaking? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE DEBATE, CONFIDENCE, REASONING, EVIDENCE, CIVIC QUICK READ Not every student feels safe or ready to speak publi...
For Formal Argument Skills for All Students
TOPIC Should all students be taught formal argument skills? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE ARGUMENT, REASONING, EVIDENCE, CIVIC, CURRICULUM QUICK READ Formal argument training improves reasoning across many su...
For Advanced Persuasive Literacy as a Core Senior Skill
TOPIC Should advanced persuasive literacy be a core senior skill? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE LITERACY, JUDGMENT, CIVIC, EVIDENCE, CURRICULUM QUICK READ Senior students face a public world full of complex c...
For Weekly Persuasive Speaking Practice
TOPIC Should every class practise persuasive speaking each week? KEY WORDS TO NOTICE DEBATE, CONFIDENCE, REASONING, EVIDENCE, COMMUNITY QUICK READ Regular speaking practice helps children share idea...
The Last Bus Home
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ Track how the conflict grows from an ordinary mistake into a pressing problem. Notice how dialogue reveals character. STORY By the time Hana...
The Interview at Number 17
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ Track how the conflict operates on two levels: the visible interview and the hidden question underneath it. STORY By the time Mara reached Nu...
The Missing Library Key
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ As you read, notice how the problem begins quickly and how the characters speak when they feel worried. STORY On Monday morning, Mrs Patel un...
The Note Under the Desk
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ Look for the moment when curiosity becomes responsibility. Notice how the note changes what the narrator must do. STORY Leila only found the...
The Call Before Dawn
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ Observe how the narrative controls pace. The crisis is not loud for most of the extract; it becomes intense because each detail narrows the re...
Smoke Over Calder Street
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ Pay attention to how the writer uses uncertainty. The story becomes tense not because the narrator knows too much, but because she knows too l...
The Door at Platform Four
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ Notice how the setting creates pressure and how the dialogue sharpens the mystery rather than explaining it too quickly. STORY Eli had passed...
The Recording in Drawer Three
FOCUS Plot, conflict, dialogue, tension. BEFORE YOU READ Notice how the conflict becomes ethical as well as personal. The story asks not only what happened, but what should be done with the truth. S...