English · Writing
Organise an argument
Order reasons and evidence into a coherent argument for one position.
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Build a Clear Argument
This video shows how to put reasons and supporting evidence in a clear order to argue for a point of view. Watch an 11+ English question solved step by step.
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Quick quiz: Organise an argument
10 questions, with feedback after each one. No sign-up needed.
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Question 1
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Greenfield Park's bins overflow every weekend after families come to play. Volunteers picked up four bags of rubbish just last Saturday. The council should install two extra bins along the main path in Greenfield Park. This is because litter left near the pond is dangerous for the ducks and other wildlife living there.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.Extra bins would also make the park look considerably tidier for visitors taking their own photographs there.
- B.Greenfield Park was first officially opened to the public back in 1965 by the local town council itself.
- C.Last month, park volunteers found a duck at the pond with a plastic ring tangled around its neck.
- D.The park's bins already overflow every single weekend once families arrive to play and picnic.
Question 2
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Our classroom has an empty tank in the corner that has stood empty since September. Miss Patel asked the class what we thought should go there. I believe our class should keep a pet hamster. A hamster would teach us responsibility because someone would need to feed and check it every single day.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.Feeding and checking on an animal daily would help every one of us build good responsible habits.
- B.A pet would also make our classroom feel much calmer during busy or stressful afternoon lessons.
- C.Hamsters are small nocturnal rodents that usually sleep through the day and become far more lively and active after dark.
- D.Last year, Year 4 kept a stick insect and every child took a weekly turn caring for it responsibly.
Question 3
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Every Friday afternoon our class is given a full sheet of maths and spelling homework. Many pupils arrive on Monday looking tired and grumpy. I think Year 6 should get less homework on Fridays. Pupils need proper time to rest after a long school week.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.A survey of our class showed that fourteen out of twenty-five pupils go to bed after ten o'clock on Fridays.
- B.Having a rest at the weekend would help pupils feel less tired and more ready for the week.
- C.Less Friday homework would also give families more time to spend together over the weekend.
- D.Homework has been given to British schoolchildren for well over a hundred years, though the amount given has changed.
Question 4
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Our class has been learning about the Vikings all term. Miss Owens mentioned that a museum an hour away has a real Viking longboat on display. I think our class should go on a school trip to the Viking museum. Seeing real artefacts helps pupils understand history far better than a textbook alone.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.A recent report showed that pupils who visited museums scored higher marks on history topic tests afterwards.
- B.Seeing genuine historical objects in person clearly helps pupils understand a topic far better.
- C.The trip would also let pupils enjoy a fun day out together away from the classroom.
- D.The museum was built beside the river almost forty years ago and has since become a popular local attraction.
Question 5
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Right now our classroom only has one general bin for all types of rubbish. Last week we found used paper cups and plastic bottles all mixed in together. I believe every classroom should have a separate recycling bin. Mixing recyclable materials with normal rubbish means most of it ends up in landfill.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.Recycling bins come in many different colours and sizes depending on the type of material collected.
- B.Our local council reported that over sixty percent of classroom waste last year could have been recycled.
- C.Mixing recyclables with ordinary rubbish means valuable materials are wasted in landfill sites.
- D.Separate bins would also teach pupils good habits they could use at home too.
Question 6
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Pupils at Elm Road Primary get homework in every subject every night. Some parents have started asking teachers if this could be reduced. Elm Road Primary should cut down the amount of homework given to pupils. The main reason is that too much homework leaves children too tired to concentrate the next day.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.Children who are worn out from homework find it hard to pay attention in lessons the next morning.
- B.Less homework would also give children more time to read books they actually enjoy at home.
- C.Elm Road Primary has around four hundred pupils spread across seven year groups and two nursery classes.
- D.A recent class survey showed that pupils with less homework got to bed nearly an hour earlier each night.
Question 7
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At Bridge Lane Primary, playtime lasts only fifteen minutes each morning. Teachers have noticed pupils rushing back to class still out of breath. Bridge Lane Primary should make morning playtime twenty-five minutes long. The main reason is that children focus better in lessons after a proper break to run around.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.During a trial week, teachers recorded that pupils settled to work faster after the longer break.
- B.Getting a proper chance to run around outside helps pupils concentrate once they are back in class.
- C.A longer playtime would also give pupils more chance to make friends across different classes.
- D.Bridge Lane Primary has a large playground with a football pitch, a climbing frame and a running track.
Question 8
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Many pupils at Hillside Primary say they use tablets or phones every evening. Some teachers have noticed pupils yawning and struggling to stay awake in morning lessons. Families should limit screen time to one hour on school nights. The main reason is that using screens late at night makes it harder for children to fall asleep.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.Limiting screen time would also give children more time for reading books or playing outside.
- B.Hillside Primary has around three hundred and fifty pupils spread across two separate school buildings.
- C.A sleep study of ten-year-olds found that screen use after eight o'clock cut their sleep by fifty minutes.
- D.Looking at bright screens close to bedtime makes it much harder for children to drift off to sleep.
Question 9
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Year 5 at Oakwood Primary have been learning about farm animals in science. So far the lessons have only used textbooks and worksheets in the classroom. Year 5 should go on a class trip to a local farm this term. The main reason is that seeing real animals up close helps pupils understand the topic better.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.Last year, Year 6 pupils who visited a farm scored higher marks on their animal habitats test afterwards.
- B.Seeing real farm animals close up would help pupils understand the topic far better than worksheets.
- C.A farm trip would also give pupils a fun day out away from their normal classroom routine each week.
- D.Oakwood Farm is about twenty minutes away by coach and keeps sheep, cows, pigs and several chickens.
Question 10
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At Hillside Primary, the lunch menu currently offers the same five meals on rotation every week. Several pupils have started bringing packed lunches instead of eating the school dinner. The school should introduce more variety into the lunch menu. Pupils who feel bored by the food on offer are less likely to eat a proper meal at lunchtime.
Which sentence should come next in this argument?
- A.The current menu offers the same five meals on rotation, week after week.
- B.More variety in the menu would also make lunchtime feel more exciting for younger pupils.
- C.School dinners in England are usually planned several months in advance by a catering team.
- D.A survey of Year 5 pupils found that most had stopped finishing their plates by the third week of term.
Questions parents ask about organise an argument
What this skill involves, common mistakes and ways to practise it at home.
Order reasons and evidence into a coherent argument for one position. It is one of 41 named English skills in the 11+, in the writing strand, and this page carries a 10-question quiz to practise it.
The skill map draws the line here: Excludes evaluating factual truth of the position. A question past that line is testing a different named English skill, which is worth knowing before you spend a week practising the wrong one.
Try the skill quiz on this page. Check each answer, read the explanation and try again. No account is needed. Answers are sent for marking without saving an assessment record.
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Use reasons and evidence to support a clear point. Try the free diagnostic to find other English topics to practise.