Should Phones Be Banned at School?
Write an opinion paragraph about banning mobile phones in schools. State your view, give reasons with examples and consider the other side.
- Time
- 25 min
- Length
- 120-150 words
Writadia · B1 · Opinion paragraphs
NameClassDate
The situation
Your school is discussing a new rule: students must leave their phones in a locker from 8 am to 4 pm. The school newspaper asks students for their opinion.
Your task
Write your opinion for the school newspaper. Do you agree with the new rule? Give two reasons with examples and mention one argument from people who disagree with you.
Writing toolkit
Open these only when you need them. Try the first draft on your own.
Plan it in steps
- State your opinion clearly in the first sentence.
- Give reason one with an example.
- Give reason two with an example.
- Mention the other side with On the other hand or Some people say.
- Finish by repeating your view in new words.
Useful phrases
Your opinion
Reasons
Other side
Conclusion
Tap a phrase to add it to your text. Gaps (…) are selected so you can type over them.
Vocabulary
- ban
- officially not allowThe school wants to ban phones.
- distraction
- something that stops you concentratingPhones are a big distraction.
- emergency
- a sudden dangerous situationParents want to call in an emergency.
- concentrate
- give all your attention toI can't concentrate when it's noisy.
Model answer (112 words)
Read it after you’ve written your own version. Notice the highlighted parts. The numbers explain why they work.
I partly agree with the new rule, but I don't think it should be so strict.1
The main reason I agree is that phones are a huge distraction. For example, in my class, people check messages under the desk and then ask the teacher to repeat everything. Without phones, lessons would be faster and calmer.2
On the other hand, it's true that phones are useful. We sometimes use them to look up words or take photos of the board. Another problem is emergencies: some parents need to contact their children quickly.3
That's why I think phones should stay in lockers during lessons, but students should be able to use them at lunchtime.
- A clear opinion, with nuance, in the first sentence.
- Example + result.
- Taking the other side seriously makes your argument stronger.
Teacher notes
Opinion line: before writing, students stand on a line from "Strongly agree" to "Strongly disagree" and explain their position to the person next to them.
Exam link: similar to IELTS Task 2 and B2 First essays, in a short, simple form.
Extra challenge
Write the opposite opinion in 80 words. Use the same structure.
Lesson plan
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 10 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: ban, distraction, emergency, concentrate.
- 12 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “In my opinion, ...”, “I strongly believe that ...”, “I partly agree with the new rule.”.
- 38 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (120-150 words)
- 10 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 5 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task and content | All points covered in detail; purpose and reader clear. | All points there, one is thin. | One point missing or some off-topic content. | Task mostly not met. | |
| Organisation and flow | Clear paragraphs; varied linking words. | Paragraphs present; linkers repetitive. | No paragraphs or jumpy flow. | Ideas scattered. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic-specific, varied vocabulary. | Adequate; some repetition. | Limited; some wrong word choices. | Very limited. | |
| Grammar and accuracy | Range of structures, few errors. | Some errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors affect meaning. | Errors block understanding. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- My opinion is clear in the first sentence.
- I gave two reasons with examples.
- I mentioned the other side.
- My last sentence repeats my opinion in different words.
Teacher comment
Peer-review sheet
Students swap texts and give each other feedback with this sheet.
Before you finish
Before you finish
- My opinion is clear in the first sentence.
- I gave two reasons with examples.
- I mentioned the other side.
- My last sentence repeats my opinion in different words.
Writadia · B1 · Opinion paragraphs
Assessment rubric: Should Phones Be Banned at School?
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task and content | All points covered in detail; purpose and reader clear. | All points there, one is thin. | One point missing or some off-topic content. | Task mostly not met. | |
| Organisation and flow | Clear paragraphs; varied linking words. | Paragraphs present; linkers repetitive. | No paragraphs or jumpy flow. | Ideas scattered. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic-specific, varied vocabulary. | Adequate; some repetition. | Limited; some wrong word choices. | Very limited. | |
| Grammar and accuracy | Range of structures, few errors. | Some errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors affect meaning. | Errors block understanding. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- My opinion is clear in the first sentence.
- I gave two reasons with examples.
- I mentioned the other side.
- My last sentence repeats my opinion in different words.
Teacher comment
Writadia · B1 · Opinion paragraphs
Peer-review sheet: Should Phones Be Banned at School?
WriterReviewer
Read your partner’s text carefully. Be kind and specific: say why, not just “good”.
Task checklist
| Yes | Partly | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| My opinion is clear in the first sentence. | |||
| I gave two reasons with examples. | |||
| I mentioned the other side. | |||
| My last sentence repeats my opinion in different words. |
Questions
- Does the text cover every point in the task?
- Are there paragraphs? What is each one about?
- Write two linking words the writer used.
- Is there a sentence you had to read twice?
Two stars and a wish
★ Something I liked
★ Another thing I liked
→ One suggestion
Writadia · B1 · Opinion paragraphs
Lesson plan: Should Phones Be Banned at School?
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 10 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: ban, distraction, emergency, concentrate.
- 12 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “In my opinion, ...”, “I strongly believe that ...”, “I partly agree with the new rule.”.
- 38 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (120-150 words)
- 10 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 5 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
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