Checkpoint 6 · Paper 1 writing (non-fiction)

Balanced Argument (Argumentative Writing)

How to write a fair, for-and-against argument on a local or school issue for Paper 1 — a recent Checkpoint task — with features, a five-paragraph plan, phrases, vocabulary and a strong sample.

British & IGCSE › Checkpoint 6 English (Cambridge Primary 0058)

1. What is a balanced argument?

A balanced argument (also called a discussion text or argumentative writing) looks at a question that people disagree about and gives both sides fairly: the reasons for and the reasons against. Only at the very end does the writer give their own opinion, and they explain why they chose that side.

Think of yourself as a fair judge, not a lawyer. A lawyer only talks about one side. A judge listens to both sides, weighs them up, and then makes a decision. In a balanced argument, the reader should feel that you have been honest with both sides before you decide.

Question	Answer for a balanced argument
Purpose	To discuss an issue fairly, giving arguments for and against, and then reach a clear conclusion.
Audience	Often readers of a school newspaper, a school website, a local newspaper or a class debate. They are thinking people who have not made up their minds yet.
Tone	Calm, formal and polite. No shouting, no slang, no 'This is SO stupid!'.
Person and tense	Mostly the third person (Some people believe…, Supporters argue…) and the present tense. Use I only in the conclusion, when you give your own view.
Where it appears	Paper 1 (Non-fiction), Section B Writing, 25 marks.

Why you must learn this genre well

A balanced argument about a local issue has been set on a recent Checkpoint Paper 1. Students had to give the views of local people for and against a plan in their area.
Local-issue tasks can be about many things: a new building, a road, a park, a shop, a change to the school day. The task may tell you who is for and who is against — use those people in your answer.
Words in the task that tell you it is a balanced argument: discuss, both sides, for and against, advantages and disadvantages, give the views of, what different people think.

Balanced argument, persuasive writing or opinion writing?

These three genres are cousins, and students often mix them up. Read the task words carefully before you plan.

Genre	What it does	How it sounds
Opinion writing	Says what you think about something and gives your reasons.	I think that… In my view…
Persuasive writing	Tries to make the reader agree and act. It is one-sided and uses emotion, rhetorical questions and direct address.	Don't you agree? Join us today!
Balanced argument	Gives both sides fairly, then reaches a conclusion. The tone is calm and reasonable.	Supporters believe… On the other hand, critics argue… Having considered both sides, I believe…

The biggest trap

If the task says 'give the views for and against' and you only write about one side, you have written the wrong text type. That can cap your Creation of texts mark at 1. Always give the other side a full, fair paragraph — even if you strongly disagree with it.

Where it sits in the exam and how it is marked

Year 6 students sit Cambridge Primary Checkpoint English (0058). There are two papers: Paper 1 Non-fiction and Paper 2 Fiction. Each paper lasts 1 hour and has Section A Reading (25 marks) and Section B Writing (25 marks). About 30 minutes is suggested for each section. The balanced argument is a Paper 1 task, because it is non-fiction.

Your writing is marked out of 25 in five categories. Here is what each category means for a balanced argument. The teacher's older names are in brackets.

Category	Marks	What the top band needs in this genre
Creation of texts (content, purpose and audience)	5	Clearly a balanced argument: a question is introduced, both sides are given fairly and developed with reasons and examples, and a clear conclusion is reached. The views of the people named in the task are included. The tone suits the reader.
Vocabulary and language	3	Precise, formal words for arguing (supporters, critics, benefit, drawback, concern, outweigh, compromise) instead of good/bad. Words are chosen to sound fair, not angry.
Structure of texts (text structure)	7	A title that asks the question, an introduction, a paragraph for, a paragraph against, a conclusion. Each paragraph does one job. Connectives such as however, furthermore, on the other hand, therefore join the ideas smoothly.
Grammar and punctuation (sentence structure, punctuation and grammar)	7	Sentences of different kinds and lengths used on purpose: complex sentences (Although…, If…, Because…), a short sentence for effect. Accurate tenses and full stops. Correct commas, apostrophes, colon and semicolon.
Word structure (spelling)	3	Correct spelling of common and ambitious words: argument, believe, because, government, environment, disadvantage, necessary, separate.

Rules that can cap your mark

Wrong text type: If the task asks for a balanced argument and you write a one-sided persuasive speech, or a story about the new building, that is the wrong text type. If you write the wrong kind of text, Creation of texts can be capped at 1 mark and Structure of texts at 3 (or 2), however good your English is.
Too short: 20 words or fewer scores 0, and an answer of 21–60 words can earn no more than 7 marks out of 25. Train yourself to write 250–350 words in about 30 minutes.
Markers use best fit: they read the whole answer and choose the band that matches it best. One small mistake will not ruin a strong answer, but many careless ones will pull it down.

How to get full marks: checklist

A title in the form of a question (Should our town…?).
An introduction that explains the issue in 2–3 sentences and says that people disagree — without giving your opinion yet.
At least two reasons FOR, each with an example or a person's view and an explanation.
At least two reasons AGAINST, given just as fairly and in just as much detail.
The views of the people named in the task (residents, shop owners, parents, children…).
Formal, calm language — no slang, no short forms like can't or don't (write cannot, do not).
Connectives that show the two sides: On the other hand, However, In contrast.
A conclusion that weighs up both sides and gives your own clear opinion with a reason. Do not sit on the fence.

2. Features of a balanced argument

Feature	Example
Title as a question	Should the Old Market Become a Car Park?
Introduction that opens the issue	The council's plan has divided our town, so it is worth looking at both sides.
Points FOR, grouped together	Supporters of the plan say that parking is a serious problem.
Points AGAINST, grouped together	On the other hand, many residents strongly disagree.
Views of real people (reported)	Mr Adel, who owns a shoe shop, explained that customers drive away.
Reasons + examples + explanation	…which means that more shoppers could visit local businesses.
Third person, present tense	Some parents believe… Critics argue…
Contrast connectives	However, On the other hand, In contrast, Although
Adding connectives	Furthermore, In addition, Moreover, Another reason is
Cause and effect connectives	Therefore, As a result, This means that, Consequently
Formal, polite language	Some residents are concerned that… (not 'People are mad about it').
Cautious words (modal verbs)	could, might, may, would — e.g. A car park might bring more traffic.
Conclusion with own opinion	Having considered both sides, I believe the market should stay.

Fair words for both sides

Use the same respectful words for both sides. If you write 'Sensible people say…' for one side and 'Some people wrongly think…' for the other, your argument is no longer balanced. Save your judgement for the conclusion.

3. How to structure a balanced argument

Use this five-paragraph plan. In 30 minutes, aim for 250–350 words: about 50 words for the introduction, about 70–80 words for each side, 30–40 words for a compromise (optional) and about 50 words for the conclusion.

Paragraph	Job	What to write
Title	Ask the question	Turn the issue into a question: Should…? Is it a good idea to…?
1. Introduction	Open the issue	Hook the reader with a short picture of the situation. Explain the plan or question in simple words. Say that people disagree. Do not give your opinion yet.
2. Arguments FOR	Give one side	Start with a topic sentence (Supporters of the plan believe…). Give 2 reasons. For each: the reason → an example or a person's view → why it matters.
3. Arguments AGAINST	Give the other side	Start with a contrast connective (On the other hand,…). Give 2 reasons with the same amount of detail: reason → example → why it matters.
4. Compromise (optional)	Show deep thinking	Is there a middle way? Some people suggest… This short paragraph impresses markers because it shows you are really weighing the issue.
5. Conclusion	Decide	Sum up both sides in one sentence. Give your own opinion and the main reason for it. End with a thoughtful final sentence. No new arguments here.

The 'reason → example → why it matters' chain

Reason: Supporters say that parking in the town centre is a serious problem.
Example or view: One shop owner explained that customers drive away because they cannot find a space.
Why it matters: As a result, local businesses lose money, so a car park could help them to grow.
Do this for every point on both sides. One sentence per point is not enough to reach the top band.

Plan with G.A.A.P. in the first 3–4 minutes

G — Genre: balanced argument (layout: question title, introduction, for, against, conclusion).
A — Audience: who will read it? A local newspaper = adults in your town. A school newspaper = students, teachers and parents. Keep it formal.
A — Area of content: underline every point and every group of people the task mentions. Each must appear in your answer.
P — Purpose: to discuss both sides fairly and then decide.

How to start: openings that work

A picture of the place: Every Friday morning, the old market fills with the smell of fresh bread. Soon, it may be gone.
A question: Should children be allowed to bring mobile phones to school? Few questions cause more arguments at the school gate.
A surprising fact (invented but realistic): Nearly half of the pupils in our school live less than a kilometre away, yet most arrive by car.
The news: Last week, the council announced a plan to build a new road through the park. Not everyone is pleased.
The two sides at once: For some people, the new shopping centre is exciting news. For others, it is a disaster.

How to end: conclusions that work

Weigh and decide: Having considered both sides, I believe that… because…
Admit the other side, then decide: Although the plan has some benefits, the disadvantages are far more serious, so…
Suggest a solution: In my opinion, the best answer is a compromise: …
Look to the future: Whatever the council decides, it must listen to the people who will live with the result.
Ask the reader to think: The decision is not easy, but one thing is certain: our town will never be the same again.

4. Useful phrases and vocabulary

Introducing the issue

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about…
The question of whether… has divided our town / school.
Not everyone agrees about…
It is worth looking carefully at both sides before…

Arguments FOR

Supporters of the plan believe that…
One reason in favour of… is that…
Many parents argue that…
Furthermore, …
Another advantage is that…

Arguments AGAINST

On the other hand, …
However, many residents disagree.
Critics of the plan argue that…
A major concern is that…
In contrast, others point out that…

Reporting people's views

One shop owner explained that…
A local resident told our newspaper that…
According to some teachers, …
Several pupils said that…

Explaining

This means that…
As a result, …
Therefore, …
This is important because…

Concluding

Having considered both sides, I believe that…
On balance, I think that…
Although there are good points on both sides, …
In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because…

Word / phrase	Meaning / use
issue	a subject that people discuss or argue about
debate	a discussion where people give different opinions
supporter	a person who agrees with a plan or idea
critic	a person who disagrees with or finds fault in a plan
resident	a person who lives in a place
advantage / benefit	a good result or helpful point
disadvantage / drawback	a bad result or problem
concern	a worry about something (A major concern is…)
argue	to give reasons why you think something is true
claim	to say that something is true, even if not everyone agrees
consider	to think carefully about something
outweigh	to be more important than (The benefits outweigh the problems.)
compromise	a middle answer where each side gets part of what it wants
on balance	after thinking about everything
convincing	good enough to make someone believe it

5. Strong sample: balanced argument about a local plan

Read the sample slowly. Then read the notes to see exactly where each mark is earned.

Sample: balanced argument for the local newspaper306 words · Strong answer — Creation 5/5 · Vocabulary 3/3 · Structure 7/7 · Grammar & punctuation 7/7 · Spelling 3/3

Task: The council in your town wants to close the old open-air market in the town centre and build a car park in its place. Some people are pleased about the plan, but others are against it. Write a balanced argument for your local newspaper. Give the views of people who support the plan and people who are against it, and then give your own conclusion.

Should the Old Market Become a Car Park?

Every Friday morning, the old market in the centre of Greenhill fills with the smell of fresh bread and the cheerful shouts of fruit sellers. However, the town council has suggested replacing it with a car park for two hundred cars. This idea has divided our town, so it is worth looking carefully at both sides before a decision is made.

Supporters of the plan say that parking in the town centre has become a serious problem. Mr Adel, who owns a shoe shop on the high street, explained that many customers drive away because they cannot find anywhere to stop. A new car park would bring more shoppers, which could help local businesses to grow. Furthermore, drivers who circle the streets looking for a space cause traffic jams and pollution; a car park would reduce both.

On the other hand, many residents strongly disagree. The market has been part of Greenhill for over sixty years, and families depend on it for cheap, fresh food. One stallholder, who sells vegetables from his family's farm, warned that thirty traders could lose their only income. In addition, critics argue that a car park might actually bring more traffic into the narrow streets around the square, making them more dangerous for children walking to school.

Some people have suggested a compromise. The market could stay where it is, while a smaller car park is built on the empty land behind the station — only a five-minute walk from the shops.

Having considered both sides, I believe that the market should stay. Although parking is a real problem, it can be solved in other ways. A sixty-year-old tradition, once it has gone, can never be brought back. I hope the council listens to shopkeepers and stallholders alike before it makes its final decision.

Why this gets the marks

Creation of texts 5/5: clearly a balanced argument. The introduction opens the issue without taking a side, paragraph 2 gives two reasons FOR (customers, traffic and pollution), paragraph 3 gives two reasons AGAINST (traders' income, danger to children), and the conclusion decides. People's views (a shop owner, a stallholder, residents) are included, as the task asks.
Creation of texts (continued): both sides get almost the same number of words, so the reader trusts the writer. The opinion appears only in the last paragraph.
Vocabulary 3/3: formal, precise arguing words — supporters, residents, critics, compromise, tradition, income, stallholder — and fair verbs (explained, warned, argue).
Structure 7/7: question title. Five paragraphs, each with one job. Clear topic sentences (Supporters of the plan say…, On the other hand, many residents…). Connectives Furthermore, In addition, On the other hand, Although link ideas inside and between paragraphs. The compromise paragraph shows deeper thinking. The ending links back to the opening picture of the market.
Grammar & punctuation 7/7: a range of sentences — complex (Although parking is a real problem, it can be solved…), relative clauses (Mr Adel, who owns a shoe shop,…), a short sentence for effect (…can never be brought back). Modal verbs could, might, would sound cautious. A pair of commas adds extra information (…, who owns a shoe shop, …). A semicolon joins two related sentences (…cause traffic jams and pollution; a car park would reduce both). A single dash adds emphasis (— only a five-minute walk). An apostrophe shows possession (family's), and hyphens join compound adjectives (sixty-year-old, five-minute).
Spelling 3/3: ambitious words spelt correctly — compromise, residents, considered, dangerous, decision, tradition, pollution.

Notice the balance

Count the words: the FOR paragraph and the AGAINST paragraph are almost the same length. Each one has two reasons, and each reason has an example or a person's view. That fairness is what makes it a balanced argument and not a persuasive piece.

Short plans for other local-issue tasks

The topic changes, but the shape stays the same. Practise turning each plan into five paragraphs.

Task idea	FOR (2 reasons)	AGAINST (2 reasons)	Possible conclusion
A fast-food restaurant opening next to the school	New jobs for local people. Somewhere for families to eat quickly	Unhealthy food near children. More litter and traffic at home time	Against, unless it offers healthy choices
Turning the school field into a car park for parents	Safer drop-off. Less traffic in the street	Less space to play and do sport. More cars near children	Against: children's health matters more
A new cinema in a small town	Fun for young people. Brings visitors and money	Noise late at night. May take customers from small cafés	For, if it closes at a sensible time
Making the high street car-free on Fridays	Cleaner air. Safer for walking and cycling	Older people and shop deliveries find it harder. Shops may lose customers	Compromise: car-free mornings only

6. Common mistakes

Mistake	Why it loses marks	Fix it
Writing only one side	It becomes persuasive writing — wrong text type.	Give each side its own paragraph with two reasons.
Giving your opinion in the introduction	The piece stops being balanced from the start.	Keep I believe for the conclusion.
Listing reasons with no explanation	Ideas are not developed, so Creation of texts stays low.	Use the chain: reason → example or view → why it matters.
Forgetting the people named in the task	You miss part of the content.	Underline them in G.A.A.P. and give each a sentence.
Informal words: kids, stuff, gonna, can't	Wrong tone for a newspaper.	children, things, going to, cannot.
Ending on the fence: 'Both sides are good.'	The conclusion does not decide.	Choose a side, or a clear compromise, and say why.
A new argument in the conclusion	Confuses the structure.	The conclusion only weighs up and decides.
Using a semicolon for a list or in random places	Punctuation error.	A semicolon only joins two complete, related sentences.

Timing (about 30 minutes for writing)

3–4 minutes: G.A.A.P. and a quick plan — write 2 reasons FOR and 2 reasons AGAINST in note form.
about 22 minutes: write 250–350 words in five paragraphs.
4 minutes: check spelling, full stops, capital letters and that both sides are there.

Checklist before you hand in

My title is a question.
My introduction explains the issue and does not give my opinion.
I have at least two reasons FOR, with examples.
I have at least two reasons AGAINST, with examples.
I have included the people named in the task.
I used contrast connectives: However, On the other hand.
My language is formal: no slang, no short forms.
My conclusion gives my clear opinion and the main reason.

كيف تحصل على الدرجة النهائية في الـ Balanced Argument؟

جاء هذا النوع في امتحان حديث، لذلك يجب أن تتقنه: مشكلة في المنطقة أو المدرسة، وأشخاص موافقون وآخرون معترضون.
لا تذكر رأيك في المقدمة. المقدمة تعرض المشكلة فقط، ورأيك يأتي في الفقرة الأخيرة.
اكتب فقرة كاملة للمؤيدين وفقرة كاملة للمعارضين، وفي كل فقرة سببان على الأقل، ومع كل سبب مثال أو رأي شخص.
إذا كتبت جانبًا واحدًا فقط فقد كتبت Persuasive وليس Balanced، وستنخفض درجتك كثيرًا.
في الخاتمة اختر رأيًا واضحًا واذكر السبب، ولا تكتفِ بالقول إن الرأيين جيدان.

Practice tasks

Try each task in 30 minutes. Then open the answer to compare your plan with a strong plan.

Your town wants to build a large new sports centre on the park where families have picnics and children play. Write a balanced argument for the school newspaper, giving the views of people for and against the plan, and your own conclusion.
Show answer
Title: Should Our Park Become a Sports Centre? P1: picture of the park at the weekend · the plan · people disagree. P2 FOR: young people need indoor sport all year, especially in hot summers (a coach's view). Fewer teenagers with nothing to do in the evenings. P3 AGAINST: the last green space for families and small children (a parent's view). Trees and birds would be lost and the area would become hotter. P4 compromise: build the centre on the empty land by the main road instead. P5: on balance, keep the park, because sport is important but green space cannot be replaced.
Some parents want the school day to start one hour later. Write a balanced argument for your school website, giving the views of pupils, parents and teachers.
Show answer
Title: Should School Start an Hour Later? FOR: pupils would be less tired and concentrate better (pupils' view). Less early-morning traffic. AGAINST: parents who work early would struggle (a parent's view). The day would finish later, leaving less time for homework and clubs (a teacher's view). Conclusion: e.g. against — or a compromise of thirty minutes later — with a clear reason.
Should children under 12 have their own mobile phone? Write a balanced argument for a children's magazine.
Show answer
FOR: safety — children can call parents. Useful for learning and keeping in touch with family abroad. AGAINST: too much screen time harms sleep and eyes. Risk of unkind messages online. Compromise: a simple phone for calls only. Conclusion: clear opinion with the strongest reason.
Rewrite this one-sided sentence so that it sounds fair: 'Only silly people think the new road is a good idea.'
Show answer
Some residents believe that the new road is a good idea because it will shorten journeys to the city. (Fair, formal, and it gives a reason.)
Which two of these words show that the writer is moving to the other side of the argument? Furthermore / However / Therefore / On the other hand / In addition
Show answer
However and On the other hand — both are contrast connectives. Furthermore and In addition add more points to the same side, and Therefore shows a result.

All pages in this course

Start here: the exam

Reading: grammar & punctuation

Reading: understanding texts

Paper 1 writing: non-fiction

Paper 2 writing: fiction