Winter 2022, Paper 2, Variant 3, Sample Answer (Question 1)

Question 1
Imagine that schools in your area are considering either introducing or abandoning handwriting
lessons for all younger students. You have been invited to speak at a meeting of teachers and
parents to discuss the idea.
Write the words of your speech.
In your speech you should:
• evaluate the ideas, attitudes and opinions given in both texts about handwriting and keyboard
skills
• give your own views, based on what you have read, about whether or not handwriting lessons
in school are a good idea.
Base your speech on what you have read in both texts, but be careful to use your own words.
Address both of the bullet points.
Write about 250 to 350 words.
Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 25 marks for the
quality of your writing.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today. As we contemplate the transition to an all-year-round schooling system, it’s crucial to weigh the potential impacts this change would have on our community, including students, parents, and teachers.

The concept of all-year-round schooling, while innovative, presents several challenges. The traditional school calendar, with its extended summer break, is a time-honored practice that offers valuable downtime for students to recharge, families to bond, and teachers to prepare for the new academic year. The proposed ‘six-weeks-on, one-week-off’ schedule, although designed to counteract the ‘summer slide,’ could inadvertently diminish these opportunities for rest and familial connection.