Argue it: should airports expand?

English Age group: KS4: persuasive and viewpoint writing

New runways bring jobs and travel but also noise and pollution. Build an argument, then answer it.

Before you start

Read or play with these Learn topics first.

Choose an airport

Latest weather report (explained in "How do you read an airport weather report?")

Name: ______________________ Date: ____________

Use the live board for this worksheet.

List two reasons for and two against a new runway.
Write a speech of three paragraphs for one side, using rhetorical devices such as the rule of three and direct address.
Which facts would make your argument stronger? Use the live data and the Learn page to find one.
Write a short reply from the opposite side.

Ten questions on this lesson. Pupils open the link on any device. Nothing is stored about them.

Teacher notes and answers

Suggested answers. Many will vary with the live data, so check units and working. The curriculum links are a guide only.

For: jobs, trade and travel, shorter delays. Against: noise, emissions, loss of land, local disruption. Accept any reasoned points.
Answers will vary. Check for a clear opening claim, evidence, devices used on purpose, and a strong ending.
Examples: the number of planes landing per hour on the live stream; how big modern jets are; what contrails are. Pupils should say where the fact came from.
Look for a counter-argument that answers the first speech directly rather than starting again.