From Questions to Arguments: Academic Writing for Young People

Developing a question into an argument

HT Perspective's academic-writing materials introduce international essay competitions as opportunities to practise independent research, critical analysis and expression in English. The learning focus is on forming a clear position, finding relevant evidence, organising an argument and responding thoughtfully to other viewpoints.

Two competitions in the original collection

The John Locke Global Essay Prize is presented through questions in areas such as philosophy, economics, politics, history and psychology. The original introduction emphasises looking beyond familiar classroom material to investigate a question independently. It draws attention to a writer's ability to state a position, use evidence, address opposing arguments and persuade through careful reasoning.

The Immerse Education Essay Competition is introduced as a shorter academic-writing challenge across a broad range of disciplines, including natural sciences, humanities, business, arts and emerging technologies. The source describes choosing a question from the competition guide and developing a focused response. Its discussion of assessment includes research, critical analysis, structure, evidence, reasoning and the clarity of written English.

These introductions offer different examples of how a writing task can prompt academic exploration. A useful point of comparison is the work each question asks the writer to do: define an issue, research it, select evidence and explain a conclusion within the required format.

Writing support

The accompanying tutoring poster introduces expertise in applied linguistics, language and media, academic English and study skills. It profiles E. Aslan and L. Lust, with areas of teaching that include academic writing, reading, spoken communication and support for international learners. The emphasis is on developing the skills used to produce and communicate an independent argument.

Course planning and competition entry requirements need to be considered separately. Enquire about the learning plan and the applicable competition cycle. Writing support carries no promise of an award or admission.

Reading the archived competition information

The original Chinese posters contain dated schedules and eligibility statements. In particular, the John Locke schedule is expressly based on a previous year's arrangements. Treat these pages as background material: confirm the current organiser's questions, age criteria, word limits, deadlines and rules on references, originality and AI use before preparing an entry.