From Opinion to Argument: Teaching Students to Write with Academic Authority

Upper primary and secondary teachers across all subject areas Overview: Many students have strong opinions but struggle to express them as structured, evidence-based arguments. This practical session reframes academic writing as the formalisation of ideas students already care about, helping teachers bridge the gap between informal opinion and rigorous argument. Using engaging, high-interest topics, such as popular culture, sport, and social media, participants will learn how to guide students from personal viewpoints to clear, academically structured responses. The session demonstrates how, once a strong perspective is established, key elements such as thesis statements, topic sentences, evidence, and conclusions emerge more naturally and effectively. In this session, participants will learn how to: Werner Labuschagne is an Academic Literacy specialist with a Master’s degree in English, who has worked across higher education as a lecturer, supervisor, and academic skills adviser. He specialises in supporting students to develop confident, structured arguments and clear analytical writing. His work is driven by an interest in how students already think and interpret the world, and how those instincts can be developed into strong academic expression. Inspirational Speakers – the knowledge gained will be so beneficial in my classrooms “AI Skills for Busy School Admin Teams by Tracy Anthony & Dennis Wollersheim” I have already enhanced my skills over the past week – been able to interact with AI program to redraft, polish and give suggestions/ideas. Australian International School Hong Kong Loved the honesty in the sharing of information and strategies Classroom Dynamics – the latest strategies and solutions to positive classroom management – Glen Pearsall I really enjoyed the small group size. The sessions were interactive and we not only saw Glenn demonstrate how he would use strategies himself but we heard from other educators on their challenges and thoughts and also saw video examples from other schools. I find this multi modal style of presentation much more engaging. It was also appreciated to have a copy of the book to take back to school and access to the online platform. Just a big Thank you for giving us the opportunity to attend the Critical Agenda Workshop yesterday. David presented a great program, lots of handy strategies and he was very engaging and supportive. Highly recommended. I was very happy we did not have to do any Role play’s. Classroom Dynamics – the latest strategies and solutions to positive classroom management – Glen Pearsall Top quality presenter who knows his stuff and delivers it in a way that is easy to understand and to apply. Check in was easy and the Critical Agendas staff were very helpful and professional. Passionate & Authentic Speakers – Meaningful Strategies “Build Positive Relationships and a Positive Work Environment Within Your Administration Team/Office by Sally Learey” This session