Writing Examples

The library door creaked open, and Maya stepped inside, her heart pounding. She'd avoided this place for weeks, ever since the incident with the overdue books that had cost her library privileges. Today was different. She needed that marine biology book for her project, the one that could help her understand why the dolphins at the aquarium behaved so strangely. "Can I help you?" The librarian's voice was warm, not accusatory like Maya had feared. She clutched her library card tighter. "I... I'm looking for a book about dolphins," Maya managed, her voice barely above a whisper. The librarian smiled and gestured toward the natural sciences section. As Maya followed, she noticed the afternoon sunlight streaming through the tall windows, painting golden rectangles on the polished floor. Maybe coming back wasn't going to be as terrible as she'd imagined. By the time she left, the book tucked safely under her arm, Maya realized something important: facing what you're afraid of often turns out to be easier than running from it.

Schools should extend recess from 20 minutes to 40 minutes, and the evidence is clear. First, longer recess improves academic performance. A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that students who had more recess time showed better focus and higher test scores. After sitting through lessons, our brains need time to reset. Twenty minutes barely gives us time to eat lunch, let alone truly relax and recharge. Second, extended recess promotes physical health. Childhood obesity is a growing concern in Australia, with nearly one in four children overweight. Those extra 20 minutes would allow students to engage in more active play: running, playing sports, or simply moving around, rather than rushing through lunch. Some argue that longer recess means less learning time. However, countries like Finland, which consistently ranks among the world's best education systems, schedule 75 minutes of recess daily. Their students outperform ours despite "losing" instructional time, proving that breaks enhance rather than hinder learning. The choice is clear: forty minutes of recess means healthier, happier, more focused students. Our school should implement this change immediately.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants create their own food, and understanding it reveals why plants are essential to all life on Earth. The process occurs primarily in plant leaves, which contain millions of tiny green structures called chloroplasts. These chloroplasts hold chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green colour and captures energy from sunlight. This light energy is the key ingredient that makes the entire process possible. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air through tiny pores called stomata. At the same time, their roots draw water from the soil. Inside the chloroplasts, the captured sunlight energy transforms these simple ingredients (carbon dioxide and water) into glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The plant uses glucose as food for growth and energy, while releasing the oxygen into the air as a by-product. This oxygen release is crucial for humans and animals, who need oxygen to breathe. In fact, the vast majority of Earth's oxygen comes from photosynthesis performed by plants and ocean-dwelling algae. Without this process, our planet would have no oxygen-rich atmosphere, making complex life impossible. Understanding photosynthesis helps us appreciate why protecting plant life and forests matters so deeply. They're not just beautiful, they're fundamental to our survival.