What is FLARE? LearnUp's argument-writing framework
FLARE is LearnUp's framework for discursive and argumentative writing — the part of the exam where students must take and defend a position. It maps an essay across five moves (Frame, Lead, Alternate, Respond, End), with each body move built as a PEEL paragraph. It is to argument what SPARK is to story.
Key facts
| Use for | Discursive & argumentative essays |
| Structure | 5-move essay arc |
| Paragraph engine | PEEL |
| Exam fit | G2 / G3 Continuous Writing (Section C) |
| Sibling framework | SPARK (narrative) |
What FLARE is for
At G2 and G3, one continuous-writing option asks students to argue — “How far do you agree?”, “What are your views?”, or to weigh advantages and disadvantages. These reward a clear position, fair handling of the other side, and reasoning that holds up. FLARE gives students a repeatable shape so they are never staring at a blank page wondering how to begin.
Its tagline — “make your point catch fire” — captures the goal: not just listing opinions, but building an argument that persuades.
The five moves
F — Frame: hook the reader, state your position (for an argument) or your balanced intent (for a discursive essay), and signal where the essay is going.L — Lead argument: your strongest point for your side, written as a full PEEL paragraph.A — Alternate view: the counter-argument, or the other side, put fairly — not a straw man.R — Respond & reinforce: rebut the counter or weigh both sides, and hold your ground with reasoning.E — End with conviction: restate your reasoned stance, add no new points, and finish on a strong final line.PEEL does the heavy lifting
Each body move is a PEEL paragraph — Point, Evidence, Explain, Link. The Explain sentence is where the content marks live: it is the reasoning that turns an example into an argument. Students who only state and give an example, without explaining why it supports the point, leave marks on the table.
See our companion guide to PEEL paragraphs for the paragraph technique in detail.Process: study, plan, write
FLARE is taught with the same discipline as SPARK: study the prompt (what is it really asking, which stance can you best defend), plan the five moves on paper, and only then write. Planning first is what keeps an argument from drifting halfway through.
Where FLARE fits in the LearnUp method
FLARE is Strand 2 of the secondary English curriculum — the argument sibling of the narrative strand (BLAST into SPARK). A student who has both can write a story or an argument on demand, which is exactly the Section C choice. Both are marked on the same ladder: Content (/10) and Language (/20).
Frequently asked questions
What is FLARE used for?
FLARE is for discursive and argumentative essays — the continuous-writing option at G2 and G3 where you take and defend a position. It is not for narrative writing; that's SPARK.
What do the letters in FLARE stand for?
Frame, Lead argument, Alternate view, Respond & reinforce, End with conviction — five moves that structure a full argument essay.
How is FLARE different from SPARK?
SPARK structures a story; FLARE structures an argument. They are siblings in the LearnUp method, marked on the same Content and Language ladder.
Do I still need PEEL if I use FLARE?
Yes — each body move in FLARE is written as a PEEL paragraph. PEEL is the paragraph engine inside the FLARE essay arc.
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