For and Against Essay

ESL Writing

1. “ For and Against ” Essays Intermediate 1 Writing (Notes from Succesful Writing by Virginia Evans)

2. Type of writing It is a type of discursive writing in which you discuss advantages and disadvantages of a specific topic. You must not include opinion words (I believe, I think, etc.) in the introduction or the main body. You can only use opinion words in the final paragraph , where you may state your opinion on the topic. It is written in a formal style . Therefore, you should avoid: strong language (I know, I am sure, etc.), short sentences, colloquial expressions or idioms. You can find this type of writing in articles in newspapers, magazines, etc. Therefore you must include a title.

3. Structure Introduction Paragraph 1 : present the topic , making a general remark about it without giving your opinion. Main body Paragraph 2 : write two or three advantages . Paragraph 3: write two or three disadvantages . Support your arguments with justifications / examples. Conclusion Paragraph 4: include your opinion (e.g. In my opinion / I believe / I think, etc.) or a balanced summary of the topic.

4. Techniques to begin or end your essay Address the reader directly e.g. If you take the time to train your dog, it will learn to obey you . Include a quotation . It is necessary to mention the name of the person who said/wrote it. e.g. As George Orwell wrote, “ All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others .” Include a rhetorical question e.g . Are all families ready for a dog?

5. Main Body Paragraphs You should start each main body paragraph with a topic sentence which introduces or summarises the main topic of the paragraph. The topic sentence should be followed by supporting sentences which justify the arguments presented in the topic sentence, by giving examples or reasons. You should use linking words/phrases to present your justifications, such as: first of all, what is more, for example, etc.

6. Example of Main Body Paragraph Travelling by train has a lot of advantages. (topic sentence) First of all , it is comfortable as trains are spacious so there is plenty of room to walk about. What is more , trains are convenient. For example , you do not have to take any food or beverages with you, because most trains have a restaurant. Finally , when you travel by train you reach your destination fairly quickly. (supporting sentences)

7. Example of a “For and Against” Essay Living without a TV Almost every family today has a TV, in fact probably more than one, and people everywhere spend hours watching it. But, a few families choose not to have a TV because they think there are many drawbacks to owning one. Living without a TV has certainly got its advantages. The first one is that families spend more time talking to each other. Secondly, they spend more time doing more creative things like reading or painting. Thirdly, they spend more time outdoors, and therefore they are usually more fit. But on the other hand, there are also disadvantages. For example, children who don’t have a TV may feel different from their school friends, and often won’t know what they are talking about. Also, it is not true that all TV programmes are bad. There are good ones, like documentaries, and people who live without a TV may know less about what’s happening in the world. In conclusion, although living without a TV has some advantages, I think today it’s unrealistic and that we should try to turn the TV off when there’s nothing good on.