How to write a for and against essay

HOW TO WRITE A FOR AND AGAINST ESSAY

1) Generate ideas

Please, dedicate two or three minutes to plan what you are going to say. Make a list of the points for and against. They should be noted impartially, although in your conclusion you can say why you find one side more convincing than the other.

You can use a mindmap! -->

2) Organize your ideas Pay attention to how you have organised the information into paragraphs and grouped ideas. Try to write clearly and economically. For example, instead of a very long sentence, use two shorter sentences.

3) Organise your essay into three parts:

• Introduction (Paragraph 1). Introduce the topic. The opening should engage the reader’s interest and give a hint of what is to follow.
• Main Body. In Paragraph 2, you state your arguments for and in Paragraph 3, your arguments against.
• Conclusion (Paragraph 4). You refer back to the topic and summarize. Here you can say why you find one side more convincing than the other.

4) It’s important that you begin each paragraph with a main idea and then develop this idea. For a new idea, begin a new paragraph. 5) This is academic writing, so do not use an informal style. Please, do not use contractions (*isn't --> is not), colloquial words (*kick the bucket --> die), or emotional language. 6) Remember to use a variety of grammatical structures and vocabulary adequate to your level.

EXAMPLE Your English class have been discussing the topic of young people using the internet. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay answering the following question: Is the internet bad for young people? (TITLE) Is the internet bad for young people? (INTRODUCTION) It is now easier than ever to access the internet, whether you are using a computer, phone or tablet. There is no doubt that many young people are spending more and more time online, with both positive and negative consequences. --> Start by saying what the current situation is or introducing the debate.

(MAIN BODY) (PARAGRAPH 2) One advantage of the Internet is that young people can do research for their schoolwork and homework. This often helps teenagers to widen their knowledge and improve their grades. Another positive aspect of the internet is that people can practise foreign languages by chatting to friends in other countries. This is also a good tool of keeping in touch with friends and family around the world. --> In the second paragraph talk about the advantages or reasons in favour. Use expressions like One / Another advantage of X is...

(PARAGRAPH 3) One the other hand, there are also negative consequences. Some young people become addicted to online gaming and this can mean that they waste too much time playing these games. This can have a negative effect on their schoolwork, the amount of exercise they get and their social lives. In addition, excessive internet use can mean that some young people hardly talk to their families because they are always on the computer. --> In the third paragraph give the disadvantages or reasons against.

(CONCLUSION) To sum up, spending time on the internet can have a negative impact on young people, but it also has many advantages. Personally, I think the internet is an incredible tool and the benefits of internet access outweigh the dangers. However, we should be careful not to use the internet excessively. Finally, sum up the main arguments using To sum up,... or To conclude,... Give your opinion too, using expressions like Personally,... or In my opinion,...

GIVING EXAMPLES

• Desserts, brownies and cake, to name (but) a few.
• The meat is served with some vegetables, namely, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes and carrots.

USEFUL LANGUAGE ADDITION

• What is more,...
• Moreover,...
• Furthermore,...
• In addition,…
• In addition to this,…
• Additionally,…
• Another point to remember is that…
• On top of that,…
• Together with that,…

CLARIFYING SOMETHING

• In other words,...
• ..., that is to say,...
• Let me clarify this for you.

CONCLUSION

• On balance, it seems that...
• To finish with, I would like to say that...
• Last,…
• Lastly,…
• Last but not least,...
• To sum up,…
• To summarise,…

CONTRAST

• while
• whereas
• though
• in contrast
• on the contrary
• instead
• however
• otherwise

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Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions! Premium tip: Get information on how your audience interacts with your creation:

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