Writing. For and Against Essay PDF

Preview

Summary

apuntes...

Description

INGLÉS INSTRUMENTAL WRITING. FOR AND AGAINST ESSAYS

A "for and against" essay is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view. You should present both sides in a fair way by discussing them objectively and in equal detail. A good essay of this type should consist of: a) an introductory paragraph in which you clearly state the topic to be discussed, without giving your opinion; b) a main body in which the points for and against along with your justifications, examples or reasons are presented in separate paragraphs; c) a closing paragraph in which you state your opinion or give a balanced consideration of the topic. The purpose of the text is to inform readers about a specific topic of interest, pointing out its advantages and disadvantages and drawing a conclusion, so you should: - Use weighting argument expressions: on the one hand... on the other hand, one of the advantages/disadvantages of... - Use comparisons: compared to, similarly... - Use contrast words or expressions: however, in contrast to, on the contrary... - Support your ideas by including examples and reasons for what you have said. - Introduce your arguments using opinion words (I think, I believe, In my opinion, etc.), especially in the closing paragraph where you give your opinion on the topic.

Structure A “for and against” essay has three parts: 1. Introduction (Paragraph 1): It introduces the subject of the article and states why it is an important issue at the present time. It may present a summary of the topic but without giving our opinion on it. We can make a comparison of past and present judgments on the issue, include a quotation or ask a rhetorical question.

2. Main Body (Paragraph 2 or Paragraphs 2 & 3): It offers arguments for and justifications, examples, and reasons to defend an idea and some others against with more examples and reasons to attack it. 3. Conclusion (Final Paragraph) It states your opinion or gives a balanced consideration of the topic. Conclusions need only three or four strong sentences which do not follow any set formula. Simply review the main points (being careful not to restate them exactly) or briefly describe your feelings about the topic. Even an anecdote can end your article in a useful way.

Useful expressions: To list points:

Firstly

To begin/start with

First of all

Secondly

In the first place

Thirdly

Finally

To list advantages:

One/Another/A further/An additional (major) advantage of… is … The main/greatest/first advantage of… is … One (very convincing) point/argument in favour of… To list disadvantages: One/Another/ A further/An additional (major) disadvantage/drawback of. The main/greatest/most serious/first disadvantage /drawback of… Another negative aspect of… To introduce points/arguments for or against: It could be argued that….. It is often claimed/suggested that… It is widely maintained that…..

Some experts are of the opinion that/convinced that… Some experts are opposed to… To add more points to the same topic:

in addition (to this) furthermore moreover besides apart from what is more To make contrasting points:

on the other hand however nevertheless even so

To introduce examples:

for example for instance such as in particular especially This is (clearly) illustrated/shown by the fact that… For conclusions: expressing balanced considerations/opinion indirectly

In conclusion On balance All things considered To conclude

To sum up All in all Finally/Lastly

Tips to write a “for and against” essay: - Make a list of the points for and against the topic before you start writing. - Write well-developed paragraphs in which the points you present are supported with justification. Make sure each paragraph has more than one sentence. - Do not use informal style (i.e., contractions, colloquial language, too many phrasal verbs, etc.) or strong language (e.g., “I firmly believe…”). - Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence which summarizes what the paragraph is about.

For and Against Essays – Samples

The development of technology and communications during the last decade of the 20th century has had an important influence in our lives. It has revolutionized the way of working, learning and communicating. But what has changed our life the most is definitely the internet. However, there are advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of computing is probably that it gives access to the information quickly and easily. It also helps us to do tasks more efficiently. What is more, technology improves the lives of those who have less opportunities and access to education and it contributes to the development of poor or isolated regions in the world. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages. People have to learn new skills since the world of work has changed. As a result, people who cannot use computers will not be able to get a job. Besides, we depend so much on computing that if the computer breaks down or there is not electricity we cannot work at all. In conclusion, I think the computer chip is probably the most useful invention of the 20th century, in spite of having to face some difficulties to adapt ourselves to new technologies.

Over the years, mankind has recognised the need for personal and social freedom, and this is perhaps one of the important social advancements ever made. However, whether it has led to personal happiness is debatable. Many people would argue that greater freedom has led to increased social disorder and personal dissatisfaction. First, it is true that people are now more at liberty to choose how to live their lives. For example, in the Western world at least, the choice of where to live, what career to pursue and which religion to follow has never been greater. In addition to this people have more leisure time in which to enjoy a wider range of recreational activities. On the other hand, it can be argued that this increased freedom can lead people to take things for granted and expect too much from life. As an example of this, the greater choice of material goods available has resulted in people quickly growing bored with t possessions. No sooner have they acquired something new, they tire of it. To conclude, there is evidence both to support and refute the view that greater freedom does not necessarily bring greater happiness. On the one hand, people have more opportunities to raise their standard of living. On the other hand, the many examples of protests, strikes and criminal activities which are a feature of modern society are a sign that, although people may be free, they are not necessarily happier....