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Points 10 considerBefore you start writirg your essay you sbould
make a fui of'tbe pointsfor and agaost,Each paragraph should start
with a topic senterce whieh summarizes the topi: ofthe paragraphm
topie senterce should be folhwed by supportzg sentences whch
justify the argumertpresented in fue topie senterce, by giving
examples or reasons. You should use linkilgwords/phrases to presert
your justiicatiors (they will be Iisted later).Travelling by train
has a lot of advantages (tapie sentenee)First ofall, 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 orbeverages with your, because most
trains have a restaurant. Finally, when your travel by trainyour
reach your destination fairiy quickly. (supponing sentences)Make
sure eaeh paragraph has more thm one senterce.
e.g. One advantage of using a word processor is that it saves
time. It is much quicker tomake corrections on one than it is to do
them by hand.
Do not use infurrnal sty1e (e.g. short forms, colloquial
language; etc.) or strorg larguage toexpress youropinim(e.g. 1know
... , ete.). express your opinion inan mn-emotjonal way (e.g.
ltseems that, 1therefore feel; ... , ete.).Well known quotations
relevant to fue topic you are writirg about will make your compos
tionmore interesting. For example, ifyou are wrting an essay on
edueation, a quotation you mayilclude is: "Education is
aprogressive discovery of our own ignorance " (Will Durant)
ForandAgainst Essays
A 'for ard against" essay is a formal piece ofwritilg nwhieh you
dscussfue advantages and disadvantages of a speeific topie.A good
essay offhis type should consist o:f.a) an intrnductory paragraph
in which you c1early state tbe tapie to bediscussed, wihn. giving
your opzrion;b) a main body in whieh you presert fue poirts for and
tbe pointsagainst, in separate paragraphs, supporting your
argurnents with examplesand justificatiom.e) a conclusion in whieh
you state your opinion or give a bahncedcorsideratjon of'tbe
tapie.
Note:Opinon words (1think, 1believe, In my opinion; de.) can
only beused iJ. tbe closirg paragraph where you give your opsron on
fuetapie.You can :find this type of writing in articles in
rewspapers,magazine s, etc.
Introdncticn
Paragraph 1State tapie (sununary ofthe topie Wthout gi.vmgyour
opjnion)
Mainbody
Parap-aphs 2 & 3Arglmeds :/Df &justifieations,
examplcsand/or reasonsParagraphs 4 & 5Arguments against
&justifications, examp les,and/or reasons
Coaeluson
Final paragraphBalancedconsiderationlyouropinim dire ct1y
orindrectly
Note: AJthough fuese are "balanced" argumert.s, ifyou feel that
either fue for and against sjde isstronger and should be supported,
this side should be presented in paragraphs 4 &5, tbus leading
fuereader to your conclusion
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Useful expresskms and Iinking words/phrases
To Iist points:Firstly, Fjrst ofall, In the frst place, To
begjrrstart withSecorrlly, Thirdly, Finally, Last but not
least,
To Iist advantages:One/ Amther/ A :fu:rthe:r/An additional
(major) advantage of ... E ...'!'re rnainlgreatestlfirst advantage
of ... is ...One point ofview in favour of ..It is often
suggestedlbelievedlargued that. ..Some/Many people suggest/feel
argue that ...Some/Many people are in fvour of/are convinced tha.t
....
To Iist disadvantages:One/Amtber/A
:fu:rthe:r/Anadditional(major) dsadvarnage/ drawback of ...'!'re
rnainlgreatest/rnost serious/first d sadvantage/drawback of
...Another regative aspect of ...SomelManypeople are against ...One
pointla.rgument against ... To introduce points/arguments
fororagainst:One (very convincing) pointlargument in favour of ...
/ agairst ...A:fu:rthe:r cornrnon critjcism of ... / It coull be
argued that ...
often claimedlsuggestedIt is widelyargued
generally felt/be lievedtbat ...
some/many/rnost peopk/experts/scientists/s ceptics/critics
support /oppose the v:iew tbat ...
chim/suggest/argue/fueVbel:ieve/agree tha.t ...
are in favour of'against ...offhe op:inion thatlconvinced tlat
...opposed to ...
To add mOR points to the same topic:In addiion (to this),
furtbermore, moreover, besides, apart from, what E more, as weH as,
not tomention (the fact) tha.t, also, not only ... but also/as
wel], both ... aro, there is another side to
thejssue/questiorr'argumertt of ...
To make contrasting points:on fue other barr, it rnay be said
that, ...bowever, still, yet, o s oppose viewpourbut, nonethekss,
rnanypeople (strongJy) disagree ... ,revertheless, even so,
clairrrfeekbel.eve ths argumert is Ilcorrect
akbough, though, even though, while, whilst, whereas, despite/in
spite of (the fact tha.t), regardlessof'tbe fact tbat
Opponents of. .. arguelbelieve/claim that ...
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To introduce example s:for example, for irstance, such as, like,
in particular, particuarly, especially,Ths is (clearly)
illustrated/shown by fue fact that ...One /A elear/typjcal example
of(this) ...
To empbasise a point:Clearly, obviously, it is obvious,
natura1ly, ofcourse, indeed
To express reality:In fact, fue fact (of fue rratter) is,
actually; in practice, it is a fact that
To make general statements:as a (general) rule, generally, in
general, on fue whole, To make partially correct statements:to a
eertain extent, in a way/s ense, this :ispartJy true (but), to a
limited extent, tbere :issome truth in(ths), :insome cases To
explainlclarifY a point: in other words, this/which mears tlat
To express cause: du.eto (fue fact that), on the grounds that,
given that, because, as, since To express effects: therefore, thus,
as a result/consequence, so, for this reason, if ... were to
Iappen, ... fue effsct/result would be ...To express intention:
to, so as to, :inorderto, so that, with fue intentiJnof(+ -irg)
Conclusion expressing balanced considerations/opinion
indirectly
In conclusion,On balance,All things considered,Takjrg everything
rto aceount/consideratjon,To condude,To
sumup,Allinall,FinallylLastly,
t seems that ...tmay be concluded/said tlat ...t is
lik:ely/unlikelylpossible thatt is clear/obvious that ...tbere is
no/little doubt that ...t canlmust be saidlcla:irnedthat ...alhmgh
it most be said that ...t is true to say that ...
Tbere is no absolute arswer to tle question of ...
In conclusion,Allinall,To sumup,
clear/apparent aboveit is plainlobvious from fue
evident foregoing
evidencepointsarguments
Conclusion expressing opinion directly
In conclusion,On balance,All things considered,Takjrg everything
rto account/consideraton,To conclude,To sumup,All in all,
t is inmybem:f7opinionthlt ...1(:firrnly)believe/fuellthink tlnt
...1am convinced that ...1am mclined to believe that ...1 (do not)
agree thatlwth ...
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Excerc :5es:
Read the main body of the for and against essay below (l[l the
t~ic: "Discu=the Mew thtst ISIIverMI6 pl't1l1U1les ex~
COIISJUIferism." Theoread the be~s and en~s and say mch of the
techniques has been used in each one. FinalIy, replace the bold
type wlrds or phrases inthe main b ody with (l[les similar in
meaning.
BEGINNINGS ...
1. Whelher it :5 on TV, radio or hoarding; at the side of'the
road, advert semeras have become a part of'our lives. Is
advertising smpy a means o:in:IDrmlngthe public or does
:itencourage consizners to purchase they do not real\> need?
2. Advertisng is a powerful ~ persuasive med:ium You may reel
this is an mrusion nyour daily lik, and resent the pressure on you
to spendmoney. Others, however, ergoy!he variety whiehthis higIy
creative mdusfry bring; to everyday lik.
3. Advertising is an e.fli:ctive way oselling new products, and
many peop1e argue that its e:frectiveness bra:i1washes us irto
unnecessary spendingOthers, however, disagree, As Jeremy Tunstall
sajd, "Advertising can't sello2'l)lproduct; it can ony help to sel
a product the people want to buy."
One of the main ar~ents flr advertising :isthat t
generateswealth fOr a country. TI is to say, 3Xes paid on goods
s01