OPINION ESSAY

Examples:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people think the main purpose of schools is to turn children into good citizens and workers, rather
than to benefit them as individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

TYPE 1: FULLY AGREE/ DISAGREE

Structure:

Intro: Paraphrase the statement and express your opinion: say that you (dis)agree

Main body para 1: Reason 1 why you (dis)agree

Main body para 2: Reason 2 why you (dis)agree

*Main body para 3: Reason 3 why you (dis)agree (*optional)

*Main body para 3/4: Opposite opinion (possible) + refutation (*optional)

Conclusion: Restate the rubric + restate that you complete (dis)agree with it

Model:

Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?

There is no doubt that men and women should have the same educational opportunities. However, I do
not agree with the idea of accepting equal proportions of each gender in every university subject.

First of all, having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic.
Student enrollment on any course depend on the number of applications that the institution receives. If
a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it would need sufficient
numbers of applicants of each gender. In reality, many courses are more popular with one gender than
the other, and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For example, nursing courses tend
to attract significantly more female applicants, while engineering, computing and maths are far more
male-dominated subjects. Therefore, it would be difficult to fill such courses with equal percentages of
students of either sex.

Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be unfair to base
admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select the best candidates for
each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both men and women have the same
opportunities, and applicants know that they will be accepted if they achieve good grades at school, or
pass the entrance exams with a high score. If a female student is the best candidate for a place on a
course, it will be wrong to reject her in favour of a male student with lower academic performance,
simply to ensure equal enrollment of both sexes.

In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit rather than gender, and it
would be both impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure based on gender.

(296 words)
TYPE 2: PARTLY AGREE (BALANCED OPINION)

Structure:

Intro: Paraphrase the statement and say which part you agree with, and which you disagree with

Main body para 1: Reasons why you agree

Main body para 2: Reasons why you disagree

Conclusion: Restate the rubric + restate what you agree with, and what you disagree with

Model:

It is important for children to learn the difference between right and wrong at an early age. Punishment
is necessary to help them learn this distinction. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
opinion?

One important stage in a child’s growth is certainly the development of a conscience, which is linked to
the ability to tell right from wrong. My firm conviction is that this skill is taught by good parenting,
rather than harsh punishments. However, I do agree that certain punishments may play a role in
teaching children to bear the responsibility for their behavior.

Punishments can often be inefficient or even harmful, entailing many negative consequences
unintended by the parents. To some extent, this depends on the age of a child. To punish a very young
child is both wrong and foolish, as an infant will not understand why he or she is being punished.
Moreover, punishment must not be of physical nature, as it merely sends the message that it is
acceptable for larger people to hit smaller ones — an outcome which may well result in the child
starting to bully others. To help youngsters learn the difference between right and wrong, teachers and
parents should firstly provide good role modelling in their own behavior. I believe that setting positive
examples for children will achieve far more than harsh punishments.

On the other hand, I do agree that certain sanctions can teach children to face consequences of their
actions. Teachers and parents can use a variety of humane methods to discipline their young charges,
such as detention or withdrawal of privileges. Making the punishment fit the crime is a useful notion,
which would see children picking up rubbish they have dropped, cleaning up graffiti they have drawn, or
apologising to someone they have hurt. In these ways, responsibility is developed in the child, which
leads to better future behaviour.

Taking everything into account, children need to learn to distinguish right from wrong early in their lives.
While disciplinary actions might ensure more responsible behavior in future, I am deeply convinced that
being good role models for children is the best way to instill proper moral principles in children.

(327 words)

DISCUSSION + OPINION ESSAY (DISCURSIVE ESSAY/ “FOR AND AGAINST” ESSAY)

Examples:

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos
can be useful in protecting wild animals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
In many countries, sports stars earn extremely high salaries. Some people believe that sports stars earn
too much money, while others claim that they deserve their high salaries. Discuss both views and give
your opinion.

Structure:

Introduction. Paraphrase both statements (*and maybe present your position)

Main Para 1. View 1: Arguments, reasons and/or examples

Main Para 2. View 2: Arguments, reasons and/or examples.

Conclusion. Restate both views + present/restate your own position.

Model 1:

Some people say that healthcare should be the responsibility of the government but others think that
taking care of one’s health is the responsibility of the individuals themselves. Discuss both views and give
your opinion.

Some people believe that the government should cover the cost of healthcare for its citizens, while
others claim that individuals should be obliged to maintain their own health. As far as I’m concerned,
healthcare is a basic human right and hence responsibility for people’s wellbeing should lie with the
authorities.

One may argue that the cost of healthcare should be covered by individuals themselves. Providing free
healthcare for all citizens is doubtless very costly and can be a heavy financial burden for the
government. As a result, a country’s budget may be stretched, and the authorities would be unable to
allocate sufficient resources to other areas, for instance, education or security. Moreover, obtaining
services for free often means that individuals take those services for granted and do not value them. If
people were required to finance their medical treatments themselves, they would become more
responsible about maintaining their wellbeing, for example, eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise
and take the prescribed medications.

On the other hand, there are many reasons why healthcare should be subsidised by the government.
First of all, a well-developed healthcare system not only improves the wellbeing of people but also
benefits the whole nation. It is undeniable that a patient suffering from a grave disease would not be
able to live a happy, productive and meaningful life. Unhealthy workforce normally results in poor work
efficiency because employees take sick leave more frequently. Even more importantly, healthcare is one
of the fundamental human rights, one everyone is entitled to, regardless of their social class or financial
status.

To conclude, many people consider that individuals should assume responsibility for their healthcare
themselves. However, it is my view that it is essential for the government to allocate funds to the
citizens’ healthcare.

(294 words)

Model 2:
Genetic engineering is an important issue in society today. Some people think that it will improve
people’s lives in many ways. Others feel that it may be a threat to life on earth. Discuss both these views
and give your own opinion.

It is true that genetic engineering is a key area of modern scientific research, with broad implications for
all human societies. While some people are concerned about the potential dangers of this field of
technology, others are convinced that it will undoubtedly benefit the humanity. Personally, I believe
that genetic engineering may make a vast improvement in people’s lives.

On the one hand, many people are worried about the adverse effects of genetic engineering, especially
in terms of food production and cloning humans. Genetically modified crops are already being grown,
and people are concerned that they may damage whole ecosystems as such plant species become
resistant to diseases and natural predators. Even more worrying is the possibility that humans could be
modified or cloned. Antiutopian writers have long envisaged a world in which human clones are used to
fight in wars or to provide body part replacements. There is no doubt that the implications of such
practices would be life-threatening.

Nevertheless, others are convinced that humans will use genetic technologies in a responsible and
beneficial way. From the perspective of food production, genetic engineering could be the solution to
famine in developing countries, if crops can be grown in harsh conditions and be less susceptible to
pests or diseases. From a medical perspective, scientists may use genetic engineering to produce
vaccines, to cure diseases, or to correct genetic defects before a child is born. If properly regulated, even
cloning can improve people’s lives. For instance, cloning individual organs, such as a heart or kidney,
could be permitted for transplant purposes.

Taking everything into account, while genetic engineering certainly seems potentially threatening to a
number of people, my firm conviction is that genetic engineering will have a positive impact on our lives.

(291 words)

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS ESSAY

Examples:

The number of endangered species has increased significantly in this century and we find more mass
extinctions in this period than in any other period of time. State some reasons for this and provide
possible solutions.

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify the most serious ones and
suggest ways that the community can tackle these problems.

One major problem faced by large cities is traffic congestion. What do you think the causes are? What
solutions can you suggest?

Despite a large number of gyms, a sedentary lifestyle is gaining popularity in the contemporary world.
What problems are associated with this? What solutions can you suggest?

The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created
problems that did not exist before. What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and
what solutions can you suggest?

Structure:
Introduction. Paraphrase the statement. Mention the problems/ name the major one + mention the
existence of solutions.

Main Paragraph 1. All problems/causes of problems

Main Paragraph 2. All solutions

Conclusion. Restate the topic; say that the solutions can tackle the problem.

OR

Introduction. Paraphrase the statement. Mention the problems/ name the major one + mention the
existence of solutions.

Main Paragraph 1. Problem/Cause 1 + Solution 1

Main Paragraph 2. Problem /Cause 2 + Solution 2

*Main Paragraph 3. Problem/Cause 3 + Solution 3 (*optional)

Conclusion. Restate the topic; say that the solutions can tackle the problem.

Model 1:

Global warming is a danger the world is facing today. What are the causes of global warming, and what
measures can governments and individuals take to tackle the issue?

Arguably, the most worrying threat to our planet nowadays is climate change. This essay will examine
the reasons why the global change is occurring and suggest some possible solutions to this problem.

The predominant factors resulting in global warming are carbon emissions and deforestation. Carbon
dioxide emissions, primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil, have
risen dramatically since the start of the industrial revolution. Transportation such as planes or fuel-
powered cars, as well as power plants and factories release thousands of tonnes of CO2 into the
atmosphere. There, carbon dioxide collects and absorbs sunlight, which causes the average
temperatures on earth to climb. Carbon dioxide is consumed by forests; therefore, deforestation results
in larger amounts of CO2 remaining in the atmosphere, exacerbating the problem.

Nevertheless, there are various measures that both governments and individuals could take to prevent,
or at least mitigate, climate change. Firstly, governments could introduce laws to limit carbon dioxide
emissions and impose “green taxes” on airline companies and other polluters. Secondly, it is vital to
become less dependent to fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy from solar or wind power. As
individuals, we ought to limit our contribution to climate change by flying less, using bicycles and public
transport. People should purchase electric cars and only use them when strictly necessary. Finally, the
public can affect the actions of governments by voting for politicians who propose to tackle climate
change, rather than for those who prefer to ignore it.

To conclude, it is undeniable that global warming is a serious issue. However, there are certain actions
that governments and individuals can take to reduce its effects.

(278 words)

Model 2:
In many countries the number of visitors to art galleries has been steadily declining. What are the
reasons for this? What could be done to improve the situation?

Nowadays art galleries are visited far less frequently than they used to be. This essay will highlight some
causes for this trend and will suggest some measures to halt and possibly reverse the decline.

The most obvious reason why people have stopped attending galleries is that they seem less engaging in
comparison to new technology. Previously, many people searched for cultural events to occupy their
time; however, nowadays it is easier and more exciting to spend time online. In addition, many famous
artworks can be seen in high definition from the comfort of one’s own home. To solve this problem,
galleries should create exhibits which use cutting-edge technologies such as video projections or even
virtual reality to demonstrate the artwork in a more interactive manner. If curators implemented this
strategy, more visitors would probably be attracted to art galleries.

Another aspect that has reduced the popularity of art exhibitions is the escalating cost which has made
museums unaffordable, especially for disadvantaged families. When faced with the decision of cheap
entertainment or visiting an art gallery, many families understandably choose the more cost-effective
option. To illustrate this point, the Louvre, which is one of the most famous galleries in the world,
charges 15 Euros per person, which would cost around 60 Euros for a family of four. Whereas, this same
family could visit the Eiffel Tower for free. To resolve this situation, galleries could subsidise entry for
families or even provide free entry during quieter times. Admittedly, they may lose money on entrance
fees; nevertheless, this may be offset by increased revenue in the gift shop or cafe.

To sum up, the decrease in popularity of art galleries is mainly due to the easy availability of cheaper
and more interactive pastimes. It seems possible that making art galleries more affordable and
embracing technology to enhance the experience would encourage more people to attend them.

(313 words)