FOR&AGANST ESSAY

We write it when we want to present a balanced argument, giving points for and against
(pros and cons) (advantages and disadvantages / drawbacks).
We give your own opinion at the end of the essay.

Get ideas (Brainstorming)

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

Structure your ideas

PARAGRAPH 1 Introduction to the topic

PARAGRAPH 2 Arguments for / advantages
PARAGRAPH 2 Arguments against / disadvantages
PARAGRAPH 4 Conclusion / Opinion

PARAGRAPH 1: INTRODUCTION: Give a general introduction to the topic. Do not give your opinion in the
first paragraph.
● Some/Many people think that / believe that / consider that… However, / Nevertheless…
● Is it possible to…? (Rhetorical question)
● There are strong arguments for and against this idea.
● There are both advantages and disadvantages to this idea.
● In the last few decades, this topic has generated a lot of controversy and there is an intense debate
about it.
PARAGRAPH 2: ADVANTAGES. (Do not mix up arguments for and against in the same paragraph. Give at
least two arguments. Support your arguments by giving evidence or thinking about the possible
consequences of any change)
● To introduce the paragraph:
o On the one hand,... / Firstly, … / One advantage is…
● To add advantages:
o In addition (to this), / Furthermore, / Moreover, / What’s more, / Besides, …
o Another argument for this idea is… / Another advantage is that…
● To give examples:
o For example,… / For instance, / Such us…
● To give reasons and result:
o …, because / as…
o Because of… / As a result of this, …
o One result / effect of this is that…

PARAGRAPH 3: DISADVANTAGES (Try to write a similar amount of arguments in both for and against
paragraphs to show you’re giving a balanced view)
● To introduce the paragraph:
o On the other hand,…. / However, / Nevertheless, it can also be argued that…
● To add advantages:
o In addition (to this), / Furthermore, / Moreover, / What’s more, / Besides, …
o Another argument against this idea is… / Another disadvantage/drawback is that…
● To give examples:
o For example,… / For instance, / Such us…
● To give reasons and result:
o …, because / as… Because of…
o As a result of this, … One result / effect of this is that…

PARAGRAPH 4: CONCLUSION / PERSONAL OPINION (Don’t introduce new arguments in the last
paragraph. Give a conclusion / summary and state your personal opinion about the topic.)
● To start the paragraph:
o In conclusion, / To sum up,…
● To give your opinion:
o Personally, I think / I believe / I feel / I am of the opinion that…
o I strongly believe that …
o I strongly agree/disagree with…
o In my opinion / view,…
o Although I partly agree that…, overall, I think that…