For and against essay

What is a for and against or discussion essay?

A discussion essay is a text in which you consider a topic/statement

from opposite points of view before giving your own opinion.
 Structure

PARAGRAPH 1 Introduction to the topic

PARAGRAPH 2 Arguments for / advantages
PARAGRAPH 3 Arguments against / disadvantages
PARAGRAPH 4 Your own opinion
 Before starting...
arguments in favour
● Make a list with
arguments against

● Choose your two strongest arguments in each category.

● Decide what your own opinion is.

Reading and writing is more important than maths.

 Language
You need to use:

Linkers to express addition, reason, result and contrast.

to introduce the topic, to give evidence and

Expressions
examples and to give your opinion.

Grammar
modal verbs, the passive voice, conditionals
forms like
 Tips for discussion essays

● Do not give your opinion in the first paragraph, just give a general
introduction to the topic.
● Do not mix up arguments for and against in the same paragraph.
● Try to write a similar amount of arguments for both your for and
against paragraphs to show you are giving a balanced view.
● Support your arguments by giving evidence.
● Only give your own opinion in the final paragraph.
EXAMPLE
Addition linkers

as well
as well as
Contrast linkers

Although
Despite/in spite of
Even though
Whereas
Yet
Reason or cause linkers

Because (of)
Due to
Since / As
Result linkers

As a result,
Consequently,
As a consequence,
Therefore,
Expressions to introduce the topic
Expressions to give evidence
Expressions to give your opinion
Time to practise!
 EXERCISE 1: addition linkers
Read the text. Which of the blue words and phrases can you replace with the words
and phrases in the box? If no replacement is possible, write 'none' in your notebook.

as well / as well as / furthermore / in addition / moreover

I don't understand why people criticize social media like Facebook and Twitter.
They're useful and they're fun too. Using them means that you can always be in touch
As
with people, wherever you are. well What's more, you learn a lot of interesting things
from the links, videos and information which people post. We've also seen how
Moreover
effective social media is for spreading commercial or political messages. So besides -
helping you to contact friends, these sites are also educational and a whole lot more
incredibly useful as
tools
well for
as the digital age.
 EXERCISE 2: contrast
1. .................. the high price, many people buy these jeans
a. On the one hand b. Despite c. Although

2. Bill is rather clever,.................... his brother is just average.

a. in spite of b. on the other hand c. whereas

3. It was hot and humid. .................., they really enjoyed their holiday.
a. However b.In spite of the fact that c. Whereas
 EXERCISE 2: contrast
4. Forests are important to our planet. .........................., people are destroying forests all
over the world.
a. Yet b. On the contrary c. On the one hand

5. .................. there are laws against pollution, cars and factories continue to pollute
the air.
a. However b. Although c. Despite
 EXERCISE 3: cause
Fill in the blanks with a suitable connector. There may be more than one correct.
Due to / As / Since / because of
1. Doctors believe that some new diseases have appeared.......................sincewe take
too many antibiotics.
2. Scientists argue that the world's climate is changing ...........................
because ofthe
greenhouse effect.
3. ........
As he's working on this project, Andrew can share in the decision-making
process.
due to
4. Many rivers have burst their banks ……………... the unusually heavy rainfall.
5. .................
Since the pupils passed the test with such high marks, the teacher decided
she could set a harder test the next time.