WRITING

Writing about advantages & disadvantages

Some useful phrases & sentence patterns

 One serious/important/major disadvantage is that _________

 Another disadvantage is that _________
 Another problem is that _________
 One important/major advantage is that __________
 Another advantage is that __________
 Another positive thing about _________ is that _________
 The main disadvantage/advantage of _________ is that ________
 One of the good/bad points about _________ is that ________

Exercise 1

Using the prompts, make sentences. Use the phrases & sentence patterns above.

1. credit cards/pay high interest rates

→ One major disadvantage of credit cards is that you must pay high interest rates.
2. credit cards/pay in instalments

3. CCTV cameras/feel safe

4. a dormitory/safe and convenient

5. a flash disk/store a lot of data

6. e-book/not take up a lot of space

7. CD-ROM dictionary/hear the pronunciation

8. online newspaper/reach information quickly

9. online newspaper/see a lot of pop-up adverts

10. speak English/communicate almost everywhere

11. laptop computer/not have to share with everyone

12. cell phones/emit radiation

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Linkers

Study the use of linkers. Then complete the sentences in Exercise 2.

1. ALTHOUGH

Although I don’t like living in the dormitory very much, I have to live there for some
reasons.

I have to live in the dormitory for some reasons although I don’t like living there.

Although my laptop computer is quite old, I am still very happy with it.

I am still very happy with my laptop computer although it is quite old.

2. ON THE OTHER HAND

Many students prefer to live in the dormitory because it is safer and more convenient. On
the other hand, some other students like to live in a flat because they think they have more
freedom than the ones who live in the dormitory.

I really like looking after cats and dogs in the streets. On the other hand, it costs me a
couple of hundred liras a month.

3. THEREFORE

I think; therefore, I am. (Descartes)

I’ve spent a lot this month. Therefore, I’ll have to start saving next month.

My laptop computer is getting slower and breaking down more often than ever. Therefore,
I think I’ll have to buy a new one.

4. HOWEVER

Many students like to live in a flat because they think they have more freedom. However,
they have a lot of complaints about sharing a flat.

I have many credit cards. However, I have to cancel some of them because I don’t want to
pay their card fees.

This is one way of learning how to use linkers. However, there are other ways such as
reading books and writing compositions.

Exercise 2

Use appropriate linkers in the blanks. There may be sometimes more than one
answer.

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 1. We usually have to wait at the bus stop at least 15 to 30 minutes for a bus to come.
___________, we still have to prefer public transport because it is the cheapest way
to travel.
2. Many students realised that they can’t do without passing the Gateway exams.
___________, they have decided to study really hard. 
3. Linkers such as however, therefore, although etc are really crucial when you are
writing. __________, students must learn how to use them properly if they want to
write and speak better.
4. William Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest writer in English.
___________, almost every English Literature student has to study many of his
works.
5. University education is getting more expensive. ___________, most of the families
want their children to get higher education, which doesn’t always guarantee a good
job.
6. Many young people think that the Internet is a means of entertainment and having
fun. ___________, it is the biggest and fastest source of information available on
earth.
7. Use of mobile phones should be banned in public places such as schools
__________ it is the most convenient means of communication.
8. __________ I’ve been driving for so many years, I had some difficulty in driving a
car with an automatic gear that I borrowed from a friend last week.
9. Students who are learning English should know how to learn and study a foreign
language without much help from outside. ___________, they can be an in
independent learner.
10. Some teachers who teach a foreign language forget that they were once students
who were learning a foreign language. __________, they may have some difficulty
in understanding the frustration that many learners have in the classroom.
11. In my opinion, teaching informal and colloquial (even slang) English should be OK
in the classroom. ___________, there may be some teachers (and students) who
would be highly critical of teaching this type of language.
12. ___________ I can write more sentences for this gap-fill exercise, I think this is
enough in order to avoid boring the students and the teachers! 

Try here your own sentences using some linkers that you have learned.

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WRITING

Writing about advantages and disadvantages.

Write a short text discussing the advantages and disadvantages of using credit cards.
Consider the points below. However, you may also use your own ideas.

Advantages Disadvantages
doing faster and easy shopping spending more than the card limit

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paying in instalments paying high interest rates/card fees
gaining/winning points/credits or free not very safe on the Internet
gifts

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Sample answers

A note for the teacher/instructor: the answers here are suggested only. An able teacher will
always find a better way to supply the most suitable answers for such exercises.

Exercise 1
(There are many other possible answers)
2. Another advantage of credit cards is that you can pay in instalments.
3. One of the good points about CCTV cameras is that you feel safer.
4. One major advantage of staying in a dormitory that it is safe and convenient.
5. The main advantage of a flash disk is that it can store a lot of data.
6. The main advantage of an e-book is that it does not take up a lot of space on the
hard disk.

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 7. One major advantage of a CD-ROM dictionary is that you can hear the
pronunciation of a word that you look up.
8. The main advantage of an online newspaper is that you can reach the latest
information quickly.
9. One major disadvantage of an online newspaper is that you have to see a lot of pop-
up adverts.
10. The main advantage of speaking English is that you can communicate almost
everywhere in the world.
11. One advantage of a laptop computer is that you do not have to share it with
everyone.
12. One serious disadvantage of cell phones is that they emit radiation that might be
dangerous if you are exposed too much.

Exercise 2

1. However/On the other hand

2. Therefore
3. Therefore
4. Therefore
5. However/On the other hand
6. However/On the other hand
7. although
8. Although
9. Therefore
10. Therefore
11. However/On the other hand
12. Although

Writing

Sample text:

Today almost everyone has one credit card. That means a credit card has many advantages
when you use it properly. However, there are some complaints about them. One major
advantage of using a credit card is that you don’t have to carry cash when you travel or go
on holiday. Another advantage is that you can pay in instalments. The amount you have to
pay is divided into smaller amounts. Therefore, you can pay easily. On the other hand, a
serious disadvantage is that you may have to pay high interest rates if you spend more than
you can pay back. Therefore, you should stay within the card limit when you go shopping.
In short, credit cards are really helpful if you use them carefully. I think credit cards have
more advantages than disadvantages.

(134 words1)

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A note: I have no idea why we are struggling to teach our students to write as shortest as possible. Writing
short and somewhat “condensed” texts is, I believe, one of the most challenging tasks a writer has to cope
with.

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