1st BAT-ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

DISCUSSION ESSAY

Discuss the pros and cons of mobile phones.

Nowadays, mobile phones seem to be everywhere. However, while they certainly have many supporters, there
are also people who have reservations about them.

Those who are in favour of mobile phones claim that they make communication more immediate and people do
not have to find an ordinary phone when they need to make an urgent phone call. Moreover, they also point out
that they can be a life-saver in the case of an emergency. Finally, some parents feel much more secure when
they know that they can contact their children whenever they want.

On the other hand, those against them argue that they are destroying our social life. They may stop a
conversation when someone has to answer a call. Furthermore, some people have become so addict to them
that when they meet with friends they cannot stop checking their messages and social networks.

In conclusion, it seems to me that mobile phones can make our lives easier in many senses, such as
communicating faster, organising ourselves or even getting information. I believe that they can improve the
quality of our life if we use them adequately.
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TIPS

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1. In the 1 paragraph, mention both sides of the argument. Do not give your opinion.
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2. In the 2 and 3 , present the ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES respectively. Include examples to
support your arguments. Do not mix arguments for and against in the same paragraph.
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3. In the 4 , conclude summarising the points in the previous paragraphs and give YOUR OPINION.
4. There must be a BALANCE between the paragraphs.
5. Use CONNECTORS:
- To introduce the topic: “Nowadays, many people believe/ think/ claim/ argue/ point out (that)… .
However, others…” ; “There are both arguments for and against this idea”; “There are advantages
and disadvantages to this idea”.
- To give both sides of the argument: “On the one hand… On the other hand…” ; “One (dis)
advantage of … is …” ; “However/ Nevertheless, some people would argue that…”; “Meanwhile
some people believe that…, others …”.
- To add ideas: “Moreover”; “Furthermore”; “In addition”; “What is more”, “as well (as)”; “too”; “and”;
“also”; “besides”.
- To contrast ideas: “However”; “Nevertheless”; “Nonetheless”; “In spite of”*; “Despite”*; “Although”;
“Even though”; “but”; “while”, “yet”; “even if”
- To express result: “Consequently”; “As a consequence”; “As a result”; “For that reason”; “so”;
“because”.
- To give evidence: “It is clear that…”; “According to”; “Research has shown that”.
- To give examples: “For example”; “For instance”; “such as”; “like”.
- To conclude: “All in all”; “In conclusion”; “To sum up”; “On the whole”.
- To give opinion: “Personally, I believe/ think that…”; “It seems to me that…”; “In my opinion”.