AN ESSAY: FOR AND AGAINST

REMEMBER!


To prepare, make a list of arguments in favour of and against the statement in the essay title.
In paragraph 1, write an introduction. Express a general viewpoint (not your personal opinion), ask a rhetorical
question, or use a quotation or interesting comment.
In paragraph 2, express the advantages. Include supporting statements and /or examples.
In paragraph 3, express contrasting disadvantages. Include supporting statements and / or examples.
In the last paragraph, give your opinion or give the reader something to think about.
Make sure all your arguments are clear and relevant to the statement in the essay title.
Use formal language and full forms, with appropriate phrases to introduce examples and a conclusion
Check your work carefully for spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and grammar errors.


PREPARE!

PART 1 Presenting a balanced argument

Read the essay titles and decide whether you agree or disagree with the statements

A
Students would benefit from having a four-day school week. Discuss

B
Secondary schools should start later in the morning. Discuss

Now read the notes and decide whether they relate to essay A, essay B or both. Then write For or
Against next to each point to show whether or not they support the argument. Finally, add two For
and two Against arguments of your own to the list for essay B.

1 students wouldn’t feel so tired or bored in class Both For

2 students could use their free day to do sport or hobbies A For
3 students would be less likely to miss school _____ _____
4 young people should get used to getting up early _____ _____
5 parents would have to take time off work _____ _____
6 students would find it easier to get to school on time _____ _____
7 __________________________________________ _____ _____
8 __________________________________________ _____ _____
9 __________________________________________ _____ _____
10 _________________________________________ _____ _____

PART 2 Writing an introduction

In the introduction, you need to introduce the topic of the essay without expressing your opinion.

Match the three introductory techniques (a-c) to the example opening sentences (1-6).

1
a express a general viewpoint b ask a rhetorical question c use a quotation or interesting comment

1 ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’ said Nelson Mandela.
With this in mind, it is important to consider how best to educate young people.
C
2 Should young people spend five days a week in school when there are so many other things they could
be doing?

3 Some people believe that we should keep the five-day school week, while others think that we should
reduce the school week to just four days.

4 You cannot learn with a tired mind. That’s the thinking behind the call for a four-day school week.

5 Is the five-day school week the best use of a young person’s time, or would it be better for their
education if the spent less time in school?

6 Increasingly, a growing number of people or open to the idea of having a four-day school week.

PART 3 Expressing advantages

In the second paragraph of a for and against essay, we introduce a main advantage to support the argument in the topic
sentence. Next, we add a reason, a consequence and / or an example to support this point. Then we add or list further
points to support the argument.

Read the example paragraph 2. Rewrite it in two different ways using some of the phrases from
the table to replace the underlined words. Make any other necessary changes.

One major advantage of introducing a four-day week is the fact that it allows students free time to do
other things. For example, they might take up sport or a musical instrument. What is more, students
are less likely to get tired and bored in class. This results in better schoolwork. Finally, another
advantage is that students will be less likely to miss school if they have more official days off.

Expressing Introducing examples Listing points Adding further views Expressing results or
advantages or information consequences
A further advantage For example, … First of all, … Besides, As a consequence, …
is that… Finally, … Finally, … Furthermore, … As a result, …
A significant For instance, … In the first place, … In addition to this, … Consequently, …
advantage of … is like Last but not least, … Moreover, …
… such as Secondly, …
Another major plus is To start with, …
that…
One point of view in
favour of … is …

Version 1

A significant advantage of introducing a four-day week is the fact that it allows students free
time to… _______________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2
Version 2
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PART 4 Expressing contrasting disadvantages

In paragraph 3, we introduce disadvantages with reasons and examples. To do this, we need to use phrases to make
contrasting points.

Complete the sentences with the words from the box.

argued even however other spite true

1 On the other hand, there are obvious disadvantages to a four-day week.

2 In ___________ of the arguments in favour of a four-day week, the case for keeping things the same remains strong.
3 ___________, there are also disadvantages to reducing the school week.
4 ___________ though many are convinced that the four-day week is the path to follow, other remain unsure.
5 Despite all these arguments, it can be ___________ that a five-day week is better.
6 While it is __________ to say that a four-day week would be popular with students, it would be unpopular with many of
their parents.

PART 5 Writing a conclusion

In the conclusion, either give your own view based on the balanced argument in your essay, or give the reader something to
think about.

Complete the concluding sentences with the words from the box. Then decide whether the
sentences are the writer’s view (V) or something for the reader to think about (R).

conclusion considered question seems sum way

1 In conclusion, while there are strong arguments on both sides, I believe that we should consider
reducing the school week to four days. V
2 All things ______________, perhaps the educational achievement of young people in this
country would be better if we thought outside the bock sometimes. ___
3 The _________ I see it, there really is no strong case for change. ___
4 The _________ we need to ask ourselves is what would young people really want. ___
5 It _________ to me that the case for introducing a four-day week is undeniable. ___
6 To _________ up, I strongly believe that a four-day week would be beneficial for students,
teachers and society in general. ___

Outcomes Writing and Vocabulary Booklet