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POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

FOR AND AGAINST ESSAYS

One type of argumentative essay is that which gives advantages and disadvantages (for and against).
It is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view.

A good essay of this type should consist of:

a) INTRODUCTION
Paragraph 1: You state the topic. This means that you talk generally about the topic
without giving your opinion.
b) MAIN BODY
Paragraph 2: You give the points for (advantages) along with your justification. Paragraph 3:
You give the points against (disadvantages) along with your justification.
c) CLOSING PARAGRAPH
Paragraph 4: You express either a balanced consideration of the topic OR your opinion, that
is, for example, by expressing whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice
versa.

NOTE: In this type of essay writing, you must NOT include opinion words (I believe, I think, etc.) in
the introduction or the main body. Opinion words can ONLY be used in the final paragraph, where
you may state your opinion on the topic.

POINTS TO CONSIDER:

- Make a list of the points for and against before you start writing.
- Write well-developed paragraphs in which the points you present are supported with
justification (i.e. reasons or examples). Make sure each paragraph has more than one
sentence (e.g. One advantage of using a word processor is that it saves time. It is much quicker
to make corrections on one than it is to do them by hand).
- Do not use informal style (e.g. short forms, colloquial language, contractions, etc.) or strong
language (e.g. I firmly believe, etc.)
- Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence which summarizes what the paragraph is about:
• Topic sentence : ‘However, there are disadvantages to owning a house.’
• Point and justification: ‘Firstly, it can be rather expensive and tiring to maintain. For
example, repairs to the outside of the house can be costly, not to mention the time-
consuming task of caring for a backyard or garden.’

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POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

LINKING WORDS AND PHRASES:

- To introduce points: one major advantage/disadvantage of, a further advantage, one point
of view in favour of/against, regarding, concerning
- To list points: in the first place, first of all, to start with, firstly, secondly, thirdly, finally, last
but not least
- To add more points to the same topic: what is more, furthermore, also, in addition to
this/that, besides, apart from this/that, not to mention the fact that
- To make contrasting points: on the other hand, however, in spite of, while, nevertheless,
despite, even though, although, it can be argued that
- To introduce examples: for example, for instance, like, especially, such as, in particular
- To conclude: to sum up, all in all, all things considered, in conclusion, on the whole, taking
everything into account, as was previously stated

TECHNIQUES FOR BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS:

The first paragraph: INTRODUCTION

- Make reference to a strange scene or situation, e.g. Some scientists believe that in the future
everyone will be genetically perfect.
- Address the reader directly, e.g. Are you aware of any characteristics which you may have
inherited from your parents? or ask a rhetorical question (question to which no answer is
expected), e.g. Isn’t it amazing how some children look so much like their parents?

The last paragraph: CONCLUSION

- State a personal opinion, e.g. In my opinion, I believe, In my view, It seems to me, The way I
see it, I think, etc.
- Give the reader something to consider, e.g. Perhaps the world would be a safer and more
efficient place if everyone was genetically perfect.

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POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

FOR & AGAINST ESSAY – SAMPLE

‘Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being your own boss.’

Have you ever considered becoming your own boss? In recent years, the number of
people choosing to start their own business has risen significantly. Many claim that this
is because more and more people are no longer content to work for someone else.

One of the main advantages of being self-employed is the fact that you are completely
self-reliant and can make decisions on your own. This can give you a great sense of
freedom and allows you to do exactly what you want without interference from anyone
else. What ismore, your working day can be planned for your convenience, allowing you
to work when you want rather than when you have to. Finally, if your business is
successful, people will know that you alone should be given the credit.

However, there are disadvantages to being your own boss. Many self-employed people
have said that to build a successful business, you have to be prepared to work long hours
and sacrifice your personal life. A 1996 government study found that over a quarter of the
businesses run by newly self-employed people failed within the first two years.

All things considered, it seems to me that self-employment can be a very gratifying

experience, although not one without difficulties. But when success is achieved, the
greatest reward of all is the knowledge that you have done it on your own.

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POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

STUDENTS’ EXAMPLES:

Do women have the same opportunities in life as men?

Nowadays, some people think that men and women are equal while others believe that
we have to continue the fight.

It is true that women have achieved life in a short time and, while they are forced to stay
at home and take care of their children, now they can choose whether to stay or work.

On the other hand, when women choose to work, they have to go through a lot of
difficulties than men don’t. Usually, women get less paid than men for the same job and
when they get pregnant, they can be fired.

To summarize, I believe that women have more opportunities than they used to but they
have a long way to go in order to be equal to men.

These days the feminist campaigns in favour of equality has gained more importance.
This raises the question, do women and men have equal opportunities in life?

It is true that nowadays women have more rights than before even though women have
to work really hard to prove that they are equal to men and to get the same job.

On the other hand, any woman can get any job they want and have the same post as any
other man.

To sum up, we can say that women have raised a good amount of rights and
opportunities to have the same chances as men, although I think women have a long
way to go to gain their total equality.

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POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

Use a lot of adjectives and adverbs in order to make your description lively!
Describing People
a) The introduction
It clearly establishes the
target of the description. It
is stated general facts about
the person, saying when,
where and how you first
met him or her.
State the reason for
choosing this person
this person.
a) The body
2 fully developed supporting
sentences in which you
describe their physical
appearance, personal
qualities and/ or hobbies/
interests.
Describing Places
a) The introduction
It clearly establishes the
target of the description,
where you give the
name and location of
the place or building and
the reason for choosing
it.
b) The body
2 fully developed
supporting sentences in
which you describe the
main aspects of the place
or building in detail – for
example, when you
describe a place you
should describe what
you can see and do
there.
Describing Objects Describing Events/
experiences/
thoughts
a) The introduction a) The introduction
It clearly establishes the It clearly establishes the
target of the description target of the description in
where you give the name which you give name,
of the object and/or the time, place, and reasons
reason for choosing it. for celebrating.
B) The body b) The body
2 fully developed 2 fully developed
supporting sentences in supporting sentences in
which you where you give which you describe the
an accurate picture of it. preparations and the
Your description should actual event. Use past
include information about tenses to illustrate those
size, weight, shape, you attended some time
pattern or decoration, ago.
color, origin and material
as well as many special
features.

c) The conclusion in c) The conclusion

c) The conclusión
In which you express your
personal attitude towards
the person. It reminds
the reader of the person
described, leaving the
reader with a lasting
image of the person
described. Not new ideas.
c) The conclusion c) The conclusión
It includes your
It includes your It includes people’s
comments/feelings and
comments/feelings and feelings,
/or a recommendation,
/or a recommendation comments or final
leaving the reader with a
concerning this object, thoughts about the
lasting image of the place
leaving the reader with a event, leaving the
described. Not new ideas.
lasting image of the reader with a
object described. Not lasting image of
new ideas. the event
described. Not
new ideas.

Introduction What are you describing? It provides the reason why the description is relevant.

Body – 2 supporting sentences

Characteristics of the person, object, place or event.
Each sentence must deal with a different aspect!
Use a lot of adjectives and adverbs in order to make your description lively!

Conclusion What makes this special? (personal impression or opinion)

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POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

The Opening Paragraph

- As long as I live, I will never forget.... (description of a person).

- This was the most incredible / amazing / wonderful/fascinating / unforgettable
experience (description of an event).
- This was a once in a lifetime experience (description of an event).

The Body of the Composition

Description of people
- He is / was an exceptional man.
- He / She has made a strong impact on me.
- I appreciate his / her special characteristics. - Everybody appreciates the efforts
he/she made....
- It's quite rare to come across such a unique person.

The Body of the Composition

Description of Experiences
- It was a unique adventure.
- It was an unusual experience.
- It was an exceptional experience.
- It was an unforgettable experience

The Closing Paragraph

- This memory will stay with me forever.
- The memory of that remains very much alive.
- Although years have passed, I still remember....
 ies

POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

When describing people you may want to include

-Physical appearance
-Personality, character
-Attitudes, behavior
-Interests, hobbies, profession
-Your personal impression / opinion

When describing places you may want to include

-Location
-Physical characteristics, atmosphere
-Special attractions
-The culture and people in the place
-Historical details
-Your personal impression / opinion

When describing things you may want to include

-Physical appearance
-Origin (where it was made)
-Use
-Your personal impression / opinion

When describing events you may want to include (NOT INCLUDED IN THIS EBAU EXAM THIS
YEAR)
-The setting – where and when it happened – PAST TENSES
-What happened – in chronological order
-Your impression or opinion about it
.
 ies

POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

The Person Who Influenced My life (description of a person)

A person who influenced my childhood most was my father. He brought me up to a

sensitive, cheerful, sensible as well as trustworthy person. My father, X, is of medium
height in his early fifties. Moreover, he is slim and has got short grey hair, but he is
becoming bald. My father’s face is round and friendly-looking. X has small blue eyes as
well as long nose and small ears. He tends to wear casual clothes like jeans and T-shirt.
My father is an incredibly sensitive person, who helps everyone who needs it. Yet, this help is
disinterested. Moreover, my father is so generous that he wants to share what he possesses
with others. Furthermore, I could talk with him about my problems because he is trustworthy
and he keeps my secrets. What he does not tolerate is lie. He has always told me that the
worst thing is when we don’t tell the truth. To sum up, X is the most important person in my
life. Thanks to him my childhood was so good and pleasant.

I usually make friends easily, so I have a lot of them. I can’t imagine my life without them. But
there is one, who will always be in the first place in my heart. Her name is Lia and she is my
closest friend. I’ve known her for about five years. We met because we worked in the same
place for a few months. We get on really well, because we have a lot in common. Lia is very
beautiful and charming girl. She is taller than me and has straight brown hair and deep
chestnut brown eyes. Besides, Lia is a very cheerful person. Even early in the morning she’s
always smiling and in a good mood. I don’t know how she does it! Lia’s great, but sometimes I
feel she’s a bit insincere. She says all these nice things, but I’m not sure she really means
them. For me, friendship is the most important thing in the world. I am proud to say that I
have such loyal and helpful friend- one in a million.
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POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

Departamento de inglés

Description of the last place you visit

Last week I visited Asturias, Which is in the North of Spain. It has several landscapes and lots
of different views. Aside from its unpolluted high mountains, it also have lots of charming
beaches. There, you can go biking and visit ancient monuments. You can also have some water
from its historic water sources, which is as cold as ice! Asturias is a very quiet and silent place
where you can forget about your stresses and feel the cool freeze. Once you get there, you
can have a seat and enjoy its incredible views. All in all, if you like the countryside and seeing
different landscapes, Asturias is one of the best places you can visit in Spain.

Description of an object

I’m not a really materialistic person, so there are only few objects that matter me. One of
them is probably my phone, which is the most valuable one for me; not because of its price
but because of its content. It’s a midrange new pretty phone, neither large nor so small, and
extremely light and thin, qualities that make it really comfortable and easy to use and move,
otherwise it would be uncomfortable and tiring to use because it would weigh too much.
Furthermore, it is awesome like a flying giraffe due to the pictures that it takes thanks to its
precise camera. For all of these reasons and although I know that there are better phones in
the world, I like mine the most and also because I have all my life on it.
 ies

POETA SÁNCHEZ
BAUTISTA

HOW TO WRITE AN OPINION ESSAY

In an Opinion Essay you give your opinion about

a topic and explain them. You only support one
point of view.

THINK AND PLAN BEFORE YOU WRITE:

Decide if you agree or disagree with the statement and think of reasons to support
your argument. Plan your writing: write some ideas and organize them before you
start writing.

AN OPINION ESSAY HAS 4 PARAGRAPHS:

A. – Introductory paragraph IP

Introduce the topic and give your opinion in brief (say whether you agree or disagree
with the statement)

Nowadays,

These days,

In the past,

In the future,
B.- Supporting paragraphs SP (Connecting words)

B1. - Give facts, details, and/or examples to support your opinion

B2. - Give more facts, details, and/or examples to support your opinion

Phrases to introduce your opinion

I think that From my point of view

I (strongly) believe that I (completely) agree or disagree

with the fact/ idea that…
In my opinion,
I agree/ disagree with the It seems to me that…
statement because….
As I see it, …
It is clear to me that…
As far as I am concerned, …
Giving reasons

My main reason is… Many people say/ believe that….

Another reason is…. As/ because/ since

One reason for……….. is………… Because of/ due to

C. - Closing paragraph CP

Summarize your ideas and repeat your opinion using different words. Convince the
reader!!

To sum up, In conclusion, In short,

To conclude, It is clear that... On the whole,

All in all,

USE LINKING WORDS:

ADDITION CONTRAST PURPOSE RESULT

USE FORMAL LANGUAGE AND FULL FORMS

DON’T USE CONTRACTIONS!!!

GO OVER/REVISE/ CHECK YOUR ESSAY

 PUNCTUATION (COMMAS, FULL STOPS,
QUESTION MARK...)
 CAPITAL LETTERS
 SPELLING
 GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
 STRUCTURE (Paragraphs)
 Informal email’s structure

From: sender’s email (the email address of the person who sends the email (if the task
instructions do not specify the sender’s email address, the student will have to make one up, not
use his/her real one).

To: recipient’s email

Subject: what the email is about (3 to 7 words)

A. GREETING: the greeting formula agrees with the type of relationship between the sender
and the recipient.

B. BODY: establishes the aim(s) and details of the communication between the sender and the
recipient.
1. refers to the recipient’s previous email and/or indicates the reason(s) for replying to the
recipient’s previous e-mail
2. establishes and details the content of the communication with the recipient (i.e., it
accomplishes the communication goals indicated in the task instructions).

C. CLOSING: appropriately ends the communication with the recipient.

1. a line or two

• to indicate (why) communication is ended at that point (e.g., “I’ve to leave you now, my
parents are waiting for me.”)

• to send greetings and/or make reference for future contact (e.g., “Don’t forget to let me
know the date of the party!”)
2. a closing phrase “to say goodbye” appropriately (e.g., “Take care” or “Best wishes”).

D. SIGNING OFF: the sender includes his/her name where it corresponds and in an appropriate
format (e.g., “Jane”, not “Jane Smith”)
 How to write informal or emails
๏ An informal email is usually between people who know each other fairly well.
๏ In these emails we often give news, request information, congratulate people, give advice and ask
questions.
๏ There are a lot of similarities between informal emails and conversation.
๏ Informal emails ask a lot of questions, show interest and enthusiasm, and imagine a lot of shared
information.

In many exam questions, you will be told what to include in your reply. Make sure
that your reply answers any questions that you were asked in the task and take
into account any additional information that you have been told to mention. It is
important that you include these in order to get a good grade.

1. Salutation or Greeting
๏ Dear + name
๏ Hi (and the person's name)
๏ Informal letters sometimes have a comma after the person's name, and the letter starts on the line
below. The important thing is to be consistent with the style that you choose to use (so if you use a
comma after the person's name at the start of the letter, use a comma after the closing statement
at the end).
2. Body
OPENINGS: when writing an informal email, you are usually replying to another email.
๏ Useful phrases for the opening
1) We usually refer to the recipient’s previous email:
✓ How are you? / I hope you are well.
✓ It’s ages since I’ve heard from you. I hope you're well / you and your family are well.
✓ How are things? / How’s it going?
✓ Thank you / Many thanks for your (recent/last) letter / postcard / email.
✓ It was good / nice / great to hear from you again.
✓ I was so surprised to hear that...
✓ I’m sorry I haven’t written / haven't been in touch for such a long time.
2) Indicate the reason for replying to the recipient’s previous email:
I am writing because…
The reason I am writing is…
๏ Other useful phrases
Referring to news
✓ Great news about … Glad to hear that … Sorry to hear about …
Giving news
 ✓ Listen, did I tell you about …? You’ll never believe what …
✓ Oh, and another thing … This is just to let you know that …
✓ By the way, have you heard about / did you know that …?
✓ Guess what! I’ve got some great/amazing/sad news.
Apologies
✓ I’m writing to apologise for missing your party but I’m afraid I was with flu.
✓ I’m really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was busy with my new job.
Invitations
✓ I’m / We’re having a party on Friday 19th and I / we hope you’ll be able to come.
✓ Would you like to come / go to see ‘Room With a View’ with me at the weekend?
✓ I was wondering if you’d like to go to the theatre / come on holiday with us.
✓ Could you let me / us know if you can come / you’d like to join us?
✓ Thank you very much for your invitation. I’d love to come.
✓ Thank you for asking / inviting me to … but I’m afraid I won’t be able to …
Requests
✓ I’m writing to ask for your help / you (if you could do me) a favour.
✓ I wonder if / I was wondering if you could help me / do me a favour.
✓ I’d be very / really / terribly grateful if you could …
Thank you / Congratulations / Good Luck
✓ I’m writing to thank you for your hospitality / the wonderful present.
✓ It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you.
✓ I really appreciated all your help / advice.
✓ Congratulations on passing your exams / your excellent exam results!
✓ I wish you good luck / Good luck in / with your exams / your driving test / your interview.
✓ Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll do well / pass.
Making suggestions and recommendations
✓ Why don’t you …? / Maybe you could …? / How about …?
✓ You can’t leave New York without (...doing sth)
✓ I’m sure you will enjoy (...doing sth). If you like, we can …
✓ Do visit ... / Don’t forget to ...
CONTENT: it includes the details of the content of the communication with the recipient (accomplishes
the communication goals indicated in the task instructions).
3. Closing: the end of your letter is as important as the beginning. There are some standard ways of
finishing an informal letter or email. You may include a line or two saying why the communication is
ended.
 ๏ Give a reason why you're ending the letter: Anyway, I must go and get on with my work! / I guess
it's time I got on with that studying I've been avoiding/ I have to leave now, my parents are waiting
for me.
๏ Send greetings and/or make reference for future contact: Give my love / regards to... / Say hello
to... / Anyway, don't forget to let me know the dates of the party. / I'll try and phone you at the
weekend to check the times. / We must try and meet up soon. / I can't wait to hear from you / Look
forward to seeing you again / Hope to hear from you soon / See you soon / Write soon
๏ Closing statements such as Love, Lots of love, All the best, Take care, Best wishes, kisses and endless
hugs should be written on a new line. If you used a comma after the opening greeting, use a comma
here too.
๏ Signing off: Your first name then follows on another new line (if the task instructions do not specify
the sender’s name, the student will have to make one up, not use her/his real one).

4. Other things to consider

๏ Range: It is important that you use grammatical expressions and vocabulary appropriate to
the level of the exam. Even if there are no mistakes in your writing, you will not be able to
get a good grade if you use only the language and vocabulary that you learnt at elementary
level. Even in informal writing, there is a good range of language you can use (conditional
sentences, a range of perfect and continuous tenses, indirect questions...)

๏ Informal language, including phrasal verbs, informal vocabulary, question tags, phrasal
verbs, exclamations, etc.

๏ Simpler sentence structure: I’ll be late for the party. It’s because of my French exam.

๏ Connectors: All good writing makes good use of connectors. However, many of the
connectors you have learnt for other styles of writing are inappropriate in an informal letter
or email. For informal writing, you need to use some of the connectors that are more
specific to spoken language.

✓ To introduce a topic: Well, you'll never guess who I bumped into yesterday. / I know
how much you love tennis, so I've got us some tickets to Wimbledon. / By the way (por
cierto), did you know that John's got a new job?

✓ To go back to a previous topic: Anyway (de todos modos, en cualquier caso), as I was
saying earlier, I really wasn't very happy there. / Now where was I? Oh yes, I nearly
forgot, Mary asked me tell you about the cinema.

✓ To introduce surprising or bad news: Actually, he came to the party after all. / I'm really
sorry but I can't make it. / To tell you the truth, I don't really like sports much.
 ✓ To summarise what you've already said: Anyway, we had a really nice time in the end.
/ Well, to cut a long story short (resumiendo), we didn't get there on time.

EXAMPLE:
Writing task: an English friend of yours is visiting your city next summer. Write to him and tell
him the places he should visit and the clothes he should wear. You must also invite him to stay
with you during his stay.
To: jack_27@gmail.com
From: andy28@gmail.com
Subject: a visit to Spain.
Dear Jack, (greeting)
Thank you for your email. It was good to hear from you (Referring to the recipient’s previous
email). How are you doing? Let me give you some tips.

First of all, there some places you can’t miss! Here in Granada you should visit the Alhambra, an
ancient Muslim palace. Also, don’t forget to check out St Nicholas viewpoint- you’ll have the
best views of the Alhambra and the whole city.
As for clothes, forget about sleeves or trousers and just pack some shorts, T-shirts and sandals,
Oh, and remember to bring a cap, too.
By the way, do you have a place to stay? I have a spare room, so I could put you up (alojar) in
my place.
Anyway, I must leave now, I have to study for an exam (Why the communication is ending).
Write me soon and let me know what you think (making reference for future contact).

Best wishes, (closing phrase)

Ana. (signing off)