"Both Views" is a type of essay question that requires you to discuss and express
❷ "BOTH VIEWS" ESSAYS
Sample "Both Views" Essay Question
Some people believe that parents should devote more
time to helping their children with schoolwork. Others
think that they should allocate more time to playing
sports with their kids.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
their opinions on two opposing perspectives revolving around a speci c topic
presented in the prompt. The candidate's essay should encompass both viewpoints
along with their personal opinions."
What are the 2 views from the question?
Some people believe that parents should devote more time to helping their
Topic
children with schoolwork. Others think that they should allocate more time to
playing sports with their kids.
Task or Instruction Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

ESSAY LAYOUT
Introduction
1 Topic introduction + Your
own opinion
Body paragraph 1
2 Contrary/opposite viewpoint
+ Explanation + Example
allocating more time to play sports w/ kids
- parents provide help w/ schoolwork:
encourage children to develop an interest in studying
+ parents assist children w/ problems → less di cult
+ ex) research: academic success w/ & w/o parents
INTRODUCTION
Some people believe that parents should devote more time to
helping their children with schoolwork. Others think that they should
allocate more time to playing sports with their kids.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Body paragraph 2
- parents playing sports: better way to connect w/ children ➜ It is a common belief that parents should invest more time in helping
+ sports foster open communication
3 Similar/common viewpoint +
+ ex) study: children playing sports w/ parents express their children with schoolwork. However, there is a more persuasive
Explanation + Example
more opinion argument that playing sports with children is more important because
doing so can build a bond between parents and children.
4 Conclusion

SENTENCE 1
EXAMPLE:
People have different views about ...
Some people believe that success in sports depends on physical ability. Others
Opinions diverge widely on whether ... believe that there are more important factors.
It is argued that ... while others disagree and opine that ... Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
There has been a topic of debate as to whether ...
SENTENCE 2 ➜ ..............................................................................................................
➜ It is argued that sports achievement are primarily attributed to physical prowess
..................................................................................................................
This essay will elaborate on both angles and from my perspective, I would advocate the of athletes while others disagree and opine that other components are of greater
..................................................................................................................
former/latter view. signi cance. This essay will elaborate on both angles of this highly contentious view
..................................................................................................................
at issue, and from my perspective, success in sports stems from various physical and
..................................................................................................................
Although there are compelling reasons to justify /good grounds for justifying both
arguments, I would give my strong support to the former/latter viewpoint.
..................................................................................................................
mental factors and they are equally important.
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 BODY 1
- parents provide help w/ schoolwork: encourage children to develop an interest in
studying
+ parents assist children w/ problems → less di cult
+ ex) research: academic success w/ & w/o parents
➜ On the one hand, when parents provide help with schoolwork, it encourages children to
develop an interest in studying. Specifically, by assisting their children with any problems
they have with their work, parents make their children's tasks seem less difficult. This can
result in greater interest in classes and lead to better grades in the long run. For example,
Alise's research has shown that children whose parents help them solve math problems get
better grades than those who do their work on their own. Assisting them with their
schoolwork makes children more enthusiastic about studying, thereby providing a basis for
their academic success.
CONCLUSION
Some people believe that parents should devote more time to helping their children
with schoolwork. Others think that they should allocate more time to playing sports
with their kids.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
➜ To sum up, while it is apparent that helping with schoolwork is one way parents can support
their children, it is undeniable that playing sports together is more important.
BODY 2
- parents playing sports: better way to connect w/ children
+ sports foster open communication
+ ex) study: children playing sports w/ parents express more opinion
➜ Nevertheless, playing sports is a better way for parents to connect with their children. It
fosters open communication by making children feel more comfortable about sharing their
thoughts with their parents. The experience of cooperation and bonding, which is a part of every
sport, removes any feelings of nervousness children may have in the presence of their parents.
In fact, a recent study revealed that children express their opinions more when their parents
create a relaxed environment by playing sports with them. Topics that children may consider is
embarrassing or difficult to discuss under normal circumstances are brought up more easily
while playing sports. The result is that parents and children build closer relationships.
ANOTHER SAMPLE
Some people say that it is acceptable to test medicine intended for
people on animals. Others, however, believe that it is not right to
use animals in this research.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some believe that animal testing is necessary to develop e ective and safe drugs for human consumption, while
others argue that this treatment is morally wrong and therefore should be completely banned. In my opinion, despite
the cruelty imposed on experimented creatures, this should remain a common practice due to its signi cant
implication for major medical breakthroughs.
Detractors of animal experimentation argue its undeniable inhumanity. As well as being subjected to unsanitary and
con ned living conditions, the creatures used for experimental purposes are also tortured through various barbaric
procedures ranging from being starved, electrocuted and injected with poisonous substances. As a result, most of
them su er from malnutrition, excruciating pain and face a strong likelihood of being killed in the process.
Furthermore, experimenters usually breed these animals for future research, which leads to an endless cycle of
ANOTHER SAMPLE
torment lasting many generations. A pertinent example of this is that small rodents including rats and hamsters are Some people think that zoos are all cruel and should be closed
injected with cancerous cells and die painfully shortly thereafter as a consequence.
However, these experiments still play a crucial role in ensuring safety and potency of potential human medicine. Rats
down. Others however believe that zoos can be useful in protecting
are scienti cally proven to have the same genetic material as humans, thus a possible human reaction can be inferred wild animals.
from testing on these animals rst. Medical researchers can use these testing results to devise drugs with minimal
side e ects when adopted for humans. This advancement in the pharmaceutical industry could engender better Discuss both opinions and give your own opinion.
remedies to possibly treat previously fatal and incurable diseases. Prior successful experiments have led to the
creation of new treatments that not only prolong the life expectancy of immunocompromised patients but also make
considerable progress in the ght against cancer.
In conclusion, although testing on animals can be seen as a brutal action, the positive rami cations associated with
medicinal development make this an essential and required practice to enhance welfare for humanity as a whole.
Scientists should consider giving these experimented creatures the best possible living environment to partly
compensate for their su ering.

Zoos remain popular places for people to visit for entertainment and to learn about wild animals. Although
some people are of the opinion that zoos can provide a sanctuary for endangered animals and so should be
kept open, I believe that the cruelty that animals su er outweighs this bene t, and that they should be shut
down.
These days, animals are under threat from humans in many ways, seen for example in the way that their
habitats are being destroyed through the cutting down of rain forests, or through poaching. Following on
from this, the argument is that zoos can protect some of these animals that are under threat. The reason is
that they are in a safe environment managed by trained sta who can ensure the animals are looked after
PRACTICE 1
and can produce o spring. There are examples of successes in this respect, such as with Pandas, which Some people say that the extended family is not as important now as it once was.
have been endangered for many years but have been protected. Others think that its worth has not changed because people always need help from
However, there are more convincing arguments for why zoos should be shut down. Firstly, even though their family members.
some species are under threat, there are lots of animals which do not fall into this category and who are
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
there just for the entertainment of visitors. While it may be fun and educational to see them, animals are not
meant to be caged, and their distress can often be seen in the way many of them pace back and forwards
all day. Not only this, if the prime reason of zoos is to protect animals, this could be done in other
environments such as wild life parks where the animals have more freedom.
In conclusion, animals should be protected but this does not have to be in zoos. Zoos are cruel to animals,
not similar enough to their natural habitat, and they should be closed down.
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Write 2 body paragraphs based on the given layout below.

Body paragraph 1:
• Topic sentence: ext. family impt.: rising incidence of grandparents raising
grandchildren
• Explanation: both parents working - need for a 3rd party to care for children
• Example: Nguyen (2012)'s research: Vietnam - grandparents twice likely to raise
grandchildren
Body paragraph 2:
• Topic sentence: ext. family X impt.: younger generation - edu. & career more than
family life
• Explanation: many leave hometowns to seek edu. & career opportunities
• Example: poll (2020): 20% Chinese students desire to emigrate even though X see
families