WRITING TIPS: For & Against Essay

When do we write a for & against essay?

We write a for & against essay to show both advantages and disadvantages. We conclude by
giving our personal opinion.

1. STRUCTURE:
It is important you collect your ideas before starting your writing.
OPENING: In the introductory paragraph, present the general topic in an impersonal way.
BODY: The points for and against are presented in separate paragraphs. Each paragraph
should start with a topic sentence which summarises the main idea of the paragraph. It is
followed by illustrations, reasons, or examples that support that idea.
CONCLUSION: In the last paragraph, clearly express your opinion. Sum up your main
arguments in your own words but do not repeat any phrases that have already been used. Do
not introduce new arguments here.
NOTE!! Opinion words (I think, I believe, In my opinion, etc.) can only be used in the closing
paragraph, where you give your opinion on the topic.
3. SAMPLE:
ANIMAL TESTING
Issues related to animal experimentation are frequently discussed these days, particularly in
the
media. LANGUAGE:
2. USEFUL
Opening:
Listing and
adding
On
the one hand, the people who support these experiments
say
that wepoints:
must do tests on
.
.
Firstly
/
First
of
To start
In the
... is a controversial topic. Some people say
animals. For instance, many famous lifesaving drugs were inventedallin/ this
way,with
and/animal
that ..., while others claim that....
first place / to begin with
experiments may help us find more cures in the future. Furthermore, the animals which are
. Almost every day we hear....
. Secondly, thirdly
used are not usually wild but are bred especially for experiments. Therefore, they believe it is
. Today we are repeatedly confronted with
. Another point in favour of / against is...
not
that animal
experiments are responsible for
reducing themoreover,
number ofbesides
wild animals on
thetrue
problem
of....
. Furthermore,
the
planet.
. Some
(experts / people, etc.) say ...
. In addition to this
. I have recently read that....
. Apart from this / that
On the other hand, others feel that there are good .arguments
against this. First and foremost,
What is more
Introducing
points:
animal
experiments
are unkind and cause animals .aFinally/Last
lot of pain. but
In particular,
not least they feel that
.
One
major
advantage
/disadvantage
of
...
many tests are not really important, and animals are not only used to test new medicines but
. A further
advantage
/disadvantage
is on humans
Contrasting
points: issue is that
also
new cosmetics,
which
could be tested
instead. Another
.
One
point
of
view
in
favour
of
/against
is
. Onresults
the one
hand
other are
hand
... On the
...
sometimes an experiment on animals gives us wrong
since
animals
bodies
not
.
The
main
advantage
/
drawback
...
.
Nevertheless,
however
exactly the same as our own.
. Let us start by considering...
. In spite of / Despite (the fact that...)
. The first obvious advantage /
Although,
even though
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that the benefits .do
not outweigh
the disadvantages, and
disadvantage...
testing on animals should not continue. Although itConcluding:
may improve the lives of humans, it is not
fair
that animals
should
in order to achieve this.
Giving
examples
andsuffer
reasons:
. In conclusion, to sum up, in brief ...
. For example, for instance, such as, in
. All things considered...
particular, therefore, actually, because,
.Taking everything into account...
since, one example out of many is...

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