WRITING: OPINION, IDEAS

We write a FOR AND AGAINST essay when we want to present a balanced argument, 

giving points for and against a topic. 

Structure

1. Introductory paragraph: we write a statement that explains the topic. 

It is also common to start with a question or a good example. 

Then we say there are arguments for and against this idea.

2. Second paragraph: give the points "for" the topic or advantages.

3. Third paragraph: give the points "against" the topic or disadvantages.

4. Last paragraph: sum up the arguments and give a conclusion.

See an example of a task (British Council). Click HERE 

See another example also taken from the British Council. 

The paragraphs are mixed-up. 

Can you put them in the correct order? 

(Notice the opening phrases used to link the ideas together.)

	A It's true that English is very important in international business, and many multinational companies use English as their corporate language. It is also very important in terms of educational opportunities, with many universities now teaching courses in English even in non-English speaking countries, not to mention the information and entertainment available from global media such as Hollywood movies and the Internet. Many people feel that teaching children English from a young age gives children the opportunity to become bi-lingual which would provide them with many advantages in the future. Pre-school children are also obviously very receptive to new language. B However, the real issue is whether children of kindergarten age are mentally ready to start learning a foreign language. It stands to reason that a child who has not mastered their mother tongue will be very confused by exposure to a second unrelated form of communication. C Having looked at both sides of this issue, it seems clear that, although English is very important, educators need to think carefully about the child’s overall development when deciding when to introduce English into the curriculum. Doing this too early could result in children being proficient in neither language, and there are also issues of cultural identity that need to be considered.   D Nowadays, many people regard English as the main world language and it is certainly true that it is a very important tool for communication between people from different countries. Because of this, many kindergartens now offer English language instruction to children as young as 3, but this the really the best age to start learning a foreign language? E On the other hand, some people might argue that it is a mistake for children’s education to focus exclusively on English, particularly as there are other languages, such as Chinese and Spanish that are more widely spoken. In an increasingly multi-polar world other languages clearly have a role to play, for example this week it has been reported that all new foreign executives in China will be required to pass a Chinese proficiency exam. Others would also argue that language represents culture, and that by putting too much emphasis on one language we risk diluting other languages and cultures.