for&against essay

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For and Against Essays

For and against essays

A "for and against" essay is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered

from opposing points of view. You should present both sides in a fair way by discussing them

objectively and in equal detail. A good essay of this type should consist of:

a) an introductory paragraph in which you clearly state the topic to be discussed without giving

your opinion!

b) a main body in which the points for and against along with your justifications e"amples or

reasons are presented in separate paragraphs! and

c) a closing paragraph in which you state your opinion or give a balanced consid#eration of the

topic.

Note: $pinion words %& thin' & believe &n my opinion etc.) can only be used in the closing

paragraph where you give your opinion on the topic.

Points to consider

( efore you start writing your essay you should ma'e a list of the points for and against.

( Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence which summarises the topic of the

paragraph.

e.g. &n addition many people feel reading is a rela"ing and worthwhile activity.

( *o not use informal style %e.g. short forms colloquial language etc.) or strong language to

e"press your opinion %e.g. & 'now+ etc.). E"press your opinion in a non,emotional way %e.g. &t

seems that & therefore feel etc.).

( -ell,'nown quotations relevant to the topic you are writing about will ma'e your compositionmore interesting. For e"ample if you are writing an essay on education a quotation you may

include is: Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. %-ill *urant)

/ote: Although these are balanced arguments if you feel that either the for or against side is

stronger and should be supported this side should be presented in paragraphs 0 1 2 thus

leading the reader to your conclusion.

Introduction

Paragraph 1

state topic %summary of the topic without giving your opinion)

Main Body

Paragraphs 2 & 3

arguments for 1 justifications e"amples and3 or reasons

Paragraphs 4 & 5

arguments against 1 justification e"amples and3or reasons

Conclusion

Final Paragraph

balanced consideration3 your opinion directly or indirectly

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Useful expressions and linking words/phrases

( 4o list points:

irstly! irst of all! In the first place! o #egin/start with! $econdly! hirdly! inally

( 4o list advantages:

%ne/&nother/& further/&n additional 'ma(or) advantage of* is * he

main/greatest/first advantage of* is *( 4o list disadvantages:

%ne/&nother/ & further/&n additional 'ma(or) disadvantage/draw#ack of+ he

main/greatest/most serious/first disadvantage /draw#ack of* &nother negative

aspect of*

( 4o introduce points3arguments for or against:

$ne %very convincing) point3argument in favour of+ 3 against A further common criticism of+ 3

&t could be argued that+..

often claimed3suggested

&t is widely argued maintained that+..

generally felt3believed3held

5ome3many3most people3e"perts3scientist3s'eptics3critics

claim3suggest3argue3feel that+

maintain3believe3point out3agree3hold that+

advocate %6ing3noun)3support the view that+

oppose the view that+

are in favour of3against+

are of the opinion that3convinced that+

are opposed to+

( o add more points to the same topic,

in addition %to this) furthermore moreover besides apart from what is more as well as not to

mention %the fact) that also not only + but also3as well both + and 4here is another side to

the issue3question3argument of+

( o make contrasting points,

on the other hand however still yet but nonetheless nevertheless even so

it may be said3argued3claimed that+

others3many people oppose this viewpoint3strongly disagree+ claim3feel3believe this argument

is incorrect3misguided

although though even though while whilst whereas despite3in spite of %the fact that)

regardless of the fact that

$pponents of + argue3believe3claim that+

4he fact that+ contradicts the belief3idea that+

-hile it is true to say that+ in fact+-hile3Although + it cannot be denied that+

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases

( 4o introduce e"amples:

for e"ample for instance such as li'e in particular particularly especially 4his is %clearly)

illustrated3shown by the fact that+ $ne3A clear3stri'ing3 typical e"ample of %this)+ 4he fact

that+. shows3illustrates that+


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( 4o emphasise a point:

clearly obviously it is obvious naturally of course needless to say indeed

( 4o e"press reality:

&n fact the fact %of the matter) is actually in practice it is a fact that in effect

( 4o ma'e general statements:

as a %general) rule generally in general on the whole by and large in most cases( 4o ma'e partially correct statements:

to a certain e"tent3degree to some e"tent3degree in a way3sense this is partly true %but) to a

limited e"tent there is some truth in %this) in some cases up to a point

( 4o e"plain3clarify a point:

in other words that is to say this3which means that

( 4o e"press cause: owing to due to %the fact that) on account of on the grounds that given

that because as since

( 4o e"press effect: therefore thus as a result3consequence consequently so for this reason

if+ were to happen + the effect3result would be+

( 4o e"press intention: to so as to in order to so that with the intention of %6ing)

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases, Conclusion expressing #alanced

considerations/opinion indirectly

&n conclusion

$n balance

All things considered

4a'ing everything into account3consideration

4o conclude

4o sum up

All in all

Finally37astly

++++++++. it can be said3claimed that +

++++++++. it seems3appears that+

++++++++. it would seem that+

++++++++. it is li'ely3unli'ely3possible3foreseeable that +

++++++++. it is clear3obvious that+

++++++++.. there is no3little doubt that +

++++++++.. it is true to say that +

++++++++.. although it must be said that +

++++++++. it may be concluded3said that +

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases, Conclusion expressing opinion directly

&n conclusion$n balance

All things considered

4a'ing everything into account3consideration

4o conclude

4o sum up

All in all


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+++++++++++ it is my belief3opinion that +

++++++++++.. & %firmly) believe3feel3thin' that +

+++++++++++ & am convinced that +

+++++++++++ & am inclined to believe that +

+++++++++++ & %do not) agree that3with +

N%-

8. & for and against essay can end in a #alanced consideration in which you restate

that there are points for and against the topic using appropriate e"pressions given

above.

2. Alternatevely it can end by e"pressing an opinion in which case you state directly or

indirectly that you are either in favour of oragainst the topic using appropriate

e"pressions given above.

for&against essay

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