ESL Writing

1. “For and Against” Essays
Intermediate 1 Writing
(Notes from Succesful Writing by
Virginia Evans)

2. Type of writing
• It is a type of discursive writing in which you discuss advantages and
disadvantages of a specific topic.
• You must not include opinion words (I believe, I think, etc.) in the
introduction or the main body. You can only use opinion words in the final
paragraph, where you may state your opinion on the topic.
• It is written in a formal style. Therefore, you should avoid: strong language
(I know, I am sure, etc.), short sentences, colloquial expressions or idioms.
• You can find this type of writing in articles in newspapers, magazines, etc.
Therefore you must include a title.

3. Structure
• Introduction Paragraph 1: present the topic, making
a general remark about it without giving your
opinion.
• Main body Paragraph 2: write two or three
advantages. Paragraph 3: write two or three
disadvantages. Support your arguments with
justifications / examples.
• Conclusion Paragraph 4: include your opinion (e.g.
In my opinion / I believe / I think, etc.) or a balanced
summary of the topic.

4. Techniques to begin or end your essay
• Address the reader directly e.g. If you take the
time to train your dog, it will learn to obey you.
• Include a quotation. It is necessary to mention
the name of the person who said/wrote it. e.g.
As George Orwell wrote, “All animals are equal,
but some are more equal than others.”
• Include a rhetorical question e.g. Are all families
ready for a dog?

5. Main Body Paragraphs
• You should start each main body paragraph with a
topic sentence which introduces or summarises the
main topic of the paragraph.
• The topic sentence should be followed by supporting
sentences which justify the arguments presented in the
topic sentence, by giving examples or reasons.
• You should use linking words/phrases to present your
justifications, such as: first of all, what is more, for
example, etc.

6. Example of Main Body Paragraph
Travelling by train has a lot of advantages.
(topic sentence) First of all, it is comfortable as
trains are spacious so there is plenty of room to
walk about. What is more, trains are
convenient. For example, you do not have to
take any food or beverages with you, because
most trains have a restaurant. Finally, when you
travel by train you reach your destination fairly
quickly. (supporting sentences)

7. Example of a “For and Against” Essay
Living without a TV
Almost every family today has a TV, in fact probably more than one, and
people everywhere spend hours watching it. But, a few families choose not
to have a TV because they think there are many drawbacks to owning one.
Living without a TV has certainly got its advantages. The first one is
that families spend more time talking to each other. Secondly, they spend
more time doing more creative things like reading or painting. Thirdly,
they spend more time outdoors, and therefore they are usually more fit.
But on the other hand, there are also disadvantages. For example,
children who don’t have a TV may feel different from their school friends,
and often won’t know what they are talking about. Also, it is not true that
all TV programmes are bad. There are good ones, like documentaries, and
people who live without a TV may know less about what’s happening in
the world.
In conclusion, although living without a TV has some advantages, I
think today it’s unrealistic and that we should try to turn the TV off when
there’s nothing good on.