A ‘for and against’ essay is a ‘pros and cons’ essay in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view.

You are required to present both sides in a fair way by discussing them objectively and in equal detail. The writer
can state his/her opinion on the issue directly or indirectly.
A ‘for and against’ essay is a formal piece of writing. The purpose of this essay type is to take a balanced
consideration of the stated issue. You need to explain the opposing viewpoints with relevant reasons, statistics, facts
and examples. This kind of essay topic entails you to avoid any strong or emotional language to express your
opinion.

Structure of ‘for and against’ Essay

The ‘for and against’ essay can be organized as follows:

INTRODUCTION (states the topic along with its present situation without giving writer’s opinion)
BODY:
Paragraph 1: (Arguments in favour- along with reasons, examples, facts, etc.)
Paragraph 2: (Arguments against- along with reasons, examples, facts, etc.)
.
.
CONCLUSION (states the writer’s opinion directly/indirectly and gives a balanced view of the topic)

Strategies to write a ‘for and against’ essay

 Language skills:
Avoid using stereotyped phrases or expressions in your essay, especially in introductory and concluding
paragraphs. E.g.: in modern society, in the current climate, throughout history, etc. Some of the words and
phrases that can be used:
To introduce points in favour/against:
One point of view in favour of/against is that..
Some experts/scientists advocate/support/oppose the view that..

To point out opposing arguments:

Opponents of this idea claim that..
Others opposethisviewpoint..
Some people may disagree with this idea.

To state your conclusion:

In my opinion..
Achieving a balance between X and Y would..
In conclusion, I firmly believe that..
On balance, I think it is unfair that..
 To make contrasting points:
On the other hand..
However..
It can be argued that..
Although..

 Evaluate your essay in terms of following parameters:

Content:
Make sure that appropriate transitional expressions are used to present reasons in favour of as well as
against the topic. You should start the essay by stating the current situation.
Argumentation:
The arguments and justifications presented must be relevant to the given topic. Also, the concluding
paragraph should include a balanced viewpoint of the topic.
Essay Organization:
The essay needs to be structured in a logical manner. Your personal opinion should be stated only in the
concluding paragraph.
Choice of words:
Use opinion words (e.g. I think.., in my view, etc.) only in the concluding paragraph and not in the
introductory or main body of the essay. Lastly, check your essay for any punctuation, grammatical or
spelling mistakes.

USEFUL LINKING WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

• To list points: Firstly, First of all, In the first place, To begin/start with, Secondly, Thirdly, Finally To list
advantages: One/Another/A further/An additional (major) advantage of… is …

 The main/greatest/first advantage of… is …

• To list disadvantages: One/Another/ A further/An additional (major) disadvantage/drawback of. The

main/greatest/most serious disadvantage /drawback of… Another negative aspect of…

• To introduce points/arguments for or against: One (very convincing) point/argument in favour of/
against … A further common criticism of… It could be argued/It is often claimed/It is suggested that … It
is widely argued/ believed that … Some/many/most people/experts/scientist/critics
….claim/suggest/argue/ feel/maintain/believe/point out/agree/support the view that… oppose the view
that… are in favour of/against… are of the opinion that/convinced that… are opposed to…

• To 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, /as well, both … and
• To make contrasting points: on the other hand, however, still, yet, but, nevertheless, even so,
although, though, even though, while, whereas, despite/in spite of

• To introduce examples: for example, for instance, such as, like, in particular, particularly, especially,
This is (clearly) illustrated/shown by the fact that… One/A clear/striking/ typical example of (this)…

• To emphasise a point: clearly, obviously, naturally, needless to say

• To make general statements: as a (general) rule, generally, in general, in most cases

• To make partially correct statements: to a certain extent/degree, to some extent/degree, in a

way/sense, this is partly true (but)

• To explain/clarify a point: in other words, that is to say, this/which means that

• To express cause: owing to, due to (the fact that), because, as, since

• To express effect: therefore, as a result/consequence, consequently, so, for this reason.

• To express intention: to, so as to, in order to, so that, with the intention of (+ing) Useful expressions
and linking words/phrases: Conclusion expressing balanced considerations/opinion indirectly In
conclusion, On balance, All things considered, Taking everything into account /consideration, To
conclude, To sum up, All in all, Finally/Lastly, it can be said/claimed that … … it seems/appears that… ... it
would seem that… … it is likely/unlikely/possible that … it is clear/obvious that… … there is no/little
doubt that … it is true to say that … … it may be concluded/said that … it is my belief/opinion that … I
(firmly) believe/feel/think that … … I am convinced that … … I am inclined to believe that …

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, examples 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: 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.
Points to consider

• Before you start writing your essay you should make 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. In addition, many people feel reading is a relaxing and worthwhile activity.
• Do not use informal style (e.g. short forms, colloquial language, etc.) or strong language to express your opinion
(e.g. I know…, etc.). Express your opinion in a non-emotional way (e.g. It seems that, I therefore feel, etc.).
• Well-known quotations relevant to the topic you are writing about will make your composition more interesting.
For example, if you are writing an essay on education, a quotation you may include is: "Education is a progressive
discovery of our own ignorance." (Will Durant)
Note: 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 4 & 5, 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 & justifi¬cations, examples, and/ or reasons
Paragraphs 4 & 5
arguments against & justification, examples, and/or reasons
Conclusion
Final Paragraph
balanced consideration/ your opinion directly or indirectly

Go to Practical Exercises

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases

• To list points:
Firstly, First of all, In the first place, To begin/start with, Secondly, Thirdly, Finally
• To list advantages:
One/Another/A further/An additional (major) advantage of… is … The main/greatest/first advantage
of… is …
• To list disadvantages:
One/Another/ A further/An additional (major) disadvantage/drawback of. The main/greatest/most
serious/first disadvantage /drawback of… Another negative aspect of…
• To introduce points/arguments for or against:
One (very convincing) point/argument in favour of… / against, A further common criticism of… / It could be argued
that…..
often claimed/suggested
It is widely argued maintained that…..
generally felt/believed/held

Some/many/most people/experts/scientist/skeptics/critics
claim/suggest/argue/feel that…
maintain/believe/point out/agree/hold that…
advocate (+ing/noun)/support the view that…
oppose the view that…
are in favour of/against…
are of the opinion that/convinced that…
are opposed to…

• To 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 also/as well, both … and, There is another side to the issue/question/argument of…
• To make contrasting points:
on the other hand, however, still, yet, but, nonetheless, nevertheless, even so,
it may be said/argued/claimed that,…
others/many people oppose this viewpoint/strongly disagree…, claim/feel/believe this argument is
incorrect/misguided
although, though, even though, while, whilst, whereas, despite/in spite of (the fact that), regardless of the fact
that
Opponents of … argue/believe/claim that…
The fact that… contradicts the belief/idea that…
While it is true to say that…, in fact…
While/Although …, it cannot be denied that…

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases

• To introduce examples:
for example, for instance, such as, like, in particular, particularly, especially, This is (clearly) illustrated/shown by
the fact that… One/A clear/striking/ typical example of (this)… The fact that…. shows/illustrates that…
• To emphasise a point:
clearly, obviously, it is obvious, naturally, of course, needless to say, indeed
• To express reality:
In fact, the fact (of the matter) is, actually, in practice, it is a fact that, in effect
• To make general statements:
as a (general) rule, generally, in general, on the whole, by and large, in most cases
• To make partially correct statements:
to a certain extent/degree, to some extent/degree, in a way/sense, this is partly true (but), to a limited extent,
there is some truth in (this), in some cases, up to a point
• To explain/clarify a point:
in other words, that is to say, this/which means that
• To express cause: owing to, due to (the fact that), on account of, on the grounds that, given that, because, as,
since
• To express effect: therefore, thus, as a result/consequence, consequently, so, for this reason, if… were to
happen, … the effect/result would be…
• To express intention: to, so as to, in order to, so that, with the intention of (+ing)

Go to Practical Exercises on the Use of linking words and phrases

Useful expressions and linking words/phrases: Conclusion expressing balanced considerations/opinion

indirectly
In conclusion,
On balance,
All things considered,
Taking everything into account/consideration,
To conclude,
To sum up,
All in all,
Finally/Lastly,

……………………. it can be said/claimed that …

……………………. it seems/appears that…
……………………. it would seem that…
……………………. it is likely/unlikely/possible/foreseeable that …
……………………. it is clear/obvious that…
…………………….. there is no/little doubt that …
…………………….. it is true to say that …
…………………….. although it must be said that …
……………………. it may be concluded/said that …
Useful expressions and linking words/phrases: Conclusion expressing opinion directly
In conclusion,
On balance,
All things considered,
Taking everything into account/consideration,
To conclude,
To sum up,
All in all,

…………………………… it is my belief/opinion that …

………………………….. I (firmly) believe/feel/think that …
…………………………… I am convinced that …
…………………………… I am inclined to believe that …
…………………………… I (do not) agree that/with …

NOTE

1. A for and against essay can end in a balanced consideration in which you restate that there are
points for and against the topic using appropriate expressions given above.
2. Alternatevely, it can end by expressing an opinion, in which case you state, directly or indirectly, that you
are either in favour of or against the topic, using appropriate expressions given above.

Go to conclusion expressing opinion directly/indirectly

9 Read the conclusions below and say whether they express a balanced consideration, or the writer's opinion
directly/indirectly.
1 To conclude, although it must be said that a sense of responsibility is one of the most important qualities which
can be instilled in young people, it should not be forgotten that there are other, equally important qualities.
2 For the above-mentioned reasons, therefore, I firmly believe that if people are taught a keen sense of
responsibility towards themselves and others, then they will have the best possible start in life. The way I see it,
taking full responsibility for one's own actions is central to leading an honest life.
3 To sum up, it would seem that, once young people know how to take responsibility for their actions, they are
better equipped to learn about life. While there are other important qualities, a highly-developed sense of
responsibility provides the ideal foun¬dation for personal development.
4 On balance, it seems that a sense of responsibility has a role to play in a young person's development.
Never¬theless, when placed alongside other human qualities, such as honesty and integrity, it is by no means the
most useful.

10 Read the main body of the for and against essay below on the topic: "Discuss the view that advertising
promotes excessive consumerism." Then read the beginnings and endings and say which of the techniques on p.
56 has been used in each one. Finally, replace the bold type words or phrases in the main body with ones similar in
meaning.

Beginning…
1. Whether it is on TV, radio or hoardings at the side of the road, advertisements have become a part of our lives,
advertising simply a means of informing the public or does it encourage consumers to purchase products they do
not really need?
2. Advertising is a powerful and persuasive medium. You may feel this is an intrusion in your daily life, and resent
the pressure on you to spend money. Others, however, enjoy the variety which this highly creative industry brings
to everyday life.
3. Advertising is an effective way of selling new products, and many people argue that its effectiveness
brainwashes us into unnecessary spending. Others, however, disagree. As Jeremy Tunstall says, "Advertising can't
sell any product can only help to sell a product the people want to buy."
One of the main arguments for advertising is that it generates wealth for a country. That is to say, taxes paid on
goods sold, help governments to pay for essential services such as education and health care. Moreover, the
number of jobs created for pro¬ducing, marketing and servicing these goods helps to reduce the unemployment
problem, which is also a great advantage for a country's economy.
What is more, advertising raises money for a huge number of sporting events and artistic perfor¬mances which
would otherwise not be held. Without sponsorship from companies who advertise their products, these events
would disappear due to lack of funding. In other words, although consumerism is promoted through advertising, it
is beneficial to both the consumer and society.
On the other hand, advertisements can cause people to be dissatisfied with what they already have, and make
them want more. Being exposed again and again to products which one cannot afford produces frustration and
dissatisfaction. Further more, not all parents are in a position to afford the goods which their children see
advertised and want to possess. This often leads to feelings of inadequacy, especially among the less well-off.
In addition to this, advertising creates materialism and causes people to place too much importance or material
goods. The fact that people are prepared to work long hours, or even turn to crime in order to gain the goods on
offer, shows that advertising persuade; people to go to great lengths to keep the same standard of living as those
they see around them. It is a fact, though, that neither crime nor the stress caused by overwork can benefit
society.

Endings….
A To sum up, it is true to say that advertising does provide some benefits. However, do you not agree that the
drawbacks of a greedy, materialistic society far outweigh the advantages, and we need to be careful that we do not
lose sight of what is most important - a spirit of co-operation rather than competition?

B To conclude, it must be said that, while advertising may create jealousy and inequality in society, without it v
would lose a valuable source of revenue which is used for the benefit of the majority. What would our lives be like
without advertisements?
C In conclusion, I believe that advertising exists to generate wealth by encouraging people to spend unnecessarily.
It fosters greed and breeds dissatisfaction while distracting us from focusing on more vital things. As Marion Harper
Jr said, "Advertising is found in societies which have passed the point of satisfying the basic animal needs."

11 Read the four topic sentences below and match each with the corre-sponding paragraph. Does each topic
sentence adequately summarise the argument it presents? What would a suitable introduction and con¬clusion be
for this essay?

"Living in a foreign country cannot be better man living in your own.” Discuss.

a Furthermore, people who move to a foreign country may be regarded with suspicion and treated unfairly.
b On the other hand, living abroad can be a way to escape a variety of problems presented in one's country of
birth.
c. One argument in favour of saying in one`s native country is that the problems of adapting to a new way of life
cannot always be overcome.
d. Finally, it may be said that by living in a foreign country, people are able to establish a greater understanding
between nations.

1.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
The fact of the matter is that, even in cases where the language is the same, there are other changes, such as
cultural differences, which an out¬sider might find difficult to adjust to. Even the weather can force some people to
return to their country of origin. For example, take an Inuit and an Amazonian Indian. They would almost certainly
find it impossi¬ble to adapt to the extreme climates of each other's native homes.

2.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
In countries with a large number of immigrants there are often social problems, and immigrants stand out as being
"different" and even in¬ferior. As a consequence, the host country may react in a variety of ways, from open
hostility and racism to depriving the immigrants of the right to equal pay.

3.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………

For example, war, political or religious intolerance, and natural ca¬tastrophes are among the reasons for people
seeking a new home in a foreign land. In such cases, people are often able to start a new life abroad with greater
freedom and a higher standard of living.

4.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………

That is to say, by working and living among foreigners, some of the bar¬riers between countries can be broken
down, helping to create a more peaceful world. Needless to say, better diplomatic relations would be of benefit to
all.

12 Which of the following are arguments in favour and which are arguments against the topic: "School plays a
more important role than die family in shaping one's personality." Discuss. Suggest examples/justification for each
argument. Finally, write the composition in about 350 words.

1. Moreover, so much of the school day is devoted to competition and prepa¬ration for examinations that there is
little time left for personality develop¬ment.
2. On the other hand, most children have a closer relationship with their parents than with their teachers.
3. An additional argument in support of school is that young people are exposed to a wide variety of subjects.
4. One point in favour of the role of schools is that it is at school where chil¬dren first learn to socialise.
5. Furthermore, children usually spend five years of their lives at home before they even go to school.
6. What is more, the average child spends as many as eight hours a day in school.

PLANNING & ORGANISATION

• There is an alternative paragraph plan you may use when writing for and against essays. When following this
plan you present both an argument in favour and the opposing viewpoint in the same paragraph.
In such essays the arguments for and against must be equal in number.

Introduction
Paragraph 1
State topic (summary of topic without stating your opinion)
Main Body
Paragraph 2
first argument for & against
Paragraph 3*
second argument for & against
Conclusion
Final Paragraph
give balanced consideration/ your opinion expressed directly/indirectly

 You may include more paragraph in the main body if you wish to include more points

13 "Greater freedom does not necessarily lead to greater happiness” Discuss.

Read the model and say which argu¬ments have been presented in each paragraph. Do the topic sentences clearly
summarise the content of each paragraph? Finally, underline all the useful expressions and linking words or
phrases and replace them with ones similar in meaning.

Over the years, mankind has recognised the need for personal and social freedom, and this is perhaps one of the m
important social advancements ever made. However, whether it has led to increased personal happiness is highly
debatable; many people would argue that greater freedom has led to increased social disorder and personal
dissatisfaction.
Firstly, it is true that people are now more at liberty to choose how to live their lives. For example, in the Western
world at least, the choice of where to live, what career to pursue and which religion to follow has never been
greater. In addition to this people have more leisure time in which to enjoy a wider range of recreational activities.
On the other hand, it r be argued that this increased freedom can lead people to take things for granted and expect
too much from life. As an example of this, the greater choice of material goods available has resulted in people
quickly growing bored with t possessions. Consequently, no sooner have they acquired something new than they
tire of it. They find short-term happiness in material goods and entertainment, but boredom and frustration soon
send them looking for fresh distractions.
Secondly, social and moral attitudes have become less rigid. This has allowed for a greater variety of lifestyles and
n freedom in human relations. This is illustrated by the fact that pupils and teachers now treat each other as
equals, and parent-child relationships are now much more relaxed. Nevertheless, some people believe that this
increase in free has resulted in the escalation of social problems. They argue that the current lack of discipline has
given rise to a breakdown in the traditional family and the decay in educational standards as well as the rise in
juvenile delinquency. Thus, it may be said that society is becoming more and more dangerous because of the very
fact that people are more open-minded than they were in the past.
To conclude, there is evidence both to support and refute the view that greater freedom does not necessarily le:
greater happiness. On the one hand, people have more opportunities to raise their standard of living. On the other
hand, the many examples of protests, strikes and criminal activities which are a feature of modern society are a
sign that, although people may be free, they are not necessarily happier.

14 Read the following arguments and match each argument in favour of using animals for entertainment with the
corresponding argument against. Then, following the paragraph plan (the second one), say which arguments you
would include in each paragraph. Finally, write a clear topic sentence for each paragraph.

Arguments for using animals for entertainment.

1. Zoos can be educational and also help to increase the numbers of endan-gered species through controlled
breeding programmes.
2. Animals used in television programmes, advertisements and films are very appealing and attract large
audiences.
3. Circus animals are loved, well-treated and only perform for short periods.
4. Racing animals have a very short working life and are well-treated throughout.

Arguments against using animals for entertainment.

a Animals are forced to perform unnatural acts for the pleasure of the pub¬lic.
b Keeping animals in cages so the public can see them is unnecessary because documentaries produced today take
away the need for such places.
c With new technology and special effects, there is no need to use live ani¬mals as realistic models can be used
instead.
d Racing animals have gruelling training schedules and are often placed in unnecessary danger.