Tips for writing pros and cons essays The structure

Tips for writing pros and cons essays

The structure that you to use, will be sure to get you a high score.

TIP >> Before you start writing, plan your ideas so that you can organise the information clearly. You must decide what the main advantages and disadvantages are. Take 5 minutes and plan out your ideas, opinions and examples. 

TIP >> It is very important that spend a full 40 minutes on this task as the score you get for writing task 2 is two-thirds of your total writing score. You also need to write a minimum of 250 words and use your own ideas. 

TIP >> Remember to write in a formal tone, this is an academic essay, therefore your writing should be formal. 

This is one possible way to structure your essay;
Paragraph 1 - The Introduction

This is the introduction to the essay and where you should start off by paraphrasing the question. 

Do you understand what I mean, when I say 'paraphrase' the question?

This means that you rewrite the question in your own words using synonyms. You can't just copy the question again or use the same words in the question. Paraphrase and show off your vocabulary knowledge by using synonyms. When practising your essay writing, use an online thesaurus to help you. This is a great tool and can help you to learn many new words.

Then your next sentence should introduce the essay, this will tell the examiner exactly what you will discuss in the main body paragraphs. For example, Firstly this essay will discuss......... Secondly this essay will discuss.......

There are two sentences you need in the introduction >>

• 
  Paraphrase the question
  
• 
  Introduce the specific advantages/disadvantages that will be discussed in the main body paragraphs.
  

Paragraph 2 - Main Body Paragraph 1

In this paragraph, you should describe the main advantage.

Start the paragraph by introducing the main advantage. This is where you need to have a topic sentence. The next sentence(s) should explain, going into detail. The third sentence should give an example that supports the advantage.

The example you give could be something from your own experience or made up - it is ok to make up something as the examiners will not fact check your information. They want to see your ability to use English at a certain level. You could make up an example from a report, journal, newspaper or University study. 

This is how the paragraph should look >>

• 
  Introduce the advantage (topic sentence)
  
• 
  Explain/give detail
  
• 
  Example
  

Paragraph 3 - Main Body Paragraph 2

In this paragraph, you should write about the main disadvantage.

Start the paragraph by introducing the disadvantage. This is where you need to have a topic sentence. The next sentence(s) should explain, going into detail. The third sentence should give an example.

The example you give could be something from your own experience or made up - it is ok to make up something as the examiners will not fact check your information. They want to see your ability to use English at a certain level. You could make up an example from a report, journal, newspaper or University study. 

This is how the paragraph should look >>

• 
  Introduce the disadvantage (topic sentence)
  
• 
  Explain/give detail
  
• 
  Example
  

Paragraph 4 - The Conclusion

In the fourth paragraph, you write the conclusion giving a summary of your main points and say what you think were most important pros and cons. You should not enter any new information or ideas in this paragraph. 

You can end your conclusion with a balancing statement that tells the reader why one side is better than the other. For example, using words like outweigh, balance out, compensate for, exceed and make up for. 

• 
  Summary of the main points
  
• 
  What you think were the most important pros and cons
  

Another possible way to structure your advantage/disadvantage essay is this;

You may want to add paragraphs to explain further advantages or disadvantages, but there should be only one main idea in each main body paragraph. Don't list all of your advantages/disadvantages in one paragraph.

• 
  Introduction
  
• 
  Paragraph 1 - Describe an advantage
  
• 
  Paragraph 2 - Describe an advantage
  
• 
  Paragraph 3 - Describe a disadvantage
  
• 
  Conclusion
  

TIP >> If the question asks you if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of something then your essay structure will change slightly. You should make sure you write about how one side is better than the other. You will also have to include this in your introduction. The side that you think outweighs the other should be written about first in main body paragraph 1. Followed by main body paragraph 2 - the more fragile argument. 

TIP >> If the question asks you to write about advantages/disadvantages and give your opinion, then you need to add an extra paragraph that clearly states your opinion. You would also need to write about your opinion in the introduction.