1 Put your ideas down to help you plan your essay.

Example: Spider diagram to list for and against points.

Tips Model
Part

You should know before writing which side you are on (for or against)
You can follow this template, although you may like to add more paragraphs:
-State the problem of investigation In the last few years.........(can be paraphrased from
Introduction

clearly and why it is an important
issue.
- Avoid boring sentences; try to be
emotive in your opening paragraph.
- Use rhetorical questions or
quotations.
- Use persuasive techniques;
Body
the given question).........has been one of the issues
people have become interested in.
Yet, it has been one of the topics they differ about. Some
people think it is positive and has many advantages. Others
are against it and believe that it has a lot of
disadvantages.

exaggeration, understatement,
On the one hand,.........has many supporters.
emotive language, similes,
metaphors... It is strongly felt by many of them that....... can
- Consider the various sides of the have its bright side. One of the arguments
position. for .....................is
- Do not include your own opinion at that .......................................................
this point. ....
- Begin each paragraph with a key In addition, .............................................
sentence. Furthermore, ...........................................
- Use connectors
- Give examples and facts where
possible. On the other hand, there are arguments
- Present the ‘FOR’ points in a against............. . Many people feel that it can
separate paragraph, and the have many disadvantages. First of
‘AGAINST’ points in another all, ......................
separate paragraph.
What’s more, ...........................................
Finally,...................................................
- Sum up your key points and state As we have seen above, nothing is perfect.
Conclusio

your personal opinion. Everything can be dark or bright; positive or

- Keep the tone of your ending negative. It depends on the way we deal with it.
interesting.
Now check your work over carefully for √ structure of argument √ Use of linkers
3 √ grammar and vocab. √ punctuation
√ spelling √ word choice
 Logical Fallacies

To write a convincing argument, try to avoid the following pitfalls in logical thinking.

A. Loose generalizations - drawing conclusions about groups of people on the basis of stereotypes.
Example: French people are more romantic.
B. Hasty generalizations - Arriving at a conclusion without enough evidence.
Model
Example: Asian-American students are better in math.Text 1
Read the
C. Circular article and
Reasoning underline
- Restating the correct
in different linkers.
words what has already been stated.
Example: Dieting is hard because it requires consuming fewer calories.
2. Which of the linkers in bold:
D. Single cause-effect - Claiming that only one event caused another when there may be no real connection.
Example:* When
list/ add
I satpoints * introduce
down at the computer reasons/examples
it stopped working, so I must have done something wrong.
* show contrast * introduce a conclusion
E. Slippery Slope - Assumes a chain of cause-effect relationships with very suspect connections.
Example:
What isBecause I failed myabout?
each paragraph exam, my parents were mad, I lost my wallet, my car wouldn't start, and I got fired.
F. Non Sequitur - The first part of the idea does not relate to the other.
Example: I did well in school because I always wore nice clothes.
G. Either/Or - Suggesting only two alternatives when the issue may be much more complex.
Example: America--love it or leave it!
H. False Authority - Draws attention away from the evidence and leans on the popularity of someone who may have
little knowledge of the issue or product.
Example: Kathie Lee Gifford, a popular TV celebrity, says that cruises are wonderful, so they must be.
I. Ad Hominem - Attacking the person instead of the ideas.
Example: Don't vote for Jerry Brown; he's a left-wing fanatic, a throwback to the 60s who meditates and eats health
foods.
J. Bandwagon Thinking - Claiming that most people agree so it must be right.
Example: I wouldn't have cheated on my income taxes, but everyone else does, so why shouldn't I?
K. Stacking the deck - Giving a slanted view of the issue by focusing only on one side.
Example: I deserve to get an A in the class because I like the teacher, work hard, and attend class.
L. Appeal to Emotion - Exploiting the audience's feeling in order to get them on your side.
Example: I believe I deserve a scholarship because I am an orphan who grew up in a dysfunctional foster family.
M. Ignoring the question - Changing the topic before it is really considered
Example: The criminal won't say where he was on the night of the crime, but he does remember being teased
Read theasarticle
relentlessly a child.again and list the points for and against the topic.
What justifications/ examples does the writer give to support each point?
N. Trivial objections -Can be similar to ad hominem in that it focuses on things unimportant to the issue at hand.
What topic
Example: sentences
I think has the
Ross Perot writer
would makeused in the main
a terrible body?His ears are huge.
president.
Suggest other appropriate ones.

What techniques has the writer used to start/ end his article:
A question? addressing the reader directly? a rhetorical question?

Can you suggest another beginning/ ending?

1
Do you know how dangerous stress can be? It affects us both physically and mentally, so
reducing stress is something that we should all try to do. While many people feel that the best
way to get rid of stress is some form of exercise, there are other ways which are just as
effective.

The benefits of physical exercise are obvious. 1) Moreover/ First of all, keeping fit helps
your body stay strong and healthy. 2) Therefore/ Because you are less likely to get sick or
suffer from stress-related health problems 3) such as/ in addition to heart attacks and cancer.
4) Furthermore/ However, exercise is a good way to get rid of frustration and anger,
because after exercise the brain produces hormones called endorphins which make us feel
good.

5) On the other hand/ Moreover, if you are out of shape, exercise can be quite painful. You
may pull a muscle or injure yourself. 6) Due to the fact that/ Furthermore, exercising may
even cause more stress 7) what is more/ since it will add to your already hectic schedule.

8) Last but not least/ In conclusion, the best way to combat stress in our lives is to live a
healthy life. As James Freeman Clark says, “Never hurry. Take plenty of exercise. Always be
cheerful. Take all the sleep you need. You may expect to be well.”
2

Model Text 2
Your school magazine has asked its readers to write an article discussing the
advantages and disadvantages of fast food.
Write your article for the magazine in about 120-180 words.

1. What type of composition are you going to write?

What is 2. What willtotheour
happening topic of each
eating paragraph
habits? be? fast-paced society, more and more
In today’s
3. Think of two pros/cons which you
people substitute fast food for home cooked meals. can include.
They simply don’t have the time to
4. In which
prepare balanced paragraph
meals can you write
for themselves yourfamilies.
or their opinion?However, is this trend really as
unhealthy5.asWhich techniques
the experts can you use to start/ end your essay?
tell us?

Fast food has a great deal to offer us. Firstly, fast food is convenient, because it is available
whenever you want to eat. After all, in today’s society, people need to be able to eat twenty
four hours a day. Furthermore, our body needs a balanced diet; which means that we need
some fats, sugars and salt in our diet. We need to eat small amounts from all of the food
groups in order to maintain good health.

On the other hand, fast food does have its disadvantages. To begin with, fast food is not
healthy because it doesn’t provide you with enough vitamins and minerals. In addition, fast
food contains large amounts of additives, as it is full of saturated fats and other chemicals.
Eating too many foods containing additives will damage our health in the long run.

All things considered, the best way to maintain good health is to eat whatever you want,
but in moderation. As the song says, “A little bit of what you fancy does you good.”

Model Text 1 Answer Key

1-
1. First of all 2. Therefore 3. such as 4. Furthermore
5. On the other hand 6. Futhermore 7. since 8. In conclusion

2-
List/ add points (Moreover, First of all, Furthermore, What’s more, in addition to)
Show contrast (On the other hand)
Giving reasons/ examples (Therefore, Because, such as, since)
 Concluding (In conclusion)

3-
Paragraph 1 : presents the topic.
Paragraph 2 : gives the arguments for the topic, together with justifications and examples.
Paragraph 3 : gives the arguments against the topic, together with justifications and examples.
Paragraph 4 : summarizes the arguments for and against and gives a balanced opinion.

4-
Points Justifications
For your body will stay fit and healthy you are less likely to get sick or suffer
from stress-related health problems
exercise is a good way to get rid of after exercise, the brain produces
frustration and anger hormones which make us feel good
Against exercise can be painful you may pull a muscle or injure
yourself
exercise may cause even more it will add to your already busy
stress schedule

5-
Paragraph 2 : The benefits of physical exercise are obvious.
Paragraph 3 : On the other hand, if you are out of shape, exercise can be quite painful.

Alternative topic sentences

Paragraph 2 : Although exercise may take a lot of time and effort, it will be worth it in the long run.
Paragraph 3 : However, exercising to reduce stress does have its disadvantages.

6-
The write has started the article with a rhetorical question.
The writer has ended the article with a quotation.

Alternative beginning
If you take time out of your busy schedule to exercise regularly, it will be of benefit to both your
physical and mental well-being.

Alternative ending
After all, isn’t it true that anything is good for you, as long as it’s in moderation?

Model Text 2 Answer Key

1- A for and against essay

2- Paragraph 1: present the topic, the ‘advantages and disadvantages of fast food’
Paragraph 2: give the arguments for fast food
 Paragraph 3: give the arguments against fast food
Paragraph 4: summarize the main points for and against fast food

3- Pros: * our bodies need a variety of different food

* it is convenient
Cons:* it is not healthy
* it contains large amounts of additives
4- We can write our opinion in the conclusion.
Working Mothers
A lot of people prefer working mothers to housewives.
This is because the type of life we are leading has changed a lot
recently. But it will remain a crucial social issue in our region.
An issue that has its positive points and its drawbacks as well.

To begin
5- We can use a rhetorical question or a quotation or we can address thewith the advantages,
Model Text 3
Advertising
This is an age of advertising. Businessmen and
companies spend a lot of money on advertising. Some people
think it is positive and has many advantages. Others are against
it and believe that it has a lot of disadvantages.
One of the most obvious advantages of advertising is
that it gives us information about what is available in the
market. In addition, it creates a good chance for the
customer to choose what suits his taste and pocket..
Furthermore, They also provide a lot of offers such as
discounts, free gifts and free home deliveries
reader directly. a working mother can
help her husband and her children financially. She can send her
children to better schools and colleges. She can buy her own
items, too. Moreover, having a full time job shapes the
character of the mother. She becomes more experienced and
her knowledge will be up-dated. Added to that, a working
mother has the sense of responsibility and the sense of self-
esteem. She can depend on herself if one day she becomes a
single parent. In brief, working outside home means security
Model
and safety for women.Text 4
Nevertheless, a working mother doesn’t usually spend
enough time with her children. She may depend on the maid to
bring up the children. There would be a wide gap between the
mother and the kids, then. To make matters worse, the husband
may feel left out. In some cases fights break out between the
husband and his wife because of the wife’s salary. This
weakens the family ties for sure..
To sum up, this issue depends on several factors such
as social background, the family standard of living and the type
of job a mother has.

On the other hand, advertising can have some

disadvantages. First of all, it is an attack on our pockets and
incomes because they persuade us to spend not save. What’s
more, the costs of advertising increase the prices of the
advertised items. Finally, advertisements are not always true.
They are used to fool the customers.

I think that customers should not be deceived by

advertisements. We should buy the item because we need it not
because the advertisements persuade us to do so
Model Text 5
Married Women's Job
Mobile Phones
Nowadays, married women have gone into the market, and because of that people have been separated into two teams.
There are two opinions regarding whether married women Ashould
very work outside home
large number or not.
of people nowadays own a mobile phone. But I’m not
convinced, that everybody of them knows about the risks of these mobile phones
On the one hand, there are several things why married women should work outside. First of all, married women will make
and howmarried
money, which will help her husband and her family. Furthermore, expensive, especially
women will ifbecome
childrenopen
or youths own have
and will them,more
they could become.
attention to themselves and their family. Moreover, they will
As be
it more sociable
is a very and will topic
controversial deal with others
I want better.
to talk on the one hand about the
advantages and on the other hand especially about the disadvantages and risks of
On the other hand, there are other reasons why marriedmobile
women should not work outside. First of all, children will be
phones.
lonely and none will care about them as much as they do. Nevertheless, the husbands will be more dissatisfied than before,
because they need to be cared by their wives, such as cooking, preparing food and other things. Also, the husbands will be
forced to bring a housemaid to do the housework, and that As
willI reduce the money
said already, mobileofphones
the family.
could cause a very big problem, especially if
children or youths own one. They still have to learn how to deal with money; as a
In my opinion, I considered the reasons of why women should notthey
consequence work
calloutside.
all theirHowever,
friends andI believe thatpeople
many other women should
without thinking of
work outside because life is so difficult nowadays. their money.
Add to this, there is the problem of the mobile phone promotions. They’re always
on TV and the young people watch them and download very expensive things like
Model Text 6 Model Text 7
wallpapers, sounds or games. Even if they know that they wouldn’t need all these
The Internet things, they want them, because they want to be cool.
Another disadvantage is the damage of health a mobile phone can cause. There are
There is no doubt that the internet is one of the
most important things in our daily life. However, very dangerous rays which can start cancer.
some people still think that it has a bad influence Nevertheless mobile phones are very practical, because as an example if you drive
.on kids
with your car in a very abandoned area and your car brakes down, it’s very
There are some good reasons for using the
internet. In the first place, we can get a huge profitable to have a mobile phone. Well, because then you don’t need to search a
amount of information on every thing. In addition, house of a phone box to call someone who is able to repair your car.
we can make friends and exchanging opinions
through chatting and e-mails. Further more, the Such a mobile phone is also very practical when you have to do an emergency call,
internet is a convenient means of entertainment. because you can call for instance the fire brigade on the spot. And they can find
For example, we can listen to music, watch films you anytime if you forget to say where they should come to. But that’s a
and play games. Moreover, we can do business
and shopping online, which saves time and effort. disadvantage at the same time, because if you don’t want to be found, they could
Finally, the internet can help you to learn a forging find you.
.language There are some other more or less small advantages a mobile phone can bring with.
There are, on the other hand, some disadvantages.
To begin with, the internet affects kids' behavior. You have a clock on the phone, so you don’t need a separately clock on your arm
There are thousands of websites and children and there are games and sometimes an mp3 player on the phone. So when you’re
sometimes imitate what they see, hear or read. for instance sitting somewhere and you have to wait for the bus a long time, you
Also, the internet can affect kids' school work, if
they spend most of their time online, they will not can play games or listen to music with your mobile phone.
have enough time to study or do their homework.
Therefore, they might get low grades. Last but not
I think mobile phones are a good thing and it doesn’t matter for me that they are
least, the internet can have a bad influence on kids'
social life because they do not have time to go out bad for one’s health, because there are so many other things in the world that are
.and socialize much more worst for us, like pollution because of cars or smoking and alcohol.
Considering the advantages and disadvantages
I have a mobile phone, because it’s very practically and I’m not afraid that the
mentioned above, we can see that we have more
advantages for using the internet. In my opinion, police could find me because of my phone, because I’ve done nothing wrong.
everyone should use the internet including kids,
but parents should be aware of their kids' online
. activities
Model Text 8
Having a big family
It is know that people in the past used to have big families.
They considered it as an advantage and as a sign of wealth and
strength.
However, nowadays, people think it is a great burden to have such
big families because it is full of disadvantages.
It is true that when you are living in a big family, you can never be
alone, isolated or feel bored. Therefore, you will always feel safe
and secure. In addition, brothers and sisters in big families can help
each other when they face a problem; they all can stand as one.
Besides, children will work when they grow up, so they will be a
great support to their parents. They will add income to the family.
On the other hand, living in a big family has many disadvantages.
To start with, it may be difficult for the parents to control their
children and provide them with sufficient food, clothing and proper
education.
What is more, they will not be able to go out together a lot because
it will definitely cost a great deal of money which is better saved for
other family expenses.
Moreover, living in a big family means their needs will increase day
after day. Last but not least, living in a big family means you will
have no or very little privacy.
Despite all the disadvantages, I think living in a big family is not
always bad. I'd rather live in a medium-sized family with few
brothers and sisters.
Crime and Punishment (Restoring Harder sentences)
Crime is one of the most important issues in our society. In the last
few years, crime has been going up because of poverty and
discrimination. The most worrying trend is the increase of crimes
among young people. There are two opinions about crimes and
punishments.
Model
One ofText 10 for this is possibly the fact that young people
the reasons
are not optimistic with the future and can not see a model to follow.
Also, unemployment had risen dramatically last year due to the
global financial crisis. Another reason is the ineffective
governmental plans.
On the one hand, many people feel that harder sentences should
be brought back. Moreover, some people say that conditions in
prisons are too soft and death penalty should be applied.
On the other hand, there are arguments against harder sentences
and capital punishment. They disagree and think that prison should
reform offenders. They should be brought back to normal life.
Furthermore, they think that punishment should be suitable due to
the crime.
To sum up, I think that crimes has been risen sharply in our
society in the last few years, and it must be some hard punishments
to be applied in order to reduce this crimes or stop it, and the good
way to do that is applying the true Islamic Principles.
Model Text 9
Banning smoking in schools
Smoking is a bad habit that affects our society. It has become
very important in the last few years. There are two opinions
regarding whether smoking should be banned or not.
On the one hand, there are several things why smoking
should be banned. First of all, students might damage their
health. Furthermore, it is believed that students will not be
able to be attentive. Moreover, teachers might disrespect
smoking students.
On the other hand, there are other reasons why smoking
should not be banned in schools. Students think that smoking
is a personal thing. They should enjoy some freedom. In
addition, some people say that smoking gives students the
ability of being attentive.
To sum up, I think that smoking has a lot of
disadvantages, and I absolutely agree with this statement.
However, I suggest that the legal should be harsh and execute
on everyone.
Crime and Punishment
In the last few years, crime has been going up in our society,
because of different reasons. The most common crimes are
burglary, robbery, and shoplifting. Therefore, there is an
urgent need to curbModel Textin 11
this increase crimes.
On the hand, many people argue that the only way to curb
crime is to bring back harder sentences. Some people say that
conditions in prisons are too soft as much money has been
spent on prisons that they are now like luxurious hotels. As
well as that, the wishes of victim's families' possibly need to
be taken into consideration.
Some people feel that there would be many disadvantages to
giving harder sentences because there would be less chances
of integrating prisoners into society afterwards. It is strongly
felt that capital punishment is the equivalent of judicial
murder.
As far as I am concerned, I can conclude that if we apply the
principles of our religion in our life, we will lead a better and
safer life.
 Footballers’ High Salaries

Many people think that footballers are paid too much money for doing too little effort. However, this can be argued because they
are people who have dedicated their entire life to this sport and therefore they should be rewarded. This leads us to the question:
Model Text 12
Do footballers deserve high salaries?

Firstly, some famous footballers are paid huge amounts of money such as Ronaldo who are paid millions of euros every year.
This makes us feel that it is unreasonable that there are so many people dying of famine in the world and these people are given
so much money for performing an insignificant effort. It even make us feel irritated to know how these football players waste their
money in wants that are of no use such as Etoo, (a famous football player in Football Club Barcelona, colloquially said by the
Spanish people “Barsa”) who possesses about fifteen expensive cars. A lot of money is needed for many purposes: for example
for the aid of starving people in the less economically developed countries or in the building of more hospitals for our own health
and security.

Secondly, people argue that there are other professions that provide far much more for the population that footballers do and that
they are poorly paid in comparison. They should be paid more. Other people even think that what they are paid would be justified
if they performed better in the actual matches. Many people say that one goal in a ninety-minute match or a draw implies an awful
quality performance.

On the other hand, the opinion of the spectators is that these players have dedicated their full lives to their job which involves
harsh training and the maintenance of physical fitness through intense daily training so he has to be under the pressure of their
trainer who requires them to be completely fit and train strictly.

Furthermore, apart from the pressure exerted from their instructor, they are under the pressure of the audience. They have
always to play correctly and not make any mistake so that the media and the public will not criticize them. A single error would
represent a possible end of the career of that player. In addition to this, we have to consider the fact that the age of retirement for
a professional football player is of about 30-40 years (depending of the physical state of the player) which means that this person
relies on the money he has gained in his short lifetime as a professional footballer therefore football players need the money for
the future so they can sustain themselves and their future generations.

Finally, the football business is private, no public money pays for the bills so why should we care about how much are the players
paid? It is a sport that is enjoyed by millions of people and it is known everywhere so it is maybe true that these players are worth
the money, that their talent deserves this money.

In conclusion, my opinion is that footballers don’t perform such a simple, undemanding and effortless job, they dedicate their lives
to this sport so that the people can enjoy it and it is quite complex for them to maintain their physical strength and fitness to
survive ninety minutes running. They also are under a lot of pressure from their instructors, media and the whole audience.
However, I do consider that the sum of money they are paid is quite over exaggerated, it is too much and even if it is not that easy
to become a professional player, the effort is not worth millions of euros and I believe that some of these money should be for
other purposes such as stopping the famine and starvation in the world. So footballers should be compensated for their effort but
with so much money.
http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/discursive-footballers-do-not-deserve