This lesson is closely related to the previous lesson, so for your better understanding, if you didn’t read the previous lesson about strategy you can do it by clicking here.
If you’ve read the previous lesson, you already know that we have taken down some notes based on our ideas: some ideas agreed with the topic statement and some were against it. The next step is to choose where YOU stand. Do you agree or disagree with the topic?
If you agree, then you will choose two of the ideas that agree with the topic and you will develop these ideas in two paragraphs (1 paragraph for each idea). In each paragraph you analyse your argument by discussing about it giving reasons and examples.
In case you disagree with the topic, you do exactly the same thing but the only difference is that you pick ideas from the ideas that obviously disagree with the topic and you fill in your two paragraphs with these.
But what if you don’t have a straightforward opinion? What if you both agree and disagree depending on the circumstances? There is a third option! In this case, you will use one paragraph to talk about a point that agrees with the topic giving reasons and examples and you will use another paragraph to analyse a point that disagrees with the topic and you explain this point a little bit by giving reasons and examples.
This is what I suggest, too. In this way, your essay will be balanced; you will be able to use a variety of linking phrases; and of course you will show that you can see both sides of an argument and discuss about them. This is my personal preference but it doesn’t mean that if you choose to completely agree or disagree you will be wrong or you will lose marks. No way, definitely not.
Now, let’s have a look at the plan you will outline and follow for each of these cases:
TV advertisements aimed at young children are far too many nowadays and they should be forbidden.
PLAN
1.)AGREE
1ST prgr: Intro paraphrasing the topic. State your opinion
2nd prgr.: State one point that agrees with the topic. Eg: Children get used to endless consuming from a young age
Give reasons and examples to support this point
3rd prgr: State another view that supports the fact that you agree Eg.: competition at school/social anxiety
(reasons and examples)
4th prgr: Conclusion: Summarise the reasons that support your belief in different words.
2.) DISAGREE
1ST prgr: Intro paraphrasing the topic/state your opinion
2nd prgr.: State one point that disagrees with the topic. Eg: Advertisements are part of our world, so children should learn to deal with it from a young age.
Give reasons and examples to support this point
3rd prgr: State another view that supports the fact that you disagree. Eg.: Bans are not the answer to everything parents should teach their children to be disciplined.
(reasons and examples)
4th prgr: Conclusion: Summarise the reasons that support your belief in different words.
3.) BALANCED OPINION
1ST prgr.: Intro, paraphrase the topic and maybe state your balanced view.
2nd prgr: Choose one or two ideas that agree with the topic and elaborate on them giving reasons and examples.
Eg: Children get used to endless consuming from a young age
3rd prgr: Choose one or two views that are against the topic and discuss giving reasons and examples. Eg.:
Bans are not the answer to everything parents should teach their children to be disciplined.
4th prgr: Conclusion, time to express where you stand and justify why you believe this. You don’t have to take parts,
you can still express a balanced view.
This is the structure you need to keep in mind for your essay and I believe that it will help you to stay organised and cohesive. Here’s the video lesson:
