1. Argumentative Compositions

2.  outlining advantages and disadvantages  expressing opinions/providing solutions to problems  expressing arguments for and against a topic  discursive essays

3. is a piece of formal writing. - You should use a different paragraph for each point you make. - Begin each paragraph with a key sentence which sums up the point you are going to make. - Give examples to support your point of view. - Before starting to write your composition you should first make a plan.

4. Advantages/Disadvantages State topic Advantages Disadvantages Balanced consideration / opinion

5. Expressing opinions/ providing solutions State opinion / problem Point 1/ Suggestion 1 Point 2 / Suggestion 2 Restate opinion / best opinion and reason

6. For and against State topic Arguments for Arguments against Balanced consideration

7. Discursive essays State topic One point of view (e.g. scientific) Another point of view (e.g. moral) A third point of view (e.g. social) Give own opinion

8.  are useful for adding vitality to your composition  Quotations are useful for the first or last sentence ( e.g. a space exploration essay could end with “One small step for man, a giant step for mankind ”)

9. Study a dictionary of quotations (e.g. The MacMillan Dictionary of Contemporary Quotations by Johnathon Green) 1. “The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success” 2. “Boxing is just show business with blood.” 3. “Without the past the pursued future has no meaning.” 4. “Art is much less important than life; but what a poor life without it!” 5. “Making money is fun, but it’s pointless if you don’t use the power it brings.” 6. “It’s not how old you are, it’s how hard you work on it.” 7. “The process of living is the process of reaching to stress.” 8. “In the eyes of the nature, we are just another species in trouble.” 9. “In the factory we make cosmetics, in the store we sell hope.” 10. “Television is simply automated day dreaming.” 11. “Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.” a. Describe the role of art in life. b. What are the problems that come with ageing and what can be done about them? c. “Beauty is only skin deep.” Do you agree? d. What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming famous? e. How important is it to protect the environment? Discuss. f. Stress and anxiety can lead to early death. Why is this and what can we do about it? g. What is the point of learning? Discuss. h. How much can knowledge of past events help us make decisions in the future? Discuss. i. How does the mass media affect people’s lives? Discuss. j. Violent sports should be banned. Discuss. k. “Power and money go hand in hand.” Discuss.

10. 1.d 2. j 3. h 4. a 5. k 6. b 7. f 8. e 9. c 10. i 11. g

11. To make contrasting points Linking devices: although, yet, however, nevertheless, in spite of, but, while, despite, even if, even though, at the same time Killing endangered species is illegal. However, people will not stop hunting them.

12.  Although killing endangered species is illegal, people will not stop hunting them.  Killing endangered species is illegal, yet people will not stop hunting them.  Killing endangered species is illegal, nevertheless people will not stop hunting them.  In spite of the fact that killing endangered species is illegal, people will not stop hunting them.  Killing endangered species is illegal, but people will not stop hunting them.  While killing endangered species is illegal, people will not stop hunting them.  Despite the fact that killing endangered species is illegal, people will not stop hunting them.  Even if killing endangered species is illegal, people will not stop hunting them.  Even though killing endangered species is illegal, people will not stop hunting them.  Killing endangered species is illegal, at the same time people will not stop hunting them.

13. To list points Linking devices: firstly, in the first place, first of all, to start with, secondly, thirdly, finally First of all, the government must revise the out-of-date environmental laws, which were written twenty years ago.

14.  Firstly, the government must revise the out-of-date environmental laws which were written twenty years ago.  In the first place the government must revise the out-of-date environmental laws which were written twenty years ago.  To start with, the government must revise the out-of-date environmental laws which were written twenty years ago.  Secondly, the government must revise the out-of-date environmental laws which were written twenty years ago.  Thirdly, the government must revise the out-of-date environmental laws which were written twenty years ago.  Finally, the government must revise the out-of-date environmental laws which were written twenty years ago.

15. To add more points on a topic Linking devices: what is more, furthermore, also, apart from this/that, in addition to, moreover, besides, too, not to mention the fact that Furthermore, the city should conduct inspections of zoos.

16.  What is more, the city should conduct inspections of zoos.  The city should also conduct inspections of zoos.  Apart from this/ that, the city should conduct inspections of zoos.  In addition to this, the city should conduct inspections of zoos.  Moreover the city should conduct inspections of zoos.  Besides, the city should conduct inspections of zoos.  The city should conduct inspections of zoos too.  … not to mention the fact that the city should conduct inspections of zoos.

17. To list advantages/ disadvantages Linking devices: one / another / one other / a further / the main / the first / the greatest advantage/disadvantage of … The greatest advantage of regular exercise is that it leads to a healthier lifestyle.

18.  One of the greatest advantages of regular exercise is that it leads to a healthier lifestyle.  Another great advantage of regular exercise is that it leads to a healthier lifestyle.  One other advantage of regular exercise is that it leads to a healthier lifestyle.  A further advantage of regular exercise is that it leads to a healthier lifestyle.  The main advantage of regular exercise is that it leads to a healthier lifestyle.  The first/greatest advantage of regular exercise is that it leads to a healthier lifestyle.

19. To express personal opinion Linking devices: in my opinion/view, to my mind/wat of thinking, personally I believe, it strikes me that, I feel very strongly that, I am inclined to believe that, it seems to me that, as far as I am concerned In my opinion/view department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.

20.  To my mind/way of thinking, department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.  I personally believe department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.  It strikes me that department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.  I feel very strongly that department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.  I am inclined to believe that department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.  It seems to me that department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.  As far as I am concerned department stores offer a greater selection of clothes than small boutiques.

21. To refer to other sources Linking devices: according to, with reference to According to this report, that brand of suncream causes irritation to sensitive skin.

22.  With reference to this report, that brand of suncream causes irritation to sensitive skin.

23. To conclude Linking devices: finally, lastly, above all, all in all, taking everything into account, on the whole, all things considered, in conclusion, as I have said, as was previously stated, to sum up On the whole, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.

24.  Finally, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  Lastly, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  Above all, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  All in all, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  Taking everything into account, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  All things considered, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  In conclusion, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  As I have said, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  As was previously stated, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.  To sum up, the university offers a wide range of courses and provides modern facilities.

25. To express cause Linking devices: because of, owing to, due to, for this reason Due to the harsh winter, many crops were destroyed.

26.  Because of the harsh winter, many crops were destroyed.  Owing to the harsh winter, many crops were destroyed.  For this reason, many crops were destroyed.

27. To express effect Linking devices: therefore, thus, as a result, consequently, so, as a consequence As a result many people have lost their jobs.

28.  Lots of factories have closed down, therefore, many people have lost their jobs.  Lots of factories have closed down; thus, many people have lost their jobs.  Lots of factories have closed down; consequently, many people have lost their jobs.  Lots of factories have closed down so many people have lost their jobs.  Lots of factories have closed down; as a consequence, many people have lost their jobs.

29. To emphasise what you say Linking devices: clearly, obviously, of course, needless to say, in particular Needless to say, research has proved that eating healthy food and exercising regularly reduce the risk of heart disease.

30.  Clearly research has proved that eating healthy food and exercising regularly reduce the risk of heart disease.  Obviously research has proved that eating healthy food and exercising regularly reduce the risk of heart disease.  Of course research has proved that eating healthy food and exercising regularly reduce the risk of heart disease.  In particular, research has proved that eating healthy food and exercising regularly reduce the risk of heart disease.

31. To express reality Linking devices: in fact, actually, as a matter of fact, in practice, the fact of the matter is that In fact, the report states that most college graduates are interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in the future.

32.  Actually the report states that most college graduates are interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in the future.  As a matter of fact, the report states that most college graduates are interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in the future.  In practice the report states that most college graduates are interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in the future.  The fact of the matter is that most college graduates are interested in pursuing a Master’s degree in the future.

33. To state an argument against your opinion Linking devices: it is believed that, people often claim that, contrary to popular belief, it is a fact that, people argue that Contrary to popular belief, the teaching profession is in need of qualified educators.

34.  It is believed that the teaching profession needs more qualified educators.  People often claim that the teaching profession needs more qualified educators.  People argue that the teaching profession needs more qualified educators.  It is fact that the teaching profession needs more qualified educators.

35. To state other people’s opinion Linking devices: many people are in favour of/against, some people argue that, a lot of people think/believe Many people are in favour of/against the mayor’s proposal to raise local taxes.

36.  Some people argue that the mayor’s proposal to raise local taxes is unfair.  A lot of people think/believe that the mayor’s proposal to raise local taxes is unfair.

37. To introduce the other side of the argument Linking devices: opponents of this view say, however there are people/ those who oppose….claim that Opponents of this view say that increasing the school year will only overwork students.

38.  However there are people who believe that increasing the school year will only overwork students.  Those who oppose increasing the school year claim that it will only overwork students.

39. To express balance Linking devices: while, on the one hand, on the other hand, whereas While working for a large company is prestigious, it can be very stressful.

40.  On the one hand working for a large company is prestigious, but it can be very stressful.  working for a large company is prestigious, but on the other hand it can be very stressful.  John is a hard working person, whereas Ann isn’t.

41. To bring up other points or aspects Linking devices: as far as … is concerned, regarding, with regard to, as for As far as the community is concerned, the area is in need of a few elementary school.

42.  Regarding the community, the area is in need of a new elementary school.  With regards to the community, the area is in need of a new elementary school.  As for the community, the area is in need of a new elementary school.

43.  Use formal style – do not include colloquial English  Do not use short forms  Write well developed paragraphs  Avoid strong feelings (don’t say: nobody does this; or it is impossible to disagree with me)  Use generalizations (e.g. people say/believe/consider), but do not use overgeneralization (e.g. everybody believes that…)  Do not use strong personal expressions (e.g. I think) – use milder language (e.g. In my opinion, I believe etc.)

44.  Use linking words  Use sequencing (e.g. firstly, secondly, lastly)  Give examples – not personal thoughts  Do not refer blindly to the statistics unless you are certain of a source  Abandon cliched introductions. Write something more original  Use quotations or paraphrasing of quotations  Use an advanced level of vocabulary