2.8. Opinion & Discussion Essays

Overview

This lesson covers the remaining Task 2 question types: opinion essays, discuss-both-views essays, and advantages/disadvantages essays. While the underlying essay structure (4 paragraphs) remains the same, the way you organise your arguments differs.

Opinion Essays

What They Look Like

"The only realistic alternative to fossil fuels is nuclear energy. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

"The teaching of IT in primary schools is happening at the expense of more basic skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Structure

Introduction: Paraphrase + state your position (agree/disagree/partially agree)

Body 1: Your strongest argument supporting your position
  → Topic sentence + Explanation + Example

Body 2: Your second argument OR acknowledgement of the other side
  → Topic sentence + Explanation + Example

Conclusion: Restate your position

Two Approaches to the Body Paragraphs

Approach A: Listing arguments for your side

Each body paragraph presents a separate reason supporting your position, with linking words connecting them:

There are a number of arguments in favour of using nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. First of all, it is an economical source of energy. The power generated by nuclear power stations costs much less to produce than from coal or oil fired stations. Secondly, unlike traditional power stations, nuclear power plants do not pollute the atmosphere with their waste. Instead, the waste is stored in safe containers deep underground. As a result, a move to nuclear power will reduce greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. Furthermore, power stations have been shown to be safer places for people to work than coal-fired power stations. Finally, nuclear power can potentially supply all our energy needs for many centuries to come.

What the examiner sees: The writer agrees. They list positive arguments with examples. They will likely have a second paragraph outlining some negatives before a conclusion.

Approach B: Argument + counter-argument in the same paragraph

Each body paragraph presents an opposing argument and then refutes it:

The claims made by those in favour of nuclear power do not stand up to close examination. It is often said, for instance, that nuclear power does not harm the environment. While it is true that greenhouse gases are not produced, mining for uranium causes real environmental damage. Moreover, many reactors use rivers for cooling, causing harm to life in and around those rivers. It is also argued that modern reactor technology makes accidents almost impossible. Despite these claims, accidents have happened — most famously at Chernobyl. No amount of technology can prevent human error.

What the examiner sees: The writer disagrees. They take pro-nuclear arguments and systematically refute them. This is a more sophisticated technique.

Comparison

You don't need to be 100% one-sided. Even if you fully agree, including one sentence acknowledging the opposing view shows awareness and maturity: "Although some argue that X, the evidence suggests Y." This is a hallmark of Band 7+ writing.

The "To What Extent" Spectrum

When a question asks "To what extent do you agree or disagree?", you have a range of options:

All three are valid. "Partially agree" is often the easiest to write because it naturally gives you two sides to discuss.

Discuss Both Views Essays

What They Look Like

"Some people believe that children should not do any paid work. Others think that paid employment is valuable for children's development. Discuss both views and give your own opinion."

Structure

Introduction: Paraphrase the two views + state which you find more convincing

Body 1: View 1 — explain why some people hold this view
  → Topic sentence + Explanation + Example

Body 2: View 2 — explain why others hold this view
  → Topic sentence + Explanation + Example

Conclusion: Restate your opinion with brief summary

Critical rule: You MUST discuss BOTH views AND give your own opinion. Missing any of these three elements will lower your Task Response score.

Common Mistake: Leaving Your Opinion to the Conclusion

Some students discuss View 1, then View 2, then suddenly reveal their opinion in the conclusion. This creates a "surprise conclusion" — the examiner doesn't know where you stand until the very end.

Better approach: State your position in the introduction, then develop it through the body paragraphs. Your conclusion should confirm what the reader already knows.

Worked Example

Question: "Some people say children should not do paid work. Others consider it valuable experience. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

Introduction:

In many countries, children are engaged in various forms of paid work. While there are legitimate concerns about exploitation and the impact on education, part-time employment can be highly beneficial for young people's personal development.

The reader immediately knows: the writer acknowledges concerns but leans positive.

Body 1 (View 1 — Against):

There are valid reasons why some people oppose children doing paid work. Young children's bodies may not be physically developed enough for demanding jobs, and there is a risk of injury. Furthermore, excessive work hours can interfere with schooling, which should be a child's primary focus during their formative years.

Body 2 (View 2 — For, the writer's preferred view):

However, there are situations where employment can be highly beneficial for children's current and future lives. By undertaking part-time jobs, such as a Saturday job in a shop, young people have the chance to learn new skills in a practical way. For example, in dealing with a wider variety of people, including employers and colleagues, a young person develops the ability and confidence to communicate effectively. In addition, any sort of paid work helps children learn to manage time and income — skills that are essential for their futures.

Notice: The writer's preferred view gets more space and more detailed examples. This signals their position without stating "I think" repeatedly.

Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

What They Look Like

"More and more colleges are offering distance learning. Distance learning has many benefits, but there are also drawbacks. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

"Many city centres have traffic flow problems. Building ring roads can help but also causes new problems. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?"

Structure

Two valid outlines:

Outline 1: Separated

Introduction
Body 1: Advantages (or disadvantages)
Body 2: Disadvantages (or advantages)
Conclusion: Your overall assessment

Outline 2: By theme

Introduction
Body 1: Theme 1 — advantage AND disadvantage
Body 2: Theme 2 — advantage AND disadvantage
Conclusion: Your overall assessment

Tip: Put the side you agree with LAST — this is what the reader remembers, and it leads naturally into your conclusion.

Useful Language for Advantages/Disadvantages

Distance Learning Example

Here's how the brainstormed ideas map to the structure:

Writing Conclusions

All Task 2 essays end with a conclusion. The conclusion should:

1. Restate your position (paraphrased from the introduction)
2. Briefly summarise your main arguments (1-2 sentences)
3. NOT introduce new ideas — nothing that hasn't been discussed in the body

Simple technique: Look at your introduction. Paraphrase it one more time. That's your conclusion.

Length: 1-3 sentences. Your conclusion does not need to be long. It is a summary, not a new argument.

Common mistake: Writing "In conclusion, in my opinion, I believe that..." — this is triple-signalling. Just "In conclusion," or just "Overall," is enough.

Proofreading Checklist (Final 2-3 Minutes)

Before submitting, check:

Practice

Write a complete essay for one of these questions (40 minutes):

Question 1 (Opinion):

"The teaching of Information Technology is standard in secondary schools and is now being introduced in primary schools. However, there is a danger that IT skills are being taught at the expense of more basic skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

Question 2 (Discuss Both Views):

"Some people think that the government should provide free university education. Others believe that students should pay for their own education. Discuss both views and give your own opinion."

Question 3 (Advantages/Disadvantages):

"Many city centres have traffic flow problems, causing congestion and pollution. One solution is to build fast ring roads on the outskirts of a city. While this is helpful in some ways, it also causes new problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

After writing, self-assess:

• Did I answer ALL parts of the question?
• Is my position clear from the introduction?
• Does each body paragraph follow the Topic Sentence → Explanation → Example structure?
• Are my solutions/advantages/arguments connected to the problems/disadvantages/counterarguments?
• Did I use linking words naturally (not excessively)?
• How many error-free sentences do I have? (Count them — you need >50% for Band 7)

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Key Takeaways

• Opinion essays: take a clear position, support with reasons and examples, acknowledge the other side
• Two body paragraph approaches: listing arguments (easier) or argument + refutation (more sophisticated)
• Discuss-both-views: you MUST cover both sides AND give your opinion — don't save your opinion as a surprise conclusion
• Advantages/disadvantages: put your preferred side last, use concession language ("while X is true, Y is more important")
• Conclusions: restate your position, summarise briefly, no new ideas — 1-3 sentences
• Always proofread: re-read the question, check spelling, articles, punctuation, tense consistency
• For all essay types, the 4-paragraph structure works: Introduction → Body 1 → Body 2 → Conclusion