Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

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Advantages and
Disadvantages Essays

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Sample Essay Question (Type I)
In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year
between finishing high school and starting university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do
this.
This essay question simply asks us to discuss the advantages and
disadvantages. It does not ask for our opinion or says which side is better or
worse, so we should not include this information in our answer.
This requires a simple structure in which the student will look at the advantages in
one paragraph and the disadvantages in the other.

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Essay Structure: Introduction
Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Before college, many young people are advised that a year of working or travelling
may be a good option.
Sentence 2- Outline sentence
This essay will suggest that experience gained and money saved are the biggest
advantages of this, but delaying careers and reducing motivation to study are the
primary disadvantages.

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Essay Structure: Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 1 (Advantages)
Sentence 1- Topic sentence (2 Advantages)
The main advantages of a gap year are learning more about the world and earning
money.
Sentence 2- Explain first advantage
For students who have just finished secondary school, working or travelling for a year
will allow them to learn what life is like outside of the education system.
Sentence 3- Explain second advantage
Also, third-level education is very expensive, and many students decide to work for 12
months and save money before they begin their studies.
Sentence 4- Example of second advantage
The average student at a UK university requires over £10,000 per annum to survive,
and many drop out because they cannot afford to stay.

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Essay Structure: Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages)
Sentence 1- Topic sentence (2 Disadvantages)
Despite these advantages, students lose a year that could have been used to advance their future
careers, and they often get used to working or travelling and don’t want to return to a life of study.
Sentence 2- Explain first disadvantage
As job markets are very competitive, an extra year of experience can make a massive difference
when applying for jobs, and those who took a gap year are at a disadvantage.
Sentence 3- Explain second disadvantage
Moreover, some decide to bypass university altogether and go straight into a job that is beneath
their capabilities or may not offer the same prospects their future career might have.
Sentence 4- Example of second disadvantage
For instance, jobs in the service industry are easy to get without a third-level education, and many
gap students fill these roles only to be stuck in them for the rest of their lives.

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Essay Structure: Conclusion
Conclusion
Sentence 1 - Summary of main points
In conclusion, taking a break from studies can be advantageous if it allows people
to accumulate savings or learn more about the world. However, they should also
be careful that it does not delay the start of their careers and lead to disillusionment
with education.

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Sample Essay Question (Type II)
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign
language at primary schools rather than secondary schools.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
This essay question is different because we have to say if the advantages are
stronger than the disadvantages. Notice I didn’t say ‘if there are more advantages
than disadvantages’. The question is not asking you to talk about numbers but
comment on the overall weight of the advantages or disadvantages. For example,
there are many advantages to travelling by private jet, but there is one huge
disadvantage (the cost) that stops most people from flying that way, and therefore
the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

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Sample Essay Question (Type II)
In this example, we will have to decide which side (advantages or disadvantages)
is stronger, affecting our structure. If you choose advantages, you will have to say
why these are much stronger than the disadvantages and why the disadvantages
don’t hold much weight. You would also have to make this clear in your thesis
statement.

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Essay Structure: Introduction
Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase question
Some authorities think that it is more favorable for pupils to begin studying
languages at primary school instead of secondary school.
Sentence 2- Thesis statement (state which one outweighs the other)
This essay will argue that the advantages of this outweigh the drawbacks.
Sentence 3- Outline sentence
The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone learns an additional
language, the more likely they are to master it and that it brings added cognitive
benefits, followed by an analysis of how the primary disadvantage, namely
confusion with their native tongue, is not valid.

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Essay Structure: Body Paragraph 1
Main Body Paragraph 1 (Stronger Side)
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
The main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases
the likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood.
Sentence 2- Explain why it is strong
That is to say that they will have far more years to perfect their skills, and speaking
bilingually will seem perfectly normal.
Sentence 3- Example
For example, in countries such as Holland and Norway, where English is taught
from a very young age, most adults speak it at an advanced level.

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Essay Structure: Body Paragraph 1
Sentence 4- Topic Sentence
Learning a second language also helps to improve overall cognitive abilities.
Sentence 5- Explain why it is strong
In other words, it benefits the overall development of a child’s brain.
Sentence 6- Example
It is well known that bi-lingual children are significantly more likely to score higher
in Mathematics and Science.

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Essay Structure: Body Paragraph 2
Main Body Paragraph 2 (Weaker Side)
Sentence 1 - Topic Sentence
Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between
their mother tongue and the other language.
Sentence 2 - Explain why it is not strong
However, there is actually no evidence to support this view and children from
bilingual families do just as well in both languages.
Sentence 3 - Example
My son was brought up speaking both Vietnamese and English and outperforms
most of his classmates in both.

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Essay Structure: Conclusion
Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary of main points and restate position
On balance, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency
and improved brain function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs
the uptake of native languages.

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Practice: Type I

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Practice: Type II