advantages & disadvantages exit 5 - heidi...

Advantages and disadvantages essay

Gary Pathare, DMC Foundations 2014

Exit 5

Understanding the instructions

Advantages and disadvantages essay: controlled practice (family size)

Plan an advantages & disadvantages essay

Advantages and disadvantages essay 2: fast food

Focus on the question form and vocabulary

Focus on the task

Focus on structure and content

Focus on connecting words and expressions

Focus on key sentences

Focus on the question

Focus on organization and content

Focus on language and content

Paragraph plan

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

Exit 5

Advantages and disadvantages essay 1: riding bicycles/driving cars



Exit 5

Exercise 2 1

Exercise 1 1

Focus on the question form and vocabulary

Question form

One of the consequences of the increasing opportunities for foreign travel is that people are spending more of their holidays abroad rather than at home.

Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

In this question, there are three sentences.

1. Which two sentences tell you what you have to do? 2. Which sentence gives you the topic to discuss?

Key vocabulary

Underline these words in the question, and copy them next to the meanings:

Vocabulary Meaning 1 advantage a good thing about something

2 an alternative, a different thing 3 to be more important than something

4 a good or bad result of something 5 something that shows that something is true

6 disadvantage a bad thing about something 7 a change

8 to help something or someone

advantage consequence support relevant evidence outweigh development rather than disadvantage

Understanding the instructions



Exit 5

Exercise 4

Exercise 3 1

Focus on the task

1. What is the development you have to discuss? 2. Do you have to give advantages and disadvantages? 3. Do you have to support your ideas with examples and reasons? 4. Do you have to give your opinion?

Look at the first sentence of the instructions again.

1. What is the development? 2. Write three advantages and three disadvantages of the development:

Advantages Disadvantages a

d

b

e

c

f

It is important to explain why you think they are advantages or disadvantages. You can explain why, or give an example which shows why.

3. Write your reasons or examples in the table below:

a

b

c

d

e

f

4. What is your opinion? Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, or the opposite?



Exit 5

Exercise 1

Advantages and disadvantage essay 1: riding bicycles/driving cars

Focus on structure and content You are going to study a model answer for the advantages/disadvantages essay question. It is designed to show you an example of how to organize your ideas in an advantages/disadvantages essay. By studying the model answer carefully, you can learn how to write an advantages/disadvantages essay on any topic.

1. Look at the model answer. How many paragraphs are there?

2. Write the focus of each paragraph P1 – P4 in the paragraph focus column:

Paragraph focus: conclusion advantages disadvantages introduction

3. Circle the correct answers to questions a – n in the ‘sentences’ column:

Paragraph focus Sentences P1 a Number of sentences: 1/2/3/4

b Does the writer give an opinion here? yes/no c Which one is the topic sentence? 1/2

d How many things is the writer going to do? 1/2/3 P2 e Is there a topic sentence? yes/no

f How many advantages are given? 2/3/4/5 g How many reasons or examples are given? 2/3/4

h Is there an example or reason for each advantage? yes/no

P3 i Is there a topic sentence? yes/no j How many disadvantages are given? 2/3/4/5

k How many reasons or examples are given? 2/3/4 l Is there an example or reason for each disadvantage?

yes/no

P4 m Does the writer give an opinion here? yes/no n Are new reasons given or are they the same as before?

new/the same



Exit 5

Exercise 2

One of the consequences of the increasing price of petrol is that many people are using bicycles as a method of transport instead of cars.


Model answer

In some countries like Holland, a lot of people nowadays choose to ride bikes rather than drive cars. In this essay, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of riding a bicycle compared to driving a car, and I will give my personal opinion.

There are several advantages of riding bicycles compared to driving cars. The main benefit is that they are cheap. They do not cost much to buy and they do not need petrol or servicing, which cost a lot of money. Another advantage is that riding a bicycle is healthier than driving a car. You use your legs and get good exercise, which keeps you fit and helps prevent obesity. Finally, they are much greener than cars, because they do not use fuel. This means that they do not cause pollution.

However, there are also a number of disadvantages of riding bikes. A major drawback is that bicycles are slower than cars, and they can only carry one person. This means that you cannot go very far on a bicycle, and you cannot take your family. A second disadvantage is that they are not very useful in bad weather. For example, in the UAE it is usually too hot to cycle. Another problem is that riding a bike can be dangerous. For instance, car drivers in some countries do not slow down when they pass a bicycle.

In conclusion, I personally feel that the advantages of riding a bicycle outweigh the disadvantages. If everyone rode bicycles, they would save

money, be healthier, and help save the planet. (260 words)

What synonyms (words which mean the same thing) for advantage and disadvantage are used? Fill in the table:

advantage

disadvantage



Exit 5

Exercise 3

Focus on connecting words and expressions

Copy the connecting words and expressions in bold from the model answer into the table below. Include the punctuation and capital letters. Then write the connecting words in gaps 1 – 13 below, including the punctuation.

Putting advantages

in order

Putting disadvantages

in order

Giving

examples

Connecting

sentences

Concluding

…There are several advantages of riding bicycles compared to driving cars. (1)___________________they are cheap. They do not cost much to buy and they do not need petrol or servicing, which cost a lot of money. (2)___________________ riding a bicycle is healthier than driving a car. You use your legs and get good exercise, (3) _____________keeps you fit and helps prevent obesity. (4) _____________ they are much greener than cars (5)_____________they do not use fuel. This means that they do not cause pollution.

(6) _____________there are also a number of disadvantages of riding bikes. (7)___________________bicycles are slower than cars (8) ___________they can only carry one person. This means that you cannot go very far on a bicycle (9)_____________you cannot take your family. (10)__________________they are not very useful in bad weather. (11)_____________in the UAE it is usually too hot to cycle. (12)___________________ riding a bike can be dangerous. (13) _____________car drivers in some countries do not slow down when they pass a bicycle.

(14) _____________I personally feel that the advantages of riding a bicycle

outweigh the disadvantages…



Exit 5

Exercise 4

Focus on key sentences There are four sentences in the model answer that you can use in your essay. You will need to change the topic.

Sentence 1: In this essay, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of riding a bicycle compared to driving a car, and I will give my personal opinion.

1. Which words will you have to change? 2. What is the grammar of the verbs after of and to? 3. Put this sentence in order, correct the verb forms and add the punctuation:

this/discuss/the/of/vegetarian/personal/a/essay/I/opinion/compared/to

disadvantages/be/in/and/will/advantages/be/eat/and/meat/I/give/will/my

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Sentence 2: There are several advantages of riding bicycles compared to driving cars.

4. Which words will you need to change? Is the grammar the same as before? 5. Write a sentence for private medical care/public hospitals (add verbs):

________________________________________________________________

Sentence 3: However, there are also a number of disadvantages of riding

bikes.

6. Write a sentence for read newspapers, using correct grammar and spelling:

________________________________________________________________

Sentence 4: In conclusion, I personally feel that the advantages of riding a bicycle outweigh the disadvantages.

7. Write a sentence for save money, using correct grammar and spelling:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________



Exit 5

Advantages/disadvantages essay: controlled practice (family size)

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

One consequence of the worldwide trend towards smaller families with fewer children is that more old people have to support themselves, or rely on the state to provide care.


1. Underline the key words. 2. What is the development? 3. Write three advantages and three disadvantages of the development:


d

b

e

c

f

Look at these sentences from the riding bicycles/driving cars model answer and decide if they are reasons (R) or examples (E):

Sentences R or E? 1 This means that they do not cause pollution.

2 They do not cost much to buy and they do not need petrol or servicing, which cost a lot of money.

3 For instance, car drivers in some countries do not slow down when they pass a bicycle.

4 You use your legs and get good exercise, which keeps you fit and helps prevent obesity.

5 This means that you cannot go very far on a bicycle, and you cannot take your family.

6 For example, in the UAE it is usually too hot to cycle.



Exit 5

Exercise 3

1. Look at the sentences in Exercise 2 again. In sentences 1 and 5, underline the three words that are used to show that this is a reason.

2. Now write one reason or example for each of your advantages and disadvantages a - f in Exercise 1:

Sentences R or E? a

b

c

d

e

f

Look at the last sentence from the bicycle essay. It is a complex sentence called a second conditional, and it is a very good way to finish your essay.

If everyone rode bicycles, they would save money, be healthier, and help save the planet. If + past simple (comma), would + base form of verb (to save, to be, to help)

3. What is your opinion? Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, or the opposite?

4. Now use your ideas to write the complete essay. Remember: Follow the plan on page 13 Use good connecting words from page 6 Use the four sentences on page 7 You can finish with a second conditional sentence



Exit 5

Focus on the question

Read the advantages and disadvantages essay question carefully and answer questions 1 – 7:

In many countries, people eat fast food several times a week, rather than cooking for themselves.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

1. Underline the key words.

2. What is the development?

3. Is this true of your country, the UAE?

4. What is fast food? Think of three examples of companies which sell it.

5. What is your opinion of fast food? Is it generally positive or negative?

6. How many words do you have to write?

7. Write three advantages and three disadvantages of the development:


d

b

e

c

f

Advantages/disadvantages essay 2: fast food

Exercise 1



Exit 5

Exercise 2

Focus on organization and content Put the sentences for each paragraph in order:

Introduction [number sentences 1 – 2]

In this essay, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of eating fast food compared to cooking at home, and I will give my personal opinion.

In some countries like America, a lot of people nowadays choose to eat fast food rather than cook meals at home.

Advantages [number sentences 1 – 7]

For example, in many families nowadays both parents have to work, so there is nobody at home to spend time cooking.

This means that almost everyone can afford to buy it.

Finally, fast food is very tasty.

There are several advantages of eating fast food compared to cooking for yourself.

The main benefit is that it saves time.

For instance, Kentucky Fried Chicken, which is a famous brand, is delicious.

Another advantage is that fast food is cheap.

Disadvantages [number sentences 1 – 7]

A major drawback is that most fast food is unhealthy if you eat it too often.

However, there are a number of disadvantages of eating fast food.

For instance, a meal with a soft drink in MacDonald`s is high in fat, salt and sugar.

A second disadvantage is that it stops people eating together in the traditional way at a family table.

This is because local restaurants making traditional specialties cannot survive the competition from big companies like Burger King.

For example, fast food is often eaten walking along the street or sitting at a desk.

Another problem is that fast food destroys the unique differences between cultures.

Conclusion [number sentences 1 – 2]

If everyone ate fast food, they would have more money and more time to spend doing what they like.

In conclusion, I personally feel that the advantages of eating fast food outweigh the disadvantages.



Exit 5

Exercise 3

Model answer

In some countries like America, a lot of people nowadays choose to eat fast food rather than cook meals at home. In this essay, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of eating fast food compared to cooking at home, and I will give my personal opinion.

There are several advantages of eating fast food compared to cooking for yourself. The main benefit is that it saves time. For example, in many families nowadays both parents have to work, so there is nobody at home to spend time cooking. Another advantage is that fast food is cheap. This means that almost everyone can afford to buy it. Finally, fast food is very tasty. For instance, Kentucky Fried Chicken, which is a famous brand, is delicious.

However, there are also a number of disadvantages of eating fast food. A major drawback is that most fast food is unhealthy if you eat it too often. For instance, a meal with a soft drink in MacDonald`s is high in fat, salt and sugar. A second disadvantage is that it stops people eating together in the traditional way at a family table. For example, fast food is often eaten walking along the street or sitting at a desk. Another problem is that fast food destroys the unique differences between cultures. This is because local restaurants making traditional specialties cannot survive the competition from big companies like

Burger King.

In conclusion, I personally feel that the advantages of eating fast food outweigh the disadvantages. If everyone ate fast food, they would have more money and more time to spend doing what they like. (268 words)

Focus on language and content

Read the model answer carefully and answer questions 1 – 5: 1. Underline all the connecting words and expressions in the model answer. 2. Copy the four sentences from this text that you learned on page 7:

Sentence 1: (begins with In…)

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________



Exit 5

Sentence 2: (begins with There…)

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Sentence 3: (begins with However,…)

________________________________________________________________

Sentence 4: (begins with In…)

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

3. Find the 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages. 4. Find all the reasons and examples. How many of each are there? 5. Look at the last sentence. What are the highlighted words and

punctuation? What kind of sentence is it? If everyone ate fast food, they would have more money and more time to spend doing what they like.

Spanish ‘paella’ is a traditional rice dish under threat from fast food…



Exit 5

To get an IELTS band 5 in the Task Achievement and Organization sections:

make a quick content plan and then follow the paragraph plan answer the question and write 250 words, using good connecting words

Paragraph plan (Note: the highlighted sentences are the four you studied on page 7)

Paragraph focus Sentences P1 Introduction 1 Topic sentence

2 Tell the reader what to expect

P2 Advantages with examples and/or reasons

1 Topic sentence

2 First advantage

3 Example or reason

4 Second advantage

5 Example or reason

6 Third advantage

7 Example or reason

P3 Disadvantages with examples and/or reasons

1 Topic sentence

2 First disadvantage

3 Example or reason

4 Second disadvantage

5 Example or reason

6 Third disadvantage

7 Example or reason

P4 Conclusion 1 Your opinion

2 A reason for your opinion (can be a second

conditional sentence)

Plan an advantages/disadvantages essay

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