Going further with opinion writing
Balanced opinionSometimes the question asks you directly: “Do you agree?” You still discuss both sides, but you must make your own position clear in the introduction and again in the conclusion.
Two safe ways to answer “Do you agree?”
Balanced: “There are good points on both sides. I partly agree, because…”
One side stronger: “I mostly agree with this statement, although there are some arguments against it.”
Reminder: discuss both opinions with reasons, and state your own opinion clearly at the start and the end.
Strategy – how to organise your text
1. Introduction: introduce the topic, say that there are different opinions, and state your position (“I partly agree…”).
2. Body 1: one view + reasons and examples (“On the one hand… Some people believe…”).
3. Body 2: the other view + reasons and examples (“On the other hand… Others argue…”).
4. Conclusion: summarise both views, then state YOUR opinion clearly again.
Clues – recognise this task
- Do you agree or disagree?
- To what extent do you agree?
- Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
- Some people think…; others believe…
Useful phrases
Introducing the topic
There are different opinions about… / This is a topic that people often discuss. / This essay will look at both views.
e.g. There are different opinions about whether students should wear a school uniform.
One view
On the one hand… / Some people believe that… / Supporters argue that…
e.g. On the one hand, some people believe that homework helps students to learn.
The other view
On the other hand… / However, others think that… / Opponents claim that…
e.g. On the other hand, others argue that students already have too much homework.
Your opinion
In my opinion… / I personally believe… / From my point of view…
e.g. In my opinion, a small amount of homework is useful, but too much is harmful.
Concluding
In conclusion… / To sum up… / All things considered…
e.g. In conclusion, there are good arguments on both sides of this question.
Useful linking devices for this text type
Contrast, reason, and opinion linkers are the most important here.
| Function | Linkers |
|---|---|
| Contrast | On the one hand / On the other hand, However, In contrast, while, whereas |
| Reason | because, since, as, This is because…, One reason for this is… |
| Example | For example, For instance, such as |
| Opinion | In my opinion, I believe, From my point of view, Personally |
Vocabulary check
Travel and ShoppingVocabulary check
From Travel and Shopping.
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| convenient | easy and useful |
| to compare prices | to look at how much different shops charge |
| a queue | a line of people waiting |
| quality | how good or bad something is |
| a destination | the place you are travelling to |
| to explore | to travel around and discover a place |
| a souvenir | something you buy to remember a trip |
| a journey | the act of travelling from one place to another |
Vocabulary practice
Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box. Change the form if necessary.
Insert the missing sentences
Five sentences have been taken out of the balanced opinion text below. Choose from sentences A–G the one that fits each gap (1–5). There are two extra sentences that you do not need to use.
Sentences A–G
- AAir travel has become much cheaper over the last twenty years.
- BFor example, if a train is cancelled, the guide will quickly find another way to continue the journey.
- CTherefore, the best choice really depends on the person and the kind of holiday they want.
- DChoosing between these two styles of holiday is not always easy.
- ENobody tells you where to go or what time you must wake up.
- FMany tourists like to buy souvenirs to remember their holidays.
- GFor instance, you might be invited to share a meal with a local family.
Every year, millions of people travel for their holidays. However, they do not all travel in the same way. Some people choose to join an organised tour group, while others prefer to travel alone and plan everything by themselves. (1) In this essay, I will look at the advantages of both kinds of holiday before I give my own opinion. On the one hand, travelling with a tour group has several important benefits. The biggest advantage is that everything is organised for you before you leave home. A professional guide books the hotels, plans the route, and takes care of any problems along the way. (2) This means that travellers can relax and enjoy the trip without any stress or worry. In addition, a tour group is often safer, because you are never completely alone in a strange place, and there is always someone who can help you. On the other hand, many people believe that travelling alone is far more exciting. When you travel alone, you are completely free. (3) You can change your plans whenever you like, sleep late, and stay longer in the places that you enjoy the most. Travelling alone is also a wonderful way to meet local people. (4) Because you are not hidden inside a big group, you often talk to the people who actually live there and learn about their real, everyday lives. In conclusion, both ways of travelling have clear good points. A tour group offers safety and comfort, while travelling alone offers freedom and adventure. (5) In my opinion, a tour group is perfect for your first trip to a faraway country, but travelling alone becomes much more exciting once you feel more confident.
Teacher’s note – Insert the missing sentences
Extra sentences (not used): A (cheaper air travel) and F (souvenirs) – both are about travel, but neither connects to the sentences around any gap.
Sample answer
Read, listen, then studyQuestion: Online shopping is better than shopping in stores. Do you agree or disagree?
Read the text and the listening transcript below, and then study the sample answer.
Read
Reading
Shopping has changed completely in recent years. Today, many people prefer to shop online. They can buy almost anything from home, compare prices easily, and receive their order in a day or two. Online shops are open 24 hours, and there are no long queues. People can also read reviews from other customers before they decide what to buy. However, shopping in stores also has clear advantages. In a real shop, customers can see, touch, and try products before they buy them. This is very useful for clothes and shoes, because size and quality are easier to check. They can ask staff for advice and take their purchases home immediately, with no waiting. Some people also enjoy shopping as a social activity with friends or family. For them, a trip to the shops is a fun way to spend free time, not just a way to buy things. Because both ways of shopping have good points, many people now use a mix of the two. They buy heavy or boring things online to save time, and they go to real shops for clothes, gifts, and special items. Many shops also have their own websites, so customers can choose the way that suits them best on each day.
Listen and read the transcript
Listening
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Play it twice.
Listening transcript
Personally, I think online shopping is more convenient. I work long hours, so I do not have time to walk around shops. Last month, I bought everything for my new flat online, and it saved me a lot of time and energy. I could shop late at night, after work, when all the shops were closed. On the other hand, my mother strongly disagrees. She loves going to the shopping centre, looking at the clothes, and talking to the shop assistants. For her, shopping is a social activity, not just a job to finish. She says you can never be sure about size and quality when you buy online, and she hates sending things back. We are very different, but we both agree on one thing: online shopping is growing fast, and shops will have to change to keep their customers. When I listen to my mother, I understand that shopping is not only about buying things. For her, it is also about leaving the house, meeting people, and enjoying her free time. Maybe the best answer is to use online shopping for everyday needs and to keep real shops for the days when we want to relax and look around.
Study the sample answer
Online Shopping or Real Shops?
Shopping has changed a lot, and people now argue about whether online shopping is better than real shops. I partly agree with this statement, but I can see both sides.
On the one hand, online shopping has clear advantages. Firstly, it is very convenient, because you can buy anything from home at any time. Moreover, it is easy to compare prices and avoid long queues. Shoppers can also read reviews from other customers and order at any time of the day or night, even when the shops are closed.
On the other hand, shopping in real stores is also useful. In a shop, customers can see, touch, and try products before they buy. In addition, they can ask staff for advice, and many people enjoy shopping with friends. For them, a trip to the shops is a fun way to relax and spend their free time, not just a way to buy things.
In conclusion, both ways of shopping have benefits. In my opinion, online shopping is better for busy people and everyday products, but real shops are still better for clothes and expensive items. In the end, the best choice often depends on what we are buying and how much free time we have that day.
Notice the language
- The writer states a clear position in the introduction (“I partly agree”).
- Both sides are discussed with reasons before the final opinion.
- The conclusion repeats the opinion and explains when each option is best.
Writing task 1
Read, listen, take notes, writeQuestion: “Some people think it is better to visit many countries. Others prefer to know one place very well. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”
Read the text and take notes. Listen to the recording twice and take notes. Then write your text using ideas from both. Minimum 200 words.
Read Take notes in the table.
Reading
When people travel, they make different choices. Some travellers like to visit as many countries as possible. They believe that seeing many places helps them learn about different cultures, foods, and languages. Every trip becomes an exciting adventure, and they collect new memories and photos from all over the world. For these travellers, the most important thing is to experience as much as they can. Other travellers prefer to return to the same place again and again. They get to know the local people, learn the language, and feel at home. They find their favourite cafés and beaches, and they make real friends. They say that you cannot really understand a country in only two or three days. For them, a slow and deep visit is better than a fast one. Both kinds of travel have value, and the best choice depends on what each person enjoys and how much time they have. There is no perfect way to travel, because everyone is looking for something different. Some people want excitement and variety, while others want comfort and deep understanding. The most important thing is to choose the kind of trip that makes you happy, and to respect the places and people you visit, wherever you go.
Listen Twice — add notes to the table.
Listening
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Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.
Transcript
When I was twenty, I travelled through five countries in one summer with a rucksack and a train ticket. It was the most exciting time of my life. Every few days there was a new language, new food and a new city, and I met many different people on the trains and in the hostels. I still have hundreds of photographs from that summer, and I am very glad that I went. But I also remember that I was always saying goodbye. You cannot really understand a country in two or three days. Now I do something completely different. For the last six years I have returned to the same small town by the sea. I know the woman in the bakery, I have learned quite a lot of the language, and I have my favourite café and my favourite beach. Last year I was invited to a family wedding there, which would never have happened to a tourist. I will be honest: going back to the same place can feel less exciting than arriving somewhere completely new. Sometimes I miss that feeling. But I have real friends there now, and when I arrive, it feels like coming home. Perhaps the best plan is to travel widely when you are young, and then choose one place and get to know it properly.
Take notes
| Ways to travel | Many countries | One place well |
|---|---|---|
| Aim | ||
| Learning | ||
| People | ||
| Feelings | ||
| Weak point |
| Ways to travel | Many countries | One place well |
|---|---|---|
| Aim | see and experience as much as possible (the speaker saw five countries in one summer) | understand one place deeply (the speaker has gone back to the same seaside town for six years) |
| Learning | learn about different cultures, foods and languages; a new language and new food every few days | learn the local language |
| People | meet many different people, e.g. on trains and in hostels | get to know local people and make real friends; the speaker was invited to a family wedding |
| Feelings | every trip is an exciting adventure; new memories and hundreds of photos | feel at home; favourite cafés and beaches; arriving feels like coming home |
| Weak point | you cannot really understand a country in two or three days; always saying goodbye | it can feel less exciting than seeing somewhere new |
Now write your text Minimum 200 words.
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your text before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Sample answer · 229 words
Many Countries or One Place?
When people travel, they make different choices. Some people believe it is better to visit many countries, while others prefer to know one place very well. This essay will look at both views before I give my opinion.
On the one hand, many people enjoy visiting as many countries as possible. They say that travelling to new places is exciting and helps you to see different cultures, foods, and ways of life. For example, a young traveller can visit several countries in one summer and learn something new in each one. In addition, it is a wonderful way to meet many different people.
On the other hand, others argue that it is better to return to the same place again and again. They say that a few days are not enough to understand a country. Moreover, when you know one place well, you can learn the language and make real friends. For example, a traveller who visits the same small town every year may even be invited to a local family wedding.
In conclusion, both ways of travelling have clear benefits. Although knowing one place well can feel less exciting than seeing somewhere new, it gives you a deeper understanding. In my opinion, visiting many countries is perfect for young people who want adventure, but knowing one place deeply is better for those who want strong and lasting friendships.
Writing task 2
Read, listen, take notes, writeQuestion: “Shopping centres are the best place to spend free time. Do you agree or disagree?”
Read the text and take notes. Listen to the recording twice and take notes. Then write your text using ideas from both. Minimum 200 words.
Read Take notes in the table.
Reading
Large shopping centres have become very popular in many cities. They are not only places to shop, but also places to spend free time. A modern shopping centre often has cinemas, restaurants, cafés, and play areas for children. Families can spend a whole day there, especially when the weather is bad. Everything is under one roof, so people do not need to travel from place to place. Supporters say these centres are safe, clean, and comfortable, with parking and air conditioning. However, other people criticise them. They say that shopping centres make people spend too much money and forget about parks, museums, and other free activities. They argue that families could enjoy fresh air and exercise outside instead. Small local shops also suffer when a big centre opens nearby, and some of them have to close. For these reasons, not everyone believes that a shopping centre is the best place to spend free time. In many cities, the answer is to keep a balance. Shopping centres can be a good place to meet friends, especially in very hot or cold weather, but they should not replace parks, libraries, and local shops. A healthy city needs both modern centres and open public spaces, so that people have many different ways to spend their free time.
Listen Twice — add notes to the table.
Listening
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Play it twice. Students do not have the transcript.
Transcript
When I was at school, the big shopping centre near my flat was where everybody met. It was warm, it was safe, and you could walk around for hours without spending anything. There was a cinema, a food court and a play area for small children, all under one roof. On very hot or very rainy days, families still spend the whole afternoon there, and I understand why: the parking is easy, the air conditioning works, and nobody has to travel from place to place. After a while, though, I noticed a problem. I almost always came home with something I did not need, and at the end of the month my money had simply disappeared. I also stopped going anywhere else. Meanwhile, the small bookshop on my street closed, and so did the greengrocer, because everyone was buying the same things in the centre. These days I try to keep a balance. In the spring and summer I meet my friends in the park or take my nephew to the museum, which is cheaper, healthier and full of fresh air. In winter, I still enjoy a coffee and a film at the shopping centre. In my opinion, a good town needs both: modern centres for bad weather, and parks, libraries and small shops for everything else.
Take notes
| Shopping centres | Good for free time | Not the best |
|---|---|---|
| What is there | ||
| Comfort | ||
| Weather | ||
| Money | ||
| Local shops / balance |
| Shopping centres | Good for free time | Not the best |
|---|---|---|
| What is there | cinemas, restaurants, cafés and play areas, all under one roof, so no need to travel from place to place; a popular place for young people to meet friends | people forget parks, museums and other free activities |
| Comfort | clean, safe and comfortable, with parking and air conditioning | no fresh air and no exercise |
| Weather | families can spend a whole day there when the weather is very hot or rainy | families could enjoy being outside instead; the speaker meets friends in the park in spring and summer |
| Money | you can walk around for hours without spending anything (the speaker at school) | people spend too much money on things they do not need; the speaker’s money disappeared by the end of the month |
| Local shops / balance | a good place in bad weather, so a town needs both (the speaker still enjoys a film there in winter) | small local shops suffer and some close (the speaker’s bookshop and greengrocer) |
Now write your text Minimum 200 words.
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your text before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Sample answer · 219 words
Are Shopping Centres the Best Place for Free Time?
These days, many people spend their free time in big shopping centres. Some people strongly agree that they are the best place to relax, while others disagree. I partly agree with this statement, but I can see both sides.
On the one hand, there are good reasons to enjoy shopping centres. They are clean, safe, and comfortable, and you can shop, eat, and watch a film all in one place. For example, on a very hot or rainy day, a family can spend the whole afternoon there. In addition, shopping centres are a popular place for young people to meet their friends.
On the other hand, many people disagree. They argue that shopping centres make people spend too much money on things they do not need. Moreover, when everyone goes to the shopping centre, small local shops and quiet parks are forgotten. For example, a small bookshop or a greengrocer may have to close when a big centre opens nearby. In addition, parks and museums are often cheaper and healthier places to spend time.
In conclusion, shopping centres have both good and bad points. In my opinion, they are useful and fun, especially in bad weather, but they are not the only good place for free time. A healthy town needs both modern shopping centres and open public spaces.
Answer key at a glance
Prints with the page| Practice 1 — Answers | 1 convenient · 2 compare prices · 3 queue · 4 quality · 5 destination · 6 souvenir |
| Practice 2 — Answers | (1) D · (2) B · (3) E · (4) G · (5) C |