BASIC INSTRUCTION FOR WRITING ESSAY B1 VSTEP I Advantages and disadvantages essay 1 Some sample essay topics Many children are encouraged by their parents to get a part time job in their free time What are the advantages and disavantages of children doing so? The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent language in the world Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only language to be spoken globally What are the advantages and disadvantages to ha[.]
Trang 1BASIC INSTRUCTION FOR WRITING ESSAY- B1 VSTEP
I Advantages and disadvantages essay
1 Some sample essay topics
- Many children are encouraged by their parents to get a part-time job in their free time
What are the advantages and disavantages of children doing so?
- The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent language in the world Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only language to be
spoken globally
What are the advantages and disadvantages to having one language in the world?
- In the past lectures were the traditional method of teaching large numbers of students
Nowadays new technology is increasingly being used to teach students Discuss both views
of this new approach?
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of unisexual schools
2 Sample tasks and model answers (written by all class members)
Sample task and model answer 1
Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in international tourism What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?/ Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of it
It is true that over the last few decades, together with the boost of international transportation,
the global tourism has developed rapidly This increase brings about both advantages and disadvantages
The first and foremost benefit of this trend is definitely the contribution to the economic
growth The spending of tourists on goods and service raises the income of local communities Furthermore, it adds to government revenue indirectly through tax The offering of employment
is also a huge plus point of the increase of international tourism Another advantage is that it
helps preserve traditional culture To attract tourists from all over the world, local people make great effort to protect and promote their cultural values If it is not for tourism purpose, some of them may be forgotten and lost
On the other hand, there are some undeniable drawbacks of mass tourism Firstly, it has
negative impacts on local environment Litter by tourists contaminates land and water, while the increase in waste gas from transportation makes air pollution worse Moreover, it changes
natural landscape and disturb wildlife For example, the habitat of many endemic animals and
plants in Son Tra peninsula, Viet Nam, has been destroyed by the constructions of hotels,
resorts, restaurants Secondly, it puts pressure on managing social security in which crime is
a remarkable problem Tourists often display their valuables such as cameras, smartphones or jewelry which may be targets for theft or pickpocketing This makes the community less safe
In conclusion, while many aspects have benefited by the development of international
tourism, there are some disadvantages to consider People should have proper management
so that good points are promoted and negative ones can be limited
Trang 2Sample task and model answer 2
In the past lectures were the traditional method of teaching large numbers of students
Nowadays new technology is increasingly being used to teach students What are the
advantages and disadvantages of this new approach?
It is true that over the last decades, technology has influenced every aspects of human life greatly, education is not an exception The application of new technology in teaching is more and more popular that lectures were no longer the main method to deliver lessons to large
classes This trend has significant advantages but also remarkable disadvantages
On the one hand, it is obvious that teaching using technology is beneficial in many ways Firstly, knowledge can be presented in a more effective way when teachers use computers, projectors or interactive boards with sounds and images Take a biology lesson for example,
students would find the knowledge about the circulatory system lively when they are
introduced to it with an interesting video on the screen, not by imagination only The second plus point is that technology helps teaching and learning more convenient Teachers do not
need to draw a figure themselves to illustrate the point, or write all over the board for a lesson Also, students can submit their homework through emails or take online classes in which they
do not have to physically present in the classroom
Despite being so advantegeous, it has some undeniable drawbacks The first one to
mention is the dependence on technology If there is a powercut or any technical incident happening , the class would be interupted, and the teacher may be confused in continuing the
lesson Furthermore, the preparation will take the lecturers more time and labor This even
causes some discomfort for people whose computer skills are not good
In conclusion, using technology in teaching brings about both benefits and drawbacks
People, especially teachers, should manage it well in order to promote good effects and limit negative ones
3 Recommended template
It is true that … This has significant advantages and also remarkable disadvantages
This essay discusses some advantages and disadvantages of this trend
On the one hand, it is obvious that … is beneficial in many ways Firstly, …Secondly, …
On the other hand, there are some undeniable drawbacks of this trend The first negative point/ aspect is …The second disadvantage is …
Everything has two sides, _ is no exception People should manage it well in order to promote benefits and limit negative ones
4 Useful expressions
- Advantage >< disadvantage
- Benefit >< drawback
- Positive side >< negative side
- Merit >< demerit
- On the one hand, On the other hand
- Despite the advantages, it has some undeniable drawbacks
- Although it brings about many advantages, it has some undeniable drawbacks
Trang 4II Opinion essay
1 Some sample essay topics
- The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer
- The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping
people's ideas To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer
- Should sports classes be sacrificed in High School so students can concentrate on academic subjects?
- Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have the greater role in raising children in most societies Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting Write an essay expressing your point of view Give reasons for your answer
- Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos
- Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living Discuss
- Nowadays, young people admire media and sports stars though they often do not set a good example Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
2 Sample tasks and model answers (written by all class members)
Sample task and model answer 1
Leaders and directors in an organization are normally older people Some people think
younger leader would be better
Do you agree or disagree?
For/ against
It is true that leaders and directors are very important positions in an organization, which are
often held by older people However, many people think that the young are more likely to be better at leading I do not agree with this opinion because there are several reasons make
me believe older people are better leaders
The first reason why older people can lead better is that through a period of many years working, older people have gained a lot of valuable experience that the young can not have This enables them to be more flexible to deal with various situations and make wiser decisions
in planning to make success for the organization For example, when considering a business project, an older chairman can anticipate the risks from their own experience and decide the safest and most suitable action to take, while a younger manager may choose a more
challenging practice with high chance of failure
Secondly, being a senior in the workplace, older people are more respected and trusted by other colleages This makes their voice more powerful in the organization, thus they can
influence and motivate others easier This allows the work done smoothly without much
arguments This is quite a problem with younger leaders since co-workers tend not to trust their decisions totally
Trang 5Many people argue that youngsters are more suitable because they are enthusiastic and creative, so that they can make breakthroughs However, it is because they are active and willing to take risks that they are often reckless in their decisions and may fail
In conclusion, experience and dependability are good reasons to consider older people better leaders compared to younger one
Neutral
It is true that leaders and directors are very important positions in an organization, which are often held by older people Many people believe that the young are more likely to be better at
leading In my opinion, both groups have their own advantages to become good leaders
On the one hand, older people have some important qualities to be a leader Firstly, since they have worked for many years, older people have gained a lot of valuable experience that can not be obsessed by younger colleagues This enables them to make wiser decisions in solving problems and in planning to make success for the company Moreover, being a senior
in the workplace, they are more respected and trusted by people They have a more powerful voice in the organization, thus they can influence and motivate others easier This is quite a problem with younger leaders
On the other hand, there are many reasons why the young should be given the leader or director positions The first reason is that they are active and enthusiastic Once they come to deal with a problem, they will make great effort to achieve the goal set Their energy can
motivate others and thus create a dynamic working environment, which is very essential for the success of an organization Another quality that they own is that they are open-minded and creative As they access an advanced education and they are more sensitive with the latest trend, they are likely to accept new and innovative ideas This spirit often results in big and surprising achievements
In summary, while I accept that older leaders are good in many ways, I also agree that
younger people have special characteristics to be good leaders What to determine the people
in these important positions should be ability, not age
Sample task and model answer 2
Scientists use living animal to carry out research Some people think it is interesting, while some other people think it is cruel What is your opinion?
For/ against
It is true that living animals have been used for scientific purposes by scientists for a long time
Many people argue that this is cruel, while some others think this is interesting Although I consider using living creatures in research causes them to suffer, I believe it is necessary for some reasons
Firstly, research on animals helps advance scientific understanding Since most of the
animals on Earth have a lot of similaries in basic cells and organs, which serve similar main functions in the body, they are good models for experts to study how a living things work A great deal of knowledge of anatomy and biology are from the finding in animal research For
Trang 6example, the function of spinal core was discovered when scientists did the experiment of removing most of the brain of a cat and found out that the skeletal system could still perform well with only the direction from the core These knowledge are interesting and beneficial for both human and animals
Secondly, living animals are used to study diseases and test new treatments Animals and human share a lot of common illnesses, so animals are good models to study From them, experts learn how diseases affect the body, how immune system responds, etc… Moreover, they can be used to test new medicine and therapies These treatments would be dangerous
to apply directly on human-beings without being tested in animals first
Many people argue that alternative methods could be used, such as using computer or “in vitro” testing so that we can avoid hurting other creatures for human benefits However, those experiments should be on a whole, living animal since it is more complex than any single parts
In conclusion, I believe using animals in research is necessary until there are other more effective methods
3 Recommended template
For/ against
It is true that … Many people believe that … I agree/ disagree with this opinion because of some reasons
Firstly, …
Secondly, …
(Many people argue that (the opposite opinion is true))
In conclusion, I believe that …
Neutral
It is true that … Many people believe that … In my opinion, both groups have their own
advantages …
On the one hand, …
On the other hand, …
4 Useful expressions
- think, consider, believe, agree, disagree, accept
- It’s my strong belief that …
Trang 7III Advantages and disadvantages essay
1 Some sample essay topics
- In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing What problems will this cause for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact
of ageing populations
- Cycling is more environmentally friendly than other forms of transport Why is it not popular in many places? And how to increase its popularity?
- Many students find it difficult to concentrate or pay attention at school What are the reasons? What could be done?
- Some people with good education and experience in their field decide to move abroad to work Why do you think that is? What problems does this cause?
- Many problems in schools are aroused by the attitudes of students Where do these problems come form? What should we do to change the situation?
2 Sample tasks and model answers (written by all class members)
Sample task and model answer 1
Cycling is more environmentally friendly than other forms of transport Why is it not popular in many places? And how to increase its popularity?
It is true that bicycle is the most environmental friendly mean of transport However, it is not
used widely in many parts the world This essay discusses the main causes of this issue and suggests several methods to increase its popularity
Several reasons why few people use it daily can be mentioned Firstly, cycling is rather time-consuming since bicycle is not a speedy vehicle In the modern world with the high pace of life, people prefer other forms of transport with engine which enable them to travel faster, such as cars, motorbikes or trains, in spite of the fact that most of these use fuel and release waste gas Secondly, since it is physically demanding, sometimes tiring, few people use it at a
regular basis, especially on bad weather days or when they have a long distance to travel There are some actions that could be taken to raise the popularity of this friend The first suggestion is to raise people’s awareness about the variety benefits of cycling, which most significantly, on the environment and health It would be better not only to promote those but also to offer people in a community occasions to have great experience cycling together
Monthly bicycle day may be an idea worth trying Another approach is improve the facilities for cycling An automatic system for bicycle renting should be developed in urban area so that every resident can access it easily, particularly people who do not have their own bicycles In addition, government should support this form of transport by improving the road and add separate tracks for cyclers which make riding bikes more enjoyable and safe These methods could be useful in encouraging people to pedal more
In conclusion, because of some disadvantages of being time-consuming and taking much energy, there is a limited use of bicycles However, as cycling deserves more popularity, some possible measures should be taken to change the current situation and make our world a greener place to live
Trang 8Sample task and model answer 2
In many developing country, there is an increasing movement of workers from rural area to cities
Why do you think this happen? What problems can this cause?
It is true that over the recent decades, migration of workers from countrysides to urban areas is
an increasing trend in industrializing countries This essay discusses several reasons why this movement takes place and discuss some main problems this trend has on several
aspects the society
The first and foremost explanation to mention is cities offer better job opportunities for
people While there is often a lack in job supply in rural area, a plenty choices of works seems
to be always available in town with better salary This enable people to earn more than just making end meet Secondly, it is obvious that the living condition in urban areas is more
quality People can enjoy better infrastructure, education, healthcare, entertainment, etc…, which help them live a better life
This brings about certain benefits, however, some problems arise as inevitable
consequences Firstly, this strong movement of workers from countryside to cities causes the overpopulation in the city This puts a lot of pressure on society such as on accommodation, health care, schooling and environment Moreover, these people may face difficulty finding a job, since there is an enomous demand for them Another issue is that when the main source
of labor move to the cities, the countrysides are left with mostly older people Therefore, there
is likely to be a lack in the source of labor who do traditional jobs of community such as
farming and craft work
In conclusion, better employment opportunity and living condition that the cities provide are the reasons why a large number of workers leave the countryside for urban areas Since this trend has several remarkable disadvantages, people should have proper management to limit those and promote positive effects
3 Recommended template
It is true that … This essay discusses some main reasons/ problems and suggests some solutions
There are some causes of this issues Firstly, … Seccondly, …
Some methods could be taken to deal with this problem The first approach is … Another suggestion is …
In conclusion, …
4 Useful expressions (basic)
consequence handle method
step
Trang 9action
IV Mixed/ direct question essay
1 Some sample essay topics
- Nowadays, more and more people decide to have children later in their life What are the the reasons? Do advantages of this outweigh disadvantages?
- In recent years, the family structure has changed, as well as family role What types of changes are occuring? Do you think these changes are positive or negative?
- More and more young people from wealthy countries are spending a short time in
communities in poorer countries doing unpaid work such as teaching or building houses Why? Who benefit more from this, the community or these young people?
- Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of
technology
In what ways has technology affected personal relationships? Has this become a positive
or negative development?
2 Sample tasks and model answers (written by all class members)
Sample task and model answer
In recent years, the family structure has changed, as well as family role What types of
changes are occuring? Do you think these changes are positive or negative?
Over the last few decades, there have been significant changes in family structure and family role, which has been among the main concerns in modern society This essay looks
at the main types of changes happening and evaluate whether this trend is positive or negative
The first change to be mention is the change in family structure In the past, it is normal for
a family to have three or more generations under one roof and a child has many siblings However, the popular structure nowadays is nuclear family with only parents and children,
in which the number of children is limited, too The difference in the role of husband and wife in family today compared to several years before is another main change
Traditionally, men play the role of the breadwinner, who are the only ones who work to earn money for the family On the other hand, women are the homemakers, whose duties is taking care of every member in the family In the modern world, the situation has changed greatly Women nowadays have their own jobs and share the financial responsibility with their partners Also, husbands give a hand in helping around the house and raising
children
These changes, in my point of view, are definitely positive Regarding the decrease in family size, every member can have more freedom They have more time for themselves compared to the situation in the past in which parents have to take care of not only their children but also elder members in the family Besides, with the change in family role, each woman escapes from spending her whole life inside the house and takes her social role She can be financially independent and more importantly, able to pursue the dream of her life Men also benefit from this when they have less pressure of being the only source of income of the family
Trang 10In conclusion, the changes in family size and family role are beneficial for every member of the family