A Simple Guide To Writing Well On IELTS Writing Task 2 - Type 2: For And Against Essays (Also Called: Pros And Cons Essays) (Including Example Essays)

For And Against Essays present both sides of an issue, discussing points in favour of a particular topic as well as those against, or the advantages and disadvantages of a particular question.
Each point should be supported by justifications, examples, and/or reasons.
The writer’s own opinion should be presented only in the final paragraph.

If you see the following key words in the prompt:
- advantages
- merits
- benefits
- upsides
- positive effects
- disadvantages
- demerits
- drawbacks
- downsides
- negative effects etc.
- Some people…
- Others…
- Discuss the arguments on both sides…
- How..?

How To Plan And Organize For And Against Essay?
Consider these two alternative plans.

A for and against essay can end in a balanced consideration in which you restate that there are points for and against the topics, or it can end by expressing an opinion in which case you state directly that you are either in favour or against the topic.

Conclusion expressing balanced considerations/opinion indirectly:


Conclusion expressing opinion directly:


Example Essays:
(These essays would obtain Band 8&9)

1. More and more people decide to undergo plastic surgeries these days. Discuss both pros and cons of this issue.
There has been a vast increase in the interest in the plastic surgery in the last decade. Not only do people undergo a surgery to get rid of scars, crooked noses and such but they also want to improve their appearance. Breast enlargement, hair implants, rhinoplasty, facelift or a tummy tuck are broadly common. This issue has both advantages and disadvantages.
To start with, there are cases when plastic surgery seems to be a need. Nasty scars or serious complexion illnesses are to be removed immediately. Sometimes even protruding ears can pose an obstacle to happiness. The eventual patient is likely to feel miserable or depressed because of such flaws. The greatest advantage of plastic surgery is the improvement of one’s self-esteem. For instance, such surgical interventions as breast augmentation or hair implants have a great ability to make people more pleased with their image. Besides this, being subjected to operations frequently means significant amelioration of health. Just as liposuction for obese people, which sometimes is the only solution to prevent them from having a heart attack or diabetes. Likewise varicose vein removal helps people move properly and kills their pain. There are surely more positive sides of plastic surgery that would convince its opponents to its usefulness.
On the other hand, plastic surgery is bound up with dreadful pain as well as a huge danger. Recovery takes months while patient is bedridden not able to function normally without doctors’ assistance. This case can turn out to be vastly exhausting both physically and mentally. In addition, financial aspect is often off-putting. It is available only for people who are wallowing in money, namely celebrities and businessmen. They want to change their looks out of boredom or on a whim. Nonetheless, this reason is not strong enough to discourage many of them from undergoing risky procedures. And, deciding on such an extreme change of a body construction, one should definitely find a skilled doctor, who would explain all the benefits and risks related to plastic surgery. In short, downsides to body reconstruction are certainly worth a thought.
To recapitulate, plastic surgery undoubtedly has its pros and cons. Although it is surely true that in many cases it is inevitable, there are still instances when it is just one’s dreams fulfillment. Therefore, the person thinking it over should take into consideration arguments for and against.

2.“Greater freedom does not necessarily lead to greater happiness”. Discuss.
Over the years, mankind has recognised the need for personal and social freedom, and this is perhaps one of the most important social advancements ever made. However, whether it has led to increased personal happiness is highly debatable; many people would argue that greater freedom has led to increased social disorder and personal dissatisfaction.
Firstly, it is true that people are now more at liberty to choose how to live their lives. For example, in the Western world at least, the choice of where to live, what career to pursue and which religion to follow has never been greater. In addition to this, people have more leisure time in which to enjoy a wider range of recreational activities. On the other hand, it can be argued that this increased freedom can lead people to take things for granted and expect too much from life. As an example of this, the greater choice of material goods available has resulted in people quickly growing bored with their possessions. Consequently, no sooner have they acquired something new than they tire of it. They find short-term happiness in material goods and entertainment, but boredom and frustration soon send them looking for fresh distractions.
Secondly, social and moral attitudes have become less rigid. This has allowed for a greater variety of lifestyles and more freedom in human relations. This is illustrated by the fact that pupils and teachers now treat each other as equals, and parent-child relationships are now much more relaxed. Nevertheless, some people believe that this increase in freedom has resulted in the escalation of social problems. They argue that the current lack of discipline has given rise to a breakdown in the traditional family and the decay in educational standards as well as the rise in juvenile delinquency.Thus, it may be said that society is becoming more and more dangerous because of the very fact that people are more open-minded than they were in the past.
To conclude, there is evidence both to support and refute the view that greater freedom does not necessarily lead to greater happiness. On the one hand, people have more opportunities to raise their standard of living. On the other hand, the many examples of protest, strikes and criminal activities which are a feature of modern society are a sign that although people may be free, they are not necessarily happier.

3. It is sometimes argued that too many students go to university, while others claim thata university education should be a universal right.
Discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion.
In some advanced countries, it is not unusual for more than 50% of young adults to attend college or university. Critics, however, claim that many university courses are worthless and young people would be better off gaining skills in the workplace. In this essay, I will examine both sides of this argument and try to reach a conclusion.
There are several reasons why university has become a popular choice for young people. First, growing prosperity in many parts of the world has increased the number of families with money to invest in their children’s future. At the same time, falling birth rates mean that one- or two-child families have become common, increasing the level of investment in each child. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that young people are willing to let their families support them until the age of 21 or 22. Furthermore, millions of new jobs have been created in knowledge industries, and these jobs are typically open only to university graduates.
However, it often appears that graduates end up in occupations unrelated to their university studies. It is not uncommon for an English literature major to end up working in sales, or an engineering graduate to retrain as a teacher, for example. Some critics have suggested that young people are just delaying their entry into the workplace, rather than developing professional skills. A more serious problem is that the high cost of a university education will mean that many families are reluctant to have more than one child, exacerbating the falling birth rates in certain countries.
In conclusion, while it can be argued that too much emphasis is placed on university education, my own opinion is that the university years are a crucial time for personal development. If people enter the workplace aged 18, their future options may be severely restricted. Attending university allows them time to learn more about themselves and make a more appropriate choice of their career.