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• Ashley Wilson

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Writing an argumentative essay

ISE I & ISE II

Also known as “topic essay”, in an argumentative essay you give your opinions about a subject. You only need to support one point of view. The title: brief and clear.

Smoking should be completely banned

1st paragraph: explain background to the situation and state your opinion.

In Europe, several countries and cities have banned smoking in public places. However, in my opinion, politicians should do more to stop smoking. Personally, I believe that they should make it completely illegal.

2nd paragraph: give your main point, adding a fact or an example to support your opinion.

Firstly, it is well known that smoking is bad for your health. It can cause many serious illnesses, as well as shortening people’s lives. If smoking was banned, people would have longer, healthier lives. It would also help hospitals and doctors, because they would not have spent so much time and money helping people with diseases caused by smoking.

3rd paragraph: give another opinion keeping your sentences simple and clear.

Secondly, smoking can pollute environment. For example, smoky places can be unpleasant, and cigarettes can cause rooms, clothes, and hair to smell. What is more, people create extra litter when they throw the ends of their cigarettes away.

Conclusion: summarize your opinion and give a conclusion. Try not to repeat the words you have used in the previous paragraphs.

To sum up, I think smoking is a very unhealthy and antisocial activity which should be banned immediately.

Giving opinions:

         

Personally, I think / believe that… I strongly feel… In my opinion / view, … I (dis)agree with… I partly agree that… I am (not) convinced that… I would argue / say that… It seems clear to me that… as I see it, … As far as I am concerned, …

Giving evidence:      

According to… It is clear that… It is well-known that… Research has shown that… It has been proven that… We (do not) have (any) evidence that…

Sequencing ideas:      

Firstly, First of all, Secondly, Thirdly, Finally, Last of all,

Making recommendations:    

Adding arguments:       

also as well besides furthermore in addition moreover too

It would be a good idea to… It would be better to… than… Instead of… , we should / ought to / could… I suggest / recommend…

    

Summing up:     

what is more My main reason is… Another reason is… One reason for.. is… A final point is…

On balance, I would say that… To sum up, all in all, In conclusion, To conclude