Opinion essay on English plan. How to write an essay in English? Outline, structure and sample essay

The assignment contains a certain statement. You need to write an opinion essay in which you express your own opinion regarding this statement (opinion essay).

WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each starting with a new paragraph):

1. Introduction. Here you must identify the problem specified in the assignment. It is important to paraphrase it and not rewrite it word for word. For example, task “In order to get a good adecation one should go abroad” can be reformulated as follows: “Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy” . This thesis should also be supplemented with a small commentary explanation. You can end the introduction with a rhetorical question.
2. Expressing your own opinion. In this paragraph it is necessary to briefly reflect your personal attitude to this problem and support it with 2-3 detailed arguments. It is important that the arguments are convincing, succinct and logical. Arguments are introduced using universal linking words and phrases.
3. Expressing an opposing opinion. The third paragraph of the essay should contain the opponent's point of view. This thesis also needs to be supported by 1-2 arguments. It is important that the opponent has 1 fewer arguments (i.e., if you have three arguments in the 2nd paragraph, there should be two in the 3rd), because our goal is to prove our own rightness.
4. Disagreement with the opinions of opponents. Here you should refute your opponent’s opinion, express your disagreement and support it with 1-2 counterarguments. Remember that you provide counterarguments to your opponent’s arguments, their number should be the same (2 opponent’s arguments = 2 of your counterarguments).
5. Conclusion. The last paragraph should contain a general conclusion regarding the issue under discussion, which is also supplemented with commentary. You can use a universal phrase that will make the reader think about the problem.

Below is a table with examples of introductory words and phrases.

STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

Unified State Exam 2017 IN ENGLISH. UNIVERSAL ESSAY TEMPLATE

Nowadays, the problem of … causes great argument and controversy. Some people believe that ... while others think ... . Who is right?

In my opinion,…. To begin with, … . What is more,… . Additionally,….

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all, … . Besides...

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because… . … .

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of … is still to be discussed. As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

SAMPLE TASK AND READY ESSAY FOR USE IN ENGLISH

• Comment on the following statement:

In order to get a good adecation one should go abroad.

What is your opinion? Write 200–250 words. Use the following plan:

− make an introduction (state the problem)

− express your personal opinion and give 2–3 reasons for your opinion

− express an opposing opinion and give 1–2 reasons for this opposing opinion

− explain why you don’t agree with the opposing opinion

− make a conclusion restating your position

Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy. Some people think that one can get a better education only in another country, others believe that it is possible to study at home. Where is the truth?

In my opinion, studying abroad is more advantageous because one can gain useful experience. To begin with, it can have a positive impact on students’ self-discipline as youngsters become more initiative and acquire quickness in comprehension. Moreover, it gives them a chance to learn more about the culture of the other country and improve their language skills. Additionally, it is a splendid opportunity to make new friends.

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all it is very expensive to study abroad. Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that, children have to adapt to many things, thus, it can be stressful for them.

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because there are a lot of exchange programs wich are funded by government, therefore, students can study abroad for free. Besides, a person should learn to cope with stress if he or she would like to go the university to broaden their mind.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of studying abroad is still to be discussed. I believe that one should analyze and compare all pros and cons before making a proper decision where to get an education.

RULES FOR WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE Unified State Exam

• Count the words

It is imperative to keep within the specified volume: 200-250 words (a deviation of 10% in both directions is allowed, i.e. 180-275 words). If the essay contains ≤179 words, then the assignment will receive 0 points. If ≥276 words, then only the first 250 words are checked. Remember that 1 word is everything between two spaces. Hyphens (-) and apostrophes (’) are not spaces, so words like world’s, open-minded, UK are counted as one word. Practice writing letters on exam forms - this way you will learn to determine the number of words by eye and will spend less time counting them.

• Write in a formal style

Abbreviations cannot be used (full forms only) I am, cannot), as well as starting sentences with informal linking words well,also, but). Use impersonal verb forms ( one should). A rich vocabulary and variety of grammatical and syntactic structures demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the English language.

• Get your timing right

Give yourself 40 minutes to complete this task: 20 minutes for the draft, 15 minutes. for a clean copy and 5 min. for word counting and checking. Be sure to check your essay before submitting it!

Believe in yourself and everything will work out! Good luck!

What kind of beast is “esse” and how to fight it? Of course, it is best to tame it. We suggest that together, here and now, we sort everything out and figure out how to write an essay. Often, a successfully written essay can open up a lot of opportunities on the path to realizing ourselves, and at the same time realizing our cherished desires and goals.

What is an English essay

Essay in English- this is a type of creative work that has an arbitrary composition and reveals the author’s opinion on a particular problem of a social, cultural or historical nature. This is not an English essay, article, abstract or any other work of a creative genre. The essay proudly occupies a separate hole in the world of journalism. Let's compare it with an article, an essay in English and an abstract. To better understand what an essay is and why it cannot be called an article, abstract, etc.

An essay is very similar to a reasoning essay, however, the main difference between these genres is the purpose of writing an essay - an essay in English always has a conclusion, and an essay only encourages the reader to think and make his own. In an essay, the author only discusses, raises current topics, but does not make a final conclusion, unlike an essay. An article is really very similar to an essay, because there is no specific structure, there is a relevant topic. However, an article is a work of journalism, as opposed to an essay. It is this factor that makes the article one and only in the world of the journalistic genre. And so that you don’t have the slightest desire to compare an essay with an essay, let’s look at the last differences. First of all, the abstract is larger in volume - about 5 pages, while the essay most often takes 1.5 - 2 pages. Also, the essay is narrated on behalf of the author, and the abstract is a report on a clearly defined topic.

Where is an English essay useful:

• To pass the international English language exam.
• For entering university.
• For hiring.

However, these are not all the moments where an essay can be useful. It's no secret that writing essays develops imagination and helps develop analytical thinking skills.

Conclusion: if you want to develop, write an essay. It plays an extremely important role in school, university and even at work. It is very important to learn to understand how to write an essay in English correctly, so that you can confidently move towards success from your school years.

Types of essays

There are 3 types of essays in English:

• For & Against Essays.
• Points to consider (“Problem and solution”).
• Opinion Essays.

For & Against Essays

Essay “For and Against” - in this type of essay, the main task is to consider two existing points of view. It is important to objectively evaluate both positions and express your understanding of each side.

1. Structure:
2. 1) Introduction (here it is important to characterize the topic that will be discussed without expressing your own opinion).
   2) Main part (here it is important to express your opinion about the problem, give examples and evidence).
   3) Conclusion (in this section you summarize and summarize all of the above. Remember that in this type of essay you should not draw a specific conclusion, you can only distribute all the arguments into two bowls).

Important! Words I think, I believe,In my opinion, etc. can be consumed only in custody, where you express your position.

Useful phrases :

When considering points of view (beginning of essay):
firstly- Firstly
in the first place- at the first place
to begin with- let's start with
secondly- Secondly
finally- in the end

To indicate benefits:
another- other
an additional advantage of… is... - there is an additional advantage of something
the main advantage of… is... - there is an additional advantage of something

To point out deficiencies:
a further- next
a major disadvantage / drawback of... - the main disadvantage
the greatest / most serious / first disadvantage- main disadvantage
another negative side of... is another negative side of this...

To represent each point of view:
one point / argument in favor of... - one argument in favor of ...
one point / argument against... - one argument against...
it could be discussed that... - there are disputes that...

When reasoning:
moreover- moreover
in addition- in addition
furthermore- Besides
besides- besides
apart from- except
as well as- as well as
also- Also
both- both
there is another side to the question... - there is another side to this issue ...

To express contrast
however- however
on the other hand- on the other side
still- more
yet- more
but- But
nevertheless- nevertheless
it may be said/ claimed that- they say that...
although- Although
while- while...
despite / in spite of- despite...

Opinion Essays

“Minor opinion” - in this type of essay it is important to express your position regarding a particular issue. It is important to provide examples, arguments in favor of your opinion, and also to express your position quite transparently.

1. Structure:
   1) Introduction (here it is important to indicate the issue that will be considered, as well as your position regarding it).
   2) Main part (it is important to indicate opinions opposite to yours, explain why they have a right to exist, and also give arguments in favor of your opinion).
   3) Conclusion (in this section you once again express your point of view in other words).

Useful phrases:

To express your own opinion:
to my mind,… - my opinion
in my opinion / view… - I think…
I strongly believe... - I am firmly convinced...
I am (not) convinced that... - I'm not sure that...
I (definitely definitely) feel / think that... - I definitely think that ...
it seems / appears to me... - it looks like...

Points to consider essays

The Problem and Solutions essay is written in a formal style. It is important to pose a problem, then consider ways to solve it.

1. Structure:
   1) Introduction (this is where you state the problem).
   2) Main part (it is important to show possible ways to solve the problem and its consequences).
   3) Conclusion (in this section you express your own opinion about solving the problem).

Useful phrases:

To explain the situation:
because- because
due to (the fact that) - thanks to something
the reason is that- The reason is that
thus- Thus
consequently- as a result
so that... - Thus
in order to... - in order to
with the purpose of- with the aim of
intention of (+ing) - with intention

To express probability:
it can / could / may / might be… - Maybe...
it is possible- Maybe
unlikely- hardly
foreseeable- foreseeable
certain that... - I'm sure that...
the likelihood- probability

Rules for writing essays in English

Stick to structure. Don't forget to use a draft. Make notes to yourself, outline a plan for writing an essay in English, sketch out a list of all the arguments before you start writing. It is important to be fully prepared and ready for any topic.

It is best to prepare for writing an English essay in advance, and the more you write, the better. Thus, no matter what topic you come across, you can develop it based on the knowledge and experience that you gained during preparation.

An essay may be perfect in content, but if it contains grammatical errors, everything is lost. Be sure to remember to check your work after writing. It is advisable to do this twice. First, from the very beginning to the end, and then read the entire work in reverse order. The work should be read in reverse order to identify errors in words.

Be sure to follow one of the three essay types throughout your work. It is important to be specific in your essay, but you should not make it too short. Most often, an essay consists of 180-320 words, depending on the purpose of writing. Don't forget about linking words. They show the author's literacy. Use quotes that will confirm this or that opinion.

Important! TO The number of words in an English essay usually ranges from 180 to 320 words.

We can conclude that the essay is not as scary as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is preparation. Even after reading just this article, you will already have enough information to understand how to write an essay in English. It's just a matter of practice. Write as many essays as possible, get inspired to write an English essay on a topic unfamiliar to you, be it saving animals or trends in world art.

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If you still doubt that you will be able to prepare perfectly on your own, we recommend that you try individual training via Skype at our English language school “EnglishDom”.

EnglishDom teachers have repeatedly prepared students to write essays and more. Our students show brilliant results, for which we would like to thank them. In order to make sure of the high quality of training at EnglishDom, you can first register on our website and try to train your knowledge and expand your vocabulary with the help of absolutely free content. We are focused on the knowledge of our students, so you can study with us even for free.

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Do you have an exam coming up soon? Then you are probably interested in learning how to write excellent essays in English. We will tell you about the types and correct structure of essays, and give tips that will teach you how to write such works in English quickly and competently.

What is an essay in English? This is a short essay with a specific structure in which you discuss a specific topic and express your point of view on a given topic.

Structure of an essay in English

How many words should there be in an English essay? Each exam has an optimal amount of written work. Typically, the assignment involves writing an essay ranging from 180 to 320 words in length, depending on the exam. If you are going to take an English test, we recommend that you clarify the required amount of written work in advance and practice writing text of the appropriate length.

The structure of the English essay is universal for all exams. The written work consists of the following parts:

1. Title - the name of the essay, reflecting the theme of the story.
2. Introduction - 2-4 short sentences revealing the topic of the essay.
3. The main part is 2-3 paragraphs describing the essence of the essay. In them you need to reveal the topic as fully and competently as possible, present arguments and argue for them.
4. Conclusion - 2-4 sentences summing up what was written. In this part, you make a general conclusion about the topic of the essay.

Each of the paragraphs in the body of the essay begins with an introductory sentence (Topic Sentence), this is the “introduction” to the paragraph. The following sentences develop and confirm the idea expressed in the Topic Sentence.

To learn how to write an essay strictly according to plan and clearly structure your thoughts, use the website theeasyessay.com or. On this resource you can create an outline for the perfect essay, following simple instructions. Practice writing papers according to this plan, and in the exam it will be easier for you to write a good argumentative essay.

Types of essays in English and their features

The type of English essay you need to write depends on the given topic and is sometimes specified in the assignment. According to an authoritative source - the book Successful Writing by Virginia Evans - it is customary to distinguish three main types of essays:

1. Pros and cons. For and against essays

The name speaks for itself: you present arguments for and against a phenomenon. The outline of the essay in English is as follows:

• Introduction. In it, you lead the reader to the topic of discussion.
• Main part. You give arguments for and against some action or phenomenon. At the same time, there is no need to express your point of view, adhere to neutrality.
• Conclusion. Only here you express your attitude to the topic and draw a conclusion.

An example of such an essay(all examples taken from the textbook Successful Writing by Virginia Evans, Intermediate level):

2. Opinion essay. Opinion essays

You express your thoughts on a given topic. It would seem that any composition is an expression of one’s own thoughts. What is the point of this type of essay? In Opinion Essays, you need to not only reflect your point of view, but also look at the proposed topic from different angles. Consider all aspects of the issue, write your opinion and be sure to support it with strong arguments.

Plan for an opinion essay in English:

• Introduction. You indicate the topic of discussion.
• Main part. You express your opinion and confidently argue for it. Here it is advisable to consider an opinion opposite to yours and explain to the reader why you do not share this point of view.
• Conclusion. You summarize, finally formulating your point of view on the proposed topic.

An example of such an essay:

3. Proposing a solution to the problem. Suggesting solutions to problem essays

In this type of written work, you will be asked to consider a global issue or issues. Your task is to offer solutions.

The plan for this type of essay is as follows:

• Introduction. You state the problem and its causes or consequences.
• Main part. You suggest ways to solve problems and the possible consequences of such actions. Be clear about why certain measures should be taken and what they will entail.
• Conclusion. Summarize your reasoning.

An example of such an essay:

Rules for writing an excellent English essay

Before writing an essay in English, familiarize yourself with some rules for writing it. These simple guidelines will help you successfully complete your written work.

1. Stick to the Essay Structure

Once you have received the assignment, determine the type of essay and the plan according to which you will write it. After that, go straight through the points: title - introduction - a few body paragraphs - conclusion. Be sure to follow this strict essay structure, otherwise your work will not be highly appreciated.

2. Use a draft

Since there is little time allocated for writing an essay in English, the draft must be used wisely. If time is short, we advise you to immediately write down your thoughts and arguments in the form of short abstracts after receiving the assignment and becoming familiar with the topic. This will prevent you from forgetting important thoughts while writing the final draft.

3. Prepare for any topic

An English essay shows not only your level of language knowledge, but also your erudition. Therefore, before preparing for the exam, read texts on different topics. This will help you broaden your horizons and remember new words, phrases and clichés that you can use in your written work in the exam.

4. Leave time for review.

Allocate your time so that at the end of the exam you have at least 5 minutes left to check your essay. As a rule, the grade is not reduced for accurate corrections, so this is a real chance to “save” your work by correcting detected errors.

5. Find the right style

6. Be concise

An English essay is a short written piece of work. Some students think that the “more is better” principle works and write huge opuses. Alas, the examiners will not only not increase, but will also lower your grade for not meeting the required scope.

7. Give reasons for your reasons

Every written thought should not sound unfounded. Support it with arguments, a clear example, statistics, etc. Your written work should show the evaluator that you know what you are writing about and are confident that you are right.

8. Use linking words

Introductory words for an essay are important links that connect sentences together, forming a logical chain of your thoughts. They will help to combine sentences or show contrast, indicate a sequence of actions, etc. We recommend studying such useful structures in the article “ Linking words in English".

9. Use varied vocabulary and grammar

Avoid repetition of words, use synonyms and complex grammatical structures - show the examiner that you speak English at a high level. Instead of the boring good, use, depending on the context, remarkable, gorgeous, fascinating. Use complex structures and different tenses to express your thoughts. A text in which all sentences are written in Present Simple will receive a low grade.

10. Express your thoughts correctly

An essay is a written expression of your thoughts on a specific topic. And here it is important not to forget about basic delicacy. If possible, avoid touching on politics, religion and other “slippery” topics. If the task involves the consideration of some “sensitive” topic, express your point of view tolerantly and politely. In this case, it is better to adhere to a formal tone and avoid violent manifestations of emotions.

11. Write softly

Although you should write your thoughts on this issue, try not to often use structures of the following type: “I am sure that...”, “I know that...”, etc. Write softer, for example , “It seems to me...”, “In my opinion...” - this will sound more formal and correct in relation to the opinions of other people.

For those who want to learn how to write better, we recommend watching the following video:

Now you know how to write excellent essays in English. To ensure that this theoretical knowledge brings you practical benefit in the form of a high grade in the exam, actively use it. Practice writing essays on different topics - this will be the best preparation for the exam.

And if you need to quickly and efficiently prepare for an English exam and get a high grade in it, we suggest enrolling in English at our school.

The most difficult task, in my opinion, on the Unified State Examination in English is task 40, which is a written statement with elements of reasoning (Opinion Essay). To complete it efficiently, you must familiarize yourself with the rules for writing an essay and the evaluation criteria for this task.

The maximum score you can get for task 40 — 14 points.

5 criteria for assessing a written statement with elements of reasoning:

1) Solving a communication problem (3 points)

Experts evaluate

• Does your work have an introduction with a statement of the problem (paraphrase the problem);
• whether the author’s opinion has been expressed on the proposed problem with arguments;
• whether your essay presents an opposing point of view;
• is there an explanation why the author does not agree with another point of view (counterarguments);
• is there a final phrase with a conclusion at the end of your essay;
• have you chosen the right style for the statement (neutral)

2) Organization of the text (3 points)

Experts evaluate

• how logically did you construct the statement;
• whether you used means of logical connection (conjunctions, introductory words, pronouns);
• is there a division into paragraphs ( there should be 5 of them)

3) Lexical design (3 points)

Experts evaluate

• whether the vocabulary you used in the statement corresponds to the communicative task;
• correct use of lexical phrases and methods of word formation (e.g. to go on foot);
• your vocabulary and variety of vocabulary used (synonyms, antonyms, phraseological units -give up smoking)

4) Grammar (3 points)

Experts evaluate

• whether the choice of grammatical structures corresponds to the purpose of the statement;
• absence of gross grammatical errors (2-3 errors are allowed);
• variety and complexity of grammatical means used

5) Spelling and punctuation (2 points)

Experts evaluate

• Do you follow the rules of punctuation in English (capital letter, period, comma, exclamation point and question mark);
• Do you follow spelling standards in English?

Undoubtedly, when starting this task, you should be well acquainted with its format in practice. Task 40 is communicative in nature. You will be asked to comment your personal opinion on a specific problem. When completing this task, you must follow the detailed answer plan:

Write 200 - 250 words.

Use the following plan:

• Make the introduction (state the problem)
• Express your personal opinion and give 2 – 3 reasons for your opinion
• Express the opposing opinion and give 1 – 2 reasons for this opposing opinion
• Explain why you don’t agree with the opposing opinion
• Make a conclusion restating your position

On the Internet you can find many different essay samples written by both professionals and ordinary schoolchildren. Check out interesting options and write your own version on a given topic.

In this article, I offer you for your consideration an argumentative essay that caught my attention on one of the educational sites.

Using 5 criteria for assessing a written statement with elements of reasoning, you can determine the approximate score that you can get for this work.

Task 40

Sample answer

Inventions of email and text messaging have been wonderful for communication between people.

Nowadays email and text messaging are widespread all over the world. Thousands of people can communicate, sending each other short and long messages. But some people think that it is not a convenient way to contact and find a lot of disadvantages of it. (44)

In my opinion, email and text messaging is an excellent way to connect and converse with people.
Firstly, this kind of communication can save our time. For example le, if you need to say some information to several people, you can send it using an email and contact a group of people at once. Secondl y, when you do not have any possibility to make a phone call being on a noisy bus or at an important meeting, texting will be a great solution in these situations. Moreover, sending emails and messages are cheaper and sometimes without any cost. For instance, some telecommunication companies make a good offer like free text messages. (154)

However, some people find a lot of disadvantages in using these technologies. They believe that a person who prefers such way of communication loses speaking skills. What is more, he becomes a phone addict as he gets stuck to his phone and does not notice what is happening around him. (204)

I cannot fully agree with this point of view because there are a lot of shy people. They obviously become more sociable using emails than when they talk with others face to face. (237)

In conclusion, I want to say that invention of email and text messages simplifies our life and makes communication between people more convenient. (260)

Remember!

If the examinee receives 0 points on the “Content” criterion, the entire task is scored 0 points!

An essay in a foreign language requires high-quality content and a good organizational structure, as well as competent language design.

It is one of the most problematic tasks when passing the Unified State Exam. In terms of complexity, only listening can compete with it. Therefore, training in essay writing should be especially intense and intense.

Since 2012, the time allocated for the entire foreign language exam has been increased to 180 minutes. Since the rest of the exam tasks have not been changed, we recommend that you spend additional time on the written part (80 minutes). Moreover, the plan for the assignments is clarified, which can make the task of writing easier.

In my opinion, cars should not be allowed into the city centers as they add to pollution and poison the air we breathe. We must also think about the people who live in the center and suffer from the noise made by cars. Moreover, the streets in the center are usually narrow therefore people are often stuck in traffic for many hours and, as a result, arrive late at their destination. Final-ly, with ho cars in city centers, there would be no need for large ugly car parks, which would allow more space for parks. However, many people believe we would not be able to survive without cars because most of the products for shops and other businesses are transported by cars. Besides, they are afraid that public transport would be overloaded. I am sure it is possible to solve these problems by introducing a reliable high frequency tram service as well as developing the underground. As for goods, we could use electric vehicles for their delivery.

To sum up, I believe that a clean, reliable and environmentally friendly public service would encourage people to use public transport and help smooth the transition to a car-free zone.

Learning a foreign language is the best thing to do, learning it in the country where it is spoken. Do you agree

Nowadays people spend lots of money in order to go to an English-speaking country to improve their language skills. But is it really the most effective way of learning a language? In my view, studying in a foreign country has certain drawbacks. Firstly, this way is very expensive as the tuition fee for overseas students is rather high. Besides, when you study abroad, you have to adapt to a very different way of life, which can be quite stressful. What is more, English teachers do not speak Russian so if you don’t know English well, you will not understand their explanation.

It is often assumed that it is better to study a language abroad because you can always use it speaking with native speakers. However, I doubt that we will have lots of opportunities to speak abroad as we do not know many people there. It is also believed that Russian teachers are not as qualified as those in England. I totally disagree with this opinion because Russian teachers can compare two languages ​​and explain grammar rules better.

To sum up, I would argue that the best way to learn a language is to study it in your native country because you can always get the necessary help from your teachers. Moreover, today we have lots of opportunities to improve our skills such as communicating with English pen-friends over the Internet. I think that we should travel abroad so as to practice a language but not to study it.

Foreign languages. Nowadays 2-3 languages ​​are taught in schools. Pros and cons

Most people understand that without knowledge of foreign languages ​​it is difficult to survive in the modern world. Therefore they send their children to schools where they can study two or even three foreign languages. However, is it good to study several languages ​​simultaneously? On the one hand, foreign languages ​​are the main part of our culture so they help us to expand our outlook. We cannot broaden our minds if we see the world only from the perspective of our own culture. In addition, learning languages ​​is a good exercise for the intellect. Moreover, if pupils know at least one foreign language, they learn new languages ​​much faster. On the other hand, many pupils find it confusing to learn two or three languages ​​at a time, especially languages ​​that are similar, because children usually mix up lots of words. Besides, some languages ​​are tricky enough to learn. For example, in English there are more exceptions than rules. In this case, children can be overloaded with homework. More than that, some pupils do not know their native language well and learning several foreign languages ​​could prevent them from mastering their own language.

In conclusion, I want to say that learning languages ​​is extremely beneficial and I would like to know different foreign languages. However, I believe children should not learn too many languages ​​at the same time so as not to get confused. They ought to get a solid base in one language before they start learning a new one. 16. Internet. Pros and cons We live in the age of information technology and nowadays the Internet is nearly as common as the telephone. No doubt that it is a unique invention, which has influenced all areas of our lives. However, some people consider the Internet one of the greatest evils of our time. On the one hand, the Internet is very useful, because it lets us access a world of facts, figures and knowledge. In addition, with the Internet, it is now possible to speak to friends and relatives any-where in the world cheaply and quickly. Other services are also available through the Internet such as booking tickets or buying things. Moreover, the Internet allows a lot of talented people to show the world their achievements and makes it easier to find a job. On the other hand, the Internet can become a disaster for our society, because people spend hours in front of their computers and neglect their everyday duties. Another worry is the activities of cybercriminals. For example, hackers can steal your money or even your property while cyberterrorists may ‘attack’ the world’s computers, causing chaos, and making planes and trains crash. What is more, leaders of different terrorist or oppositional organizations can use the Internet to find new followers.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that despite the criticisms by some and the fears of others, the Internet seems to have changed our world to the better and we must try to make the best use of it.

Cloning. Pros and cons

Recent advances in genetic biology have led us to quite a doubtful situation. People all over the world argue whether human cloning research should be controlled by the government as solving problems connected with human cloning is definitely not a piece of cake. In my opinion, human cloning experiments are extremely dangerous because there are huge risks of abnormalities in human clones. Moreover, if clones have been made, they will obviously have serious psychological problems connected with their unusual birth. Finally, there is no doubt that human cloning will change our perception of what is the value of a human life as we might change from having children to manufacturing them. However, scientists claim that human cloning could be very beneficial as therapeutic cloning could provide stem cells for regenerative medicine and tissues for transplantation. Besides, re-productive cloning will probably give parents who are both infertile an opportunity to have children. I am afraid that this technology is not safe enough to use on humans. It is also possible that clones will age quicker since the cell used in the cloning procedure has already been used in a real life individual.

To sum up, we must question whether human cloning is really worth it when weighed against the problems it raises. From my point of view, human reproductive cloning should be under the tight control of the government and the UN because it is dangerous to interfere with nature and the consequences can be really disastrous.

Books or computers. Who will win in the future

The latest advances in information technology make people think that schools of the future will use computers instead of printed books. Although electronic books have not been widely accepted yet, they have certain advantages over traditional paper volumes. But will they be able to replace printed books? In my opinion, students will be widely using computers for studying in the future. To begin with, computers can store lots of books in their memory and modern software allows us to quickly find the necessary information. Besides, with the interactive programs on computers studying will be much more exciting. What is more, electronic books will not degrade overtime like their counterparts printed. On the other hand, lots of disbelievers argue that computers will not replace printed books because a printed book is better for human eyes than a computer screen. In addition, books are cheaper and easier to use since they do not need electricity or the Internet connection. I cannot agree with this because modern computer screens emit no radiation and allow us to read even in low light conditions. Of course we will have to pay for electricity but I think it will be cheaper than to pay for printed books, which are very expensive nowadays.

To sum up, I think computers and printed books will peacefully coexist for years to come, but in the future technological progress will make it possible for students to carry laptops or even palmtops instead of traditional bags with lots of heavy books.

Computer games. Pros and cons

People have always had different hobbies but technological progress has caused the appearance of computers and computer games, which can keep a child occupied for hours. However, adults consider computer games a complete waste of time. As for me, I believe computer games are more than mindless entertainment. To begin with, computer games can teach people to achieve their aims as they regularly put obstacles and traps in the way of players which are necessary to overcome in order to progress through the rest of the game. Additionally, computer games can be a valuable source of accidental learning that can be applied to school, home, and social events. Moreover, teachers have also started to appreciate educational games as an opportunity to make their lessons more exciting. Nevertheless, quite a few people are against this activity as they find it rather addictive and harmful for children’s health. They argue that computer games make students neglect their school work. However, if we learn to control our computer use and play games for an hour just to relax after a hard day at school, this will not do us any harm. What is more, modern technology made it possible to eliminate the bad effect of computers on our eyes.

To sum up, I believe that computer games have more advantages than drawbacks. They make us persistent, develop our logical reasoning and help us to escape from everyday problems. The thing is to find a right balance between virtual reality and everyday reality.

Space. Pros and cons of space exploration

Space exploration can mean a major leap for mankind. However, it is often criticized because the price for these space experiments is too high, especially while poverty still exists in many parts of the world. On the one hand, space research is extremely beneficial as it advances technology. As a result of this work, we have lots of inventions, which have made our lives much more comfortable. In addition, through the exploration of space, we could find new elements, minerals or even discover new laws of physics and eventually learn more about ourselves. What is more, space exploration will allow us to establish a human civilization on another planet as a hedge against the catastrophe that might occur on the Earth. On the other hand, the benefits of space exploration are not self-evident, no matter how real they are. It costs billions of dollars to fund the projects of space science whereas this money should rather be spent on meeting the needs of the underprivileged. Besides, some of the technology we develop through space science can be used in a destructive manner if it is in the wrong hands. Finally, a travel to space can be dangerous as we may discover something that is extremely harmful for the living beings on Earth.

To conclude, I want to say that space exploration satisfies the human desire for adventure therefore most people are interested in space research. Nevertheless, I believe our governments should find the right balance between social and space programs.