Advantages & Disadvantages Essays: Structure (IELTS Academic: Writing): Study Material

Advantages & disadvantages essays: structure

Introductions

• Keep your introduction short and simple

• You only need two sentences to give an overview of the essay 

Rephrasing the question

• Your first sentence should take the essay question and rewrite it using your own words

• Use synonyms and change the grammar of the essay question

• Do not copy the question exactly 

Example of a possible introductory sentence

• Essay question:

  • Many companies are now allowing their employees to work from home

• Paraphrase:

  • The shift toward remote work is one of the defining trends of the 21^st century

Expressing opinions

• The second sentence of your introduction is a topic sentence

• It should clearly state what you consider to be the advantages and disadvantages

• Give these points briefly – you will develop these in your body paragraphs

Example of expressing an opinion

• Essay question:

  • Many companies are now allowing their employees to work from home

• A possible opinion:

  • The shift toward remote work is one of the defining trends of the 21^st century. While this transition offers significant benefits in terms of flexibility and cost reduction for both employers and employees, it also presents challenges regarding social isolation and the blurring of professional boundaries

Body paragraphs

• You can use the same structure for both types of question

• A simple and effective way to organise your essay is to have one paragraph on advantages and one paragraph on disadvantages

• Two advantages / disadvantages per paragraph is enough

• It is better to go into depth and have two well-supported points than four unsupported points

• You could use the PEEL method to structure your paragraphs

  • P (Point): A clear topic sentence (e.g. “The two main advantages of working from home are...”)

  • E (Evidence/Explanation): Explain why this is an advantage

  • E (Example): Provide a specific real-world instance or study

  • L (Link): Connect it back to the essay question

Conclusions

• Your conclusion is your shortest paragraph

• Start with “In conclusion,” or “To conclude,” to signal the end of the essay

• Briefly restate the points you made in your body paragraphs

• Do not add any new information or you will lose marks