You should try to balance your essay by giving the other side of the argument.
Give the other side’s opinion, and then give YOUR opinion.

Give the other side

• Some people think that… (+ sentence)
• Many people feel that… (+ sentence)
• It is claimed that… (+ sentence)
• Some people feel that… (+ sentence)

Here are some examples.

Some people think that it is better to marry when you are young.

Many people feel that humans are the main cause of global warming.

It is claimed that newspapers are on the way out, and will be replaced by the Internet.

One sentence (While, although)

• While it is true that… (+ sentence), I believe… (+ sentence)
• Despite the fact that millions of people die every year from lung cancer, many people think it is cool to smoke.
• Although many people think that… (+ sentence), I feel that (+ sentence)
• Even though it is often said that… (+ sentence), in fact the opposite is true.

Here are some examples.

While it is true that humans are the main cause of global warming, I believe natural events such as volcanoes and fires contribute as well.

Although many people think that religion is not needed today, I feel strongly that we need to believe in something other than iPhones, celebrities and shiny new cars.

Even though it is often said that newspapers are on the way out, in fact the opposite is true. More newspapers are being sold today than ever before in history.

Two sentences

• It is undoubtedly true that…(+ sentence). However, (+ sentence)
• It is often argued that… (+ sentence). However, it is clear that (+ sentence)
• Some people say that… (+ sentence). They claim… (+ sentence). However, I feel (+ sentence).
• Supporters of this viewpoint say that… (+ sentence). However, more educated people know that (+ sentence).

Some examples

It is undoubtedly true that humans are the main cause of global warming. However, natural events such as volcanoes and fires contribute as well.

It is often argued that religion is not needed today. However, it is clear that humans need more than material possessions in order to be happy.

Some people say that democracy is only suited to western countries. However, I feel that this is patronizing, and that all people can enjoy the freedom and responsibility that democracy brings.

Supporters of this viewpoint say that violence on screen or in computer games leads to violent behavior. However, less simplistic people realize that violence on screen is just fantasy and does not translate into real life for most viewers.

What do you want to do now?

• Look at an example of an essay which gives both sides Should We Beat Our Children? (recommended)
• Look at another example: Education: Still Valuable! (The second paragraph has three examples of giving the other side.)
• Look at the Body of an essay
• Look at Conclusions
• Home