AVTC4_Unit 9
UNIT 9: Advantages-Disadvantages Essay (Type 1)
I. Pre-writing
1. What is an Advantages-Disadvantages Essay?
Advantages and disadvantages essays are among the most popular essay types in the IELTS
exam. When encountering this essay type, you have to write about the good and bad points of a
common situation or topic.
There are two different types of advantages and disadvantages essays requiring different
approaches. Here are the examples:
a. Type 1:
The advent of the Internet has made it possible for people to work from home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this professional arrangement?
b. Type 2:
In the future, all cars, buses, and trucks will be driverless. The only people traveling
inside these vehicles will be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
2. Patterns of Organizations
Type 1 Type 2
Introduction: (Paragraph 1) Introduction: (Paragraph 1)
• Topic: Paraphrase the question • Topic: Paraphrase the question
• Thesis statement (the essay • Thesis statement (state which one
discusses both advantages and outweighs the other)
disadvantages)
Body: Body:
Paragraph 2: Advantages Paragraph 2: Weaker side
• Topic sentence (1-2 advantages) • Topic sentence
• Explain the first advantage and • Provide examples/ other
provide examples/ other supporting details to clarify this
supporting details side
• Explain why it is not strong
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• Explain the second advantage and • Provide examples/ other
provide examples/ other supporting details
supporting details
Paragraph 3: Stronger side
Paragraph 3: Disadvantages • Topic sentence (1-2 advantages/
• Topic sentence (1-2 disadvantages)
disadvantages) • Explain the first advantage/
• Explain the first disadvantage and disadvantage and provide
provide examples/ other examples/ other supporting details
supporting details • Explain the second advantage/
• Explain the second disadvantage disadvantage and provide
and provide examples/ other examples/ other supporting details
supporting details
Conclusion: Conclusion:
• Restate thesis statement/ • Restate thesis statement/
Summarize the main ideas Summarize the main ideas
• Closing sentence (e.g., warning, • Closing sentence (e.g., warning,
prediction, a suggestion, etc.) prediction, a suggestion, etc.)
In this level, the focus is on Type 1 – students only discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of a topic.
3. Sample Essay
Topic:
The advent of the Internet has made it possible for people to work from home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this professional arrangement?
Sample Essay:
It is generally believe that the Internet has revolutionized the world in many ways. Therefore,
people find it easier and more convenient to work from home. This essay will analyze the
advantages and disadvantages that arise when a person lives and works in the same place.
There are several benefits of working from home. Firstly, it can save the expenses and long
hours people spend on commuting because travelling to work can be expensive and time-
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consuming. For example, I live about 15 km away from my company, and it usually takes me
about 40 minutes to one hour to get to work. Therefore, when I worked at home during the
COVID-19 pandemic, I saved about 2 hours of commuting and some gas money each day.
Secondly, this professional arrangement allows people to set up their own working schedules to
work more effectively. For instance, my co-worker realized that he is most productive at night.
Therefore, his productivity increased during the nights that he worked from home.
Nevertheless, working remotely may have significant disadvantages, such as causing mental
health issues and creating a poor work-life balance. First, when people work online, many find it
challenging to communicate with their colleagues. This may make them feel lonely, anxious,
and even depressed. Moreover, when turning their home into an office, people would also
experience an imbalance between their working and private lives. Furthermore, when turning
their home into an office, many people would also experience an imbalance between their
working and private lives. For instance, when I worked online, I had to constantly be on-call as
my co-workers contacted me day and night with their work-related problems. As a result,
sometimes, I just felt too overwhelmed and did not want to keep my job.
In conclusion, working remotely could bring about certain benefits, but its negative
consequences should not be overlooked. From my perspective, prospective remote workers
should carefully weigh their options before making a decision.
(323 words)
(Adapted from Ryan, H. (2017). IELTS Academic and General Task 2: How to write at a band 9 level [Ebook] (2nd ed.)
Task 1: Read the sample essay and answer the following questions.
1. What is the main topic of this essay?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. List two advantages of working from home that are provided in the sample essay.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. List two disadvantages of working from home that are provided in the sample essay.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4. List 4 transitions in the sample essay.
_________________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________________
5. List at least three phrases with the same meaning as "to work from home."
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Task 2: Outlining Practice.
Below is an outline for the sample essay. Some of the information is missing. Reread the essay
and complete the outline.
I. Introduction (Paragraph 1)
A. Topic: It is generally believe that the Internet has revolutionized the world in many
ways. Therefore, people find it easier and more convenient to work from home.
B. Thesis statement: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
II. Body
A. Paragraph 2 topic sentence: There are several benefits of working from home.
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a. Advantage 1: Firstly, it can save the expenses and long hours people spend on
commuting because travelling to work can be expensive and time-consuming.
Supporting Details: For example, I live about 15 km away from my company, and
it usually takes me about 40 minutes to one hour to get to work. Therefore, when I
worked at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I saved about 2 hours of
commuting and some gas money each day.
b. Advantage 2:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Supporting Details:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
B. Paragraph 3 topic sentence:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
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a. Disadvantage 1:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Supporting Details: This may make them feel lonely, anxious, and even
depressed.
b. Disadvantage 2: Moreover, when turning their home into an office, people
would also experience an imbalance between their working and private lives.
Supporting Details:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
III. Conclusion (Paragraph 4)
A. Restating thesis statement: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
B. Closing sentence: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. Language for Writing: Type 1
I. Introduction (Paragraph 1)
A. Topic:
▪ Nowadays/ Currently/These days, there has been a great increase in the number
of/ amount of + noun phrase.
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▪ It is generally believed/ universally acknowledged/ widely accepted that + clause.
▪ There is a growing concern about /interest in + noun phrase.
B. Thesis statement:
▪ This essay will examine the advantages and disadvantages of + noun phrase.
▪ This essay will analyze the advantages and disadvantages that arise when +
clause.
▪ This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this [trend/situation/…].
▪ This [trend/situation/…] would create certain benefits, but there will also be some
drawbacks.
▪ Although this offers some great benefits, it also has some drawbacks, which will
be discussed in this essay/ the following paragraphs.
II. Body
A. Advantages:
a. Topic sentence:
▪ (On the one hand,) there are several reasons why + topic (noun phrase) + is
beneficial.
▪ The main/obvious advantage(s) of + topic (noun phrase) + are + (noun
phrase).
b. Specific advantages:
▪ One major/main advantage (of + topic (noun phrase)) + is that …
▪ A further/ An additional advantage is that … (Second advantage).
▪ Furthermore/ Moreover/ In addition to this,/Additionally/Besides + clause
(Second advantage)
▪ Firstly/ Secondly…
B. Disadvantages:
a. Topic sentence:
▪ On the other hand/ However/ Nevertheless, there are a number of
disadvantages of + topic (noun phrase) + that people should take into
consideration.
▪ Topic (noun phrase) + has significant disadvantages/drawbacks, such as …
c. Specific disadvantages:
▪ One major/main disadvantage (of + topic (noun phrase)) + is that …
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▪ A further/ An additional disadvantage is that … (Second disadvantage)
▪ Furthermore/ Moreover/ In addition to this,/ Additionally/Besides + clause
(Second disadvantage)
▪ Firstly/ Secondly…
III. Conclusion:
▪ In conclusion, ...
▪ To conclude, ...
▪ To summarize, …
IV. Some synonyms of “advantages” and “disadvantages”:
▪ Advantages: benefit, strength, merit, upside, positive aspect, positive impact,
positive effect.
▪ Disadvantages: drawback, weakness, shortcoming, demerit, downside, negative
aspect, negative impact, negative effect, challenges, limitations.
5. Writing topic
With the rise of e-books comes the decline in paper books. Some people see this as a
good step forward while others do not.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?
Write a complete essay of at least 180 words
Task 1: Complete the following T-chart to brainstorm idea for the writing topic
above.
Advantages Disadvantages
