discussion essay topics bachillerato

Creative Resources for ESL/EFL Teachers

25 For and Against Essay Topics and Ideas that Double as Conversation Topics

25 for and against essay topics that can be also used for class debates.

For and against essay topics: layout.

• The first paragraph should be the introduction. Include a thesis statement, which summarises the main issue.

In the past, most people lived with their parents until they got married. But in the modern world, it is more common to leave home and share accommodation with friends. This choice has both positive and negative aspects.

• The second paragraph should focus on the advantages. Include at least two arguments, if possible. Give examples where appropriate, introduced by phrases like For example or For instanc e.

There are several advantages to sharing with friends. Firstly, it gives you the opportunity to spend time with your friends and to build strong relationships with them. Secondly, it allows you to develop some of the practical skills that you will need as an independent adult. For instance, you will learn how to manage household bills, how to shop and cook, and so on. And thirdly, it makes living in your own home more affordable, and the more people who share, the more cost-effective it is. For instance , a shared house for six people is far cheaper than two houses for three people.

• The third paragraph should focus on the disadvantages. Include at least two arguments, if possible. Begin the third paragraph with a phrase like On the other hand or Howeve r,.. to express contrast with statements in the previous paragraph.

On the other hand , sharing a home has its disadvantages. Sharing a house can often cause disagreements. For instance, housemates often argue about household chores. What is more, it can be difficult to have time alone when you need it. And finally, the houses which young people share are sometimes in poor condition and landlords are not always good at repairing appliances when they break down.

• The fourth paragraph should be the conclusion. State your own opinion and decide whether the arguments for outweigh the arguments against the thesis statement or the other way around.

Although sharing a house with other young people is not always easy, the advantages definitely outweigh the problems. It is certainly something I would like to do in a few years’ time.

Source: Solutions Upper-Intermediate

For and against essay topics

• Having a role model can affect someone negatively.
• Should dyed hairstyles be allowed in school?
• Can a bad upbringing be an excuse for a felony?
• Social media – a blessing or a curse?
• It’s possible to learn to love somebody.
• You don’t need a college degree to be successful.
• Your past does not define you.
• Does watching fantasy films affect our perception of reality?
• Should there be a mandatory number of trees per square kilometer?
• Should people older than 65 be able to be politicians?
• Should healthcare be state-owned or privatized?
• Is immortality a blessing or a curse?
• Is the sous-vide method of preparing meals worth trying?
• Should self-driving cars be illegal?
• Should sharing hoaxes and false information on the Internet be severely punished?
• Should students do a part-time job while they are still studying?
• Sessions with a therapist should be mandatory for kids and teens
• Every country in the world should ban cigarettes.
• Every country in the world should stop producing and selling plastic bags and bottles.
• Field trips to prisons should be mandatory to help lower the crime rate.
• Scientists should pair people up for marriage based on DNA.
• A new universal language should be taught in every school.
• Should universities be apolitical?
• Do orphans have the same opportunities to be successful as children from complete families?
• Should the state have more control over our privacy?

Download the worksheet.

Other resources:

Picture Prompts for Speaking and Writing: An ESL Activity

Storytelling Cards: Imaginative Speaking and Writing Activity

Questions for ESL Conversation: 60 Questions Based on Vogue Interviews

ESL/EFL Speaking Activity: Role Play Debate

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Comments (4)

I like the idea of essay topics that focus on the student’s own experiences. This can be a great way to show that the student has been thinking about the material and is not just reading about it.

Thank you 🙂

Thank you for this!! (emil du suger rövhål)

Excellent topics Helped me giving topics to students ……..

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OPINION ESSAY 1º BACHILLERATO

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SCHOOL YEAR 2020-2021

1º BACHILLERATO

GUIDE TO WRITING AN OPINION ESSAY

When we write an opinion essay, we express our opinion on a particular topic. We want to convince the reader that our view is the best.

opinion essay

PARAGRAPH 4: You restate your opinion using different words. Offer a solution or a warning.

INTRODUCTION

PARAGRAPH 1: You state the topic and your opinion clearly.

PARAGRAPH 2: Viewpoint 1 supported by your reasons.PARAGRAPH 3: Viewpoint 2 supported by your reasons

OPINION ESSAY

1. First, decide if you agree or disagree with the subject of the topic and make a list of your ideas: BRAINSTORMING.

POINTS TO CONSIDER

4. Use CONNECTORS throughout all your essay.

3. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence which summarizes what the paragraph is about.

2. Write well-developed paragraphs consisting on more than one sentence.

TO CONCLUDE: To sum up, All in all, All things considered, Taking everything into account.

TO EXPRESS OPINION: I believe, I feel, In my opinion, I think, In my view, I strongly believe, The way I see it, It seems to me (that).

TO INTRODUCE CONTRASTING VIEWPOINTS: It is argued that, People argue that, Opponents to this view say, There are people who oppose, Contrary to what most people believe, As opposed to the above ideas.

TO LIST POINTS: In the first place, first of all, to start with, Firstly, to begin with.TO ADD MORE POINTS: what is more, another major reason, also, furthermore, moreover, in addition to this/that, besides, apart from this, not to mention the fact that.

TO INTRODUCE EXAMPLES: for example, for instance, such as, in particular, especially.

CONCLUSION: Therefore, in conclusion, it is clear that this topic is food for thought but I have some reaseons to believe that_____________In conclusion, the issue of _____________ should be regarded as an important topic. CONNECTORS TO INTRODUCE CONCLUSION: In conclusion / In short / To sum up / In brief / Lastly / Finally / All things considered / On the whole / Taking everything into account, / As was previously started,

CONNECTORS TO LIST AND ADD POINTS: In the first place, / Secondly, / Thirdly, / In addition to this, / Moreover, / Furthermore, / Besides, / Finally, CONNECTORS TO INTRODUCE CAUSE: Because / Since / As / Seeing that / Due to / because of / Owing to / On account of CONNECTORS TO INTRODUCE RESULT: As a result, ... / Therefore / As a consequence / Consequently / For this reason, ...

OPENING: In my opinion, ____________ is one of the most important issues today. FOR GIVING OPINIONS: In fact, in my opinion... / It is clear to me that... / As I see it... / I personally believe that... / With this, I mean... / There are other reasons why I disagree with this statement. I think... / From my point of view...

introduction

Opinion essay recap

How to write a discussion essay

• September 21, 2023

A discussion essay, also called a controversial essay, is where you express your opinion about a topic. When writing one, 

• Cover both sides of the topic , present the key points that back your viewpoint and the opposing one.
• Ensure a multi-faceted understanding of the issues before presenting your own personal views and conclusions.

So let’s deeply explore the structure and components of a successful discussion paper.

Quick summary

• Carefully read and comprehend the essay prompt.
• Select a topic that leads to multiple viewpoints and debates.
• Begin with a clear introduction that includes a strong thesis statement.
• Discuss different viewpoints or/and arguments in separate body paragraphs.
• Maintain a balanced approach by presenting viewpoints fairly.
• Summarize the main ideas and restate your thesis statement , then end your essay.

Choose a controversial topic

Choosing a topic is the first step when starting your essay. When choosing a topic , make sure it is something that you are personally interested in as it will be easier for you to write.

Now let’s have a look at discussion essay topic examples. 

• Should Capital Punishment be Abolished?
• Is Genetic Engineering Ethical for Humans?
• Should Schools Implement Mandatory Vaccination Policies?
• Is Nuclear Energy a Viable Solution to the Energy Crisis?

After choosing the essay topic, you should create your outline to finish planning your essay.

Create an outline

The outline allows you to understand how to combine all the information and thesis statement to support claims of your essay.

Create a basic outline for your discussion essay. Start with a preliminary version of your thesis statement, main argument, opposing argument, and other main points.

Here is an outline example for a discussion essay.

Discussion essay outline example

Title: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

• Start with a strong and engaging opening.
• Introduce the topic and its relevance.
• Present the thesis statement that highlights the ethical considerations in AI integration in healthcare.
• Begin with a clear topic sentence about AI's role in diagnosis.
• Explain AI's superiority in analyzing medical data and images.
• Provide an example of AI detecting diseases early.
• Discuss concerns about the potential effects on human expertise.
• Introduce the focus on personalized treatment.
• Explain how AI can customize therapies based on individual data.
• Give an example of optimizing medical outcomes.
• Raise ethical issues about privacy, consent, and data security.
• Start with a topic sentence about accountability.
• Discuss the challenge of assigning blame in AI-related errors.
• Address the importance of unbiased AI algorithms.
• Mention the need for regulation and oversight.
• Restate the significance of the ethical landscape of AI in healthcare.
• Summarize the core points discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Reiterate the importance of balancing AI advancements with ethical considerations.
• End with a call to uphold ethical principles in the integration of AI in healthcare.

So now that you’ve seen an outline example, l et’s start writing your essay with an introduction.

Write your introduction

• Start with an attention-grabbing opening ( hook sentence ) that piques the reader's curiosity and encourages them to continue reading.
• Provide a brief background or context for the topic you'll be discussing.
• Seamlessly transition from the general to the specific focus of your essay. Guide the reader to understand what to expect from the essay.
• End your introduction with a strong and clear thesis statement.

Discussion essay introduction example

Introduction

Now that we have written our introduction, we can move on to the discussion parts.

Compose the body of your essay

Write down the main points of the body paragraphs of your discussion paper. A well-written body paragraph illustrates, justifies, and/or supports your thesis statement. When writing body paragraphs:

• Typically, present each issue separately and discuss both sides of the argument in an unbiased manner.
• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that transitions from the previous one to introduce the next topic.
• Start with your least convincing argument and work your way up to your strongest argument. This structure helps readers follow your logic consistently.
• Make sure your citation usage is consistent for each argument. If you cite three quotes that support your main argument, aim to use three quotes for the opposing view as well.

Discussion essay body paragraphs

Body Paragraph 1: Enhancing Diagnostics and Accuracy

Body Paragraph 2: Personalized Treatment and Privacy

Body Paragraph 3: Ethical Responsibility and Accountability

Now, let’s look at how to end your work.

Conclude your discussion essay

Writing a strong conclusion for a discussion essay is essential to leave a lasting impression on your readers and summarize the main points of your argument effectively. Here are the steps on how to write a good conclusion for your discussion paper:

• Begin your conclusion by restating your thesis statement in a slightly different way. This helps remind the reader of the main argument you've presented throughout the essay.
• Provide a brief summary of the key points you discussed in your essay.
• Emphasize the importance of the topic and the implications of your argument.

Things to avoid in conclusion

Let’s have a look at a conclusion example for a discussion essay..

Discussion essay conclusion example

Remember that a conclusion is your final opportunity to leave a strong impression, so make it memorable and impactful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a discussion essay different from other types of essays.

Unlike other common essays that might focus on presenting a single argument, a discussion essay presents multiple perspectives on a topic. It strives to remain neutral and balanced while analyzing different viewpoints.

Can I express my personal opinion in a discussion essay?

Yes, you can include your personal opinion, but it should be presented alongside other viewpoints. Your opinion should be supported by evidence and analysis, and you should strive for a balanced presentation.

Do I need to include counterarguments?

Yes, including counterarguments is essential in a discussion essay. Addressing opposing viewpoints demonstrates your understanding of the topic and strengthens your analysis.

How do I ensure a balanced presentation of viewpoints?

Present each viewpoint objectively and support it with evidence. Give equal attention to different perspectives and avoid using biased language.

How can I transition between different viewpoints in my essay?

Use transitional words and phrases like “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in contrast” to smoothly guide readers between paragraphs and viewpoints.

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An opinion essay- 2 bachillerato- hand in.

1 comentario:

Thanks a lot. I will

How To Write A Discussion Essay

One of the first things you should do is read the marking criteria  to see what the examiners expect. This is really important, as you need to know what they are looking for in the band 7+ boxes. 

If you would like to purchase a 34  page PDF download that is easy to read and print out please take a look at the bookshop >

WRITING TASK 2 Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion Essay STRUCTURE

TIP >>  It is very important that spend a full 40 minutes on this task as the score you get for writing task 2 is two-thirds of your total writing score. You also need to write a minimum of 250 words and use your own ideas. 

IT IS A 5-PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE >>

This is the introduction to the essay and where you should start off by paraphrasing the question. 

This means that you rewrite the question in your own words using synonyms. You can’t just copy the question again or use the same words in the question. Paraphrase and show off your vocabulary knowledge by using synonyms. When practising your essay writing, use an online thesaurus  to help you. This is a great tool and can help you to learn many new words.

The last sentence in the introduction should outline for the examiner exactly what you will discuss in the main body paragraphs. For example, ‘ this essay will discuss both views and state my own position’.

There are three sentences you need in the introduction >>

The example you give could be something from your own experience or made up – it is ok to make up something as the examiners will not fact check your information. They want to see your ability to use English at a certain level. You could make up an example from a report, journal, newspaper or University study to support your view. 

EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION >>

Sequencing ideas >>, sample discuss both points of view and give your own opinion essay >>.

Thirdly, in my opinion, I believe that the internet can bring people closer together, as it can make both socialising and work much easier for those who travel. Communities can speak freely at any time, in groups, asking for help or advice, though it is up to the individuals to acknowledge how much time they are spending online and whether this is a cause for concern. Isolation cannot be blamed on the internet, as it is just a tool to use, the individual must be in charge of their own time. For example, a person who works from home online for many hours in the day should make sure they have adequate breaks and make time for socialising, as to not feel isolated or removed from their own community.   

WRITING TASK 2 BAND SCORE 9 CRITERIA >>

Related posts, society: ielts discussion essay model answer., ielts discussion essay sample 2 – economics, leave a comment cancel reply.

MY TEACHER ONLINE

Free english language resources.

2º BACHILLERATO. Práctica y Modelos de Examen PAU/EBAU Inglés.

1. parts and useful expressions.

1.1. How to HOW TO WRITE A COMPOSITION

1.2.   How to write a   GOOD INTR ODUCTION

1.3. Writing CONNECTORS

1.4. Common MISTAKES in writing

1.5.   Grammar, Vocabulary and Writing Skills . REVIEW .

2.  TYPES OF WRITINGS.

FOR & AGAINST / OPINION

• Opinion vs For&Against (Basic)
• OPINION&FOR AND AGAINST COMPOSITION
• Advantages and Disadvantages of living in a foreign country.
• EXTRA _ For and Against. Advanced
• ***AN OPINION COMPOSITION. Plantilla/Template
• ***Opinion Essay Instructions and Sample Advanced.
• *Which qualities are the most important in a relationship? AN OPINION COMPOSITION
• Opinion Compositions

     1. A Narrative Composition

    2. Narrative Expressions

II. VOCABULARY

Over to you 2. spanishwordlist pdf., 2.1. climate change/environment/global warming, 2.2. technology  , 2.3. clothes & fashion, 2.4. relationships vocabulary, 2.5. personality, 2.6. improve your vocabulary on health,       -health,       1-health essay on health                  2.essay on health,       – how are deseases transmitted, 2.7. being bilingual,        -want a truly-expanding experience learn another language .,        – the benefits of being bilingual,        – learning a language, more links to improve your cocabulary, all topics 1, all topics 2. speaking context.

Phrasal Verbs 1

Phrasal Verbs 2

III. EXTRA PRACTICE

     *** 2bto-answer key to extra practice. over to you worksheets. respuestas a las fichas de apoyo del libro., links para practicar online, -elige tema gramatical y practica online. autocorrección., – más ejercicios de inglés online, – keep calm and revise your grammar.

Grammar Revision.

• grammar_unit_1_1star
• grammar_unit_1_2star
• grammar_unit_1_3star

Vocabulary Revision.

• vocabulary_unit_1_1star
• vocabulary_unit_1_2star
• vocabulary_unit_1_3star

GRAMMAR: Relative Clauses

• Click here to read the Spanish explanation:  Relative Clauses EXPLANATION

Activities:

• grammar_unit_2_1star
• grammar_unit_2_2star
• grammar_unit_2_3star
• Relative clauses activities with answers.  (Done in class)
• Relative clauses  by Performace, with ANSWER KEY.

VOCABULARY:

• vocabulary_unit_2_1star
• vocabulary_unit_2_2star
• vocabulary_unit_2_3star

GRAMMAR: Modal Verbs & Modal Perfects.

• Explanation:  MODAL VERBS I
• Explanation:  MODAL VERBS II – Modal Perfects
• grammar_unit_3_1star
• grammar_unit_3_2star
• grammar_unit_3_3star
• Modal perfects .
• Simple and Perfect Modals .
• Modal verbs  by Performance, with ANSWER KEY.
• Online activities:  Activity 1 ,  Activity 2 ,  Activity 3 ,  Activity 4 .

VOCABULARY: Crime and Justice.

• vocabulary_unit_3_1star
• vocabulary_unit_3_2star
• vocabulary_unit_3_3star

OVER TO YOU 2 EXTRA ACTIVITIES

• grammar_unit_4_1star
• grammar_unit_4_2star
• grammar_unit_4_3star

VOCABULARY UNIT 4

vocabulary_unit_4_ 1star     /    vocabulary_unit_4_2star   /   vocabulary_unit_4_3star

ACTIVE or PASSIVE VOICE?

• The Passive EXPLANATION & activities
• Passive Voice activities
• Passive mixed tenses activities wirh answers

IMPERSONAL PASSIVE

• Impersonal Passive Explanation
• Impersonal passive 2

THE CAUSATIVE: Get/Have something DONE

• CAUSATIVE PASSIVE EXPLANATION AND EXERCISES
• Causative 1
• Causative 2

VOCABULARY REVISION 5

• vocabulary_unit_5_1star
• vocabulary_unit_5_2star
• vocabulary_unit_5_3star

GRAMMAR ACTIVITIES

• grammar_unit_5_1star
• grammar_unit_5_2star
• grammar_unit_5_3star

READING AND WRITING

Reading and Writing Unit 5 (Only Page 74).

CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

• Ejercicios Inglés Online- Conditionals.
• Ejercicios Inglés Online-PDF&Answer Key
• Más Ejercicios de la Condicional Autocorrección. 
• Ejercicios Resueltos Condicionales con Comentarios y Traducción.
• All Conditionals. Ejercicios Resueltos y Comentarios.
• Conditional 1 and 2. Comentario y Traducción.
• Conditional 2. Comentario y Traducción
• Conditional 3. Comentario y Traducción .
• Mixed Conditionals 2. Key

IF ONLY / I WISH

• If only-I wish 1
• I-WISH-IF-ONLY
• III Conditional-I wish-If only
• vocabulary_unit_6_1star
• vocabulary_unit_6_2star
• vocabulary_unit_6_3star

Reported Speech explanation:  Reported speech

• grammar_unit_6_1star
• grammar_unit_6_2star
• grammar_unit_6_3star
• Reported_Statements_and_Questions
• Reported_Statements_and_Questions_2
• Reported Speech  (by Performance2)
• GERUNDIOS E INFINITIVOS
• Gerunds and Infinitives. Confusing Verbs.
• Gerunds and Infinitives

THEORY (GRAMMAR)

• Explicaciones gramaticales. Ejercicios Inglés Online . Curso completo
• 2 BTO – CURSO COMPLETO GRAMÁTICA/ COMPLETE COURSE 2nd Baccalaureate
• Gerunds and Infinitives/ Gerundios e Infinitivos
• THE PASSIVE VOICE
• Reporting Verbs
• 1 BTO-Gramática Curso Completo (Recupera la asignatura de 1 BTO)

IV. MODELOS DE EXAMEN PAU INGLÉS & CORRECCIONES. PRÁCTICA ONLINE

• ACTAS 2019. VALÈNCIA
• P ruebas de Acceso de otros años.

***PRACTICE ONLINE (PŔACTICA ONLINE DE LA REDACCIÓN)

• ***Selectividad- Ejercicios Resueltos ( True/False -Write in your own words- Synonyms – Complete the sentences – SHORT COMPOSITION – Use of English)
• El blog para preparar el WRITING de la EOI. Válido para las PAU. Banco Léxico. (Buscar en el índice de la izquiera en Banco Léxico)
• ***Smart Words and Meanings. Synonyms
• ***Sample Writings and Translation

MORE DOCUMENTS ON CONNECTORS and parts of a  WRITING

• Partes de un Essay/Composition
• Resumen breve en Inglés-GUIDELINE-TO-COMPOSITION-WRITING (SOLO EN INGLÉS)
• ESSAY WRITING-Connectors and useful   expressions (INGLÉS-CASTELLANO)
• Transitional Words to Aid in Composition (INGLÉS-CASTELLANO)

MODELOS DE WR ITING

Los links que se citan a continuación contienen ideas que te pueden ayudar a ampliar tu bagaje cultural o nivel léxico y gramatical. No obstante, observarás que exceden o no llegan al número de palabras exigidos en las PAU, así como tampoco presentan un uso de conectores tal y como exige la redacción en las pruebas de acceso.

The links listed below contain ideas that can help you broaden your cultural knowledge as well as your lexical and grammatical level. However, you will realize that they exceed or do not reach the number of words required in the PAU, nor do they present a use of connectors as required by the university entrance exam (PAU).

• VARIEDAD DE MODELOS DE SHORT COMPOSITION-PAU.
• MODELOS DE REDACCIÓN POR TEMAS
• MODELOS DE REDACCIÓN
• ADVANTAGES&DISADVANTAGES
• *** Writing Samples and Translation. Redacciones Modelo para Writing&Traducción
• Reading 2 Bachillerato (Level 2)
• Answer to Reading Level 2

VI. CHRISTMAS HOMEWORK

——————————————————————————————————————–

FIRST YEAR FACULTY OF EDUCATION. (Subject: English as a Second Language)

B1-b2 photocopiable material, b1- rewrite english test., b2 – all skills practice, a simple formula for organizing agree/disagree essays.

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Digital tools and ideas to transform education.

“ If you are not willing to learn, nobody can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you” – unknown author.

• Timesaver: Repository of writing prompts for every essay type
• Six amazing websites that make your writing stronger
• Grammar and vocabulary checklist
• EOI Oviedo writing bank
• Video: writing tips from the British Council
• The writing process and 13 tips to raise your essay score
• The Writing Process
• 200 prompts for argumentative writing
• 101 topics to write about in your articles
• A website with 346 writing prompts to ignite your creativity
• Questions for writing and discussion
• 100 IELTS essay questions
• Creative writing prompts
• 301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing
• Error Awareness Chart
• Spice up your lessons with the Russian Roulette
• While and whereas
• Connectors of contrast – Exercise One , Exercise Two, 
• Clauses of purpose. Exercise One , Exercise two, Exercise 3
• Linking words: and, but, also, however
• Discourse Makers: 1

ELEMENTARY  A1, A2

• Stretching a Sentence
• Capital Letters
• Physical Description

INTERMEDIATE B1

• Writing a Summary

OPINION ESSAYS

• 5 steps to writing an excellent opinion essay
• Writing an Opinion Essay PDF
• Useful Expressions and Linkers
• An Opinion Essay . Presentation
• An Opinion Essay: Students’ Essays
• Opinion Essays: Topics to choose from
• An opinion essay about fast food: Example (British Council)

INFORMAL EMAILS

• An Informal Email
• An informal email pdf
• An informal  email to a friend: sample
• Informal email. Invitation: sample
• You have an email: an interactive writing activity

BOOK AND FILM REVIEWS

• A Book Review.
• Nice stuff to use for evaluating compulsory reading
• A Film Review
• Six Steps to Writing a Good Book Review . Pdf

NARRATIVE AND STORYTELLING

• Working with Adjectives: Moving Up from ” I Made Tea” to” I made myself a nice, hot sandwich of low-fat blue cheese because I was starving”
• Writing Activity with relative sentences
• Collaborative  Writing activity with Simple Past/Past Continuous/Past Perfect
• Game: storytelling to practise narrative tenses
• Telling Stories: sequencing your ideas
• Task: Writing a Narrative
• Task: Dressed to Kill
• Improving your Writing Skills
• Spice up your writing with the Noun Roulette

UPPER-INTERMEDIATE B2

FORMAL EMAILS

• A Formal Email : asking for information about a course
• A formal letter  (ppt).   Layout and guided application letter
• Formal Letters. > Tips >Exercise 1
• Formal and Informal language Exercise
• Formal/semi-formal pdf
• CV templates
• 6 steps to getting a job: How to write a cover letter and a résumé
• Complaint letter: Paragraphs and examples
• Complaint letter: Opening lines
• Complaint letter: Fill in the gaps
• Complaint letter: Fill in the gaps with the right tense
• Complaint Letter: model
• Some  Common Mistakes 1
• Creative Writing: using Wordle
• Writing a report template

FOR AND AGAINST ESSAY

• 5 steps to writing a good For and Against essay
• A For and Against Essay
• A for and against task. Example
• Collaborative Writing: Tourism
• Collaborative Writing Activity: Writing an Article

ADVANCED – C1

• A short writing descriptive activity using pasta 
• How to write an article: some visual help
• Improving writing  with the noun roulette
• Fi lm review example
• Writing a report
• Graphs and Charts (by María Fernández). Saying Numbers Quiz (by Paula G. Cernadas)
• How to describe a bar chart with model answer
• How to write a C1 Opinion Essay
• Formal language: Exercise 1, Exercise 2 , Exercise 3 ,
• Formal and informal language Quizlet
• Indirect questions in formal letters/emails: Exercise 1
• Formal Email/letter: Cover Letter

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20 English Essay Topics/Questions | B2 First (FCE)

The language of an English essay should be formal . Also, make sure that you justify all your ideas and that you use appropriate connectors to link your sentences and paragraphs .

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B2 First (FCE) Essay: Example Topics / Questions

Below is a sample list of academic essay writing topics/tasks for B2-level (intermediate) students. You can use them to practice writing English essays or to prepare for the Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 1 | First (FCE)

You have watched a documentary about young children in poor areas who leave school to work. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view.

Teenagers are dropping out of school to find a job. How can we help them to continue their education?

Write about:

• family problems
• financial difficulties
• …………… (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 2 | First (FCE)

In your social studies course, you have watched a documentary on the potential effects of too much pollution on the air quality of city centres. Your professor has assigned you an essay to write.

Keeping the air quality in city centres at healthy levels for their residents is a concern for many places. How can we solve the problem of pollution in city centres?

• automobiles
• ………………  (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 3 | First (FCE)

In your education class, you have listened to a lecture on the importance of teaching foreign languages in school. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Learning a foreign language helps students develop a set of important skills. Why should foreign languages be taught in schools?

• new cultures
•  employment
• …………. (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 4 | First (FCE)

You have listened to a radio programme about the problem of widespread starvation in many parts of Africa. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

In many parts of Africa, people are dying of starvation and lack of freshwater. Can these problems be solved?

• lack of organised farming
• …….. …….. (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 5 | First (FCE)

You have watched a video on a non-profit organisation working to stop the use of animals for testing medicines used by human beings. Now, your professor has asked you to write an essay.

Testing on animals is a standard in scientific research. What is the best way to deal with this problem?

• animals suffer
• outdated form of research
• …… ……..  (your own idea)

Get Your (FCE) Essay Checked!

B2 - essay topic / question 6 | first (fce).

You have listened to a radio programme about deforestation, the cutting down of trees in many wild areas around the world. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Many forests around the world are being destroyed for agricultural, commercial, or housing use without allowing time for the forests to regenerate themselves. What can be done to improve the situation?

• what contributes to the greenhouse effect
• ………. (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 7 | First (FCE)

In your English class, you have been talking about endangered species, animals or plants that will likely become extinct. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Around the world, many wildlife species are in danger of extinction. How can we protect endangered animals?

• hunting wild animals
• ………..  (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 8 | First (FCE)

You have watched a Youtube video about the problem of computer game addiction in children. Your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

More and more young people spend most of their time playing computer games. How can we help children to overcome this addiction?

• bad grades at school
• no social life
• ………… (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 9 | First (FCE)

You have listened to a radio programme about the impact of smoking on people’s health. Now, your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Smoking is responsible for many health problems throughout the world. Do you think it should be made illegal?

• lung cancer
•  passive smoking
• ……………… (your own idea)

FCE, CAE, CPE

More than practice tests, b2 - essay topic / question 10 | first (fce).

In your English class, you have been talking about the problem of obesity in young people. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.

In Europe and the USA a lot of young people have an obesity problem. What can be done to solve this problem?

• (your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 11 | First (FCE)

Has technology made a positive contribution to sport today?

• The use of technology to improve performance
• The use of technology in refereeing decisions

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 12 | First (FCE)

It is better to work at home than in an office. Do you agree?

• Contact with people
• Working hours

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 13 | First (FCE)

Life is harder for young people now than in the past. Do you agree?

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 14 | First (FCE)

Is it better to go shopping in small local businesses or large out-of-town shopping centres?

• Where things are cheaper
• Where service is better

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 15 | First (FCE)

Is it better to spend a summer holiday in the countryside or on the coast?

• Leisure options

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 16 | First (FCE)

Your teacher has asked you to write your response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:

Do you agree that community service works better than fines?

• effort and time
• lesson learned
• ………………(your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 17 | First (FCE)

Is it true that we help the environment when we plant a tree?

• clear the air
•  ………….( your own idea)

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 18 | First (FCE)

Nowadays children are suffering from obesity, that was once considered to be meant for adults only. What are its causes and what solutions can be offered?

• busy lifestyle

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 19 | First (FCE)

Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family?

• role of older sibling

B2 - Essay Topic / Question 20 | First (FCE)

Modern lifestyles can seriously endanger our health.

Do you agree?

• physical activity
• …….. (your own choice)

B2 First (FCE) Essay: Download (PDF)

Download B2 First (FCE) Essay: Topics (PDF)

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B2 first (fce) essay: assessement criteria.

Your essay will be assessed according to these four criteria:

What is your level of English?

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IELTS Discussion Essay Sample Questions

Below is a list of IELTS discussion essay sample questions for IELTS writing task 2. These are also known as two sided essays.

Discussion Essay Tips

• identify both sides
• find supporting points for both side
• only give your opinion if the task asks for it
• use discussion essay language
• follow a safe discussion essay model

Discussion Essay Questions

Some people think that environmental problems should be solved on a global scale while others believe it is better to deal with them nationally. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

All parents want the best opportunities for their children. There are some people who think that schools should teach children skills but others think having a range of subjects is better for a children’s future. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

There seems to be an increasing number of serious crimes committed each year. While some think the best way is to use the death penalty as a deterrent, many people believe that other measures will be needed. Discuss both sides.

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion. CLICK HERE: MODEL ESSAY ANSWER

Some people think that exercise is the key to health, while others feel that having a balanced diet is more important. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

It is thought by some that its is better to live in a city, while others  believe that life is better in the countryside. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Some people think that the internet has brought people closer together, while others think that people and communities are become more isolated. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

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TOPICS FOR WRITING IN SELECTIVIDAD

• Would you like to become famous and appear on TV?
• Do you think school life is stressful? Explain.
• Tell a story, tale or legend that you know. Give it a title.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of going to university?
• Could you live for four weeks without television, the Internet, video games or your mobile? Explain.
• Would you live in a foreign country? Explain why.
• Do you think learning other languages is important nowadays? Why?
• Gossip and yellow journalism in the Spanish media. Give your opinion.
• Do animals contribute to make our lives easier or better? Explain.
• Some British and American traditions have become popular in Spain nowadays. Discuss.
• Advantages and disadvantages of eating fast food. Discuss.
• Discuss the importance and problems of animals in modern urban societies.
• What experiences would you like to live before you are old, and why?
• Which invention or inventions have changed the world the most and why?
• Where would you like to travel? Give reasons.
• What kind of prize would you like to win? Explain.
• How could you contribute to a time bank or any other volunteering project?
• Computers, mobile phones, game consoles..., what is your favourite technological device? Why?
• Describe your ideal husband, wife, or partner.
• Write about something funny that happened to you or someone you know.
• Do you think some sports are better than others? Why?
• What is your favourite celebration of the year? Why?
• What do you think are the most important things in life? Why?
• Does money bring happiness? Discuss.
• What are your favourite free time activities?
• Describe your experience at high school.
• Would you like to be famous? Give reasons.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using mobile devices at school.
• Do you like mystery stories? Discuss (explain why, or summarise one of these stories).
• “I spent some of the best days of my life at school”. Is that true for you?
• “School violence is a serious problem in schools”. Discuss.
• ”Everybody should have the right to enjoy medical insurance no matter their financial status.” Discuss.
• What do you think you could do in your daily routine to have a healthy lifestyle?
• Do you think genetic research is good or bad for humanity? “The Spanish Government should invest more money in scientific research.” Discuss
• What would you do to help poor people in your country?
• Western countries should help the developing third world. Discuss.
• How good is public transport where you live? Explain.
• Advantages and disadvantages of making city centres pedestrian areas.
• “Weather changes greatly affect people’s lives.” Discuss.
• What would your ideal weather be like?
• Would you mind having your children after fifty? Give reasons.
•   ”Young people nowadays don’t want to have children.” Discuss.
• Would you like to go to Africa and help people there? Give reasons.
• “The first world should contribute to finding a solution to Africa’s problems”. Discuss.
• What changes have new technologies brought to your life?
• How has medicine changed in the last decades?
• There is no agreement on how governments should spend public money: education, health, culture,
• environment, etc. Give your own opinion.
•   How can you contribute to preserving the environment in your daily routine?
• “Old people should live in residential homes.” Discuss.
• If you had to do some work in social care, who would you like to take care of? Give reasons.

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How To Plan & Write IELTS Discussion Essays

Students can find it difficult to identify IELTS discussion essays and often confuse them with either opinion essays or advantage and disadvantage essays.

This is one of the issues I’ll be covering in this lesson. I’m also going to show you how to plan and write discussion essays step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• Identifying IELTS discussion essays 
• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Want to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS discussion essay will be a statement containing two opposing views.

You will then be asked to discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• Discuss both views and give your opinion. 
• Discuss both these views and then give your own opinion. 
• Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS discussion essay.

The key to identifying this type of question is the fact that you are required to discuss BOTH views. This is different to opinion questions where you must decide between two opposing views and make an argument to support your own opinion.

Opinion essays , also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, a generally worded in one of these ways:

What is your opinion? / Do you agree or disagree? / To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The other essay type that students mistake for discussion essays is advantages and disadvantages essays . With these, the statement will contain just one view and the question will typically be written as shown in this sample question.

School children are using computers in school more than ever.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion.

The consequence of incorrectly identifying the question type is that you will use the wrong structure for your essay. This is a major reason why people make the mistakes we’ll now look at.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS discussion essays.

• Not stating your opinion.
• Not giving arguments for both views.
• Not developing both sides of the argument equally.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving their opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument to agree with. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you actually agree with it.

However, you must give equal attention to both sides. A common error is to provide a stronger argument for the view you favour. This leads to an unbalanced essay and a low score for task achievement. 

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write IELTS discussion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• State two supporting reasons
• Give your opinion

  2)  Main body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with
• Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
• Example – give an example

 3 )  Main body paragraph 2

• Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with

  4)  Conclusion

• Summarise the key points and state your opinion

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Discussion Essays

# 1  analyse the question.

This is an essential step in the planning process and will ensure that you answer the question fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

1. Topic words

2.  Other keywords

3.  Instruction words

We’ve already considered the instruction words (the actual question) so we’ll focus on the first two.

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question.

Some people think that zoos  are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that  zoos  can be useful in protecting wild animals.

So, this question is about ‘ zoos ’.

Many people do this first step of the process and then write about the topic in general. This is a serious mistake and leads to low marks for task achievement.

What we need to do now that we know the general topic, is to understand exactly what aspect of zoos we're being asked to write about.

The other keywords in the question tell you the specific topic you must write about. They define the opinions stated in the statement.

Some people think tha t zoos are cruel and should be closed down . Others, however, believe that zoos c an be useful in protecting wild animals .

By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the opposing views that zoos are cruel and should be closed down and that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Your essay must only include ideas relevant to these ideas.

# 2  Decide on your opinion

As already mentioned, it doesn’t matter if you genuinely agree with the view you take in your essay or not. IELTS discussion essays are about your ability to write a well-structured essay in the English language and you will not be assessed on any opinion you might hold.

So, choose one view and make sure that your opinion is clear throughout the essay.

For this model essay, I’m going to agree with the statement that zoos are cruel and should be closed down.

# 3  Generate ideas

The next task is to generate some ideas to write about.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

We’re going to use the ‘friends technique’. This is my preferred method as it allows you to take a step back from the stress of the exam situation and think more calmly.

Here’s how it works. Imagine you are chatting with a friend and they ask you the question in a casual conversation. What answers would you give them off the top of your head? Plan your essay around these ideas.

Doing this will help you to come up with simple answers in everyday language rather than straining your brain to think of amazing ideas using high level-language, which isn’t necessary.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my ideas:

Cruel  – closed down:

• Cramped cages – animals distressed
• Unnatural environments
• Most animals not endangered
• Animals become a public spectacle for entertainment

Useful – protect wild animals:

• Research work to learn more about wild animals
• Breeding programmes for endangered species
• Some species saved from extinction
• Seeing wild animals close up inspires people to want to help protect them

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1  –  Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

Idea 2  –  Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS discussion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 4  Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

zoos  – animals in captivity, collections of wild animals, menagerie, wildlife park

cruel  – to cause suffering, inhumane

protect  – safeguard, preserve

animals  – creatures, species

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

Good introductions to IELTS discussion essays have a simple 3 part structure:

1)  Paraphrase the question

2)  State two supporting reasons (outline statement)

3)  Give your opinion (thesis statement)

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

Question:   Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others, however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals.

There are various phrases you can use to do this. Here are three examples. They all say the same thing using different language.

• Some people argue that… while others say that…
• It is considered by some…. while there are others who think….
• It is often argued that... whilst others disagree and think...

Choose one and add the details in the question statement in a paraphrased form. I recommend putting the view you don’t agree with first.

Paraphrased question:  

Some people argue that zoos help to preserve wild creatures, while others say that they are inhumane and should be abolished.

Note my use of synonyms. You don’t have to replace every key word but do so where possible whilst ensuring that your language sounds natural. There aren’t any suitable synonyms of ‘zoo’ that I can think of, so I've repeated this word from the statement.

2)  Thesis and outline statements

Now we need to add an  outline statement  where you outline the two main points that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay (ideas 1 and 2 above) and a  thesis statement  where you state your opinion.

Outline & thesis statements:

While the development of breeding programmes contributes to the preservation of endangered species, I believe that the poor conditions that many animals held in captivity are kept in make the existence of zoos unacceptable. 

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – Breeding programmes for endangered species, some species saved from extinction.

Main body paragraph 2  – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS discussion essays should contain 3 things:

It is easier to begin by discussing the opinion you don’t agree with and then present the reasons for the opposing view that you support. So, we’ll start with idea 1.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Topic sentence:  

On the one hand, there are many projects in existence in zoological parks around the world where species facing extinction have been successfully bred in captivity and their numbers increased substantially.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence that expands on the idea. This explains to the examiner what we mean or why this is the case.

Explanation sentence: 

This is important for ensuring the survival of animals under threat from poaching and the destruction of their natural environments.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

A good example of this is the golden lion tamarin from Brazil which nearly died out because of logging and mining activities which are destroying its habitat. Today, a third of wild golden lion tamarins were raised in captivity.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2  – Cramped cages & unnatural environments, animals distressed.

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea. I started main body paragraph 1 with the phrase ‘On the one hand...’, so main body paragraph 2 will naturally begin, ‘On the other hand... .

These are great cohesive devices to use when making a direct contrast between two opposing views and they link the ideas together well. They can be used in most IELTS discussion essays and will help to earn you a good score for cohesion and coherence.

Topic sentence:

On the other hand, a significant percentage of zoos house their animals in cramped cages with very little space to move around or behave naturally.

Now for the  explanation sentence  where we expand on this idea.

Explanation sentence:

This can lead to them becoming distressed and depressed as well as suffering physically through lack of exercise.

Finally, an  example  to support this point.

A friend of mine recently visited a wildlife park while on holiday abroad and was very upset to see the lions pacing up and down in a narrow, bare pen and eagles in enclosures so small that they were unable to fly.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS discussion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS discussion essays should do two things:

• Summarise the main points
• State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you're below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add a prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 231 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS discussion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS discussion essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

Finished IELTS discussion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS discussion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

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More help with ielts discussion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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Discussion Topics for Agreeing & Disagreeing (ESL)

These are conversation topics I have used to create discussion in my ESL class. They could also be used as speaking topics for speeches . These speaking topics go well with activities to practice giving opinions (agreeing, disagreeing, interrupting, and changing the topic). For a few activities for agreeing and disagreeing, visit here .

If you are looking for discussion questions, I have created a   longer list   (containing similar ideas) on the conversation questions page .

General Topics for Discussion or Speeches

• English is easy to learn.
• Money is more important than love.
• Students should be required to study English in elementary school.
• Violence is sometimes necessary.
• Personality is more important than beauty.
• People who live in apartments shouldn't own pets.
• No job is perfect.
• Everyone is good at something.
• We are not alone in the universe.
• Life was better 20 years ago.
• The most important thing about a job is the salary.
• You can know a lot about a person from the clothes he or she wears.
• Teachers should be able to use physical punishment.
• Global warming isn't real.
• There are actions we can take to stop global warming.
• There are no such things as ghosts.
• Everyone has the right to have an opinion even if the opinion is false according to well-known facts.
• People get offended too easily nowadays.
• What goes around comes around. (If you do good, good will come to you / If you do bad, bad things will happen to you.)
• Parents should never hit their children.
• Table manners and etiquette have become less important in the 21st century.

Crime Discussion/Speech Topics

• Smoking marijuana should be legal.
• Police officers should not carry guns.
• Criminals who take a life (kill someone) should spend their entire life behind bars.
• Graffiti is art, not crime.
• Prisoners are sent to jail to be reeducated.

Gender Issues Discussion/Speech Topics

• Men should open doors for women.
• Men and women can never really be equal.
• Women are better at teaching children than men are.
• Men are smarter than women.
• Companies should have quotas on their executive boards to make them 50% female.
• At a bar, men should initiate conversation with women (and not the other way around).

Health Discussion/Speech Topics

• People who get plastic surgery usually look worse later in life.
• Nowadays, people are too dependent on medicine.
• This country's healthcare system needs a lot of improvement.
• If you feel unwell, you should go to the doctor.
• Western medicine is more effective than Eastern medicine.
• People who use acupuncture are crazy.
• People should be more concerned about their health.
• Beauty products, vitamins, and mineral supplements generally provide the benefits they promise.
• Home remedies can be just as useful as medicine from a pharmacy.
• Obesity is a disease.
• Humans shouldn't drink the milk of other animals such as cows.
• There should be an extra tax on unhealthy food.
• Worrying about cancer can give you cancer.

Politics Discussion/Speech Topics

• Life would be better without government or rules.
• People should be able to criticize the government.
• The government has the right to monitor phone calls and e-mails.
• The government should increase environmental regulations on businesses.
• Women should be allowed to wear a niqab (or face veil) to civic ceremonies.
• We should tax the rich to help the poor.
• New Canadians who become terrorists should lose their citizenship and be sent back to where they came from.
• The government should be stricter on immigration.
• Canada should not participate in the war against ISIS.
• Voting for a political party that is unlikely to win the election is wasting your vote.

Enjoy your discussion.

- Conversation topics created by Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com (Copyright)

Related Pages

• Conversation Questions
• Argumentative Essay Topics (Business-Related)

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13 comments on “ Discussion Topics for Agreeing & Disagreeing (ESL) ”

Little water was left in the pot,….?(question tag)

…, wasn’t it? (but it seems very strange to use a question tag here)

You’re missing “there”; (there was) little water left in the pot, wasn’t there?

This sentence has a negative meaning so it should be:

(There was) Little (not much) water was left in the pot, was there?

As the word”Home” has to function as “Adverb of place and Noun”, and you explained that when it works as adverb of place, the preposition ” To” is not used and when it is used as “noun” , preposition is possible,so school is also adverb of place now if we say that school has only form “Noun” and it does not have adverb form, Is it correct

Hello. ‘school’ does not have an adverb form. It is only a noun. Therefore, verbs that require a preposition use a preposition when school is the object (“I went to school / I arrived at school.”). You cannot omit the prepositions. If that’s what you meant, then you are correct.

Unless you are using the word school for the services it offers. Then you say I go to school. No prep

And what is “to”?

Put thing abt covid

Actually, there is an adverb form of school, “schoolishly.” It is, however, quite rare and pretty nearly archaic. It seems mainly to have been used to characterize the manners and thoughts of the so-called “schoolmen” (a.k.a., scholastic philosophers.) Wordhippo features the term as do older dictionaries.

The English subject is a bit complicated since it requires time and a lot of practice. Money is more important than health but it is necessary for life since many people depend on it. For teachers to teach English in elementary school, this great help for students is necessary to continue learning. Violence is not good but many times anger takes advantage of ourselves by taking revenge for which the act turns into violence. Personality is important Since we must have values ​​in our life And try to be a better person, beauty is natural. Not every job can be perfect as it can also be dangerous and very expensive. We are not alone in the world because there are many people around us but our personality is unique. We can all be good at something, it’s just that for some things we won’t have the ability to do everything perfectly. Money is one of the most necessary elements since if we work it is because we need the salary and trying to do things with love and commitment is the best. The happiness of another person does not have to offend me since we can all be happy as we want. Regarding the phrase that says what you sow, what you reap is very true, the world is turning around and what we do today, right or wrong, will have our reward sooner or later.

English is easy to learn: The english subject its such a beautifu world, you can learn a lot of things about it and you learn to aprecciate it with the pass of the day, It is easy at the way you want to learn it and study. No job is perfect: Because sometimes your body get tired of to many things and at this point you just want to through away those works issues, but also we have other days when we realize that we are blessing of have this job, its a constant feelings of high and lows. Women are better at teaching childrens than men are: No, because God gave to each one of us, the intelligence and the habbility for do all the things and ideal that we have in life, we just need the strengh and good vibes to do it. What goes around comes around: I have always used to think that those things that you sow, you harvest too, thats why we always have to do the good things to our behaviors.

This country’s healthcare system needs a lot of improvement. I totally agree because currently the health system is totally deplorable. Public health is really slow and does not have the instruments or medicine necessary for the entire population and if you want to go to a private doctor they are very expensive and not the entire population has access to this, the government should implement measures to improve public health and its system in order to ensure well-being for the entire population .

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• Choosing Your College Essay Topic | Ideas & Examples

Choosing Your College Essay Topic | Ideas & Examples

Published on October 25, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on July 3, 2023.

A strong essay topic sets you up to write a unique, memorable college application essay . Your topic should be personal, original, and specific. Take time to brainstorm the right topic for you.

Table of contents

What makes a good topic, brainstorming questions to get started, discover the best topic for you, how to make a common topic compelling, frequently asked questions about college application essays, other interesting articles.

Here are some guidelines for a good essay topic:

• It’s focused on you and your experience
• It shares something different from the rest of your application
• It’s specific and original (not many students could write a similar essay)
• It affords the opportunity to share your positive stories and qualities

In most cases, avoid topics that

• Reflect poorly on your character and behavior
• Deal with a challenge or traumatic experience without a lesson learned or positive outlook

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Spend time reflecting on and writing out answers to the following questions. After doing this exercise, you should be able to identify a few strong topics for your college essay.

Writing about yourself can be difficult. If you’re struggling to identify your topic, try these two strategies.

Start with your qualities

After identifying your positive qualities or values, brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities.

Start with a story

If you already have some memorable stories in mind that you’d like to write about, think about which qualities and values you can demonstrate with those stories.

Talk it through

To make sure you choose the right topic, ask for advice from trusted friends or family members who know you well. They can help you brainstorm ideas and remember stories, and they can give you feedback on your potential essay topics.

You can also work with a guidance counselor, teacher, or other mentor to discuss which ideas are most promising. If you plan ahead , you can even workshop multiple draft essays to see which topic works best.

If you do choose a common topic, ensure you have the following to craft a unique essay:

• Surprising or unexpected story arcs
• Interesting insight or connections
• An advanced writing style

Here are a few examples of how to craft strong essays from cliché topics.

Here’s a checklist you can use to confirm that your college essay topic is right for you.

College essay topic checklist

My topic is focused on me, not on someone else.

My topic shares something different from the rest of my application.

My topic is specific and original (not many students could write a similar essay).

My topic reflects positively on my character and behavior.

If I chose to write about a traumatic or challenging experience, my essay will focus on how I overcame it or gained insight.

If I chose a common topic, my essay will have a surprising story arc, interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style.

Good topic!

It looks like your topic is a good choice. It's specific, it avoids clichés, and it reflects positively on you.

There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic

• Is meaningful, specific, and personal to you
• Focuses on you and your experiences
• Reveals something beyond your test scores, grades, and extracurriculars
• Is creative and original

Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style .

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

• Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities
• Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:

• Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships)
• Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things)
• Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)
• Too boring (e.g. a resume of your academic achievements and extracurriculars)
• Inappropriate for a college essay (e.g. illegal activities, offensive humor, false accounts of yourself, bragging about privilege)

Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:

• Extracurriculars, especially sports
• Role models
• Dealing with a personal tragedy or death in the family
• Struggling with new life situations (immigrant stories, moving homes, parents’ divorce)
• Becoming a better person after community service, traveling, or summer camp
• Overcoming a difficult class
• Using a common object as an extended metaphor

It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

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Courault, K. (2023, July 03). Choosing Your College Essay Topic | Ideas & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 6, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/college-essay/essay-topic/

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