How to Write a Pros and Cons Essay Like a Pro
Have you ever tried to debate (or argue with) someone who just cannot see your point of view? They’re so caught up in what they think is right that they won’t even consider opposing evidence.
It’s frustrating, right?
That’s because, for many situations, choices aren’t easy to make. We live in a world where most issues are in a gray area without clear black-and-white answers. So you need to be able to analyze the nuances of any given situation.
The great thing about writing classes is that they teach you to think about things analytically. That’s why your teacher assigned a pros and cons essay—to teach you to look at both sides of an issue and find your own solution.
If you’ve never written a pros and cons essay, it might be a little intimidating. But don’t worry—with a few tips and examples from Hulk Hogan, The Rock, and Andre the Giant, you’ll be on your way to writing a pros and cons essay like a pro.
What Is a Pros and Cons Essay?
The first step to writing a great pros and cons essay is knowing exactly what it is. It’s pretty simple—in fact, it’s exactly what it sounds like. A pros and cons essay is a type of argumentative essay that encourages you to look at both the pros (positives) and the cons (negatives) of a given topic.
Your essay, however, should not just be a list of pros and cons. Instead, you should synthesize the information, determine your own position on the topic, and state your position clearly .
This is not an “I’m right, you’re wrong” type of essay. Rather, it’s the kind of essay that says, “There are many different points to consider, and after evaluating all of them, here is my opinion.”
Elements to Consider When Writing a Pros and Cons Essay
When you’re writing a pros and cons essay, you must follow two important guidelines.
1. Choose a debatable topic
Choosing a debatable topic allows you to select a balanced number of pros and cons.
2. Give equal weight to both the pros and the cons
You aren’t just making a pros essay or a cons essay. Instead, you’re presenting a well-considered analysis of both sides of an argument.
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In fact, in many great pros and cons essays, you cannot tell which side the author favors from just the pros and cons alone—you have to look at the thesis statement and the conclusion.
So now that you know the basics, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. For my topic, I’m choosing one of the greatest, most lucrative cons of all—pro wrestling.
6 Steps to Writing a Spectacular Pros and Cons Essay
The steps to writing a pros and cons essay are similar to writing most other argumentative essays: research, outline, write, and proofread. But I’ll fill in some of the finer points in two additional steps to help you make the most out of your writing experience.
1. Research your topic
Assuming you either have a debatable topic chosen already or your instructor assigned you a specific topic, you should start your research process. Look at credible sources of information .
Bonus Tip: You want to approach your research with an open mind. You may carry an opinion about a certain topic, but try to leave that behind as it may skew the information you gather.
For my topic, Pros and Cons of Being a Pro Wrestler , I might look at biographies of famous wrestlers or the WWE website. Google Scholar is also a great source of information for credible academic articles.
For more information on where to research, read 5 Best Resources to Help With Writing a Research Paper.
2. Brainstorm a pros and cons list
As you research, start pulling information and separating it by pros and cons. This should not be an outline … yet. Instead, it’s more of a freeform list.
My pros and cons list might look something like this:
Pros : Make lots of money, can turn into an acting career, helps with fitness, entertaining fans
Cons : Can get seriously injured, may be typecast in any other acting gigs, deceiving fans
3. Organize your thoughts into an outline
Now that you have your pros and cons fleshed out into a list, it’s time to organize them into an outline . You can sort by all pros first, followed by all cons (or vice versa), or if your pros and cons relate to each other, you can sort them that way. Here’s an example:
- Thesis statement
- Pro: Can expand acting career after wrestling
- Con: May be typecast into physical/action roles
- Pro: Have to stay physically fit
- Con: Often leads to injuries
- Entertaining the masses
- Fooling some fans into thinking the drama is real and that stunts are not planned
- Tied-up loose ends
4. Write a great introductory paragraph
In my example outline, you’ll notice two things under the introduction section—the hook and the thesis statement . The hook gets your readers’ attention and makes them want to learn more. The thesis statement explains your position on the topic and gives a brief preview of your body paragraphs .
My introduction paragraph might go something like this:
Pro wrestling has gone through its ups and downs. As fans realize the true athleticism of each wrestler, this type of entertainment has become more popular than ever, earning the WWE more than half a billion dollars in 2014. There are many different facets of being a pro wrestler. It has positives and negatives just like any other job in the entertainment industry. It is a physically demanding profession and can lead to type-casting in other entertainment roles. However, despite its drawbacks, if actors and athletes turn to pro wrestling for the right reasons, it can be an extremely rewarding career.
5. Fill out the details in your outline
With your thesis statement and outline complete, writing your body paragraphs should be fairly straightforward. To write your body paragraphs, all you need to do is expand the ideas in your outline.
This involves making paragraphs that not only flow from sentence to sentence within the paragraphs, but also between each paragraph. (Read more about essay transitions .)
For this post, I’m not going to write a body paragraph for every single point in my outline, but here’s an example of what I would write for the first body paragraph:
Because pro wrestling is a staged event, it is considered an acting job. A wrestler learns all the skills needed to transition into a full-time movie or television career, such as memorizing lines, doing stunts, interacting with other actors, improvising, and dealing with fans. Many pro wrestlers, such as Andre the Giant and Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock), have gone on to very successful acting careers. However, it is difficult to get diverse roles. Andre was almost always typecast as a “giant,” and while Dwayne Johnson has had arguably the most successful acting career out of any pro wrestler, it took him many years to get a serious role.
6. Write your conclusion
You’re almost there. All you need to do is write your conclusion . A good conclusion will do two things: briefly summarize your main points (without restating the thesis statement) and tie up any loose ends.
For my conclusion, I might write this:
Pro wrestling is certainly hard on the bodies and careers of the actors, and may be seen as trickery to the fans. However, it has brought joy to millions of people, including the wrestlers who stay in shape due to the nature of the job and those who move on to more lucrative acting careers. Despite some risks, there are many rewards to be gained, especially if the wrestlers go in with the intention of presenting a pure form of entertainment to the masses.
That wasn’t so hard, was it? After all this, you not only know what a pros and cons essay is, but you also understand each step of the writing process.
If you’re still not feeling sure about the flow or style of your essay once you write it—or if you just want an extra set of eyes to look it over—send it to the Kibin editors . We can help your essay be a heavyweight champ.
Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .
About the Author
Eden Meirow is a full-time copywriter and part-time freelance writer. Along with her BS in marketing from Florida State University and MA in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University, she has spent the past 7 years learning how best to reach and teach people using the power of words. When she's not working, she's constantly trying to expand her creativity through music, writing, art, and animation.
- pros and cons essay
How to Write a Pros and Cons Essay
(Updated on December 24, 2022)
W hen completing a pros and cons essay , your goal is to provide the reader with an impartial paper that provides the positive and the negative information about a particular subject. Therefore, in order to get started on a pros and cons essay, you'll first need to brainstorm all of the pros and cons you can think of for the topic you'll be writing about.
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When you brainstorm, you simply write down all of the thoughts that come to your mind. These thoughts may be in a random order, though you may wish to maintain separate lists of the pros and cons. This way, you'll be a bit more organized when the brainstorming session is complete. When brainstorming these ideas, try to think of a con to go with each pro you come up with and try to develop a pro for each con. Although there may not always be a counterpoint to a pro or a con, using this method can sometimes make it easier to come up with several pros and cons to discuss.
In the subsequent paragraphs, you'll go on to describe the pros and cons as they relate to the topic you're writing about. The limitations that have been put on your document length will determine how detailed you'll be in these paragraphs. If space allows, however, you should write at least one paragraph discussing the pros and another paragraph discussing the cons.
To wrap up your pros and cons essays, you'll need to provide the reader with your opinion. As you state your opinion, you should provide your reasoning for making this choice. For example, if you're writing about the pros and cons of owning a dog, your conclusion might include a sentence such as "I believe that the benefits of owning a dog far outweigh the cons. Although dog ownership is a big responsibility and can be costly at times, the love and companionship you get from a dog is far more valuable."
After completing the rough draft of your document, you should then reread what you have completed and check for grammatical errors and punctuation errors. You should also make sure that the report followed a logical order and makes sense throughout. Before writing your final draft, let the rough draft sit for a few days and then read it again. Often, after being a way from a paper for a few days, you can better see the mistakes that you have made.
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How to Write a Pros & Cons Essay: Step-By-Step Guide
Trying to convince someone to take your word on a particular subject isn’t straightforward. You must present convincing arguments backed by proof to encourage your opponent to change their mind. Moreover, the pros and cons essay must also cover the opposing standpoints.
You may wonder why this is relevant. Undoubtedly, most issues in our modern society are multidimensional and double or often triple-sided. There’s no concept clearly black and white, for the simple reason that no two people on Earth have an identical point of view.
Therefore, writing pro and con essays is vital for students of all ages. In the process, you will learn to think analytically and reason things from different angles. Whatever your thoughts on the topic, you must prove your point by offering convincing evidence and facts.
For those who never had the chance to write a pros & cons essay, the time has come to take the plunge. The start may be intimidating, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. To help you, we list a few helpful tips and examples to consider for your pro and con paper.
What Is a Pros and Cons Essay?
Before you set your aims high, let’s explain what for and against essays are. You must also understand the importance of this kind of academic assignment to write efficiently. A pros & cons essay is a written task that elaborates on the advantages and disadvantages of a specific problem. The paper covers different sides of a single topic where your argument prevails.
The most challenging aspect for students is that they can’t just list the benefits and drawbacks of a pressing matter. Instead, they must summarize ideas, like when writing a synthesis essay , and pick a side by stating their point. Moreover, the paper must have a logical flow that ends with your attitude.
The introduction should signpost the direction in which you’re steering. State your opinion only after you’ve meticulously analyzed all for and against arguments.
A Compelling Topic
The topic you choose must have inherent positive and negative sides. Avoid themes with evident benefits and no disadvantages. Similarly, skip obviously disadvantageous topics because those are tiresome and time-consuming. For example, write about an issue with pronounced bad and good sides, such as advertising, online education, or modern technologies. However, the ultimate decision will depend on the course specifics and your professor’s guidelines.
Relevant Ideas
Your work must offer a unique perspective on a central idea. And you must support the main claim with at least three arguments. Including every possible pro and con will overwhelm the reader and won’t make your work impactful.
Instead, write about the core aspects of the issue. You can find numerous relevant examples on Paperell if you lack inspiration. Also, ensure you discuss the strongest point at the onset. Similarly, refute the most relevant con in the end to demonstrate your ability to handle opposing views.
Write in the traditional format. It should consist of an introduction, middle paragraphs (one paragraph for each idea), and a conclusion. Use short and concise sentences to avoid losing yourself in your thoughts. Run-on sentences will confuse the reader and impede seamless reading.
Originality
Refrain from copying other works without including quotations. Your paper must be 100% authentic. If you decide to seek assistance from a platform that offers online essays for sale , ensure it is reliable. Most custom paper services abide by strict academic standards and deliver plagiarism-free work.
Make sure your ideas are relevant, supported by facts, and not arbitrary. Also, typos are unacceptable for these kinds of assignments. To avoid losing points on technical aspects, review your grammatical structures and use plenty of synonyms for the keywords in the essay.
How to Write a Pros and Cons Essay?
For a rookie, the essay composition process might prove an uphill task. However, with practice, you’ll become more efficient and productive. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write your essay.
Do Thorough Research
Examine the assigned topic and focus on important information on the subject. Try to find credible sources that are objective and fact-based. Though you probably have an opinion on the problem, don’t let it blur your objectivity.
Brainstorm the Advantages and Disadvantages
Once you find enough positive and negative sides of the matter, write them in a list. Ensure you provide examples for each point, as you’d do in exemplification essay writing for your college assignments. Write two columns and rate items by relevance. The top three benefits should go in the paper.
Draft the Essay Skeleton
Decide what outline you’ll use. One approach is to write each pro and con in different paragraphs. Alternatively, you might want to dedicate every paragraph to one aspect of the dilemma, discussing both pros and cons simultaneously.
Be Creative
Start your journey with an attention-grabbing idea that urges your audience to keep reading. To this end, choose a hook for an essay that is topic-related and amusing. Also, when writing a pros and cons paper, the thesis statement should tell the reader what follows.
In the body section, discuss the points you decided to include but with examples and facts. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence, and all explanations should relate to the main claim. The conclusion must summarize the essay, restate your position, and compel the reader to contemplate the problem.
Editing and proofreading your work is critical for an impeccable essay. Ensure your punctuation, spelling, and grammar are error-free.
Plagiarism Free Pros & Cons Essay
Writing a 100% original manuscript isn’t straightforward. As much as you try to paraphrase, sophisticated tools recognize your attempts. The same will happen with the trained eye of your professor. Consider the following tips to avoid plagiarized essays.
Cite Properly
Citations are vital, so you must give credit to all sources you’re using in your paper. This way, you show you can borrow information with integrity. Failure to include quotations and references is plagiarism. The best way to cite a study or research is to follow the APA style.
Use a Plagiarism Checker
Your teachers use specialized tools to check the plagiarism level in your essay. Doing this will spare you a lot of trouble and effort. Try your free plagiarism checker with percentage to get a detailed report on your work. If you spot copied content, rewrite it to express your ideas differently.
Be Original
Pros and cons essays reveal your side on a specific subject. Hence, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to your opinions. With original ideas, you won’t have to worry about plagiarism. Still, always base your thoughts on relevant research and use the conclusion to call for action.
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Tips on Writing a Pros and Cons Essay
Have you ever argued with someone who thinks that their point of view is the only right point? Such people don’t even try to consider the arguments and evidence from the opposite side, that’s what makes such conversations frustrating. There are many complex issues, where it’s not easy to make a choice. Our world is not black-and-white, and if you want to make a point, you should also consider the opposite point. Fortunately, writing classes teach students analytical thinking, and pros and cons essays are the best exercises. When writing such essays, you should consider both sides of an issue, and tips from specialists at College-Writers.Com will help you with it.
What Is a Pros and Cons Essay?
To write a decent pros and cons essay, you should perfectly understand what it is. This type of writing assignments is exactly what it sounds like: it’s an argumentative essay that requires you to consider both positive and negative aspects of a subject.
Perhaps, the most difficult thing about this type of writing is that you cannot just write a list of pros and cons. Instead, you should synthesize the facts that you have, picking a side and clearly stating your own point. However, your essay shouldn’t be all about supporting your point. It should provide arguments, and your opinion must be just your personal conclusion that you came to after analyzing all the arguments.
What to Consider When Writing a Pros and Cons Essay
First, you should choose a debatable topic. It means that you must be able to provide a balanced number of both negatives and positives. For example, genocide is not debatable because you cannot say anything good about it, and charity is also not debatable because there’s nothing bad you can say about it.
Another important thing to consider is that both pros and cons should be given equal weight in your essay. You should carefully analyze both sides of the argument. When you read a good pros and cons essay, you cannot understand what is the author’s opinion until you see the thesis statement at the end. Now let’s take a closer look at the writing process itself.
Pros and Cons Essays: Step-By-Step Guide
The writing process is somewhat similar to that of any argumentative essay because it includes researching, writing an outline, writing a draft, and proofreading. However, the pros and cons essays also have their own specific features.
1. Research your topic
If you’ve got your topic assigned by your instructor, or if you’ve chosen a good debatable topic, start researching it. Make sure to look for credible sources and avoid being biased. You must be open-minded about your subject, even if you have a certain opinion. Don’t let your opinion affect your research.
2. Brainstorm the pros and cons
While researching, divide the information into two categories: pros, and cons. At this point, you don’t need to write an outline, just make a list of positive and negative aspects that will serve as the basis for your outline.
3. Write an outline
Once you’ve got a list of pros and cons, write your outline. It should consist of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the body of the essay, you should address the pros and cons. You may choose to list all the pros first and then address the cons, or you may devote each paragraph of the body to a certain aspect of the issue, explaining its pros and cons. Here’s an example:
- Thesis statement
- Final thoughts
4. Write the introduction
The introduction should start with a strong hook — the very first sentence that should motivate your readers to keep reading your essay. The thesis statement must provide your opinion on the subject. However, when writing pros and cons essays, you may also present your thesis statement in the conclusion. If you include your thesis statement in the introduction, it may provide a general understanding of what the body paragraphs will be about.
5. Add details to your outline
Once you’ve written the thesis statement and the outline, it won’t be a problem for you to write the body paragraphs. Just elaborate on the points from your outline and add more details. Every body paragraph should only focus on one point but all the paragraphs should be related to the thesis statement.
6. Write the conclusion
The conclusion has two main purposes. First, it should summarize the whole essay. Secondly, it should leave your readers with something to think about. It may also reveal your opinion by presenting the thesis statement if you haven’t stated it in the introduction.
As you can see, writing a pros and cons essay is not a difficult task. If you’re still not sure that you can write a good essay, we suggest that you ask experts from College-Writers.com for help. Our professional writers know everything about writing assignments of any kind, and they will provide you with outstanding papers on any topic.
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How to Write a Pros & Cons Essay
Much like writing a debate essay, writing a pros and cons essay argues an issue. However, unlike a debate essay, which addresses one viewpoint, the pros and cons essay deals with both sides of the issue. With research and preparation, students can write a thought-provoking -- and grade-worthy -- pros and cons essay.
First Things First
Unlike the debate paper, for which you conduct research to support your position on an issue, you must research the issue extensively so that you can dispassionately describe the pros and cons. Find resources that cover opposing sides of the issue. Take thorough notes and resist the temptation to discard positions that repel you. You might use a graphic organizer to bring order to your findings. Draw a large lowercase "t" on a sheet of paper. Title the left side "pros" and list all the pros of the issue on the left side. Include citations from your research. Title the right side "cons" and repeat the process.
The Positive View
Your introductory paragraph must briefly and dispassionately describe the issue. Follow with a sentence that summarizes the pro side of the debate, followed by a sentence that summarizes the con. Then, open with the case for the pro. Devote one paragraph to each of your primary points. You can cover secondary points in groups of two or three in a single paragraph. When you cover multiple points in a paragraph, reread the paragraph several times and ask others to review it. You don't want the multiplicity of your points to muddy the information you're trying to convey. Support each pro point with evidence based on your research.
The Negative Side
Follow your pro points with the arguments for the other side. Open with a brief introduction that clearly summarizes the opposing view. Each con paragraph should support your point with meticulously researched evidence. Emphasize any points that contradict a pro point you may have highlighted in the preceding section.
Your conclusion should state the issue and why it is important. Choose one strong pro and one strong con to include in your conclusion to illustrate the most prominent points. Finally, craft a strong sentence that ties all of your ideas together to end your essay.
One Last Look for Fairness
Read the essay to ensure you've applied the same rigorous standards for evidence to both sides. Check whether you've used transitional language to link the paragraphs into cohesive arguments. Have others read it and ask them to tell you whether they can detect any biases.
- BYU: Reading/Writing Center -- Pro/Con Essays
- Literacy Education Online: Strategies for Writing a Conclusion
Lori Garrett-Hatfield has a B.J. in Journalism from the University of Missouri. She has a Ph.D. in Adult Education from the University of Georgia. She has been working in the Education field since 1994, and has taught every grade level in the K-12 system, specializing in English education, and English as a Second Language education.
Here are suggested study plans for you to make the most of the course
Tips for writing advantages and disadvantages essays
Yuliia Chorna
Most questions in the IELTS Academic Writing section fit into a few categories such as opinion essays, discussion essays, problem solution essays, double question essays, advantages & disadvantages essays. What do you have to do if you get the last one? How should you approach advantages & disadvantages essays in the IELTS Writing test? What is the essay structure and the main tips to write it?
What are advantages and disadvantages essays about?
You will notice that questions for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays can be worded in several different ways. However, all of them test your ability to analyse the benefits and drawbacks of a particular matter or problem. For example, you can come across such wordings:
Generally, we can divide advantages & disadvantages essays in two types:
Type 1 asks you to simply discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
Type 2 asks you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages AND give your opinion on whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice versa.
Task 1 does not ask for our opinion, so you should not include this information in your answer. In Task 2, you have to say if the advantages are stronger than the disadvantages. For example, there are a huge number of advantages to learning the news online, but there is one huge disadvantage (reliability and accuracy of information) that stops most people from reading them that way and therefore the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Each of the types of essays requires a different approach.
READ ABOUT: How to link ideas in IELTS essays
Ways to write an essay
There are at least two different ways to write an advantages and disadvantages essay. However, we suggest the best and the easiest ones to complete the task if you get in your IELTS exam.
Step 1. Analyse the task.
Do not start writing immediately. First, read the statement and underline key information. This will help you to better understand what you have to write about and what you don’t have to do, i.e. focus on the specific issue.
Next, paraphrase the statement for yourself to understand it better — at this point you can use simple language.
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Step 2. Plan your essay.
In both cases you will have to brainstorm the ideas for your essay. Think about the benefits and drawbacks of the issue that you have to write about. Write them down using bullet points. Spend a few minutes on this.
Now, you can choose between thinking about details/examples to illustrate your ideas or starting to write your essay. If you do not have to write about your opinion, you can continue to the next step – writing. However, if you are to give your opinion, think about details/examples to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages, and decide on your opinion as to whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice versa, or they are equally important. It is important to decide what you think before you start writing.
Step 3. Write your essay.
While writing the first type of advantages and disadvantages essay, where you only have to discuss them, you can keep looking back at the task and your plan to give relevant ideas. Choose the best ones only, i.e. those that you can support with details and provide good examples.
First, write the introduction where you have to paraphrase the statement and write what the essay will discuss. For the second type of essay, give your opinion in the introduction as well.
Next, write the main body:
- in body paragraph 1, give advantages (a topic sentence, two advantages and details/examples)
- in body paragraph 2, give disadvantages (a topic sentence, two advantages and details/examples)
Finally, write the conclusion where you have to summarise advantages and disadvantages. For the second type of essay, restate your opinion as well.
Step 4. Check your essay.
You should look for spelling mistakes, mistakes that you typically make, repetition of vocabulary and linkers etc. Recently, we have written about how to check your IELTS writing and shared a checklist for efficiently editing your writing. It is the fastest way to improve your band score within a few minutes.
READ ABOUT: 6 typical mistakes in IELTS essays
Essay structure
What will your essay look like if you follow our advice? Here are the two possible essay structures for your advantages and disadvantages essay:
In our course , we outline the possible structures of different types of essays, provide real examples and model answers. You will also learn and practise writing different parts of the essays step by step. Finally, you will write your own essays and get immediate feedback from our IELTS experts.
Now that you are more confident about IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays, you can practise with our platform and reach the desired band score.
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When you’re writing a pros and cons essay, you must follow two important guidelines. 1. Choose a debatable topic Choosing a debatable topic allows you to select a balanced number of pros and cons. 2. Give equal weight to both the pros and the cons You aren’t just making a pros essay or a cons essay.
List all of the pros and cons you can think of related to your topic. When you have your lists of pros and cons, you can then decide whether to include one or both sides in your writing. For example: Smoking Outside of Buildings Pros: Conforms with state legislation for no smoking in the interiors of public places
The first paragraph of your rough draft should be an introduction. In your introduction, you should make it clear that you'll be discussing the pros and cons of the subject that you'll be discussing. This sentence will be your thesis statement.
Also, when writing a pros and cons paper, the thesis statement should tell the reader what follows. In the body section, discuss the points you decided to include but with examples and facts. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence, and all explanations should relate to the main claim.
It should provide arguments, and your opinion must be just your personal conclusion that you came to after analyzing all the arguments. What to Consider When Writing a Pros and Cons Essay First, you should choose a debatable topic. It means that you must be able to provide a balanced number of both negatives and positives.
Your conclusion should state the issue and why it is important. Choose one strong pro and one strong con to include in your conclusion to illustrate the most prominent points. Finally, craft a strong sentence that ties all of your ideas together to end your essay. One Last Look for Fairness
Assess your reactions and attitudes, and choose a theme you could build a fantastic essay on. Check if your ideas are supported. Pro con topics could be controversial, which is something professors usually like, but you’re going to have to use sources for supporting your points. Don’t make statements that reality refutes.
Generally, we can divide advantages & disadvantages essays in two types: Type 1 asks you to simply discuss the advantages and disadvantages. Type 2 asks you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages AND give your opinion on whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages or vice versa.