Two-Sided Argument Essays: Structure / Lessons

What is a two-sided argument essay?

A two-sided argument essay presents a balanced and objective analysis of both sides of an argument, and a one-sided argument presents a thesis which the writer sets out to prove in order to persuade the reader.  It is different from a one-sided argument essay because a one-sided argument (persuasive) essay is one in which the writer attempts to persuade the audience to agree with their thesis. It usually includes counter-arguments (the opposing views) which the writer refutes in order to make his/her arguments stronger. Go here for: one-sided argument essays

Argument Essay Lesson

This blog discusses the elements of two-sided argument essays and includes a free download. It provides a variety of two-sided argument texts based on topical issues, an outline and answer section. These are four paragraph essay structures consisting of an introduction (general to specific, thesis and outline), two block type arguments (1 paragraph = for, 1 paragraph = against), and then a conclusion (summary, restate thesis, recommendation / suggestion). The texts are all written by AEUK on a variety of topics and divided into two types; general and academic.

More information on Introductions / Thesis statements / Topic sentences / Paragraphing / Linking words / Conclusions

A basic outline of a two-sided essay

Argument Essay lessons: 

This text can be used in a variety of ways.

  1. a reading to highlight key arguments.  
  2. a writing where students use the empty outline to plan a writing and then compare to the model.
  3. a guided writing where the tutor provides the completed outline and the students write an essay using these ideas.
  4. a listening – the tutor reads out the essay and the students note down the key arguments.

Two-sided Argument Outline

Introduction
  General
  Specific
  Outline & thesis statement
 
Main Body

  YES

 

 

 

 

   NO

 

 

 

Conclusion
  Summary
  Thesis
  Recommendations for the future

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Example:

Two-sided Argument Outline

Introduction
  General: Parents educate children at home
  Specific:  Some children find it difficult to fit in school system
  Outline & thesis statement:Look at the arguments for and against   / Better to be educated at school
 
Main Body

  YES 1)  Better potential

  • work at own rate /
  • concentrate on specific subjects
  • support: university at 12 or 13

         2) Protection 

  • harmful influences
  • truancy / drugs

   Concluding sentence: School can prevent learning taking place

  NO 1) isolation 

  • Socialisation / meet people = independence
  • Peer for sport

       2) More resources & equipment

  • Libraries, sports equipment and laboratories for science experiments

      3) Expertise

  • Parents’s lack of professional knowledge
  • Control the studying atmosphere

   Concluding sentence: difficult to draw boundaries and affect independence

Conclusion
  Summary:Home education = concentration and protection.
Schools = socialising, resources, professional teaching.
  Thesis: Greater benefits from going to school.
  Recommendations for the future: Severely-disabled children = home education.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Essay

Should parents educate their children at home.

In Britain some parents are now choosing to educate their children at home. This is often because some children find it difficult to fit into the school system because they are especially gifted or have problems of some kind. However, despite the various arguments that have been put forward for home tutoring, this essay will argue that it is better for a child to be educated at school.

Teaching children at home has a number of advantages. Firstly, parents feel that their children will be able to realise their potential better if they can work at their own rate and concentrate on specific subjects. For example, there have been cases of children who have gone to university as young as twelve or thirteen because they are especially gifted and have opted out of the school system. Parents feel that they will also be able to protect their children from harmful influences they may encounter at school if they keep them at home. Problems such as truancy and drugs are common and adolescents particularly can be led astray by their peers. Thus, school can prevent learning from taking place effectively.

However, there are also arguments in support of sending children to school rather than educating them at home. First of all, children are isolated at home. At school, on the other hand, they are able to socialise and meet people of different ages and so become increasingly independent. Children also need their peers to do subjects like sports and drama. Another important point is that schools have more resources and equipment than can be provided at home such as libraries, sports equipment and laboratories for science experiments. A final argument is that school can offer a much wider range of subjects and expertise than parents can provide on their own. Parents would need to have a whole range of professional knowledge in science subjects like physics and chemistry to English literature and economics. It is also questionable whether parents could keep a disciplined study atmosphere at home because of the friendly family atmosphere. In sum, home tuition can affect social independence and fail to provide the correct resources and professional teaching.

To sum up, it seems that education at school is preferable to learning at home. Although home education aids concentration and protection, it limits socialising, availability of resources and professional teaching. There may be particular cases where home tutoring would be advantageous, such as for severely disabled children; however, for the vast majority of children there are greater benefits from going to school.    

[440 words]

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Argument Essay: Home Education

 Question: ‘Should parents educate their children at home?’ This is the full lesson from the images above. The essay can be used in a number of different ways – see the lesson plan. Words: 440  Level ***** [C2/B1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Free Download

Argument Lesson Topics

What is a two-sided argument essay?

A two-sided argument essay presents a balanced and objective analysis of both sides of an argument, and a one-sided argument presents a thesis which the writer sets out to prove in order to persuade the reader. 

 

How is it different from a one-sided argument essay?

A one-sided argument (persuasive) essay is one in which the writer attempts to persuade the audience to agree with their thesis. It usually includes counter-arguments (the opposing views) which the writer refutes in order to make his/her arguments stronger. Go here for: one-sided argument essays

Argument Essay Lessons

The argument essay lesson can be used in a number of different ways:

  1. A reading to highlight key arguments.  
  2. A writing where students use a blank outline to plan a writing and then compare with a model essay.
  3. A guided writing where the tutor provides the completed outline and the students write an essay using these ideas.
  4. A listening – the tutor reads out the essay and the students note down the key arguments.

 

2-sided General Argument Essays – no sources

 

Pay per download

Argument Essay: Advertising

Question: Is advertising a benefit for society? This essay investigates the negatives of a materialistic focused society against the economic benefits of advertising. Example. Words: 550  Level ***** [B1/B2] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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University

Argument Essay: University

Question: Is a university degree worth the cost? This essay investigates the positive of university life and qualifications against high debt and competitive job markets. Example. Words: 633  Level ***** [B1/B2] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Gun Laws

Argument Essay: Gun Laws

Question: Should guns be banned? This essay investigates the US 2nd Amendment to bear arms against other  countries where guns have been banned. Example. Words: 700  Level ***** [B1/B2] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Wind Energy

Argument Essay: Wind Energy

Question: Can wind energy replace electricity power stations? This essay investigates the problems with wind energy against the economic and polluting problems of traditional energy production. Example. Words: 720  Level ***** [B1/B2] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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5x General Argument Essays

5x General Argument Essays

AMAZING VALUE – buy these general essay lessons in one PDF book. Example.

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2-sided Academic Argument Essays – with sources 

Mobile Phones

Academic Argument Essay: Mobile Phones

Question: Are mobile phones a health risk? This essay investigates the academic research that suggests that mobile phones are safe and unsafe. Sources:6 / Words:550 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

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Climate Change

Academic Argument Essay: Climate Change

Question: Is Climate Change a result of human activities? This essay investigates the key research behind Climate Change and the arguments that this research is bias and exaggerated. Sources:7 / Words:680 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Vegetarianism

Academic Argument Essay: Vegetarianism

Question: Is a vegetarian diet healthier and better for the environment? This essay examines the keys arguments around cruelty, human anatomy and environmental processes. Sources:10 / Words:750 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Obesity

Academic Argument Essay: Obesity

Question: Is obesity a disease? This essay highlights the key evidence of why obesity is classified as a disease and also argues it is preventable and based on lifestyle choice. Sources:9 / Words:765 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Social Media

Academic Argument Essay: Social Media

Question: Is social media a benefit to society? This essay investigates a variety of key arguments on information sharing, employment and social behaviour. Sources:8 / Words:800 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] ]TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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5x Academic Argument Essays

 

5x Academic Argument Essays

AMAZING VALUE – buy these academic argument essays in one book. Example.

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10x Argument Essays

 

10x Argument Essays

5x general and 5x academic argument essays

AMAZING VALUE – buy all ten essay lessons in one PDF book. Example.

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One-sided Argument Essay Downloads

What is the difference between one-sided and two-sided argument essays? go here.

Essay Structure Lesson

One-sided Argument Essay: Essay Structure Lesson

This lesson will help students’ ability to identify argument essay question words, to consider the different ways of structuring an essay (block or point-by-point) and to analyse two model essays for structure and language. Example.  Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Wind Energy

One-sided Argument Essay: Wind Energy 

Question: Can wind energy replace electricity power stations? This essay investigates the problems with wind energy against the economic and polluting problems of traditional energy production. This lesson includes two essays: one block and one point-by-point. Example.  Level ***** [B1/B2] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Two-sided Argument Essay: Wind Energy

Question: Can wind energy replace electricity power stations? This essay investigates the problems with wind energy against the economic and polluting problems of traditional energy production. Example. Words: 720  Level ***** [B1/B2] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

*  

Climate Change

One-sided Academic Argument Essay: Climate Change

Question: Is Climate Change a result of human activities? This essay investigates the key research behind Climate Change and the arguments that this research is bias and exaggerated. This lesson contains two essays: one block and one point-by-point. Sources:7  / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

*

Two-sided Academic Argument Essay: Climate Change

Question: Is Climate Change a result of human activities? This essay investigates the key research behind Climate Change and the arguments that this research is bias and exaggerated. Sources:7 / Words:680 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

*

Vegetarianism

One-sided Academic Argument Essay: Vegetarianism 

Question: Is a vegetarian diet healthier and better for the environment? This essay examines the keys arguments around cruelty, human anatomy and environmental processes.This lesson contains two essays: one block and one point-to-point.  Sources:10 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Two-sided Academic Argument Essay: Vegetarianism

Question: Is a vegetarian diet healthier and better for the environment? This essay examines the keys arguments around cruelty, human anatomy and environmental processes. Sources:10 / Words:750 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

 

Museums

One-sided Academic Argument Essay: Museum

Question: Should museums be free for everyone? This essay examines the keys arguments around how museums encourage cultural awareness and public education. This lesson contains two essays: one block and one point-to-point.  Sources:6 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

A brief overview of museums 

A short 9-minute listening lecture written by AEUK on museums. It discusses in detail the purpose of museums, how they are funded, their popularity and future evolution, It includes a video, test questions, tapescript and PPT. Example.  / Video [9.10]MP3 / PPT link in download /Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

British High Street

One-Sided Academic Argument Essay: Is the British high street dying?

Question: Do you agree that the British high street is dying? This essay examines the keys arguments that high business rates and the popularity of internet shopping have caused many physical shops to close. This lesson contains two essays: one block and one point-by-point.  Sources:4 / Example / Level ***** [B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

The Decline of the British High Street 

A short 8-minute listening lecture written by AEUK on the high street. It discusses the history, the current situation and its economic and societal effects and finishes with some possible solutions. It includes a video, test questions, tapescript and PPT. Example. / Video [7.44] / MP3 /  PPT link in download Level ***** [B2/C1]  TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

 

5x 1-sided Academic Argument Essays

5x One-sided Argument Essays

Wind energy, Climate Change, Vegetarianism, Museums, The High Street

AMAZING VALUE – block and point-by-point one-sided arguments. Example.

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Argument Essay Titles

 

AEUK Argument Essay Titles

  A whole range of twenty possible argument essay titles. Students can take one title and write 250+ words using a similar structure to the essays above.  **** [C2/B1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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