pro and con essay structure

500 word essay

Writing an essay can be a troublesome task, but it is a requirement in all the educational institutions. An important skill that is also essential if you’re applying for scholarships.

There are many things to consider before starting progress on your paper.

We won’t be going over the major varieties of essays (narrative, descriptive, analytical, etc.)

Instead, we’ll go over the 500-word essay and our writing helper can do it!

These kinds of articles need to adhere to certain criteria before they are graded. And sometimes, these rules differ on an individual basis. But the basic outline is usually the same.

You know, that we can do your “ do my thesis for me ” request?

How much is a 500-word essay?

The limit of 500 words isn’t extremely rigid; it is acceptable to go over or under the word limit. But to avoid confusion, make sure to ask your professor about the word limit beforehand. Some teachers can be more strict about the word count than others.

On a related note, you can ask your teachers for some examples of a well-made essay. Having a proper writing sample will always be helpful in understanding your future assignment.

What does a 500 essay look like?

When fully typed out, total size amounts to a page and a half.

The standard for these kinds of essays is:

Font – Times New Roman,

Font size – 12, with double spaces.

Some professors may want it on a single page with single spaces.

Now that the formatting is done, it’s time to begin work on the essay itself.

Structure essay

1) Introduction

The introduction shouldn’t be long – you need to make a brief and clear statement of your topic.  This will become the primary foundation of your work.

Announce the main idea and outline how you are going to investigate it. Topics for these kinds of essays shouldn’t be broad. You’re not required to go in depth; such a small word limit will not allow it.

You also need to establish a logical pathway with your narrative, make sure to make the transition between the main bodies are as concise as possible. Roughly a hundred words are enough for the introduction.

2) Main body

There are some differences of opinion regarding the main body. In some cases, one paragraph is sufficient, but in other situations – three sections are the norm.

What is important here is structure.

You need to establish a linear narrative and display ideas in a clear way. Build a logical chain of evidence and formulate them in an accessible, presentable manner.

The main body is the longest part of the essay (around three hundred words) and should convey all the main ideas of your topic. Support all your arguments with factual information.

Avoid making assumptions and offering opinions, reasoning and logic should be the primary focus of your work.

3) Conclusion

The conclusion acts as a summary and should present the main ideas displayed in the main body.

You’ll need to rephrase or restate points raised in the main body. Also, make sure to avoid making any new discoveries in this part of your essay.

Rather, formulate it in a way that allows the subject future developments, and it may be attractive to the readers to look forward to.

The remaining hundred words go here.

Additional suggestions:

• Cite authentic sources for your information.
• Avoid plagiarism, make the relevant editing changes and never forget to proofread. The last thing you need is an unacceptable mark for allowing typos to be in your work.
• Once all of is done, try reading it from a different viewpoint — as a professor or a bystander.

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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.

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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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Argument and Persuasion: Structuring and Writing an Argument Essay

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• Structuring and Writing an Argument Essay

Page Overview

This page deals with the process of writing the argument: planning, structuring, strategies, writing, revision.

Pre-Writing Considerations

There are things that should be given some attention before you begin writing your argument.  Thoughtful planning in the pre-writing stage increases the chances of your argument successfully convincing your audience.  A well-executed piece of writing should be unified, coherent, and complete.

unified = the paper presents only a single idea or, if more than one idea, one point is made the principal one and the others are subordinated to it 

coherent = the discussion flows smoothly and logically and is easy for the reader to follow; trying to make sense of the writing does not become an ordeal

complete = everything that should be said, has been said; no questions are left in the mind of the reader

Achieving a coherent, complete, unified piece of Argumentative Writing 

1.  Clearly state the argument/proposition of your essay.

2.  Analyze the proposition.  First, jot down points of conflict between your view and the opposing view.  Second, think over your jottings and try to decide which points are the issues on which your argument should hinge.  Third, arrange your jottings in order to give unity and coherence to your essay.

3.  Write a paragraph (or more if necessary) on each point of conflict.  (This step will have some variation, depending on whether you are using the block or point pattern of organization.)

4.  Analyze and evaluate what you have written to see whether (a) the evidence seems reliable and (b) the reasoning free of fallacies.

5.  Establish effective transitions between the discussions of the various points ( coherence ), keeping in mind that your objective is to connect each point to the main contention of your theme, the main proposition.

6.  Think of your introduction.  What makes the topic worth arguing about now (purpose)?  (NOTE:  Your topic should be broad enough to interest a large number of people, yet narrow enough that you can focus and manage the discussion.)  What kind of people are you writing for (audience)?  Can you depend on an interested and sympathetic hearing, or must you strive to gain attention and win people over?  If you have to gain attention, how will you go about it?  After you have thought about these things and written a first draft of your introduction, do you think it necessary to go back and revise the discussion in the body of your essay to make it better adapted to your audience?

7.  Treat your conclusion as the last impression you will leave on your readers.  Do you return here to your key point (your thesis), showing how your whole argument essay bears on and supports it?  Do you leave your readers with a positive impression of your effort, even if you cannot be sure of having totally convinced them by reason? 

Outlines for an Argument Essay

Pattern Outlines for an Argument Essay

(Based on https://apps.spokane.edu/.../Summary%20Response%20Essay%20Assignment.pdf

     In the context of argument, "pro" means agree/support, and "con" means disagree/oppose.   Whether you structure your argument to follow the block style or point-by-point pattern, the three principal components of presentation, support, and refutation must be included.  A point-by-point structure probably will be easier to follow, as the block style creates some separation between the "pro" and "con" sides of an argument which may require readers to do some up-and-down "scrolling" of the text.

Breaking it Down in Detail

• Argument Deconstructed Source: Mesa Community College. Provides multiple links to cover argument in-depth and from many aspects. Includes argument essay charts, outlines, and worksheets.

Defining Arguments:  defines what argument is and is not while providing some insights on laying the groundwork before the writing begins

How To Create an Argument:  covers the stages of pre-writng, writing, and revising an argument

Argument at a Glance: P.A.P.A.: a blank page with no content

Argument Claims:  discusses types of claims and perspectives from which to launch your argument; includes links to sample readings

Argument Outline:  provides outlines for various argument structures and types and also contains worksheets for preparing an argument

Rogerian Argument:  explains an alternative approach to the "traditional" argumentative style

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos:  offers tips on how to interact with the audience in an argumentative context

Fallacies:   a glossary of things to avoid

Sample Essays:  a selection of seven argumentative essays written by students

Argument on the Web

The Purdue OWL:   The OWL is the Online Writing Laboratory maintained by Purdue University.  It is a comprehensive, encyclopedic online reference source for nearly all aspects of research and writing, from topic selection to citation styles and source evaluation.  Every serious researcher should bookmark the OWL. 

For information regarding writing argumentative papers, either type "Purdue OWL"   argument  into an internet search box.  The first page of results provides links to more specific aspects of writing argument.  Or, you can type the word argument into the "Search the OWL" box (https://owl.purdue.edu/search.html).   Once you have landed on any OWL screen, it is good to scan the left pane for other pages which you may find useful.  

CAVEAT:  Purdue OWL has merged with Chegg, a for-profit company who has created a citation machine service for citation management.  This partnership has resulted in pop-up advertisements appearing on OWL screens as well as permitting Chegg influence on OWL's citation help pages.  Those using the OWL may wish to keep these things in mind.

Useful options besides the Purdue OWL are 

• Excelsior College Online Writing Lab  ( https://owl.excelsior.edu/ )
• Massey University OWLL ( http://owll.massey.ac.nz/index.php )

To locate information on the internet on argument, in the search box type argument along with a modifying term such as writing or structure.

To locate additional LibGuides on argument on the internet, in the search box type argument libguide.

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• Last Updated: Aug 9, 2024 11:12 AM
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How to Write a Pros & Cons Essay

Kori morgan, 26 sep 2017.

A pros and cons essay is a type of persuasive assignment where you discuss both sides of a debatable issue before revealing your own position. The objective, balanced structure allows audiences to formulate their own opinions before hearing your final analysis. You can write a good pros and cons essay by giving fair, equal treatment to both sides of an issue, describing its advantages and disadvantages with clear, specific research and summarizing your own position in the conclusion.

Explore this article

• Choosing a Topic
• Balanced Topic Treatment
• Describing Pros and Cons
• Conclusion and Evaluation

1 Choosing a Topic

Because a pros and cons essay involves equal treatment of both sides, topics are usually controversial and debatable. This type of essay works well for these topics because the structure encourages readers to carefully weigh both positions as they read. One way to brainstorm topics is to think about issues you face in your daily life. For example, you might choose to write about the advantages and disadvantages of the growth of cell phones in society. Then, you can make a list of the issue's positive and negative aspects to reference as you write.

2 Balanced Topic Treatment

The tone of a pros and cons essay is objective and even, giving equal attention and respect to both sides. The essay should enable readers to equally weigh the different concerns instead of being pushed toward one perspective from the start. Your introduction should contribute to the balanced structure by summarizing both sides and presenting a neutral thesis statement. A sample thesis might read, "While cell phones provide conveniences, entertainment and ways to stay in touch, they also create serious distractions, enable social bullying and create an easy crutch for critical thinking."

3 Describing Pros and Cons

The body paragraphs of the essay should provide details and examples to further develop the arguments for each side of the topic. You can organize them however you want; some writers present one side of an argument and then another, while others provide a point followed immediately by a counterpoint. Either way, your discussion should be well-researched, with clear, specific examples to support every assertion. According to the University of Calgary, using transitional phrases can also provide fluency and focus within the essay. To introduce new points, you might use phrases such as "many people believe," "another viewpoint is" or "on the other hand."

4 Conclusion and Evaluation

Although the conclusion should reveal the writer's viewpoint, it still needs to be stated in an objective, unbiased manner. Using first person phrases like "I believe" corrupts the balanced tone you have set throughout the course of the essay. Similarly, tearing down the opposite position can alienate readers, even if they have found your essay useful to this point. Instead of focusing on yourself, try to center your statements on the information you've presented. For example, your concluding paragraph might begin, "Taking everything into consideration, the social and technological benefits of cell phones outweigh their potential to be misused."

• 1 University of Calgary: Essay Writing Program for Students
• 2 Australian National University Academic Skills and Learning Center: The Pros and Cons Essay

About the Author

Kori Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in professional writing and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and has been crafting online and print educational materials since 2006. She taught creative writing and composition at West Virginia University and the University of Akron and her fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals.

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Basic Guide: How to Outline a Pro and Con Essay

Table of Contents

Before you start writing your essay, you must understand how you want it to look. You win the battle when you have a pro and con essay outline .

Writing a “pros and cons” essay sharpens your critical thinking abilities by forcing you to consider a subject from multiple angles. Your essay may consist of a plain evaluation of the arguments for and against a particular perspective. You may also be required to take a stance on a problem or synthesize the views into valuable recommendations.

This article will provide you with four basic steps to efficiently outline a pro and con essay.

4 Quick Steps to Writing a Pro and Con Essay Outline

You must compare two opposing opinions in a pro and con essay outline . Here, the pro argument is technically the thesis statement, and the con argument is the antithesis contention. Here is a brief outline to get you started:

1. Research

Researching your topic is essential before you start writing. Hear what people and other sources of information have to say about this subject.

Review a couple of blog posts, reputable sources, and reliable statistics to understand these sources of information and feel about the topic in general. Then select the most compelling arguments on both sides.

Using statistics or academic studies is beneficial when writing about a social problem. In contrast, you should seek professional expertise when investigating something more abstract, such as the various interpretations of a literary work.

2. Creating a Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is the backbone of any essay. You should craft a short statement to avoid getting stuck in the wordy waters of a 2-page thesis. 

Using a short statement serves as a foundation from which to create your main argument and defend your point of view.

At the end of your opening paragraph, you should present your thesis, which is a short description of your paper’s main ideas. The statement should briefly summarize your conclusions and clearly state your stance on the issue.

Your thesis should make it apparent if you are making an argument or an attempt at synthesis based on your study.

3. Arguments for and Against

Your paper’s main body should include a logical and convincing presentation of the issue’s benefits and drawbacks.

To each of your arguments, please devote at least one paragraph. We recommend that you word-limit your paper to eight to twelve short paragraphs. These sections usually receive some of the most constructive feedback, making the most robust case for your position.

If you can’t bring yourself to agree, at least summarize the other person’s case in a way that shows some goodwill.

4. Conclusion

In the final paragraph of your essay, you need to restate your thesis and outline the questions your essay has raised.

If your argument is based on the pros and cons of the topic, reiterate it. Also, emphasize how the body of your essay shows your method was correct.

A pro and con essay outline is the initial step in determining how to make your thoughts appear vivid and lively .

But it is just one step. You may have to rewrite and rewrite again. Be proud of rewriting several times. Perfection cannot be achieved in a single essay!

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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• Essay Task 2

Guide to Advantage Disadvantage IELTS Essay Type

• Essay Types
• Double Question
• Advantage Disadvantage
• Problem Solution
• Essay Length

IELTS advantage/disadvantage essays ask you to write about the benefits and drawbacks of a topic as well as (sometimes) asking for your opinion.  This guide covers everything you need to know to complete an Academic IELTS advantage/ disadvantage essay. Let’s start preparing with Benchmark IELTS!

Table of Contents

1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example advantage/disadvantage questions, 2.1 essay structure 1, 2.2 essay structure 2.

• 3.1 Identify key words and phrases

3.2 Organise your ideas

3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion, 5.1 complete the sample advantage/disadvantage essay, 5.2 advantage/disadvantage sample essay, 1. advantage/ disadvantage essay overview.

This section of the guide will show you how to identify an IELTS advantage/disadvantage question.

Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:

• Advantage/disadvantage
• Double question
• Problem/solution

It is very important to understand what type of question you are given in the exam so you can respond in an appropriate way: different question types will require different responses.

Advantage/disadvantage essay questions can be presented in several different ways.

Here are some examples of the way an advantage/disadvantage question may be worded:

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of _____ and give your opinion.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of _____?

You may also see questions using synonyms for advantage and disadvantage, for example:

• What are the benefits and drawbacks of…?

Be careful, the question itself might not always use words or phrases relating to advantage/disadvantage and they could be hidden in the statement,  as seen here:

• Some people believe that using a bicycle as your main form of transport has a lot of advantages , whereas others believe that it has many disadvantages . Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Here is another example of a question where you are asked to give your opinion:

• Do the advantages of … outweigh the disadvantages

After you have identified the essay type , you need to understand what you are being asked to do. To do well in the Task achievement marking component, you need to ‘ address all parts of the task’ .

This type of essay question will always be split into two parts:

• The IELTS statement
• The question

You must always write about both the advantages and disadvantages of the given topic. As we can see in example questions 1-6, sometimes you are asked to give your opinion on the question, and sometimes you are not. Let’s compare the following questions:

You are not being asked to give your opinion

Here are some example advantage/disadvantage essay questions:

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have more of an opportunity to study abroad.

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Today children spend a lot of their free time watching TV.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of this practice?

Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides

• IELTS Discussion Type Questions
• Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
• Opinion-based Task 2 IELTS Guide
• Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy.

The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In the past, when students did a university degree, they tended to study in their own country. Nowadays, they have the opportunity to study abroad.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?

More and more people prefer to read news online rather than on paper.

Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.

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2. Essay Structures for Advantage/Disadvantage Essays

There is more than one way to structure your advantage/disadvantage essay. You could take a thesis-led (opinion in the introduction) or an evidence-led (opinion in your conclusion).

You could also choose to focus on one or more than one advantage/disadvantage in each of your main body paragraphs.

The next two sections will give you two possible ways that you could structure your essay using four clearly organized paragraphs.

Thesis-led approach

Evidence-led approach

3. Planning your Advantage/Disadvantage Essay

Before you start writing your essay, you should give yourself 5 minutes to analyze the question and organize your ideas . Follow the tips below to create a well-planned essay!

3.1 Identify keywords and phrases

It sounds simple, but it is very important that you read the question carefully and understand what you are being asked to write about. To analyze the question, first, identify any keywords and phrases .

You should first identify the topic of the essay. If you do not write about the correct topic, you will score poorly in Task achievement . The general topic can always be found in the IELTS statement.

Let’s take a look at one of the previous examples:

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace . Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy .

The topic words are underlined and show the general topic of this essay question in nuclear weapons/power/technology .

After you have identified the general topic, you need to locate other keywords that give you more detail about the topic. In this question, the words world peace and cheap and clean energy in bold give you more information about the general topic. Therefore, your essay should only relate to these aspects of nuclear weapons/power/technology .

Now take a look at the question for our model answer at the end of this guide. Can you identify the general topic?

This is an important step that is often skipped by test-takers. By quickly writing down your key ideas, you will avoid repeating or missing any points and improve your score in both Task achievement and Coherence and cohesion .

You could use bullet points , columns , or another preferred method of writing down ideas . Here is an example for our sample essay:

Take a look at our Master Guide for a more in-depth look at idea generation and organizing your ideas.

Taking a moment to write down more uncommon vocabulary related to the essay topic will not only make you feel more relaxed in the exam but will also help you to improve your score in Lexical resources .

This doesn’t have to be a long list, just a few ideas that come into your mind. Here are some examples of the topic of studying abroad:

• Culture shock
• Language barrier
• Broaden one’s horizons

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4. Writing your Advantages/Disadvantages Essay

Your introduction should be the shortest paragraph in your essay (about 40-60 words is perfect).

You need to rephrase the IELTS statement in your own words. This is known as paraphrasing (a key skill to develop for the IELTS exam).

Take a look at our example:

You can also briefly state what your essay will be about in one clear sentence. For instance:

This essay will discuss both points of view and then I will give my opinion.

If you are taking a thesis-led approach, you can use one of the following sentence starters to briefly give your opinion:

• I believe that…
• It is my belief that…
• In my opinion,…

A note on the use of the first person ‘I’: Unlike writing task 1, it is appropriate to use the first person in your writing task 2 essay. In fact, it is unavoidable when giving your opinion. But , you should not overuse ‘I’ in your essay and we recommend you limit your use to your introduction and conclusion.

Topic sentences Usually, the first sentence of your main body paragraph will be a topic sentence . The purpose of your topic sentence is to introduce the main idea of your paragraph .

You should include one topic sentence for each advantage/disadvantage . This means that, if your main body paragraphs focus on two advantages/disadvantages , then you should have two topic sentences per paragraph.

Here’s an example: One advantage of studying abroad is that students can improve their language skills.

Here are some other sentence starters you can use for your essays (you can replace the underlined words with vocabulary linked to your topic):

• One advantage of studying abroad is that ….
• Another benefit of studying abroad is that…
• One downside of studying abroad is that…
• Another downside of studying abroad is that…

Supporting sentences You should then expand on your topic sentence with a supporting sentence/sentences . Your sentence(s) could either describe a result of the advantage/disadvantage, go into more detail , or explain the reason(s) why these benefits/drawbacks occur.

Our example supporting sentence describes a result of the advantage given in the topic sentence.

Topic sentence – One advantage of studying abroad is that students can improve their language skills.

Supporting sentence – This means that when the students return to their home countries, they will have more employment opportunities.

Here are some sentences starters you can use to begin your supporting sentences:

• This is because…
• The result/consequence/reason is that…
• This means that…
• As a result/consequence,…
• In other words,…  

Giving examples For all writing task 2 essay types , you must support your response with examples. Do not personalize your examples and link them to your life instead, Keep your examples more general . Also, do not refer to made-up statistics .

Here are some instances of suitable and non-suitable examples:

Suitable For example, many young people who study in an English-speaking country for a few years develop strong communication skills and have the confidence to work in an international company when they return home.

Not suitable My cousin spent three years in an English-speaking country and they got an excellent job with an international country when they came back to Spain. ( this example is too personal as it refers to the writer’s family ) ❌

According to statistics, international students are 30% more likely to get a job in an international company when they study overseas. ( this example contains a made-up statistic )

You must include a conclusion to achieve a good score in Task achievement . Your conclusion does not have to be very long, but it needs to be clear and do two main things:

• Paraphrase yourself : summarise the key points in your body paragraphs
• Give your opinion : It depends if you have taken an evidence-led or thesis-led approach, you will either be re-stating the opinion given in your introduction or giving your opinion for the first time.

Make your conclusion easy to identify for the examiner by starting with linking phrases such as:

• To sum up,…
• To summarise,…
• In conclusion,…

When you are paraphrasing the main points of your essay, you need to state that you have examined both sides of the argument (as that is what the question has asked you to do). To do this, consider using a phrase like:

In conclusion, having looked at this topic in detail, it is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad .

You would need to replace the underlined section with your essay topic.

To give your opinion, you need to use a range of cohesive devices to introduce each example such as:

• From my perspective,…
• In my view,…

You then need to clearly state which side of the argument you agree with (advantage or disadvantage). Remember, your actual opinion does not matter, it is how you present your opinion using English that is important.

Here are some example sentences to do this effectively:

• In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
• From my perspective, the drawbacks outweigh the benefits .

5. Example Advantage/Disadvantage Essay and Exercise

Now you’ve taken a look at how to write an advantage/disadvantage essay, let’s look at a model answer.

We have removed some of the words so you can put your knowledge to the test.

Select the correct missing words and complete the model answer.

In recent years, it has become much more common for students to complete their degree overseas instead of their house country. Many persons believe that there are significant benefits of doing this, while others argue that there are also drawbacks connected to studying abroad. This essay will discuss both points of mind and then I will give my opinion.

One advantage of study abroad is that students can improve their employee skills. This means that when the students return to their home countries, they will have more employment opportunities. An example, many young people who study in an English-speaking country for a few years develop strong communication skills and have the confidence to work in an international company when they return home. On the other hand benefit of studying abroad is that you can develop a better understanding of other cultures, Example , learning about a country’s customs, traditions and cuisines. The consequence of this is that people become more open-minded.

In the other hand, there are some disadvantages of studying abroad. One backdraw is that students may miss their friends and family and feel homesad. They may also find it difficult to connect with other students and make friends due to a language barrier . Another disadvantage is that students can experience a real culture shock when moving to another country. This is because the culture and language may be different which could lead to frustration for the student and dissatisfaction with their study experience.

To overall , it is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. In my thought, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Although it is true that the experience may be challenging at first, on balance , if you study abroad you will have an enriching experience that will broaden your horizons and increase your future prospects.

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How to Present Pros and Cons in Formal Writing?

Eskritor 2023-07-10

You can follow the step-by-step guide below to learn how to use the pros and cons in your writing process:

• Identify your topic : Start by selecting content for writing. This could be an issue, argument, or concept you want to explore.
• Define the thesis statement : Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the position on the topic.
• Brainstorm the pros and cons : Make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the topic. Consider the point of view of the audience and the context of the topic. Then, use a mind map or other visual tool to organize thoughts.
• Evaluate the pros and cons : Assess the assets and liabilities of each point on the list of pros and cons. Consider how each point relates to the thesis statement and whether it supports or undermines the argument.
• Organize the writing : Use the pros and cons approach to structure the writing. Begin with a clear introduction that presents the thesis statement and provides an overview of the topic. Use body paragraphs to present the pros and cons of the topic in a logical and coherent way. Also, use transitions to move smoothly between points and to create a clear and effective argument. Conclude with a summary of the main points and a restatement of the thesis.
• Edit and revise : Edit and revise the writing for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Review the writing for clarity, coherence, and flow. Finally, make sure that the last edited writing is well-organized and that the arguments are supported by evidence.

What are the Types of Formal Writing?

Here are some of the most common types of formal writing :

• Academic essays: These are written for academic purposes such as to demonstrate knowledge or to argue a point. Academic writing often has a specific structure including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It is typically written in a formal tone with a clear thesis statement.
• Research papers: Research papers are similar to academic essays but require more extensive research and analysis of sources. Research papers often have a specific structure, including an abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
• Business reports: Business reports are written for a professional audience and often include data analysis and recommendations. They are written for either internal or external purposes. Moreover, they require a formal tone and adherence to specific formatting and structure guidelines.
• Legal documents: Legal documents include contracts, briefs, and other legal filings. These documents require a formal tone and adherence to specific legal requirements and formatting.

Certain techniques improve the clarity and impact of the writing. Here are some practical tips to construct effective formal pros and cons writing:

• Be concise : Keep your writing concise and to the point. Avoid long-winded explanations or overly complicated language. Use clear, simple English to make the argument as easily understood as possible.
• Use transitions : Use transitions between the pros and cons to make the argument flow smoothly. Transitions help to guide the reader from one point to the next and create a cohesive and effective argument.
• Consider the audience: Pay attention to the audience’s perspective and focus on the most convincing arguments.
• Use abbreviations and apps : To make writing more efficient and effective, consider using abbreviations and apps to help save time and stay organized. For example, use an app to help you organize your research or keep track of your sources.
• Practice brainstorming : Spend some time brainstorming before starting to write. This helps with idea generation and thought organizing, which facilitates the creation of a concise and persuasive pros and cons essay.

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

Questions for IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays  can be worded in several different ways. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?
• Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

It is also common for synonyms of ‘advantages’ and ‘disadvantages’ to be used, such as ‘benefits’ and ‘drawbacks’, as can be seen in this sample question.

A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income. Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world? Do you think that the benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks?

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS advantage and disadvantages essay later on in this lesson.

Here’s what the lesson covers:

• Understanding IELTS advantages & disadvantages essay questions 
• Essay structures
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Want  to watch and listen? 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

IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay questions fall into two main categories:

• Questions that ask for your opinion.
• Questions that do not require you to state your opinion.

The first part of the question will always be a statement. You will then be asked to write about  both  the advantages  and disadvantages of the idea stated. You may also be required to state your opinion.

Here are two more sample questions for illustration. For the first one, you must give your opinion but in the second, you should not.

1. Small businesses are disappearing and being replaced by large multinational companies.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

2. Most career choices demand vocational skills or specialist knowledge. However, despite this, most schools still teach academic subjects such as history or social studies.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Essay Structures

Now let’s look at two simple structures you can use to write IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays. They're not the only possible structures but are ones I recommend because they are easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

I’ll explain later why I’m giving you two slightly different structures.

These structures will give you a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

One Advantage and Disadvantage or Two?

The question will state 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' in the plural, that is, more than one. However, it is acceptable to write about just one.

This should give you an essay of just over the minimum 250 words. To write about two advantages and disadvantages will require you to write nearer 400 words which are a lot to plan and write in the 40 minutes allowed.

It is better to fully develop one advantage and one disadvantage than ending up with your second idea missing an explanation or an example because you run out of time, but you can write about two if you feel able to or more comfortable doing so.

Having said that, using essay structure 2, where you start with the examples, will enable you to easily add more than one advantage and disadvantage without having to write many more words.

It will be more suitable for some questions than others so bear this in mind when you're writing practice essays and try out both structures.

I’m going to use essay structure 2 to show you step-by-step how to write an IELTS advantage and disadvantages essay. I’ll also give you a model answer using essay structure 1 so that you can compare the two.

How To Plan IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essays

The planning process only takes around 5 minutes but it is essential as it will save you time overall and will result in a far better essay and thus, higher marks. Th ere are the 3 things you need to do:

• Analyse the question
• Generate ideas
• Identify vocabulary

# 1  Analyse the question

Analysing the question will ensure that you answer it fully. It’s quick and easy to do. You just need to identify 3 different types of words:

• Topic words
• Other keywords
• Instruction words

Topics words are the ones that identify the general subject of the question and will be found in the statement part of the question.

Here is the question we’re going to be working on. I’ve highlighted the topic words in blue.

So, this question is about ‘ tourism’ .

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 tourism we're being asked to write about.

The  other keywords  in the question tell you the specific topic your essay must be about. 

A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income . Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.

By highlighting these words, it’s easy to see that you are being asked to write about the conflicting issues of tourism being ‘a main source of income’ in many places, yet also being ‘a source of problems’.

Your essay must only include ideas relevant to this aspect of tourism.

The  instruction words  are the question itself. They tell you exactly what to include in your essay.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the modern world? Do you think that the  benefits of tourism outweigh its drawbacks ?

Here, we are required to write about:

• The advantages of tourism in relation to income generation.
• The disadvantage of tourism in relation to problems it can cause.
• Our opinion as to whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Note the use of the synonyms ‘ benefits ’ and ‘ drawback ’ in the second sentence of the question.

# 2  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.

I’m going to demonstrate two of them for you here – the ‘friends technique’, which is suitable for most IELTS essays, and the ‘example method’, which perfectly fits essay structure 2.

The ‘ friends technique ’ is the method I generally prefer 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 that you are chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee and they ask you this question. What are the first thoughts to come into 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.

Here are my ideas using the friends technique:

There are far too many ideas here to include in an essay of just over 250 words. Think up a few then pick one advantage and one disadvantage that you think you can develop well.

With the ' example method ', on the other hand, you start by thinking of specific examples related to the question. They can come from your own experience or be something you’ve read or heard about. These examples will generate ideas that will become the main points of your essay.

It works particularly well for the model question I’ve selected for this lesson which is why I’ve included the second essay structure.

Here are my ideas using the examples technique:

Now that we have some ideas, we’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay, but first, we have one more task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

During the planning stage, quickly jot down some vocabulary that comes to mind as you decide what you're going to write about, especially synonyms of key words. This will save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

Writing an IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

We’re ready to begin writing our essay. For the first model answer, I’m going to take you step-by-step through essay structure 2. I’ll then give you a model answer for essay structure 1.

Here’s a reminder of the question and the essay structure. 

We’ll now start work on the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

The introduction to an IELTS advantages and disadvantages essay should have a simple 2 or 3 part structure:

• Paraphrase the question
• Outline the main ideas
• State your opinion (if required)

Our tourism question asks for our opinion so our introduction will have 3 parts.

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question statement.

     Question:   A lot of places in the world rely on tourism as a main source of income.             

      Unfortunately, tourism can also be a source of problems if it is not well-managed.

Paraphrased question:  

Although holidaymakers contribute hugely to the economies of many popular destinations, the influx of tourists can also cause serious issues.

Note my use of synonyms for some of the key words. It’s fine to repeat one or two words if you can't think of suitable synonyms. Above all, your language must sound natural.

2)  Outline statement

Now we need to add a statement where we outline the main points that we’ll be covering in the rest of the essay, that is, an advantage of tourism and a disadvantage of tourism.

Here are the two main ideas I’ve chosen to write about:

• Advantage – Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts
• Disadvantage – Displacement of local people

Outline statement:  

This essay will demonstrate how tourism can transform the economy of poor areas but will also show that this can lead to such problems as the displacement of local people.

3)  Opinion statement

The question also asks for our opinion and it’s essential that we include it in the introduction.

Opinion statement:  

Whilst acknowledging that there are drawbacks, the essay will argue that the advantages of the tourist industry outweigh the disadvantages.

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  – Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts

Main body paragraph 2  – Displacement of local people

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

Main body paragraphs in IELTS advantages and disadvantages essays written using structure 2, should contain 3 things:

• Topic sentence – give an example
• Explanation – explain the benefits/advantages
• Consequence – state the result

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. 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.

In this instance, the topic sentence will introduce our first example, for which I’ve chosen Thailand.

• Main idea –  Poor areas are now prosperous tourist resorts
• Example – Thailand

Topic sentence:  

One country that has experienced a significant economic boost from tourism is Thailand.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence  that states the main point of our example.

Explanation sentence: 

Over the past 50 years, many of its small fishing villages, where people often struggled to make a living, have been developed into thriving holiday destinations.

Finally, we explain the  consequence or result  of the situation. This is where we give an example of one specific advantage. It is better to pick one and develop it than to just add a long list.

Consequence:

With all the hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist facilities that have been developed, there are now enough jobs for everyone and the general standard of living has greatly increased.  Many local people have spotted new business opportunities and become entrepreneurs which has further diversified the economy.

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

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

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea –  Displacement of local people

Example – Venice

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

In Venice, on the other hand, the huge popularity of the beautiful canals and stunning architecture with visitors from around the world has had a negative impact on local residents.

Now for the  explanation sentence   that states the main point of our example.

Explanation sentence:

The growing need for tourist accommodation, places to eat and shops has forced many people from their homes to make way for this new development.

Finally, a specific example to explain the consequence .

Not only have these people suffered by having to move away from their family and friends but the situation has also resulted in a lost sense of community in the worst affected areas.

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 advantages and disadvantages essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

The conclusion is a summary of the main points in your essay and can generally be done in a single sentence. It should never introduce new ideas.

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

Our essay is already near the minimum word limit so we don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS advantages and disadvantages 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 a dvantages and disadvantages 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. 

Introduction:

Here's the same information formed into a conclusion:

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

Finished IELTS advantages and disadvantages 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 advantages and disadvantages essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

Example IELTS Advantages and Disadvantages Essay for Structure 1

Now, here’s a model answer for essay structure 1. First, a reminder of the structure and the ideas I generated using the friends technique.

Ideas generation - Friends technique

I’ve underline the ideas I’ve chosen to write about in this second essay:

Advantages of tourism – source of income:

• Provides jobs for local people
• Opportunities for local entrepreneurs
• Tourist spending boosts both national & local economy
• Brings improvement in local infrastructure & facilities which benefit whole community
• Helps maintain traditions & culture

Disadvantages of tourism – the problems:

• Money goes to wealthy business owners not local people
• Increased crime
• Illegal activities, e.g. drugs
• More pubs & clubs – changes the local culture
• Increase in property values
• Destruction of the natural environment to build hotels, airports & other facilities
• Displacement of indigenous people 

See if you can identify the different parts of the essay and how I have developed them.

That's it. Now it's time for you to get practicing.

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More help with ielts advantages and disadvantages 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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• How to write a C1 Advanced Essay

• Posted on 26/02/2020
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: C1 Advanced , Cambridge Exams , Writing

The Cambridge C1 Advanced is an excellent qualification to aim for if you’re thinking of studying or working abroad. It’s recognised by universities and governments all over the world and also helps you prove your language skills to future employers.

One of the most demanding parts of the exam is Part 1 of the Writing paper, which includes writing an essay. For many of you, this won’t come naturally… especially in another language.

So, to give you the best chance at success, we’ve created this in-depth guide full of Cambridge C1 Advanced Writing tips and useful language to get you producing excellent essays in no time.

So, pick up your pen, and let’s get started!

If you’d like to get more help with the C1 Advanced, consider our exam preparation class!

C1 Advanced Writing Requirements

The C1 Advanced Writing exam has two writing parts, which you must complete in 90 minutes. Both parts have a word limit of between 220-260 words. We recommend getting lots of writing practice under these conditions!

Part 1 is always a discursive essay . It requires you to think about arguments for and against a topic.

Part 2 is a situationally based writing task. This could be a letter , an email , a report , a proposal or a review and you have three options to choose from.

Today, we’ll be looking at how to do your best in part 1.

Before you begin

When you turn over the paper and begin Writing Part 1, take some time to read the task instructions. Identify all parts of the question, underlining which parts are obligatory and noting which parts are optional.

Let’s take a look at an example question!

Remember, you don’t have to use the opinions expressed in the box, but they may help you to get the ball rolling . Also, you only have to talk about two of the options given, not all three.

Make a plan

Take ten minutes to lay out your ideas. Make a pros and cons list for each of the three options and then decide which two you feel most confident with. Here’s some things you might come up with, can you think of any more?

Structure your essay

The essence of a good essay is a clear structure.

Introduction

Here you want to introduce the topic in your own words. Your first line should also grab the reader’s attention, then you should paraphrase the question. Finally, try using a statistic or a rhetorical question. This will make them want to read on, right?

Paragraph 1

Discuss the first option you’ve chosen. Include a good topic sentence and remember to give reasons for your answer. Describe some of the advantages, and even some of the disadvantages too. This will give a well-balanced argument.

Paragraph 2

Here’s where you introduce the second option. Again, try to present both sides of the argument and give reasons for your ideas. Gradually work towards the conclusion.

State your final opinion. This should be a summary of the rest of the essay and point clearly to which option you think is the most important. Do not introduce any new arguments at this stage. The conclusion is where you tie-up any loose ends .

This is an advanced piece of writing, so make sure your choice of language reflects it. You will get marked for accuracy, however, occasional errors can still be present as long as they do not impede understanding. So don’t play it too safe . This is your opportunity to show what you can do, so take some risks and have fun with it!

In the writing paper you should use a range of vocabulary, including less common lexis. Brainstorm some vocabulary related to the topic. Take your time to think of nouns and compound nouns that you know at C1 level. Really let your vocabulary sparkle .

No one likes a broken record . Find synonyms for simple words. You want to use a variety of language, and try not to repeat yourself too much. Check out these different ways of saying the same thing:

advantage = benefit, positive, upside

disadvantage = downside, drawback

effect = influence, impact, result, outcome

problem = issue, challenge, difficulty, obstacle, setback, complication

important = valuable, essential, beneficial

expensive = costly, dear, high-priced, extortionate

cheap = inexpensive, affordable, economical

big = great, large, sizeable, considerable, wide, vast

small = slight, tiny, little

Quick tip: Visit Thesaurus.com to study more synonyms!

Experiment with different grammatical forms. At this level you’re expected to have a good grasp on the grammar. You should use a range of simple and complex grammatical forms with control and flexibility. So challenge yourself with some of these…

• Participle clauses
• Conditionals
• Modal verbs
• Passive with reporting verbs
• Cleft sentences
• Comparatives
• Relative clauses

Useful expressions

To make your essay flow it’s best to use some key phrases. These will link all your ideas together, and help it sound semi-formal. Take a look at the expressions below. Why not use some in your next essay?

Introduction:

It is often said that…

Many people feel that…

We live in an age when..

More and more…

Introducing & Addition:

Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

On the one hand…

In addition…

What is more…

For example…

For instance…

As a case in point…

Contrasting:

In contrast…

On the other hand…

Alternatively…

However…

Conclusion:

All things considered…

As far as I’m concerned…

In light of the above…

What the examiners are looking for

When writing your essay, bear in mind what you’ll be marked on:

Have you answered all parts of the question? Is everything relevant to the question?

Communicative Achievement

Is the style and tone appropriate? Remember it should be semi-formal and neutral.

Organisation

Does it follow a logical order? Have you used paragraphs and linking devices?

Are you using a variety of grammar and vocabulary? Is it accurate?

Now your masterpiece has come together. Remember to take time to check your work. Here’s the official Writing Checklist from Cambridge Assessment English . And our list of the most common mistakes:

• subject + verb agreement
• singulars / plurals
• question formation
• variety of tenses
• dependent prepositions

Some final tips

Avoid contractions (I’m, they’re, we’re) as this is a formal writing.

Don’t use first person pronouns (I, my, our, us).

Practise under timed conditions.

Use model answers to practise fixed expressions.

——

Looking for more help with your Cambridge C1 Advanced exam? Here are our other guides from our blog:

C1 Advanced Reading and Use of English – Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3

And if you are not sure if you’re ready for the C1 Advanced, check out our article Am I ready for the C1 Advanced exam? to find out!

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Get the ball rolling (exp) : to start something.

Lay out (v): to explain something in detail.

Paraphrase (v): to say the same thing in a different way.

Tie-up any loose ends (exp): to resolve issues.

Play it safe (exp): to act cautiously.

A broken record (exp): when someone repeats themself.

Sparkle (v) : to shine.

Good grasp (exp): a good knowledge.

Bear in mind (exp) : to consider.

Masterpiece (n): an incredible work of art.

exp = expression

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Small Talk For Business English

• By: oxfordadmin
• Posted on 19/02/2020

Your Guide To Moving To The USA

• Posted on 04/03/2020

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Your Guide To Moving To The US

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• Renting vs. Buying

Renting vs. Buying a Home

Are you deciding between renting or buying a house ? Maybe you’re ready to move out of your rental and into your own home. Or perhaps you’re relocating to a new city and contemplating whether to rent a home before making the leap to homeownership. Whatever your reasons, take a moment to consider how renting vs. buying a home will affect your life now and in the future.

Should I rent or buy a house? 3 questions to ask yourself

Each of us has a unique lifestyle, financial situation, and set of long-term life goals that impacts our decision whether to rent or buy a house. To sort this all out for yourself, consider three main questions.

1) Does renting or buying work with your timeline?

One of the most important questions to consider when deciding between renting versus buying a home is your timeline. For example, if you’ve just moved to a city, expect a job change soon, or don’t plan to stay in the community long, it may make more sense to rent. Selling a home costs money, and if you sell too soon after buying, it may not be worth it.

On the other hand, if you've found a community where you'd like to put down roots, buying may be the better option. Owning a home offers more stability and potentially more financial benefits for homebuyers who plan to live in an area for more than just a few years.

2) How much can you afford?

Buying and renting each have their own costs to consider - and this can make the difference between becoming a renter or a homeowner. To buy, you'll need enough money in the bank to afford a down payment and closing costs . How much that will be depends on your home loan, your lender, housing market, and more. Many buyers put down as little as 3%, though a larger down payment will usually save you money on interest and mortgage insurance .

There are also ongoing costs of owning a home—mortgage payments, maintenance, utilities, and different types of homeowners insurance. Learn more about what it costs to buy a house or use a mortgage calculator to get an idea of what you can afford.

If buying a home would take all your savings or stretch your monthly budget, it may make sense to keep renting for now. To rent, you typically just need to fill out a rental application , an application fee, a security deposit , and first and last month’s rent. Deciding to rent can also give you time to raise your credit score, potentially saving you money in mortgage interest and other loan-related costs.

Keep in mind that your monthly rent payment is likely to increase each time your lease is up for renewal. Depending on the housing market , you may end up paying more for rent than for a mortgage payment. A rent vs. buy calculator can help you evaluate which is best for your situation, but remember that it's only a rough estimate.

3) Will renting or buying a home fit your lifestyle?

Renting vs. buying a house is also a lifestyle question. Homeownership is a long-term investment that can enable you to build wealth over time. That means treating your home as an investment and caring for it accordingly, with regular maintenance and repairs. Buying also comes with pride of ownership and the freedom to make decisions about style and upgrades that you typically don't have as a renter. In fact, in some markets buying a home with a yard, garage, or that third bedroom you've been wanting may be more affordable than trying to rent the equivalent property.

On the other hand, you may have good lifestyle reasons to continue renting rather than buying a home. Renting could be preferable if you'd rather not deal with the responsibility of home maintenance and the likelihood of paying for emergency repairs. Maybe a change is on the horizon, like a career transition or a child attending a different school, where renting a home makes more financial sense and aligns better with your long-term goals. Renting may also be a good choice if you have a busy lifestyle, move around a lot, or simply prefer more freedom and aren't ready for a big commitment.

Renting vs. buying: pros and cons

As you decide whether you should rent or buy a house, consider the pros and cons of each.

Pros of renting a house

• Home repairs: If something breaks in a home you're renting, it's typically on the landlord to fix , not you. So when the air conditioning unit stops working in the middle of summer, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to fix it.
• Monthly housing expenses: For the most part, when renting a house your monthly housing costs will stay the same, aside from minor fluctuations in utility costs . Your base rent doesn’t change and you likely won’t need to budget for any emergency repairs, maintenance costs, or factor in property taxes.
• Flexibility: You can move out when your lease is finished or relocate to another city without having to worry about selling your home. Renting a house also allows you to see which home styles you like, which floor plans you don’t like, and if a neighborhood is the right fit, before buying a home.
• Investment opportunities: Renting can free up some of your income, since you won’t be spending it on repairs or upgrades. You may have extra funds, also called disposable income, to invest in building your finances rather than investing in a home. You may even be able to save money towards a down payment.

Cons of renting a house

• Temporary: The biggest pro of renting is also the biggest con. If you’re planning to put down roots in a community, renting may not be the best option, as most leases last for only a year or two.
• Uncertainty: There's no telling when the home's owner may decide they don't want the responsibility of being a landlord anymore. When your rent is up, they can decide to sell, which means you'll need to relocate. Similarly, when your lease is up, your apartment may not offer you the option to renew your lease.
• Possible rent increases: When renting, each year you renew your lease it’s possible your rent will increase. Depending on whether you negotiate rent, the new cost may be out of your budget. In that case, you’ll likely need to find a new rental.
• No home equity: As a renter, you don’t build any equity—that's the percentage of the home's value you've paid for, rather than what your lender still owns. When you pay your rent each month, you're helping someone else build equity, when you could use those funds to improve your own finances.
• As-is home: You usually don't have the option of modifying a rental home to suit your needs. Some landlords may allow you to make small changes like painting the walls in your living space, but you'll probably have to paint them back to the original color when you move out.

Pros of buying a house

• Building equity: As a homeowner, you’ll have a chance to build equity and potentially increase your home’s value. The longer you own your home, the more equity you have, and the more money you're likely to make when you sell it. Equity can also allow you to borrow money for big expenses and build wealth that benefits you later in life.
• Customizable: Buying a home means it’s yours - you can paint it, remodel it, and customize the space to your liking without having to follow a landlord’s rules. This pride of ownership is a big advantage for those looking to settle down.
• Stability: You won’t be at the mercy of a landlord who may decide to sell the home once your lease is up. You have the freedom to decide how long you want to stay in the home, and ultimately if or when you want to sell.
• Tax benefits: Some homeowners qualify for tax breaks, which are reductions in your federal or state taxes. Many first-time buyers can receive tax deductions, such as on their mortgage interest, which can save you money at tax time.

Cons of buying a house

• Closing costs: During the homebuying process, you also have to factor in typical closing costs and other upfront costs and expenses—inspection, title insurance, lender fees—which often total 2%–5% of the home's purchase price. However, there are many downpayment assistance programs that may be able to help you cover certain closing costs.
• Home value: Ideally, your home’s value will increase between the time you buy and the time you sell, but it doesn’t always. Events outside of your control, such as a change in the economy, can potentially reduce your home's value. Then there's the money you’ve spent improving the property and other fees you’ve paid as a homeowner, such as HOA dues, homeowners insurance, and more. The longer you stay in your home, the more time you have to spread these additional costs out and increase your return on investment.
• Home maintenance expenses: With owning a home comes the responsibility of home maintenance. If there’s a leak in the roof, it's up to you to deal with and pay for repairs. You’ll also need to be prepared in the case of an emergency repair, such as a burst pipe or broken heater.
• Investment limitations: When buying, you may be placing most of your money into one investment - the house. That means you may not have extra cash lying around to invest in stocks or other investments. That said, any improvements you make to your home could turn into worthy long-term investments once it’s time to sell.
• Property taxes: As a homeowner, another important cost to factor in is property taxes. Depending on the area you buy a home in, property taxes may be a substantial cost to consider. If you're renting an apartment, you won't pay property taxes. If you're renting a home, your landlord will likely factor property taxes into your monthly rent payment.

Takeaway: renting vs. buying a home

Whether you make the decision to rent or buy a house, it’s a personal decision and one that means taking a look at different aspects of your life. From your financial situation to lifestyle, job situation and long-term goals, there are many factors that can determine whether you should rent or buy a house. If you're still not sure which option is right for you, talk to a mortgage lender or real estate agent who can give you professional guidance.

See more articles about the benefits of buying a home

The benefits of homeownership, how to save for a house, types of home loans for first-time buyers.

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IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay: Overview, Structure And Tips

1. ielts advantage disadvantage essay overview.

IELTS Advantage Disadvantage essay raises a problem or an opinion and asks you to point out the benefits as well as drawbacks on that issue or point of view. 

Typically, an IELTS Advantage Disadvantage essay question can be divided into three parts:

• 1st part: a specific problem or opinion (e.g. The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only language to be spoken globally.)
• 2nd part: requirement to give the advantages & disadvantages of the problem or opinion (e.g. What are the advantages and disadvantages to having one language in the world?)
• 3rd part: requirement for the time limit and word count (e.g. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write at least 250 words.)

There are normally 2 types of requirements to list the advantages & disadvantages of a problem or opinion: 

• Indicate pros and cons only
• Indicate pros and cons & Explicate whether pros outweigh cons

Here are some examples of how an IELTS Advantage and Disadvantage question can be worded: 

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of….?
• Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

If you are planning to take the IELTS, let’s start practicing with our free  IELTS online test  to get ready for your exam.

2. IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Structure

The three-part structure is also used for IELTS Advantage Disadvantage essay. However, as the IELTS Advantage Disadvantage questions can be either indicating pros and cons only or indicating pros and cons & explicating whether pros outweigh cons, you can refer to two types of structure below:

2.1 Indicating Pros and Cons Only

2.1.1 Introduction

– Paraphrase the question: (e.g. It is thought by some people that English, which is now the most widely spoken language in the world, may one day predominate over all other languages and result in their eventual disappearance.)

– Thesis statement / Outline sentence: (e.g. Having one language would certainly aid understanding and economic growth but there will also be some drawbacks.)

2.2.2. Body

– Body paragraph 1: Advantages

• Topic sentence: state the advantages 
• State and explain the first advantage: give the first advantage of the problem/opinion and elaborate the first advantage (e.g. One evident benefit to having one global language is that it would enable greater understanding between countries.In other words, if everyone spoke one language, there would be complete understanding between not only countries but all people throughout the world which would promote learning, the flow of information and ideas.)
• Example: support the first advantage with an example (optional)
• State and explain the second advantage: give the second advantage of the problem/opinion and elaborate the second advantage (e.g. Another reason that one language would be advantageous is that it would help economic growth. With all people speaking the same language, there would be fewer barriers and therefore trade would flourish between countries, resulting in a healthier world economy.)
• Example: support the second advantage with an example (optional)

– Body paragraph 2: Disadvantages

• Topic sentence: state the disadvantages (e.g. On the other hand, there are obvious disadvantages to having only one global language.)
• State and explain the first disadvantage: give the first disadvantage of the problem/opinion and elaborate the first disadvantage (e.g. Firstly, it would mean that all other languages would eventually disappear and, along with them, their cultures. The diversity of cultures is one of the joys this world has to offer. Each culture is unique with its own way of life and own perspectives of the world which would all be lost if there were only one language.)
• Example: support the first disadvantage with an example (optional)
• State and explain the second disadvantage: give the second disadvantage of the problem/opinionand elaborate the second disadvantage (e.g. Secondly, it would result in the collapse of tourism because there would be no reason to travel for pleasure and interest if all countries had the same language and similar cultures. This would devastate many countries economically that rely on tourism as a source of income.)
• Example: support the second disadvantage with an example (optional)

2.2.3. Conclusion

– Summarize advantages and disadvantages:

(e.g. In conclusion, while there are plus points to having one global language, too much would be lost as a result. )

– Give recommendations (optional) (e.g. Maintaining local languages and cultures should be prioritised to ensure a rich world heritage for future generations.)

>>> Practice now: IELTS Writing Practice Test

2.2. Indicating Pros and Cons & Explicating Whether Pros outweigh Cons

2.2.1. Introduction

– Paraphrase the question: (e.g. Globalisation has been one of the most significant phenomena in the last few decades, and it has changed several aspects of human society both economically and socially. There has been remarkable progress in terms of economic and financial development for developing countries due to the expansion of global organizations. However, there are several drawbacks to this rapid progress that need to be addressed.)

– Thesis statement / Outline sentence: (e.g. Evidently, globalization has more advantages than disadvantages and the following paragraphs, will elaborate on the topic and justify these views.)

– Body paragraph 1: Stronger side

• Topic sentence: state the stronger side
• State and explain the first reason: give the first reason why it is the stronger side (e.g. First of all, the most advantageous aspect of globalization is the advent of numerous international companies and franchises in developing countries.)
• Example: support the first reason with an example (optional) (e.g. Ever since global brands and corporations have expanded their operations in countries such as India, China, Sri Lanka and many more, there has been a notable increase in employment in these countries.)
• State and explain the second reason : give the second reason why it is the stronger side (e.g. Additionally, due to the remarkable rise in the number of imports and exports, people from third world countries now have access to a vast catalogue of products and services that were previously unattainable.)
• Example: support the second reason with an example (optional)

– Body paragraph 2: Weaker side

• Topic sentence: state the weaker side (e.g. That being said, there are drawbacks to globalization that create concerning issues for a sizeable portion of the global population.)
• State and explain the first reason: give the first reason why it is the weaker side (e.g. One of the most disturbing consequences faced is the exploitation of labour. Many corporations are known to outsource their operations to developing countries due to cheap labour costs. This enables them to accomplish their manufacturing operations without having to provide proper remuneration.)
• Example: support the first reason with an example (optional)
• State and explain the second reason: give the second reason why it is the weaker side (e.g. Also, due to the use of inexpensive labour, the quality of products is diminished, and customers receive inferior products.)

(e.g. In conclusion, there is no doubt that the effects of globalization are not entirely positive or negative.)

– Restate the position of each side: (e.g. Nonetheless, the benefits brought by this occupation outweigh the drawbacks.)

*** Note: For the IELTS Advantage Disadvantage question asking you to state your opinion (e.g. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.), you should add another Body paragraph to give your point of view on the issue with clarification and example (if any)

note what your point of view is towards the issue in the Conclusion part).

3. IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Strategy

3.1.  analyse ielts advantage disadvantage essay questions.

The very first step you should do with IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay is not to write your essay immediately but analyze the questions in details so that you can deeply understand what the judges want you to perform. You had better highlight or underline keywords based on these criteria:

• Main topic (e.g. The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only language to be spoken globally.)
• Requirements: (e.g. What are the advantages and disadvantages to having one language in the world?)
• Instructions (e.g. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. 

Write at least 250 words.)

3.2. Make an outline

Your IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay had better be both coherent and cohesive simultaneously, so an outline should be your next step to write your essay. Your outline can be created in the form of a mindmap, a table, or a list of bullet points.

3.3. Write a complete IELTS problem solution essay

Once you’ve had your own outline and know well how to organize your writing, it’s time to write your IELTS problem solution essay using your grammar and vocabulary range related to the topic given.

3.4. Double-check your IELTS problem solution essay

Don’t forget to check your IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay in terms of grammar, vocabulary, spelling, etc. at least once before handing in the final paper. 

4. IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Tips

• Your IELTS Advantage Disadvantage should be written within the time limit of about 40 minutes with 250-290 words.
• Try not to go off the topic but give the relevant ideas to illustrate each point in your essay.
• Utilize linking words in order to make connections among sentences as well as paragraphs.
• Don’t forget to quickly draft an outline with the main points for each part.
• Elaborate your advantages, disadvantages, and/or your opinion with explanation and examples.
• Enhance your grammar and vocabulary range on diverse topics before taking an IELTS Writing test .
• Do as many online IELTS practice tests of Advantage Disadvantage essay as possible and you can score high in the real test.

Rammed Earth Construction: What You Need to Know

Rammed earth is an ancient construction technique that resembles adobe or cob building. People in drier and hotter parts of the world used this design, and interest in this construction technique subsided in the 20th century after the dawn of reinforced concrete.

However, some still advocate for its use today, citing its aesthetics and perceived environmental benefits compared to modern construction techniques. Rammed earth structures are also made from local materials meaning they have little waste.

This article will discuss all you need to know about rammed earth construction.

Table of Contents

What Is Rammed Earth Construction?

A guide to rammed earth construction, types of formwork, environmental benefits of rammed earth.

• How Much Does It Cost?

Pros of Rammed Earth

Cons of rammed earth.

Rammed earth construction refers to ramming damp soil made from aggregate, sand, silt, clay, and gravel, into a formwork. The mixture is then compressed into a solid, and when it is dry, the formwork is removed to reveal monolithic walls.

The formwork needs to be strong enough to withstand the forces of ramming the earth. They also need to be easy to assemble and disassemble.

This technology was standard in drier and hotter parts of the earth. To work with rammed earth, you need to understand the climate and location where you will build the structure. The technology works best in humid environments with moderate temperatures.

For cold climates, rammed earth walls require additional insulation, whereas, in areas experiencing high rainfall, the walls need extra protection from the rain.

Most rammed earth structures exist in a basic form of compressed soil, but recently, builders add 5%-10% cement to the mix to increase the strength and durability. The appearance of rammed earth walls depends on the aggregates used and their color and texture.

Below is a detailed guide on how rammed earth construction works.

Rammed earth is strong in compression and is considered suitable for load-bearing walls. One can introduce reinforcement similar to concrete to these walls, but it needs to be carefully done to reduce the difficulty of ramming around the bars or the risk of the walls cracking.

The first step is constructing the formwork. It is usually made from steel and covered with plywood to create an off-form finish as the rammed earth takes up the formwork's shape. The soil type determines the length of walls you can build in each setup.

Before setting up the formwork, you need to mark out where to build the walls, either on the slabs or concrete footings. It would be best to consider the overall aesthetics of the building and floor plan, and articulation joints between the walls.

The next step is preparing the mixture for the rammed earth. Primarily, there are two kinds of rammed earth: raw and stabilized. The raw mix is carefully mixed soil, while the stabilized mixture has some binder.

After mixing the rammed earth to correct moisture levels, it is placed in the formwork using a shovel and compacted using a pneumatic tamper until the mixture is compressed to half its original volume. This process is then repeated iteratively until the compacted earth fills the formwork. The compacted wall is left in the wall overnight for initial curing to occur before removing the formwork.

The formwork is then carefully removed to reveal the compressed earth wall. The contractor then repairs the minor imperfections, such as soil protruding through bolt holes.

Formwork is an integral part of rammed earth construction, and a well-structured formwork should withstand the entire ramming process. 

There are mainly two types of formwork; movable and static. Other types are steel, system, and hybrid formworks. 

Movable formwork 

Also known as horizontal formwork, movable formwork is popularly used in rammed-earth construction worldwide. The material is mainly plywood, which is light and easily maneuverable yet not too strong to deform the rammed earth wall. 

Assembly and disassembly of the formwork are done rapidly with the controlled fixings between the two sides. Finally, the system uses wedges to tighten and loosen the formwork to unveil the wall.

Static formwork

Static formwork in rammed earth construction is an ongoing process of assembling elements vertically to between 2-4m. Static formwork uses system-built formwork that can be hired or bought, saving on construction time needed to build the formwork from scratch. In addition, it is easier to access static formwork, making it quicker for contractors to build rammed earth walls.

Steel formwork

One must assess the weight and structure of steel formwork before placing the raw materials into the formwork. As the rammed wall is built a centimeter at a time, the steel formwork increases its pressure from one layer to another. 

System formwork

System formwork works as a movable formwork with accessible panels, deep steel ribs, and an epoxy-bonded structure that makes it maneuverable. Although it is possible to slip form, the heavy weight of the system formwork needs to be checked to prevent issues when removing the state from the rammed earth wall system. 

Hybrid formwork

Used mainly in Serbia and China, hybrid formwork uses vertical fixed sections to slip from sides to contain them. The ramming process happens quickly with the rammed materials, usually placed in long sections, becoming one single structure with zero joints.

Rammed earth walls need to give thermal comfort, especially in areas with varying temperatures and humidity levels. These walls behave as heavy-weight masonry with a high thermal mass.

An important feature to consider during insulation is the wall's thermal mass, as it slows the movement of heat through the walls when the temperatures drop. It releases heat to the surrounding environment when the temperatures are high.

To enhance the thermal comfort of these walls, one needs to improve the airtightness and hygroscopic properties of the rammed earth. Insulating a rammed earth structure requires proper planning , as most builders prefer to leave the external face exposed for aesthetic reasons.

An obvious benefit of these structures is that they have a large thermal mass that helps store solar gains and buffer temperature changes. Insulation, therefore, needs to be done outside the structure since if it is done inside, a building loses all its thermal mass benefits. Insulating the wall from the outside also keeps the thermal mass within a controllable envelope. This increases the durability of the walls.

One way of providing this insulation is through plastering. You can also do it by adding the wall's thickness, but this changes the structural properties of the wall and increases overall construction costs.

The type and positioning of insulation also depend on the climatic conditions. It is worth noting that rammed earth is hygroscopic, and the walls can breathe to allow for evaporation. Therefore, the insulation finishes need to be vapor permeable to prevent moisture build-up within the assembly.

Durability 

Rammed earth is generally very durable, as this technology has been around for hundreds of years. However, to maintain the integrity of these structures, one needs to keep moisture protection. Exposure to moisture reversed cement stabilization allowing the clays to expand, thus lowering the overall strength.

Therefore, the walls need to be shielded from weather elements as much as possible. The structure needs to have raised foundations that lift the wall at least 9 inches above the ground. The roof also needs overhangs to shield the walls from rain.

The structure's setup should allow the water to drain and evaporate quickly. Rammed earth walls are more suited to warmer areas since they have fewer moisture-related problems.

Rammed earth walls have numerous benefits that make them great for construction without compromising quality. Below are some of the environmental benefits of rammed earth walls.

1. Eco-friendly

They also have very low embodied energy, meaning only a small amount of energy is necessary to construct the walls. Any waste materials can then be recycled or reused on the construction site .

These walls also have no cavities or materials that harbor pests, thus considerably increasing their pest resistance.

2. Low green-house emissions

In principle, rammed earth walls are a low greenhouse emission product. The emissions are primarily from the transport and manufacture, but these walls have very low emissions if construction is done using on-site materials.

They also have no flammable components, which help lower their overall emissions. Modern engineered rammed earth structures have considerably higher emissions than their traditional counterparts, but they generally have lower than concrete walls.

3. Breathability

People choose rammed earth walls because they 'breathe' and offer a healthy indoor environment. They allow for air inflow and outflow, thus efficiently helping combat humidity and maintain a stable internal temperature over the seasons. The finished walls are also inert and non-toxic.

4. Energy efficient

When properly constructed, rammed earth walls are very energy efficient. The thermal mass of these walls slows down the passage of heat through them and then releases the heat to the surrounding environment when the temperatures go down.

These energy savings minimize the need for heating and cooling systems.

5. Soundproof

Rammed earth walls are soundproof due to their density. This makes them suitable for areas experiencing continual sound pollution. They do not produce harsh echoes, which are a characteristic of most conventional wall materials.

Building several interior walls using rammed earth and combining them with double-pane windows can help create a unique quiet environment unlike any other.

6. Low maintenance

Rammed earth walls are generally low maintenance, and once built and sealed, they can take 10 to 20 years before needing further attention. There is no need for plaster or paint finish, and you can leave the bare walls exposed, forming a beautiful feature.

However, if you choose other kinds of finishing, they can be applied directly to the rammed earth surface like other masonry walls.

How Much Does it Cost?

The overall costs of a rammed earth project depend on the project's site, design, fixtures and fittings, and project size. A rammed earth wall costs around $86 per square foot on average, according to Asiri Designs . The prices go up depending on the complexity of the wall. However, this does not include labor costs.

Most home builders using rammed earth keep the costs down by doing the work themselves. A rammed earth house can cost as much as a conventional house, as you will still need land to build on, permits, materials, appliances, and electric systems. However, they have money-saving features such as reduced energy consumption.

Below are the pros of rammed earth construction.

Low maintenance

Well-constructed rammed earth walls are low maintenance and, once built and adequately cured, can stay approximately 10-20 years without needing any repair. In addition, its beautiful texture doesn’t need to be painted, making it easy to maintain.  

The high density of rammed earth walls makes it soundproof. This characteristic is better suited for areas with a lot of noise pollution.

It is eco-friendly

Raw materials used to build rammed earth walls are non-toxic and reusable, so nothing goes to waste. In addition, these walls combine beautifully with the environment with their natural, earthy color, soil texture differentiation, and low greenhouse emission.

Allows for airflow

Rammed earth walls are quite breathable due to the easy inflow and outflow of air that provide a steady internal temperature while regulating humidity levels. 

Impenetrable to most pests

Rammed earth walls have no cavities where pests can access or reside in. Therefore, once efficiently cured, it becomes impenetrable to most problems.

Below are the cons of rammed earth construction.

Construction costs may increase

Although rammed earth construction can be economical, if you start sourcing raw materials and employing laborers, the cost will increase significantly, making the final amount more than building a conventional home. There is also an added cost of buying and installing insulation required for all rammed earth constructions.

Has no long-term insulation

Rammed earth has a high thermal mass, making it a relatively poor insulator. Therefore, when constructing rammed earth, especially in colder climates, insulation needs to be correctly installed to make the indoor environment temperature comfortable.

Curing rammed earth takes a long time

The compressed rammed earth wall may look complete once the formwork is removed. However, it must be cured for approximately a month before it can be utilized. Any contractors using rammed earth as their primary material should account for the duration of curing as it takes up most of the project’s time.

Changes are hard to make after a wall is built

Mistakes made during the raming process can be hard to notice and challenging to rectify, especially after the wall is built.

Tedious approval process

As a traditional construction method in the United States, getting approval from bankers and insurance may require following a tedious approval process.

As you can see, there is a lot to love about rammed earth walls. You can use them for both domestic and commercial buildings. They are versatile, and you can craft them to unique finishes that blend easily with other building materials .

They are also great for regulating humidity and temperature problems if the walls are left unclad. This is ideal for people with issues such as asthma.

These walls are among the few environmentally-friendly materials you can apply in construction , making your investment worth the expense. The usability of rammed earth construction depends on your location, but they are an easy way to build sustainable housing.

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Where Tim Walz Stands on the Issues

As governor of Minnesota, he has enacted policies to secure abortion protections, provide free meals for schoolchildren, allow recreational marijuana and set renewable energy goals.

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By Maggie Astor

• Published Aug. 6, 2024 Updated Aug. 17, 2024, 10:08 a.m. ET

Follow live updates on the 2024 election .

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the newly announced running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris, has worked with his state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature to enact an ambitious agenda of liberal policies: free college tuition for low-income students, free meals for schoolchildren, legal recreational marijuana and protections for transgender people.

“You don’t win elections to bank political capital,” Mr. Walz wrote last year about his approach to governing. “You win elections to burn political capital and improve lives.”

Republicans have slammed these policies as big-government liberalism and accused Mr. Walz of taking a hard left turn since he represented a politically divided district in Congress years ago.

Here is an overview of where Mr. Walz stands on some key issues.

Mr. Walz signed a bill last year that guaranteed Minnesotans a “fundamental right to make autonomous decisions” about reproductive health care on issues such as abortion, contraception and fertility treatments.

Abortion was already protected by a Minnesota Supreme Court decision, but the new law guarded against a future court reversing that precedent as the U.S. Supreme Court did with Roe v. Wade, and Mr. Walz said this year that he was also open to an amendment to the state’s Constitution that would codify abortion rights.

Another bill he signed legally shields patients, and their medical providers, if they receive an abortion in Minnesota after traveling from a state where abortion is banned.

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