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Help with adv/disadv questions?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:37 am
by vipin
I am a little confused and need help to understand how to structure essays on advantage/disadvantage questions? sample questions below

Q1. Unemployment is one of the most serious problems facing developed nations today. Some say the working hours should be reduced to 35 hours a week. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Q2. In some countries people pay different rates of tax depending on their salary, in other countries everyone pays the same rate. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

In both these questions do I just need to structure it like a discussion essay and talk about both sides and subsequently present a opinion or structure it like an argument essay and present either the disadvantages/advantages?

thanks any help on this is appreciated !!!!

Re: Help with adv/disadv questions?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:01 am
by durai
Hi Vipin,

You can take any view point, either argument or discussion.

I would give my opinion at the intro, then explain why there could be other side and convince on the reader on my opinion.

mostly like argument essay but takes discussion structure.


But if you see Ryan's video, suggest to take argument style because it's easy way to structure.

Hope this helps

Durai

Re: Help with adv/disadv questions?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 10:47 am
by vipin
it helps but wondering how will the examiner mark it w.r.t to task achievement if one is to write an argument or a discussion essay for these type of qns.?

Re: Help with adv/disadv questions?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:31 am
by allen_zhang
After taking a look at your example questions, I would say that both of them are not supposed to be a real IELTS question. I dont even know advantage/diadvantage about what that they are talking about.

Re: Help with adv/disadv questions?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 11:42 am
by rairaichan0323
i am confusing about the Q2

Q2. In some countries people pay different rates of tax depending on their salary, in other countries everyone pays the same rate. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

if i write it as a argument essay and agree it should be a good idea for the people paying tax at different rates.

should i need to point out what the advantages of this system and also write down why this system is better than pays the same rate?

is it correct?
thank you

Re: Help with adv/disadv questions?

Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:14 pm
by vipin
Edited q1 Allen