AN OPINION ESSAY (EXAMPLE AND WRITING)

Lee el siguiente artículo de opinión y luego escribe el que se te propone:

A.   Read the essay, ignoring the gaps. Match each paragraph to its purpose.

Paragraph 1      a) Give some facts to support your opinion.

Paragraph 2      b) Write a conclusion, restating your opinion.

Paragraph 3      c) Introduce the point, including your opinion.

Paragraph 4      d) Give some contrasting points of view and say why you don’t agree with them.

“Children under 16 shouldn’t be allowed to have mobile phones. They are a distraction from studies and an impediment to social interaction.” Discuss.

These days it is difficult to think of a world without mobile phones. Many people have more than one and some people spend half their lives on the phone. You also see more and more younger children with mobile phones. Some might find this a worrying trend but in my opinion (1) ______________ modern society’s obsession with technology. (2) _______________ there should be an age limit for owning a mobile phone, but I would put that limit at 8 or 9 years old, not 16. (3) ________________ whoever believes that teenagers shouldn’t have access to a mobile phone is out of touch with modern society.

Mobile phones are a necessary part of a teenager’s life. By using text messages and apps such as ‘Whatsapp’, modern teenagers build up social networks which are more enriching than hanging around on street corners. (4) ________________, mobile phones are a source of information. Most teenagers access the Internet via their mobile phones, and (5) ________________ distraction from studies they are actually a study aid. (6) ________________ owning a mobile phone is a form of security. Once upon a time parents didn’t know where the kids were if they hadn’t arrived home at the expected time. These days a quick phone call can put parents’ minds at rest.

There should be an age limit for mobile phones, in my opinion. Children under the age of 8 or 9 should not have unlimited access to a mobile phone, for security reasons. They are not old enough to know the risks involved in being part of social networks. (7) ________________ that this is also true for a 10 or 12 year old but I would reply to this argument by saying that we are now living in a world where technology is essential. It is normal for children to be in contact with technology at a young age. (8) ________________ mobile phones are an impediment to social interaction – that is not true. Teenagers have contact with huge groups of friends via their mobile phones. (9) ________________, they are an aid to social interaction.

(10) ________________, I would say that I am in complete disagreement with the idea that mobile phones should only be available to over 16s. It goes against modern trends in society, and is based on the misconception that mobile phones isolate teenagers from society. In the future, communication and information technology will be connected to almost everything we do, so it is futile to try and stop teenagers coming into contact with it.

B.   Use these phrases to fill in the gaps in the essay.

1. As for the idea that
2. far from being a
3. In conclusion
4. It can be argued that
5. it is no more than a consequence of
6. Many people would argue
7. Moreover
8. Not to mention the fact that
9. On the contrary
10. Personally, I think that

 C.   Write an opinion essay.

“Children shouldn’t be allowed to sit in their rooms surfing the net; it’s antisocial.” Discuss

Plan your essay. Make some notes for each of the four paragraphs. Use the model essay and the useful expressions from exercise B.