English Pro Tips
Discussion Essays
How to identify discussion essays
Statement + Task
Some people think that children should learn about history at school. Others however,
believe that other subjects are more relevant to children’s lives today.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Discussion essays will present 2 viewpoints.
Viewpoint 1: Some people think that children should learn about history at school.
Viewpoint 2: Others believe that other subjects are more relevant to children’s lives today.
Essay Structure
Simple Structure: Agree with Viewpoint 1 or 2
For discussion questions, the simplest way to write a clear essay is to have a paragraph on each
viewpoint and make it clear which viewpoint you agree with.
Here is an example of a plan where you agree with viewpoint 1:
Introduction
Introduce the topic
Respond to the question (agree with viewpoint 1)
Body Paragraph 1 (viewpoint 2)
Topic sentence
You can use this structure for when you
Development
agree with viewpoint 1 or when you
(Link)
agree with viewpoint 2. For example, if
you agree with viewpoint 1, present one
Body Paragraph 2 (viewpoint 1) or two reason for viewpoint 2 in body
Topic sentence (reason 1) paragraph 1 and two reasons for
Development viewpoint 1 in body paragraph 2.
(Link)
Topic sentence (reason 2)
Development If you don't have enough time, just write
(Link) one reason in body paragraph 2
Conclusion
Restate position (agree with viewpoint 1)
Summarise ideas
For more information on how to write an introduction, body paragraph, or conclusion, got to the lesson on each
of these parts in the course.
English Pro Tips
Some people think that children should learn about history at school. Others however,
believe that other subjects are more relevant to children’s lives today. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion.
Simple Structure
Introduction Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2
Introduce the topic Topic sentence Topic sentence
Respond to the question Development Development
(Link) (Link)
Conclusion
Restate position
Summarise ideas
People have different views on whether history should be taught at school. While other subjects
may teach skills which are particularly relevant to children’s lives, I would argue that history still
teaches children useful knowledge and should therefore be taught in all schools.
Those that feel that history should be replaced point out the relevance of other subjects, such as
information technology. When children have information technology classes, they learn valuable
skills that can help them in their daily lives, such as how to use web resources to research school
topics, or use Powerpoint for class presentations. In contrast, history, they argue, does not teach
valuable skills; only facts and dates to be remembered.
However, I would argue that children should learn about history as it teaches them knowledge
about how conditions and circumstances have changed human behaviour, events and trends.
History serves as a vast repository of knowledge about how and why events come to be. This is
why economists look at past business cycles to predict financial crises, scientists look at past
experiments to pioneer new discoveries, and politicians look at the decisions of previous leaders to
determine their plan of action. Hence, history teaches children the importance of determining the
specific conditions and circumstances that led to certain events so that they may make more
informed decisions.
In conclusion, while it is true that other subjects teach relevant skills to children, I would argue that
all children should learn about history as it is a valuable source of knowledge.
More model essays
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Discussion Essay Practice Questions
Some people believe that history should be taught to children at school. Others however,
believe that there are other subjects that are more relevant to children's lives.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some parents allow their children to play on electronic devices such as computers and
smartphones as they think it is important for the learning of technological skills. Other
parents prohibit their children from using these electronic devices.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that young children should learn how to play a musical instrument at
school. Others believe that other subjects, such as mathematics and science, should be
prioritised because they will be more useful for children when they grow older.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some parents encourage their children to be competitive, for example in sports and classes
at school. Other parents think that encouraging competition can be harmful to their
children.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that there should be no borders between countries and that people
should be free to choose which country to live in. Others however, believe that it is
important for countries to control their borders and restrict movement in and out of their
country.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some people believe that athletes, such as football players, are paid too much money.
Others argue that they have extraordinary skills and deserve to earn large amounts of
money.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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