The document provides guidance on writing a pros and cons essay, including its key components and structure. It discusses including an introduction with a hook and thesis statement. The body should have paragraphs on the pros and cons, using topic sentences and support details with connectors. The conclusion restates the thesis and provides an overall summary. Examples are given of an introductory paragraph discussing the pros and cons of reopening schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Connectors and techniques for effective introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions are also outlined.

1. Genre:
The Pros and Cons
Essay Writing

2. Pros
 You agree with the topic

3. Cons
 You disagree with the topic.

4. The Pros and Cons
Pros
 The benefits
 The advantages
 The importance
Cons
 The drawbacks
 The weaknesses
 The disadvantages

5. Questions start with:
 What are the ___________ and ____________ of ___________?
 The ______ and _______ of ___________.

6. Questions start with:
 What are the pros and cons of eating fast food?
 The advantages and disadvantages of playing video games

7. Example of Pros and Cons Essay

12. Format of writing pros and cons essay

14. How to begin the essay?
Use any of the following techniques to make the beginning more
interesting to the reader:
a reference to an imaginary scene or situation
 addressing the reader directly
 a rhetorical question
 a quotation

15. Introduction
 Hook
 Thesis statement

16. Example of introductory paragraph
It is not a norm that the school is going to
resume on the 15 of July 2020 for all the levels from
Year 5 to Form 5. However, many parents are still
worried about sending their children back to school due
to Covid-19. At the same time, it has both pros and cons
if school reopens. The pros are keeping pace with the
syllabus and helping students cope with stress while the
cons are the risk of getting Covid-19 and many SOPS to
be followed.

17. Example of introductory paragraph
It is not a norm that the school is going to resume on
the 15 of July 2020 for all the levels from Year 5 to Form 5.
However, many parents are still worried about sending
their children back to school due to Covid-19. (hook).
At the same time, it has both pros and cons if school
reopens. The pros are keeping pace with the syllabus and
helping students cope with stress while the cons are the
risk of getting Covid-19 and many SOPS to be followed.
(thesis statement).

19. What are the pros and cons if school
reopens?
Discuss.
The Pros and Cons if School Reopens

20. Connectors
Writing: The Pros

21. Topic
Sentence
Begin with:
The first / main / most important advantage of ..... /
One / Another / An additional advantage of ...... / It is often
suggested ; believed ; argued that .....
Connectors used in describing pros:
First and foremost / First of all / In the first place / To start with
Moreover / Furthermore / In addition /Additionally / Besides that /
Besides / On the one hand
Supporting
detail
• For example; For instance / In fact / The reason(s) is ; are......... /
such as / For this reason
Concluding
sentence
• Thus/Hence/Therefore/As a result/In short/In brief

22. Connectors
Writing: The Cons

23. Topic Sentence Begin with:
The main / most important disadvantage / drawback of .......
One / Another / An additional disadvantage / negative effect of
..... / One point ; argument against .....
Connectors used in describing cons:
On the other hand / However / Still / Nonetheless /
Nevertheless / Although / Even though / Despite / In spite of /
The fact that
Supporting detail • For example; For instance / In fact /
The reason(s) is ; are......... / such as
Concluding
sentence
• Thus/Hence/Therefore/As a result/In short/In brief

24. A gentle reminder
You are strongly encourage to use connectors:
• Moreover
• Furthermore
• In addition
• Additionally
• Besides that / Besides
in
 Body Paragraph: Topic Sentence 2 - Pros 2
 Body Paragraph: Supporting details

25. Connectors
Writing: The Conclusion

26. Conclusion
 overall summary (topic)
 restate thesis statement
 closing statement

27. In conclusion, there are pros and cons if school
resumes but it all depends on how we deal with this
situation. On the one hand, the pros are keeping pace
with the syllabus and helping students cope with stress.
On the other hand, the cons are risk of getting Covid-19
and many SOPS to be followed.

28. In conclusion, there are pros and cons if school
resumes but it all depends on how we deal with this
situation.
On the one hand, the pros are keeping pace with the
syllabus and helping students cope with stress. On the
other hand, the cons are risk of getting Covid-19 and
many SOPS to be followed.
(restate thesis statement)

29. Conclusion Connectors used in concluding paragraph:
In conclusion / To conclude / To sum up / All in all
In a nutshell /All things considered / Taking everything
into account; consideration
* Do not include words like;
• I believe / I think
but strongly encourage to end the phrase like;
 provide suggestions
(We/People/ The government.....)
 give the reader something to consider
 use a quotation or rhetorical question

30. Prepared by Ms. Jovis