WRITING C1 & C2

This essay will examine both sides of the argument before reaching a conclusion.
The aim of this essay is to explore the extent to which …
In what follows, I will consider the main arguments in favour of … as well as those against it.
The following discussion seeks to shed light on …
The purpose of this essay is to critically assess …
This paper sets out to investigate whether …
What follows is an attempt to evaluate the relative merits of …
This essay endeavours to clarify the issues surrounding …
In this essay, particular attention will be paid to …
This discussion will focus primarily on … while also considering …

Examples

Few issues in contemporary society have provoked as much debate as the impact of social media on young people. While some view it as a tool for connection and empowerment, others warn of it potentially harmful consequences. This essay will explore both perspectives before arguing that responsible use is essential.
The question of whether governments should prioritise economic growth over environmental protection remains one of the most contentious dilemmas of the 21st century. Although progress has been made in certain areas, the balance between prosperity and sustainability continues to divide opinion. The essay aims to examine the key arguments on each side before reaching a reasoned conclusion.
Hardly a day passes without reference to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. At first sight, it appears to offer limitless opportunities; yet, on closer inspection, it also raises profound ethical and social concerns. This discussion that follows will consider both the promises and perils of this rapidly evolving technology.

2nd Part

Introducing positive points

One of the most compelling arguments in favour of … is that …
Supporters often point out that …
A further advantage lies in the fact that …
Advocates are quick to highlight …
It cannot be denied that … brings with it a number of benefits.
Proponents also contend that …
Another point worth mentioning is the potential for …
What makes this argument particularly persuasive is …
The strength of this position rests on …
Perhaps the most convincing evidence in support of … is …

Balancing positive and negative

While it is true that …, it is equally the case that …
Although … may be seen as an advantage, it also entails significant drawbacks.
For all its benefits, nevertheless, these are often outweighed by …
It would be misleading to focus solely on the benefits without considering the drawbacks.
Despite the advantages, one must also take into account …
On the one hand …, but on the other hand …
Even though … has merits, it cannot be denied that …
The positive aspects of … are tempered by …
While … offers certain benefits, it also presents considerable challenges.
Any discussion of … must weigh both the advantages and the disadvantages.

Introducing negative points

On the other hand, critics argue that …
A major drawback, however, is …
Detractors frequently claim that …
Despite the advantages, it is important to recognise the disadvantages.
Nevertheless, concerns have been raised about …
Opponents go so far as to suggest that …
It must be acknowledged, nevertheless, that …
One cannot overlook the fact that …
A further objection often raised is that …
What weakens this position is …
The benefits, however, come at a cost, namely …
Skeptics remain unconvinced by …

Examples

Renewable Energy - One of the most compelling arguments in favour of renewable energy is that it significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, helping to combat climate change. On the other hand, critics argue that the initial installation costs of solar panels and wind turbines are very high, which can deter governments and individuals from investing. While it is true that renewable energy requires substantial upfront investment, it is equally the case that the long-term environmental and economic benefits outweigh these drawbacks, making it a sustainable solution for the future.
Online Education - Advocates are quick to highlight that online education provides flexibility for learners who cannot attend traditional classes, allowing them to study at their own pace and balance other commitments. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised about the lack of social interaction and the potential for decreased motivation among students. Although online learning offers significant convenience, it also entails challenges that need to be addressed through well-designed platforms and interactive support, ensuring that learners still benefit fully from the educational experience.
City Cycling Schemes - Supporters often point out that city cycling schemes reduce traffic congestion, lower pollution levels, and improve public health by encouraging physical activity. Detractors frequently claim that they can create safety hazards for both cyclists and pedestrians, as well as require expensive infrastructure changes. For all their benefits, nevertheless, these programs must be carefully planned and monitored to minimise risks and maximise their positive impact, demonstrating that the advantages generally outweigh the disadvantages when properly implemented.

3rd Part

Conclusion

To sum up, the evidence suggests that …
On balance, it can be argued that …
Taken together, these points indicate that …
Ultimately, the discussion shows that …
The foregoing analysis suggests that …
In conclusion, it can be maintained that …
All things considered, it appears that …
From the arguments presented, it follows that …
Overall, one can conclude that …
In light of the evidence, it is reasonable to assert that …

Nuanced ending

While acknowledging the merits of both sides, it seems reasonable to conclude that …
Although the debate is far from settled, the weight of evidence leans towards …
For all the arguments on either side, the most convincing view is that …
Even though further research is required, it is difficult to deny that …
Despite lingering uncertainties, the balance of probability suggests that …
Admittedly, counterarguments exist, yet the case for … remains stronger.
In recognising the limitations of this analysis, one can still argue that …
Although absolute certainty is impossible, the evidence points most strongly to …

Forward-looking conclusion

Looking ahead, it is imperative that …
In the future, greater emphasis will need to be placed on …
If progress is to be made, policymakers must …
The true test will lie in how society chooses to respond to …
Moving forward, the challenge will be to …
Only by addressing … can lasting solutions be achieved.
The coming years will determine whether …
Future developments will hinge upon …
It remains the responsibility of … to ensure that …
Ultimately, the legacy of this debate will depend on …

Examples

Social media - To sum up, the evidence suggests that social media has profoundly influenced the way individuals interact and access information. Taken together, these points indicate that its role in shaping public opinion is undeniable.While acknowledging the merits of both sides, it seems reasonable to conclude that, although social media can be misused, the benefits in terms of connectivity and awareness remain significant. Admittedly, counterarguments exist, yet the case for embracing digital communication responsibly remains stronger. Looking ahead, it is imperative that policymakers, educators, and users work together to minimise risks while maximising benefits. The true test will lie in how society chooses to regulate and adapt to this constantly evolving medium.
Climate Change - In conclusion, it can be maintained that climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time. From the arguments presented, it follows that urgent action is no longer optional but essential. Although the debate is far from settled, the weight of evidence leans towards the need for immediate mitigation strategies. Despite lingering uncertainties, the balance of probability suggests that delaying action will only exacerbate the crisis. Moving forward, the challenge will be to foster international cooperation and accountability. Only by addressing both environmental and economic concerns can lasting solutions be achieved. Future developments will hinge upon collective responsibility and global solidarity.
Technology in Education - Overall, one can conclude that technology has transformed education in ways that cannot be overlooked. Ultimately, the discussion shows that digital tools have enhanced both access and innovation in learning. Even though further research is required, it is difficult to deny that integrating technology into classrooms enriches the learning process. For all the arguments on either side, the most convincing view is that its benefits outweigh the drawbacks, provided it is used judiciously. Looking ahead, it is imperative that schools and governments ensure equitable access to these tools. The coming years will determine whether technology becomes a force for inclusion or for widening the educational divide.

Useful resources for the monologue

1st Part

Introducing the topic

What immediately springs to mind when we talk about … is …
One of the first things that comes to mind about … is …
This is a classic example of an issue where the devil is in the detail.
At first glance, it may appear straightforward, but scratch beneath the surface and …
It may seem simple on the surface, but in reality …
This topic is far more complex than it first appears.
It’s often said that “every coin has two sides”, and this couldn’t be truer of …
The whole debate surrounding … has been gaining ground in recent years.
In today’s world, few issues are more relevant than …
Recently, there has been increasing attention on …

Highlighting the importance of the topic

Few issues are as pressing today as …
It’s impossible to overstate the significance of …
This is not a trivial matter, since it cuts to the heart of …
This is central to understanding …
It would be naïve to underestimate the impact of …
We cannot afford to overlook …
Ignoring this would be a mistake, given …
What makes this particularly relevant nowadays is …
This question goes beyond …; it touches upon …
In the current context, this has become more urgent than ever.
The importance of this issue cannot be ignored, especially when …

Presenting the structure

Perhaps the best way to approach this is by looking first at … and then at …
To do justice to the question, I’ll begin with … before moving on to …
I’d like to tackle this in stages: starting with …, and then turning to …
First of all…, secondly…, and finally…
For the sake of clarity, I’ll break this down into two main areas …
This discussion, I think, naturally divides into … and …
We can split this into three key parts: …, …, and …
The issue can be usefully broken down into …

2nd Part

Expressing positive arguments

One clear advantage is that …
What speaks in favour of … is …
It has undeniable benefits, chief among them …
To give credit where it’s due, …
On the plus side, …
It certainly brings … to the table.
One strength lies in …

Transitioning between both

The benefits, however, come at a price.
While it has its merits, it also has clear limitations.
The advantages should be weighed against the disadvantages.
As with most things, there are two sides to the coin.

Expressing negative arguments

“Not all that glitters is gold.”
On the flip side, …
It suffers from major drawbacks.
One can’t overlook the downside that …
The snag, of course, is that …
A serious shortcoming is …

Expressing cause

This stems from …
It largely originates in …
The root cause can be traced back to …
This is primarily driven by …
It arises out of …
The fact that … is hardly accidental; it’s because …
This can be attributed to …
… owes much to …
This is the outcome of …
It can be explained by …
The underlying reason is …

Expressing consequence

As a result, …
This inevitably leads to …
It has given rise to …
Hence, we find ourselves facing …
Consequently, …
This paves the way for …
The upshot is that …
The net effect is that …
Taken together, this means that …
The end result is …
Ultimately, this brings about …

Giving my opinion

Formal/Academic

I’m inclined to believe that …
I would maintain that …
It seems reasonable to suggest that …
It is my considered view that …
I am of the opinion that …
One could reasonably argue that …
I would contend that …
It stands to reason that …

Conversation/Idiomatic

From my perspective, …
As far as I’m concerned, …
The way I see it, …
To my mind, …
If you ask me, …
Speaking for myself, I would agree that …
Personally, I reckon … (informal, British)
My take on this is … (colloquial, natural)

3rd Part

Conclusion

Formal/Academic

In conclusion, it can be stated that …
Therefore, it follows that …
Ultimately, the evidence points to …
All things considered, I firmly believe …
From the arguments presented, it is clear that …
On balance, it seems reasonable to conclude that …

Conversation/Idiomatic

So, to wrap it up, …
At the end of the day, …
When all is said and done, …
The bottom line is …
To cut a long story short, …
The long and short of it is …

Summary

Formal/Academic

To summarise the main points, …
In brief, we have seen that …
The discussion can be summed up as follows: …
To recapitulate the key arguments, …
In essence, the discussion has shown that …
The main findings can be encapsulated as follows: …

Conversation/Idiomatic

To put it simply, …
Basically, what we’ve looked at is …
To sum up, …
In a nutshell, …
To make a long story short, …
If I had to boil it down, …

Offering a final reflection

The jury's still out on whether...
Only time will tell if...
The ball is in our court now.
The real litmus test will be...
The bigger picture shows that...
That's food for thought as we look to the future.
Much will hinge on how we respond.
The challenge ahead is to …
What matters most moving forward is …
It remains to be seen whether …
The outcome largely depends on …

Farewell

Formal/Academic

Thank you for your attention.
I appreciate you taking the time to listen.
That concludes my presentation.
I hope this has provided a clear overview.
With that, I will bring my presentation to a close.
I trust this has addressed the key points of the topic.

Conversation/Idiomatic

That’s all from me.
Thanks for listening.
I hope that was clear.
That’s a wrap!
And that’s where I’ll leave it.
I guess that just about covers it.

A PROPOSAL

Introduction

As requested, I hereby submit the following proposal (with the intent to) …

The main purpose/ objective/ aim of (this proposal) is to outline / present / discuss / evaluate / provide an in-depth examination of…

This proposal outlines / looks at / is based on / endeavours to present a comprehensive analysis of …

This proposal contains (a detailed account of) the pertinent information concerning …, as previously requested.

This document seeks to furnish a thorough exploration of…, in alignment with the requirements outlined.

With a view to addressing …, this proposal undertakes a systematic evaluation of…

Main problems / Current Situation

It is an indisputable fact that …, thereby implying that…

Evidently, based on the feedback proposed by citizens / inhabitants / customers / students, it becomes apparent that…

In light of the insights gained from (my experience on…), it is evident that…

Given the available data. It stands to reason that…, which consequently suggests that…

A thorough analysis of the feedback received unequivocally indicates that…

Regarding …, there seems to be a broadly shared perspective that…

Recommendations

We put forward the proposal that…/ We advocate that…

Should the centre / school / organisation seek to attract a wider number of …, it is imperative that…

I therefore strongly recommend + -ing / that…

It is highly advisable to…

We are confident that…/ It is our firm conviction that...

I put forth the suggestion that substantial / radical reforms should be implemented to…

An addition measure worth considering is…

Accordingly, it is evident that… would serve the most viable option for…

It is of paramount importance that…

A prudent course of action would be to…

To effectively address this issue, we advocate pursuing the following strategic approach:

It would (not) be strategically sound / advisable to…

Were we implement …, we would invariably achieve…

From a short- / long- term perspective, it would be advisable to consider…

The following recommendations merit serious consideration:

The feasibility of this approach lies in…

The immediate benefits would encompass…

The merits of the suggested approach include…

This strategic move would yield substantial benefits, including…

The implementation of… is highly recommended.

Conclusion

To sum up / To conclude, it's evident that...

The most viable / optimal solution appears to be ...

The weight of the evidence (compellingly) suggests that / points towards...

Given the aforementioned considerations, we firmly advocate for the adoption of the following measures: ...

In view of the circumstances, there seems to be no viable alternative but to ...

I trust these recommendations / these proposals will be accorded the careful attention they merit.

I trust you will assess my proposal with the seriousness it warrants.

I sincerely hope that the outlined plan / recommendations will meet with your approval and be duly considered.

I firmly believe that the suggested course of action will effectively address ... / prove instrumental in meeting the needs of ...

Your local council is proposing to ban all cars from the town centre because of problems with traffic, pollution and accidents. However, the following comments were made at a public meeting to discuss the situation:

• My car is the only way I have of taking my children to school.

• The shops in the town centre will be forced to close because people will go somewhere else to do their shopping.

• Public transport is dreadful. We can't rely on it and it's incredibly expensive.

The local council is inviting people to send in proposals in which they express their views on the council's plan and offer possible solutions to people's concerns.

A Proposed Solution to the Traffic Problems In Ashmore Town Centre

Introduction

The Council's plan and objections to it

As requested, I hereby submit the following proposal with the intent to evaluate the Ashmore Town Council's plan to ban all motor traffic in the town centre, an area encompassing both the main shopping district and St. Mary's Primary School. While supporting the initiative, this document addresses concerns raised at a recent public meeting and suggests practical solutions.

Taking and collecting children from school

To address transportation concerns, we propose a radically improved school bus service, with ecofriendly buses to reduce environmental impact. The immediate benefits would encompass improved air quality, reduced travel costs for families, and safer roads for pedestrians. Such improvements would benefit both the community and the environment in the long term.

Shopping in the town

Regarding shopping in the town, we suggest building a large multi-storey (de varias plantas) car park on King Street and connecting it to the town centre with free and frequent shuttle buses (lanzaderas). This solution would increase foot traffic to local businesses, create a safer shopping environment, and reduce pollution from car fumes.

Negative perceptions of public transport

While the current public transport system is considered inadequate, the reluctance of residents to give up their cars contributes to this issue. By offering a more efficient, accessible, and environmentally-friendly alternative, we are confident that public transport usage will increase, reducing congestion and pollution.

Conclusion

I sincerely hope that these proposals - namely, an improved school bus service, a new car park and a system of shuttle buses - will meet with your approval and be duly considered, as they will undoubtedly prove instrumental in meeting the needs of the community.

Useful language to comment on an INFOGRAPHIC

A good infographic is worth a thousand words, ...

This infographic illustrates / shows how / the impact of ...

This illustrative/engaging infographic compares/ examines/ indicates / shows ...

As can be seen in this infographic, ...

From what is shown in the infographic, it is apparent that ...

The percentage of people who... is depicted on the infographic.

In the infographic we can interpret that ...

Embedded within this infographic there is a direct reference to ...

This infographic addresses / refers to the issue of ...

This infographic effectively describes / supports the idea that ...

This infographic reflects on the differences between...

I would like to take issue / disagree with this infographic because ...

The purpose of this infographic is to analyse ...

This infographic conveys an idea/ an impression/ a sense of ...

This infographic has seized/ captured/ gripped my imagination.

This infographic introduces/ develops the idea/the theme of...

The subject-matter of this infographic is well balanced and is clearly and skilfully presented.

The author of this compelling infographic explores ...

The motivation/intention of the author is to make the reader aware of...

lt could be argued that this infographic epitomises ...·

lt's an infographic strongly reminiscent of ...

This infographic resonates powerfully with readers, ...

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This well-crafted infographic presents a concise yet insightful analysis of...

The infographic offers a snapshot of key trends and statistics.

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Based on this infographic we can draw the following conclusions about ...

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WRITING C1 & C2

Table of Contents

Building Powerful Essays

1st Part

Introducing the topic in a sophisticated way

Showing balance or complexity

Signalling the purpose of your essay

Examples

2nd Part

Introducing positive points

Balancing positive and negative

Introducing negative points

Examples

3rd Part

Conclusion

Nuanced ending

Forward-looking conclusion

Examples

Useful resources for the monologue

1st Part

Introducing the topic

Highlighting the importance of the topic

Presenting the structure

2nd Part

Expressing positive arguments

Transitioning between both

Expressing negative arguments

Expressing cause

Expressing consequence

Giving my opinion

Formal/Academic

Conversation/Idiomatic

3rd Part

Conclusion

Formal/Academic

Conversation/Idiomatic

Summary

Formal/Academic

Conversation/Idiomatic

Offering a final reflection

Farewell

Formal/Academic

Conversation/Idiomatic

A PROPOSAL

Introduction

Main problems / Current Situation

Recommendations

Conclusion

A Proposed Solution to the Traffic Problems In Ashmore Town Centre

Useful language to comment on an INFOGRAPHIC