Essay Type
Discuss Both Views
This essay type asks you have to discuss both sides of the question and give your opinion. You can use Paragraph 1 for one side + your opinion and Paragraph 2 for the other side + your opinion. Don't forget to support your opinion with examples.
Ideas (For both sides)
In this essay, you need to address both sides of the question. This means that you need to have some good ideas about why are people more dependent on each-other or are more independent in our society. You should ask yourself first:
- What does it mean to be dependent on others?
- What are the reasons for people to become dependent?
Or
- What does it mean to be independent from others?
- How does one become independent in our society?
Independent or Not:
Before we write people who are independent or dependent to each other, it is a good idea to know some of their qualities. You should learn a few ideas about:
- What are the qualities of independent people?
- What are the qualities of dependent people?
The infographic to the right shows a few of the qualities for both. Try to learn some of them.
Ideas for Writing:
More Independent:
IDEA 1
High-Tech Education
These days young individuals have instant access to high quality education, not only from top institutions like universities, but further online. This means that, they don't have to rely on their relatives or close people to solve a problem for them, and instead, they can just check it themselves online in a video guide. This makes young adults more confident and independent.
IDEA 2
International Experience
Many young individuals these days have the opportunity to either do an exchange program in another city or abroad. This was something almost unthinkable for their parents in the past. This means that those individuals gather valuable international experience and knowledge, which further makes them better at problem solving and critical thinking.
More Dependent:
IDEA 1
Home Past 30
These days, it is very common for young adults to live in the same home with their parents even in their 30-ties. There are many reasons for this happening, like the ever-increasing housing cost, and the inability for those young individuals to afford moving out, however part of the reason is also over-reliance on their parents and inability to separate.
IDEA 2
Overprotected Kids
There are many parents these days who overprotect and spoil their kids heavily, by never refusing them or by solving every single tiny problem for them. This leads to those kids becoming young adults and even adults without any experience of hardship and problem solving. Because of this reason, those young individuals stay over-dependent on their family members and close friend circle, and cannot face life confidently.
Example Essay:
"Some people think that individuals today are more dependent on each other. Others believe people have become more independent."
- Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Introduction
Society all around the globe has been heavily impacted by technological change and globalization. One of the more profound questions as a result of this development has been if we are becoming more knowledgeable and self-reliant or oppositely dependent on people for help. Although I'm willing to support that we are indeed becoming more self-sufficient, there is evidence for the opposite trend at the same time, and I will address both with this essay.
Phrases:
Vocabulary:
technological change - change in our lives caused by technology
globalization - the connecting of the world with each other, in order to work together, learn from each other and grow the economy
knowledgeable - someone who has a lot of knowledge, well-read or well educated person
self-reliant - independent, a person who can do things on his own
indeed - really, for sure, positively
self-sufficient - someone who can live on his own
trend - something happening, developing in a positive or negative direction
to address something - to talk about something, to discuss something
Linking Phrases / Sentence Beginners:
Society all around the globe has been heavily impacted by...
One of the more profound questions as a result of this development has been _________, or oppositely...
Although I'm willing to support that __________, there is evidence for the _________.
Paragraph 1
Initially, it is worth pointing out some reasons why some believe people are becoming more dependent on each other. As a clear example, there is an increasing trend of young individuals who stay and live with their parents even after their thirties. This happening is oftentimes accredited to the millennial generation and the generations further, and is explained with those generations being lazy and unwilling to separate from their nest. This whole thesis is a misconception, as it does not look beyond the scope of those young individuals remaining home. The main reason why this situation is happening in the first place is failed government economic policies that have created an insanely overvalued housing market, and has pushed many young individuals out of the housing market altogether. Consequently, this does not mean that young people are unwilling to become independent, but rather that they are financially unable to. This example clearly demonstrates how an idea can be misunderstood and then can mischaracterize a group of people wrongly.
Phrases:
Vocabulary:
a trend - a development, a positive or negative progress in something
The Millennial Generation - this is the generation of people who were born in the years between 1980 and 2000.
unwilling to - don't want to, refuses to do something
*IDIOM* - to separate from the nest - to leave the comfort of your home, to leave the family and become independent
economic policies - the laws and regulations government creates to support the development of a country
insane - crazy, unrealistic, unbelievable
overvalued - too expensive, unrealistically expensive
housing market - the whole industry of buying and selling apartments and houses for people
altogether - as a whole, fully
financially unable to _________ - not having enough money or high enough income to do something
to misunderstand - to not understand clearly a problem or a situation
to mischaracterize - to give wrong qualities to something or someone
Linking Phrases / Sentence Beginners:
Initially, it is worth pointing out...
As a clear example, there is...
This happening is oftentimes accredited to...
This whole thesis is a misconception, as it does not look beyond the scope of...
The main reason why ________ in the first place is...
Consequently, this does not mean that __________, but rather that...
This example clearly demonstrates how...
Paragraph 2
Contrary to the previous idea, is that young individuals are becoming more and more capable and self-reliant. The facts are in favor for this argument, as younger people are more educated and have access to more information than ever before. When we look at the word "independent", we think of people able to support themselves, have the ability to live on their own and free from some sort of control and manipulation. Young individuals represent all of these characteristics to the point. With the help of technology and media, young people have the whole world for the taking. They are able to read through tons of data and information and critically shape society for the better through expression of thought, debate and discussion. It is the young generations who have started the surge in innovation and development in the 21-st century and we are just in the beginning. Because of these reasons, it is more reasonable to believe that the newer generations are more independent and competent than any.
Phrases:
Vocabulary:
to be capable - to be intelligent and able to deal with everything on your own
to be self-reliant - to rely on yourself and to believe in yourself
to have access to - to be able to get something easily
more _______ than ever before - to have something available and easy to get and more than in the past (things like information, freedom, knowledge etc.)
to support yourself - to take care of yourself, financially and related to daily life
to live on your own - to live without anyone else helping you, separated from family
manipulation - control over someone's thoughts, control of someone's thinking
to represent - to show, to be an example of
characteristics - qualities, personality traits
*IDIOM* - to the point - perfectly, 100%, fully
media - everything we use for information (social media, TV, radio, video streaming etc.)
*IDIOM* - to have the whole world for the taking - the (world) is fully open for a person to take advantage of
tons of - huge amount of, a lot of
to critically shape society - to change society and the world around us, by using critical thinking and logic
expression of thought - logically thinking and expressing ideas
a debate - discussion about a topic between two or more sides and points of view
discussion - a conversation or a talk about a topic between people
surge in ________ - a quick development in something
innovation - creation of new technologies and ideas to improve the world
the 21-st century - the century after the year 2000
to be competent - to be able to do things professionally without mistakes and questions
Linking Phrases / Sentence Beginners:
Contrary to the previous idea, is that...
The facts are in favor for this argument, as...
When we look at...
Because of these reasons, it is more reasonable to believe that...
Conclusion
When it comes to this discussion, looking in abstract, it is easy to see both trends happening simultaneously. Although there are certain problems that make individuals seem dependent and unable to deal on their own, there is no doubt that the younger millennial generation is more confident and more knowledgeable than ever before. This leads to the conclusion that in fact they are independent and able to progress society in a positive direction.
479 Words
*The essay is written from the point of view of "young people". You could write it from many different points of view like speaking about - kids, adults, working adults, or even the elderly. I believe there is more to be said about the young generation these days, and so the essay focuses on that.
Phrases:
Vocabulary:
simultaneously - at the same time (when two or more things happen at the same time)
to seem _______ - to look like (at first), something looks like before serious examination
to deal on your own - to manage with life independently
knowledgeable - full of information, wise, intelligent
to progress society - to move people and society, to improve them in a way
a positive direction - improving in a good positive way, making life better for all
Linking Phrases / Sentence Beginners:
When it comes to this discussion, looking in abstract, it is easy to see both...
Although there are certain problems that _________, there is no doubt that...
This leads to the conclusion that in fact...