C1 Stage 4: Full paragraph
Compare two views and decide
Comparing two views and reaching a judgement in an essay
You can explain two opposite views fairly, compare them, and reach your own decision.
This guide is for B2 writers moving to C1. It is a stage 4 skill: write one full paragraph (150-220 words).
When to use comparing two views
When a question says 'discuss both views' or 'to what extent', or when both sides of a topic have good reasons.
Comparing two views: how to do it
Give each view its strongest reason. Then compare them directly: which reason is more important, and why? End with a decision that comes from that comparison. Your opinion should come out of the comparing, not appear from nowhere.
Useful language for comparing two views
- On the one hand, ...
- Supporters of ... point to ...
- Those who disagree argue that ...
- The key question is whether ...
- On balance, ...
- Weighing these arguments, ...
Example of comparing two views
People disagree sharply about whether zoos still have a place in modern society. Supporters point to their role in conservation: captive breeding helped return the Arabian oryx to the wild after it had disappeared there, and zoos introduce millions of visitors to animals they would otherwise never see. Critics, on the other hand, argue that even the best enclosure cannot meet the needs of wide-ranging animals such as elephants or polar bears, and that many zoos exist mainly to sell tickets. The key question, then, is not whether zoos are good or bad, but which zoos and which animals. Breeding endangered species for release into protected habitats, and funding the research that makes such programmes possible, is a strong justification; keeping large, intelligent animals in small spaces for entertainment is not. On balance, zoos deserve a place only if they are judged by what they contribute to conservation rather than by their visitor numbers.
Topic: Zoos
How the BetterWrite coach checks comparing two views
The BetterWrite coach checks 4 points for this skill, plus accuracy and staying on topic, and quotes your own words when one is not there yet.
Try it
Write one paragraph (150-220 words) that discusses both views and gives your own judgement: Is it better to rent or to buy a home?
Write 150-220 words (one full paragraph).