SFL/METU
Dept. of B.E.
WHO 8
Advantage / Disadvantage Paragraphs
INTERMEDIATE GROUP
(Student’s Copy)
Objectives:
January 2017
1. Study the structures and vocabulary items that are frequently used in advantage / disadvantage paragraphs, 2. Analyze a
sample advantage / disadvantage paragraph.
Writing about advantages and disadvantages is similar to writing about comparison / contrast in terms of the
purpose: to persuade or inform someone about a topic or to make a decision by analyzing something. When
we write about advantages and disadvantages, we critically assess a concept, action, or event, and make
decisions or recommendations based on this assessment.
TASK 1.
Step 1. Work with a partner. Discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of living in a
dormitory on campus. Write your ideas below.
Advantages of living in a dormitory on campus
Disadvantages of living in a dormitory on campus
Step 2. Now, read Text A and Text B. Which of the ideas you have discussed in Step 1 are mentioned
in the texts?
Step 3. Fill in the chart below.
Text A
Text B
- What is the topic of each
paragraph?
- What is the controlling idea?
- What are the major ideas?
- Is there a concluding sentence?
If yes, underline it.
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Text A.
Living in a dormitory on a university campus offers three main advantages to students. First of all,
dormitory life is cheap since there are no extra costs apart from the accommodation fee. Once students
have paid this fee at the beginning of the term, they don't have to be concerned about making any other
big payments. They will only have their daily and studying expenses. Secondly, transportation to the
departments is easier and faster when students live in a dormitory on campus. They can walk or cycle to
their departments. Alternatively, they can take the ring service, which runs all day long, to get to classes,
libraries, computer labs, or cafeterias. As a result, they don't waste time or money on getting around the
campus as they do not pay for the ring service, which is free at universities. There is also the option of
hitch-hiking on many campuses; that is, a member of the university with a car gives students a lift in it,
which is also free. Thirdly, on-campus accommodation enables students to have an active social life, with
friends all around and plenty of fun activities to do. They can meet and socialize with students from
different departments. They can also join clubs and attend social and cultural events. In conclusion, living
in a dormitory on campus is very advantageous for university students.
Text B.
Living in a dormitory on a university campus may have three main disadvantages for students. Firstly,
when students live in a dormitory, they have to sacrifice their privacy to some extent. Accommodation is
usually limited to staying in a room together with three or four other students, and living with roommates
may sometimes be problematic. For example, some students prefer studying at night, whereas others study
early in the morning. While they are studying, students might make some noise, and it may be difficult
for others to tolerate this noise or concentrate on what they are doing. Secondly, students in dormitories
on campus have many distractions around them because of the active social life there, with friends all
around and plenty of activities to do. As a result of this social life, students may choose to socialize even
when they should be studying. Then, their grades as well as their budget are affected negatively as they
are constantly hanging out with their friends. Finally, students who live in on-campus dormitories have
to obey many rules, which can sometimes be irritating. There are restrictions on the items that students
can bring into the dormitories, the noise level, activities, and visitors. Moreover, the students have to be
in their dormitories by a certain hour at night. In other words, they cannot enter their dorms after closing
time, which is a stressful limitation on them. To conclude, living in a dormitory on campus may not be
the right choice for students who can’t tolerate a lack of privacy, distractions, and many rules to obey.
2
An advantage / disadvantage paragraph generally follows the following pattern:
ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES
Topic Sentence
Major supporting sentence 1 (Advantage / Disadvantage 1)
- Minor supporting sentence 1
- Minor supporting sentence 2
Major supporting sentence 2 (Advantage / Disadvantage 2)
- Minor supporting sentence 1
- Minor supporting sentence 2
Major supporting sentence 3 (Advantage / Disadvantage 3)
- Minor supporting sentence 1
- Minor supporting sentence 2
Concluding Sentence
THE PARTS OF THE PARAGRAPH
THE TOPIC SENTENCE
The topic sentences of an advantage / disadvantage paragraph should include the topic and the controlling
idea, and state that there are several advantages or disadvantages to the topic under discussion.
It is important that the topic sentence determine whether the paragraph is an advantage or a disadvantage
paragraph.
See the examples below. Identify a) the topic, b) the controlling idea, c) enumerators (if there are any).
1. There are three main advantages/disadvantages of living on campus.
2. Living on a university campus offers three main advantages/benefits to students.
3. Living on a university campus poses / has three main disadvantages/drawbacks for students.
You should avoid using the same phrases over and over. You can achieve this by using a variety of
expressions in your writing.
TASK 2. Which words / phrases in the box below are alternative ways of referring to advantages and
disadvantages?
a drawback (of)
a benefit (of)
the downside (of)
a negative aspect (of)
a good point
a positive aspect (of)
ADVANTAGES
____________________
DISADVANTAGES
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
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a limitation
EXPLANATION OF ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES
After writing the topic sentence, you need to develop the advantages / disadvantages by giving explanations
or examples, or describing results.
It would be a good idea to balance your explanation of ideas. Furthermore, list your ideas according to a
logical order. Use listing signals when you are moving from one major idea to the next. Some of the patterns
that you may use are the following:
The first
The second
The third / The last / The final
One
Another
Yet another
The last / The final
First, / Firstly, / First of all,
Second, / Secondly,
Third, / Thirdly, / Finally,
advantage
disadvantage
is
noun.
noun phrase.
that + sentence.
+ sentence.
THE CONCLUSION
In the conclusion of an advantage / disadvantage paragraph, the writer makes an assessment and gives advice
/ a recommendation based on the three major ideas.
e.g.: In conclusion, / To conclude, while deciding whether to live in a dormitory on campus or not, students
should take these advantages / benefits / drawbacks / downsides into consideration.
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