In writing task 2, the agree/disagree essay is a typical essay type. It requires that a student adopt a firm stance on a given statement and support it with logical reasoning. Although the task seems simple, many writers inadvertently weaken their arguments by making common mistakes. Identifying these typical errors and learning how to prevent them is important for writing a persuasive essay that earns a high score. A strong argument depends not only on the content but also on the intellectual rigour of its presentation.
To fix this, a writer needs to pick a side, either agree or disagree, and say it clearly in the opening thesis. The rest of the essay must then try to prove that specific view. For instance, instead of writing, "Social media has good and bad things," decide on a firm, single statement, like, "The good things about social media in helping global talk are much more important than the bad." Even when the topic is hard, a strong argument needs a single, provable point that you are ready to support throughout the whole paper.
To make your writing better, every point in the main paragraphs must be supported with clear, verifiable evidence. After you make a claim, ask yourself, "What proof do I have?" and use that proof to strengthen your idea. This could be a documented fact, a logical explanation, or current data. You should then spend enough time looking at the evidence and explaining how it connects to and proves your main idea. The explanation is as important as the evidence.
To write a convincing essay, you should spend a whole paragraph on the opposing argument. Begin by giving a concession, admitting that the other side has a good point. Right after the concession, you need to give a refutation, explaining why your position is still better, even though the other side's point is true. This makes the essay more than just an opinion and turns it into a detailed analysis.
Instead of just going through the same words again, each paragraph should bring up a new and different idea that backs up the main argument. After you give your proof, your analysis should build on it, looking at what the detail means and why it matters. This is where you link the separate facts into a bigger, clear argument, moving the discussion ahead instead of just wasting time. When you are editing, if you see the same main idea in two different sentences, remove the weaker one and put in a real analysis or a new piece of information that supports your point.
For instance, instead of saying something is "an outrageous failure," it is better to say it "produced a demonstrably negative result." The power of your argument should come from your evidence and reasoning, not strong words. By focusing on logic and verifiable facts, the essay will have the authoritative quality needed for academic work.
1. Sitting on the Fence: Avoiding a Clear Stand
A key mistake in this type of essay is not taking a clear, definite stance. Students may try to seem fair by saying the answer is a mix of both sides, or by just summing up different sides of a topic without picking one. This weak method makes the essay lack a real argument. The main goal of the essay, which is to convince, is missed if the thesis statement is not strong. If your essay just says what different people believe, it is now just giving information, not trying to persuade.To fix this, a writer needs to pick a side, either agree or disagree, and say it clearly in the opening thesis. The rest of the essay must then try to prove that specific view. For instance, instead of writing, "Social media has good and bad things," decide on a firm, single statement, like, "The good things about social media in helping global talk are much more important than the bad." Even when the topic is hard, a strong argument needs a single, provable point that you are ready to support throughout the whole paper.
2. Lacking Specific and Relevant Evidence
The strength of an argument depends on the evidence that backs it up. A frequent mistake is using supporting details that are not clear, too general, or just based on how someone feels. For example, saying something is "true because many people think so" or using a general, unchecked example does not give weight to academic work. In academic writing, you need real proof to support each claim. Without strong data, facts from history, expert opinions, or detailed examples, a paragraph is just an opinion.To make your writing better, every point in the main paragraphs must be supported with clear, verifiable evidence. After you make a claim, ask yourself, "What proof do I have?" and use that proof to strengthen your idea. This could be a documented fact, a logical explanation, or current data. You should then spend enough time looking at the evidence and explaining how it connects to and proves your main idea. The explanation is as important as the evidence.
3. Ignoring the Opposing Argument
When an argument does not recognise the other side, it suggests that it is not very deep. If students only talk about what they think and act like there are no other opinions, the essay seems unfinished and does not show a good understanding of the subject. A smart reader will realise that there is a valid opposing view, and if the writer does not mention it, they miss a chance to show they are intellectually mature.To write a convincing essay, you should spend a whole paragraph on the opposing argument. Begin by giving a concession, admitting that the other side has a good point. Right after the concession, you need to give a refutation, explaining why your position is still better, even though the other side's point is true. This makes the essay more than just an opinion and turns it into a detailed analysis.
4. Repeating Points Instead of Developing Them
A common and harmful mistake is to mistake repeating something for stressing it. Many writers say their key point, give some proof, and then just spend the rest of the paragraph saying the same thing in different words. This makes paragraphs that are too long but don't have much new thought, so they don't add anything new to the writing. The reader doesn't learn anything from seeing the same main idea said over and over.Instead of just going through the same words again, each paragraph should bring up a new and different idea that backs up the main argument. After you give your proof, your analysis should build on it, looking at what the detail means and why it matters. This is where you link the separate facts into a bigger, clear argument, moving the discussion ahead instead of just wasting time. When you are editing, if you see the same main idea in two different sentences, remove the weaker one and put in a real analysis or a new piece of information that supports your point.
5. Using Overly Emotional or Informal Language
In academic essays, a formal and objective tone is necessary. Overly emotional language, personal stories, or hyperbole can hurt the essay's believability. The aim is to convince using logic and facts, not emotions. Informal language or slang is not right for a formal piece. To keep a professional tone, writers should use objective, third-person language and avoid showing strong personal feelings.For instance, instead of saying something is "an outrageous failure," it is better to say it "produced a demonstrably negative result." The power of your argument should come from your evidence and reasoning, not strong words. By focusing on logic and verifiable facts, the essay will have the authoritative quality needed for academic work.