Discuss Both Views Essay: Giving Both Sides a Fair Hearing and Your Own Opinion

The first step in a discussion essay is to read the exact task instruction carefully. Look at the final instruction:

• "Discuss both views and give your own opinion." — your own opinion is required. Omitting it leaves part of the task unanswered; Task Response is assessed through the relevance and development of the complete response, not a fixed automatic deduction.
• "Discuss both these views." — if the actual instruction ends here, explain both views; do not assume that additionally choosing one side creates a Task Response advantage by itself. The overall response should have a clear direction.

In both cases you must work the topic from two angles: the first view and the second view that opposes it. A sample question:

Some people think that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school, while others believe it is better to begin in secondary school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Explain both arguments fairly, not just your preferred side, and give your own opinion when explicitly requested. If a personal opinion is not explicitly requested, follow the actual task rather than inventing an extra requirement to choose a side. A clear overall response and relevant, developed ideas matter.

Start with one possible four-paragraph practice plan, not an official template or the only possible structure. For a question requiring your opinion:

1. Introduction — paraphrase the topic, show your opinion in the thesis.
2. Body 1 — the first view: topic sentence, explanation, example or result.
3. Body 2 — the second view: the same structure.
4. Conclusion — a short summary + a repeat of the opinion.

Present even a view you disagree with fairly and with supported arguments. Reporting phrases such as Supporters argue that…, Critics claim that… can distinguish other people's views from your own voice. When using "I", make the speaker clear; there is no official quota or single permitted use for that pronoun.

Sample outline

Some people think public transport should be free, while others believe passengers should pay.

• Introduction: paraphrase + "This essay will examine both perspectives before arguing that fares should remain in place."
• Body 1: free buses cut congestion and support low-income families.
• Body 2: ticket revenue funds vehicle maintenance and service quality.
• Conclusion: a balanced summary + the repeated opinion.

This plan focuses each main paragraph on one view. A comparison or counterargument may also be included when the central point remains clear; connecting arguments across paragraphs is not forbidden. Adapt the plan to answer every part of the task.

When an opinion is required, develop a clear, consistent position. Expressing it in the thesis and conclusion is useful in this practice plan, not an official minimum number of locations; the body should also support it:

1. Thesis (introduction): "While free transport would help the poorest passengers, I believe ticket revenue is essential for maintaining quality services."
2. Conclusion: the same position, in different words: "Overall, despite its appeal, keeping fares remains the wiser option."

Another possible option is a short third body paragraph to weigh both sides and justify your decision (Having weighed both arguments, …). An extra paragraph does not earn a higher score by itself; consider relevance and development.

Avoid three typical mistakes:

• Announcing an opinion only at the end without developing it in the body — the overall direction may be unclear to the reader.
• Merely saying "both views are equally convincing" without support — the position needs explanation. A balanced or conditional view can be valid when clear, supported and relevant; choosing one side is not compulsory.
• Contradicting your own paragraphs: choosing A in the thesis and switching to B in the conclusion.

Core linking expressions: