How to write a for-and-against essay in English (B2): developed reasons, conditionals and expressions with take

A for-and-against essay weighs both sides of one decision before reaching a view. In 140–190 words, use four paragraphs: a question that frames the decision, two developed benefits, two developed costs, and a conclusion that states your conditions. The example asks whether employers should pay for staff adventure courses. This B2 (upper intermediate) topic is for adults who can give opinions in English but want them to sound balanced and convincing.

Who this is for

Upper-intermediate adults who can state an opinion in English but whose arguments still sound one-sided or like a list.
People who write discussion posts, proposals or comments at work and need to weigh benefits against costs.
Learners preparing for writing tasks that ask for advantages and disadvantages followed by a reasoned view.
Too early: if supporting even one point with evidence still feels hard, start with a B1+ professional profile that backs two strengths with evidence.
Too easy: if balanced arguments and qualified conclusions already come naturally, move on to a C1+ article that explains causes and answers a counterargument.

Open the sample pages

Word cards

take after — phrasal verb

resemble an older relative

Maya takes after her aunt: both assess risk calmly.

take risks — collocation

accept possible harm or loss

Owen takes calculated risks only after defining a stopping rule.

take part in — phrasal verb

participate in

Thirty residents took part in the flood drill.

take care of — expression

look after or deal responsibly with

Maya takes care of the emergency equipment.

take advantage of — expression

use an opportunity beneficially

The council took advantage of a dry week to repair the barrier.

take place — expression

happen at a stated time or location

The safety review will take place on Friday.

take your time — expression

avoid hurrying

Take your time when checking the climbing harness.

take into account — expression

consider when deciding

The forecast must take wind speed into account.

Conversation

maya If the chance of rain is only twenty percent, do we still change the route?

owen We do if the consequence is difficult evacuation. Probability is not the whole risk.

maya As soon as wind reaches the threshold, the exposed route closes.

owen And teams carry radios in case the signal fails.

maya Unless visibility improves, the final group will take the lower path.

owen That is slower, but it keeps the decision reversible.

Language pattern

zero: present simple + present simple

Use for a general result or rule.

If floodwater reaches electrical equipment, the power shuts down.

zero with continuous/perfect

Present continuous or present perfect can appear when the general relationship requires it.

If crews are working near water, they wear radios; if a barrier has failed, the road closes.

first: present after if

Use a present form in the condition, not will for ordinary prediction.

If the wind increases, the event will move indoors.

varied main clause

The result may use will, going to, imperative, modal, or present form.

If the warning changes, call Maya; we may cancel, and Owen is going to notify traders.

future-time linkers

Use present forms after when, as soon as, until, before, and after.

As soon as the inspection finishes, we’ll reopen the path.

unless

Means if not; keep the intended negative logic clear.

The climb will continue unless the visibility gets worse.

in case

Describe a precaution taken because something may happen.

Carry a radio in case the mobile signal fails.

general versus possible consequence

Zero presents a regular relation; first presents a likely future situation.

If people skip checks, errors increase; if we skip tonight’s check, tomorrow’s launch may fail.

More practice

Adventure courses: fair route to confidence or avoidable risk?

The riverside path is closed and the market now trades on the car-park deck.

Outdoor challenge courses can build confidence, but should employers pay staff to take part in them?

On the one hand, a carefully designed course can reveal communication habits that an office meeting hides. Participants practise asking for help, taking notice of changing conditions, and stopping when a limit is reached. A shared unfamiliar task may also strengthen trust.

On the other hand, physical activities do not offer equal access. An employee may have a health condition, disability, religious concern, or previous experience that they do not wish to disclose. If participation affects promotion, the activity stops being genuinely voluntary. The company also takes on cost and legal risk.

In my view, employers may offer challenge courses only when an equally valued non-physical alternative exists and no career decision depends on attendance. Under those conditions, the activity can be useful without turning personal risk into a test of professional worth.

Write a balanced risk post

The climbing session that became safer by becoming smaller

An indoor climbing centre planned its first outdoor weekend for forty beginners. The organizer took advantage of a low price and booked one large group. If the weather stayed settled, two instructors would lead everyone along the same ridge.

Three days before departure, the forecast became changeable. The chance of rain remained modest, but strong wind would make the exposed ridge difficult to evacuate. Maya wanted to cancel. Owen took the wind speed into account and noticed that a sheltered lower route stayed within the instructors' qualification.

They divided the group into four timed teams and introduced a clear rule: if gusts reach 35 kilometres per hour, nobody starts the ridge; if visibility has fallen below the marked point, teams take the lower path. The smaller plan cost more, yet it reduced queueing and kept instructors close to each learner.

The weekend went ahead. One team used the lower route when fog arrived, and the others completed the ridge before the wind strengthened. The centre later kept the smaller-team rule even in good weather because incident reports and waiting time both fell.

Learn this unit

How would you like to learn?

Have an account?

A free account opens one unit for good.

A four-paragraph plan for a balanced post

Each paragraph has one job. Write the introduction, about 50 words, first.

Introduction: a fair statement, then the question. “Outdoor challenge courses can build confidence, but should employers pay staff to take part in them?”
For: two benefits, opened with On the one hand.
Against: two costs, opened with On the other hand.
Conclusion: In my view or On balance, then your conditions.

Develop each reason: claim, explanation, consequence

A label is not an argument. A developed reason says what happens, how, and why it matters. Can and may keep benefits as possibilities.

Label: “Adventure courses are good for teamwork.”
Developed: “A carefully designed course can reveal communication habits that an office meeting hides.” “Participants practise asking for help, taking notice of changing conditions, and stopping when a limit is reached.”
Hedged: “A shared unfamiliar task may also strengthen trust.”
A cost with its consequence: “If participation affects promotion, the activity stops being genuinely voluntary.”

Conditionals for rules, risks and precautions

Arguments about risk depend on conditions:

Zero conditional for a rule, first for one likely case: “If people skip checks, errors increase; if we skip tonight’s check, tomorrow’s launch may fail.”
For a future condition, a present form after if, not will: “If the wind increases, the event will move indoors.”
Present simple after when, as soon as and until: “As soon as the inspection finishes, we’ll reopen the path.”
Unless means if not: “The climb will continue unless the visibility gets worse.”
In case introduces a precaution: “Carry a radio in case the mobile signal fails.”

Probability is not the whole risk

Two organisers of a climbing weekend decide when to change a route. Listen for as soon as, in case and unless.

Key idea for your essay: how likely a problem is and how serious it would be are separate questions.

Maya If the chance of rain is only twenty percent, do we still change the route?

Owen We do if the consequence is difficult evacuation. Probability is not the whole risk.

Maya As soon as wind reaches the threshold, the exposed route closes.

Owen And teams carry radios in case the signal fails.

Maya Unless visibility improves, the final group will take the lower path.

Owen That is slower, but it keeps the decision reversible.

A conclusion that states its conditions

A strong conclusion weighs both sides and names your conditions. Only when, only if, provided that and as long as introduce them: “In my view, employers may offer challenge courses only when an equally valued non-physical alternative exists and no career decision depends on attendance.”

Before you write, discuss:

“Should employers pay staff to take part in adventure courses?”
“Can a risk be unlikely and still too serious to accept?”
“Has society become too afraid of risk?”

Learn this unit your way

Expressions with take

Use three in your post, each in its exact sense.

Take part in means participate; take place means happen: “Thirty residents took part in the flood drill.” “The safety review will take place on Friday.”
Take into account means consider: “The forecast must take wind speed into account.”
Take advantage of means use an opportunity well: “The council took advantage of a dry week to repair the barrier.”
Take after means resemble an older relative: “Maya takes after her aunt: both assess risk calmly.”
Take on means accept a cost or responsibility: “The company also takes on cost and legal risk.”

Common mistakes

Check your draft:

“On the contrary, the courses are expensive.” On the contrary rejects what was just said; for the other side, write On the other hand.
“If the weather will change, …” Write “If the weather changes, …”
“unless visibility doesn’t improve” Write “unless visibility improves”
“The course will take part on Friday.” Events take place; people take part.
A conclusion that adds a new argument instead of weighing the old ones.

A 10-minute daily routine

Pick one workplace question a week and write the full post at the weekend.

3 minutes: one developed reason for each side.
3 minutes: one sentence each with if, in case and unless.
2 minutes: three take expressions aloud in your own sentences.
2 minutes: a one-sentence conclusion with only if.

What comes next

Next at B2: expand a 50-word draft into a story, propose a trial without overstating success, and recommend a rule that changes with the task. At C1+, explain causes and answer a counterargument.

Frequently asked questions

How do you structure a for-and-against essay?

In four paragraphs: the question, two developed points for, two against, and a conclusion that weighs them and states your conditions.

What is the difference between in case and if?

If gives a condition: “If the signal fails, use the radio.” In case gives a precaution taken beforehand: “Carry a radio in case the mobile signal fails.”

Is it take place or take part?

Events take place (no object, no passive): “The safety review will take place on Friday.” People take part in them: “Thirty residents took part in the flood drill.”