1. Pre-writing topic discussion: Speak to your partner
How often do you use the Internet for communication?
What kind of information do you look for on the Internet?
Do you do your banking on the Internet?
What other things can you do on the Internet?
How many different websites are there on the Internet?
What are some of the risks for people when they use the Internet?
Do you think the Internet can be dangerous for society or a bad influence on people?

2. Introduction structure review
The Internet is a powerful tool for communication and for distributing information. It is often seen as being only beneficial.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.
What are the different parts of an introduction?
1. General background
2. Essay topic
3. Thesis statement

3. Introduction: General statement and essay topic
The Internet is a powerful tool for communication and for distributing information. It is often seen as being only beneficial.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.
General statement: What’s the background?
When?
Nowadays, … / These days, …
What?
technology
change, development
Essay topic:
the Internet
These days, technology is changing the world. One change is that the Internet is now a big part of modern life.

4. Introduction: Thesis statement
The Internet is a powerful tool for communication and for distributing information. It is often seen as being only beneficial.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.
Can you copy the question exactly or do you need to change some words?
beneficial
positive, useful, good
advantages
positive effects, benefits, pros
disadvantages
negative effects, problems, cons, risks, dangers
It can be beneficial, but it may also cause some problems. The following essay will discuss the pros and cons of the Internet.

5. 2) It can be beneficial, but it may also cause some problems.
The Internet is a powerful tool for communication and for distributing information. It is often seen as being only beneficial.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.
These days, technology is changing the world. One change is that the Internet is now a big part of modern life.
1) However, the Internet holds some risks for people which must be balanced against its advantages.
2) It can be beneficial, but it may also cause some problems.
3) However, it is necessary to carefully consider what you want to find before you start looking.
The following essay will discuss the pros and cons of the Internet.
topic = finding information

6. On one hand, the Internet has some important benefits
On one hand, the Internet has some important benefits. Firstly, it has made a lot of information available to anyone with a computer and a connection. For example,
1) school children now have online access to much more information than is held in their school libraries.
2) people can now play online games against others from around the world.
3) people can find their family history more easily because many government records are online.
topic = entertainment

7. 2) the online criminals could steal people’s money.
On the other hand, the Internet may also have some negative effects. The main one is that a lot of dangerous information can be found there. For example, people can learn how to make bombs or drugs, which is bad for society. In addition, social networking sites can be dangerous for innocent young people, because if they reveal personal details to strangers, criminals might steal their identity. As a result,
1) those young people could lose control of their bank accounts or credit cards.
2) the online criminals could steal people’s money.
3) social networking sites can be dangerous.
This is not a result. It is just repeating the 2nd disadvantage.

8. In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Internet
In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Internet. Finding information and communicating with people in other countries are both much easier on the Internet. However, it holds information that is dangerous for society and online criminals can steal from innocent users. Therefore I believe that
1) it is necessary to inform the police if you think someone is committing crimes on the Internet.
2) the Internet is only partly beneficial and users need to be cautious about trusting information and people that they find on the net.
3) although the Internet is extremely useful, it can also be a dangerous place.
topic = making the Internet safer

9. To sum up, the main advantages of the Internet are that communicating with people in other countries and advertising are much easier now that we have the Internet, while the disadvantages are that there are dangerous criminals online and using computers too much can hurt people’s eyes. Therefore I believe that although the Internet is extremely useful, people need to be careful about how they use it.
In conclusion, because of these reasons, I believe that using the Internet can be dangerous and that people who use the net need to be careful about who and what they trust there.
These are new points, so they can’t go in the summary.
There is no summary of the advantages and disadvantages.
This kind of conclusion is for emergencies only! If you have only 2 minutes left in the exam, this is better than no conclusion, but it is better to write a full summary in your conclusion.

10. These days, technology is changing the world
These days, technology is changing the world. One change is that the Internet is now a big part of modern life.
It can be beneficial, but it may also cause some problems. The following essay will discuss the pros and cons of the Internet.
Background
Essay topic
Thesis

11. On one hand, the Internet has some important benefits
On one hand, the Internet has some important benefits. Firstly, it has made a lot of information available to anyone with a computer and a connection. For example, school children now have online access to much more information than is held in their school libraries. Another example is that universities are now creating online learning courses. Because of this, more people can study from home. The other main advantage of the Internet is that it has made communication cheaper and more convenient. For instance, and online chat programmes have made it easy to keep in touch with people almost anywhere and international calls are much cheaper on the Internet than on the phone. Consequently, there is now more communication between people in different countries.
Topic sentence for advantages paragraph
1st main advantage, example, example, result
2nd main advantage, example, result

12. On the other hand, the Internet may also have some negative effects
On the other hand, the Internet may also have some negative effects. The main one is that a great deal of dangerous information can be found there. For instance, people can learn how to make bombs or drugs, which could cause serious problems for society. In addition, social networking sites can be dangerous for innocent young people, because if they reveal personal details to strangers, criminals might steal their identity. As a result, those young people could lose control of their bank accounts or credit cards.
Topic sentence for disadvantages paragraph
1st main disadvantage, example, result
2nd main disadvantage, explaining, result

13. In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Internet
In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to the Internet. Finding information and communicating with people in other countries are both much easier on the Internet. However, it holds information that is dangerous for society and online criminals can steal from innocent users. Therefore I believe that although the Internet is extremely useful, it can also be a dangerous place. It would be difficult to enjoy modern life without the Internet, but I advise all Internet users to be careful about their security online.
Thesis statement again (different vocabulary)
Summary of main advantages
Contrasted summary of main disadvantages
Opinion
Final comment and advice

14. Advantage/Disadvantage Essay Structure
Introduction
General Statement, Essay topic, Thesis (main idea, essay outline)
Advantages Paragraph
Topic sentence, Most important advantage explain/example/result
Next most important advantage, explain/example/result
(Repeat as necessary)
Disadvantages Paragraph
Topic sentence, Most important disadvantage explain/example/result
Next most important disadvantage, explain/example/result
Conclusion
Thesis statement again (different vocabulary, same meaning)
Summary (contrasting advantages & disadvantages)
Opinion
Advice