Writing: An opinion essay

 1Choose the correct words to complete the sentences. 

• 1Successful people to sum upsuch asfor instance Bill Gates, investor Warren Buffet and U2 musician Bono often give away money to charities.

• 2A lot of rich people aren't happy. For exampleSuch asIn conclusion, the billionaire Howard Hughes had few friends and spent the last years of his life in hotels.

• 3Being rich is often an advantage. All things consideredSuch asFor instance, however, I don't think it is the most important thing in life.

• 4Some of the greatest artists and writers were poor. To concludeSuch asFor instance, Michelangelo didn't have any money.

• 5There's nothing wrong with having money, but happiness is of more value. Such asFor exampleTo sum up, it's better to be happy in life than to be rich.

2Read the quote and study the ideas below. Choose For for the ideas that support the quote and Against for the ideas that present arguments against it. 

'You are only really successful in life if you make money.'

• Being happy and loved is a sign of success.ForAgainst

• Having money shows that you have worked hard.ForAgainst

• You can live in a big house and have whatever you want.ForAgainst

• Talented artists, writers and thinkers are successful, but often not rich.ForAgainst

• If you have got money, you can use it to help people or change the world.ForAgainst

• You do not need lots of money to make good friends.ForAgainst

• Ordinary things, such as getting a job that you like or bringing up a family, are successes.ForAgainst

3Read the opinion essay. Which three ideas are used in the essay? 

Being happy and loved is a sign of success.

Having money shows that you have worked hard.

You can live in a big house and have whatever you want.

Talented artists, writers and thinkers are successful, but often not rich.

If you have got money, you can use it to help people or change the world.

You do not need lots of money to make good friends.

Ordinary things, such as getting a job that you like or bringing up a family, are successes.

4Read the essay and complete paragraphs C and D. Use two ideas from the list in exercise 3 or your own ideas. 

'You are only really successful in life if you make money.' Do you agree?

ASome people believe that making money is the most important thing in life. Others think that there are other ways of measuring success. So, is it true that people are only successful in life if they become rich?

BIn my view, being successful is not about money. It is about being happy, making other people happy and feeling loved by friends and family. Billionaires such as Howard Hughes and Hetty Green, who lived alone and had no friends, were not successful because they were lonely and unhappy.

CI also think that being successful is about doing something interesting and rewarding with your life. For instance, if you become a talented teacher, a great doctor or a good parent, you will achieve your goal. In addition, .

DOn the other hand, if you make money, it shows that you have worked hard and been good at what you do. In the business world, for example, a high salary usually means that you are good at your job. In addition, I think that .

EIn conclusion, although it is true that making money often means that you have been successful in your job, it is not the only way of measuring success. I believe that being happy, being loved, bringing up a family and being creative in arts and sciences make you more successful in life than being rich.

Unit 8 Writing Guide

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