STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
105
10.5
5
a
Read the essay title below. Work with a partner
and think of three advantages of being an only child
and three disadvantages. Note them down.
‘It is a big advantage in life to be an only child in a
family.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?
5
b
Compare your ideas with other pairs.
6
Read the first paragraph of the essay. Why, in the
writer’s opinion, is this topic worth writing about?
8
a
Complex sentences
Complex sentences contain
conjunctions (e.g.
and
,
but
,
because
,
in spite of
) or
relative pronouns (e.g.
that
,
who
or
which
). Which of
the following sentences are complex sentences?
1
Others take a different view. (paragraph 1)
2
They are also more able to cope with feelings of
loneliness. (paragraph 2)
3
This will help a child with his or her homework,
so that the child achieves above-average results.
(paragraph 2)
4
It is said that children who have siblings are less
selfish. (paragraph 3)
5
Even though this is probably true, it is a fact that
brothers and sisters often quarrel a lot. (paragraph 3)
6
Only children may well have quieter and more
peaceful childhoods. (paragraph 3)
7
While this research seems to confirm that only
children in China have an advantage, this may not
be the case in other countries. (paragraph 6)
8
On the whole, the evidence seems to suggest that it
is an advantage to be an only child. (paragraph 7)
8
b
Find three other examples in the essay of each
type of complex sentence (with a conjunction or a
relative pronoun) and underline them. Check your
answers on page167.
9
Write four complex sentences containing a conjunction
or a relative pronoun expressing opinions about the
advantages and disadvantages of being an only child.
10
Conclusions
Read the conclusion of the essay
below. Which of the following does it contain?
1
a restatement of the points in the introduction
2
a summary of the main ideas in the essay
3
new evidence or ideas about the topic
4
the writer’s opinion
11
a
Choose one of the essay topics and discuss it in
pairs. To what extent do you agree with the writer’s
point of view?
•
Women have the primary responsibility for bringing
up children.
•
Children have too much freedom nowadays.
•
Today’s world is not a safe place to bring up children.
•
‘The desire to be accepted by their peers is perhaps
the strongest motivating force during adolescence.’
(Bruce A. Epstein)
11
b
Write a short essay on one of the topics, using
the internet to look up some articles or ideas. Include
some references in the text and a short bibliography.
A major advantage of being an only child is that the
child gets more attention and financial support from his
or her parents. They will help the child with his or her
homework, so that the child achieves above-average
results at school. In addition, because the only child is
the sole focus of the parents’ love, he or she develops
more confidence and becomes more mature at an early
age. Another advantage of being an only child is that they
are on their own a lot more. As a result, they learn how
to occupy themselves and to become more independent
than other children. They are also more able to cope
with feelings of loneliness.
On the other hand, some people argue that only children
miss out on brother and sister relationships as they do
not have siblings to share their joys and sorrows. It is
said that children who have siblings are less selfish and
learn at an early age how to get on with other people –
an important life skill. Even though this is probably true,
it is a fact that brothers and sisters often quarrel a lot.
Only children may well have quieter and more peaceful
childhoods.
A study of China during the time when it had a one-child
policy supported the view that there are disadvantages
to being an only child. The study was published in
Science
by Professor Lisa Cameron and colleagues from
Australian universities. It investigated the impact of
one-child families in China. The researchers compared
the behaviour of Chinese people born before and
after the one-child policy was adopted. Their results
showed that children born after the one-child policy, in
other words ‘only children’, had certain characteristics.
They were less willing to take risks, less conscientious,
less trustworthy and more pessimistic. According to
Professor Cameron, the amount of contact that subjects
had with other children, such as their peers, did not
affect the results of the study. While this research
seemed to confirm that only children in China were at a
disadvantage, this may not be the case in other countries.
The results, therefore, are not conclusive.
7
Read the rest of the essay. Compare your ideas from
Exercise 5a with the writer’s opinions.
On the whole, in spite of the research on only
children in China, evidence seems to suggest that
it is an advantage to be an only child. However,
the key point, surely, is that a child has the love
and support of his or her parents. This is the most
important influence which will determine a child’s
development, happiness and future success in life.
In many parts of the world, it is
becoming more common for parents
to have only one child. An obvious
reason for this is that people are
tending to marry at a later age than
they did some years ago. This is an
important area of discussion because
some people think that being an
only child is a big disadvantage in life.
Others take a different view. This
essay discusses the arguments and
considers whether, on balance, it
is truly an advantage to be the only
child in a family.
