Unit 10 1


Writing skills


Read Sarah and Ali’s paragraphs about their working environments below. Make notes on the most important points in each text. Then write a short paragraph (70–100 words) comparing Sarah and Ali’s work environments.


Sarah I’m a graphic designer and I work in a large open- plan office. There are over 30 employees in the area where I work. Working in an open-plan office has pros and cons.


On the one hand, it allows you to see and chat to your colleagues during breaks. In addition, it is helpful when you need to brainstorm ideas and get opinions on drawings and pictures. On the other hand, it can be hard to concentrate in an open-plan office because of the noise and interruptions.


I have thought about changing jobs. However, I love my job and my colleagues. So, in my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons, and I will stay in my job.


Ali I work as a technician for an electricity company. I spend a lot of my time working alone. I drive to sites in the desert so I can inspect them. There are pros and cons to working alone.


On the one hand, I love driving in the desert in my four-wheel drive vehicle. Sometimes I listen to music, and I love the quietness of the desert when I’m working. On the other hand, it can be difficult working outside in the summer because the temperature can reach over 45 degrees Celsius. However, in my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons. I love my job and I don’t want to change anything about it.


FOCUS pros and cons


We use the phrase pros and cons to describe the advantages and disadvantages of something.


There are two ways to use this phrase. Sarah writes: Working in an open-plan office has pros and cons.


Ali writes: There are pros and cons to working alone.


Writing


FOCUS


Writing


Contrasting ideas:On the one hand, … On the other hand, …


We often use these phrases after stating that there are pros and cons to a situation. These phrases help signal to the reader that you are contrasting ideas.


Note the comma after each phrase.


Ali writes: On the one hand, I love driving in the desert in my four-wheel drive vehicle. On the other hand, it can be difficult working outside in the summer because the temperature can reach over 45 degrees Celsius.


158


English for the 21st


Century • Unit 10


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