7 WritingA discussion essay explains why each view may be reasonable, then gives your opinion when the question asks for it. “Discuss both views and give your own opinion” contains three tasks; supporting only your preferred side leaves part of the question unanswered.
Give each view a clear purpose
One paragraph could explain the value of printed collections and another the value of digital resources. Go beyond repeating what supporters believe: identify who benefits, under which conditions and why.
Make your own judgement specific
You can state a brief position in the introduction, compare relevant conditions in the body and draw the judgement together in the conclusion. Even when supporting one side, explain the other fairly. A compromise needs a reason for allocating resources. Saying both sides are important does not explain how to choose.
Practice question
Some people think public libraries should spend their budget on printed books. Others believe digital resources should receive more funding. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Illustrative paragraph
Printed collections remain useful for readers who cannot easily access digital materials. A library can provide books without requiring visitors to own a device or pay for an internet connection. For example, a child could borrow a storybook and read it at home even when the household has no computer. This supports retaining a physical collection alongside digital services.
Check your paragraph
Cover the illustrative paragraph and explain the purpose of each sentence in your own words. Then change one detail and rewrite it. Check that the claim still follows from the evidence. Do not just replace synonyms; if the meaning changes, revise the reason as well.
Continue practising
Use the Task 2 structure checker to inspect paragraphs and word count.