City or Countryside? Where Would You Rather Live?
Write a short opinion essay comparing life in a city and in the countryside, and say where you would rather live and why.
- Time
- 30 min
- Length
- 140-170 words
Writadia · B1 · Essays
NameClassDate
The situation
Your English teacher has set this essay question: "Is life better in the city or in the countryside?"
Your task
Write a short opinion essay. Include:
- an introduction that gives your opinion
- advantages of city life
- advantages of country life
- a conclusion that repeats your opinion in different words
Writing toolkit
Open these only when you need them. Try the first draft on your own.
Plan it in steps
- State your opinion in the introduction.
- Write one paragraph for the city and one for the countryside.
- Use comparatives and linking words: whereas, however, on the other hand.
- Write a short conclusion without new ideas.
Useful phrases
Introduction
Comparing
Conclusion
Tap a phrase to add it to your text. Gaps (…) are selected so you can type over them.
Vocabulary
- convenient
- easy and usefulPublic transport is convenient.
- peaceful
- quiet and calmThe village is peaceful.
- opportunity
- a chance to do somethingCities offer more job opportunities.
- crowded
- with too many peopleBuses are crowded.
- fresh air
- clean airThe countryside has fresh air.
Model answer (148 words)
Read it after you’ve written your own version. Notice the highlighted parts. The numbers explain why they work.
Many people dream of leaving the city for a quiet life in the countryside, but I believe that, for young people, the city is the better choice.1
Cities offer far more opportunities than villages. There are more schools, universities and jobs, and public transport makes it convenient to get around. There is also always something to do, from concerts to museums, so young people rarely feel bored.
On the other hand, life in the countryside has real advantages.2 It is peaceful, the air is fresh, and people usually know and help their neighbours. Food is often fresher and cheaper too. Whereas city streets are crowded and noisy, village life is slower and less stressful.
All in all, I would rather live in a city while I am young, because I want to study and meet new people. Perhaps one day, when I'm older, I'll move to a village.3
- Introduction with a clear opinion.
- A linking phrase introduces the other side.
- Conclusion: same opinion, new words, a personal touch.
Teacher notes
Theme link: Life in the City & Country (Theme 6).
Pre-writing: two columns on the board, City / Countryside. Students add one advantage each to both sides.
Focus: whereas, on the other hand, would rather.
Extra challenge
Write a 60-word paragraph from someone who has just moved from Istanbul to a small village.
Lesson plan
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 10 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: convenient, peaceful, opportunity, crowded, fresh air.
- 12 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “Many people dream of ..., but I believe ...”, “Cities offer more ... than villages.”, “In the countryside, life is slower and ...”.
- 38 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (140-170 words)
- 10 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 5 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task and content | All points covered in detail; purpose and reader clear. | All points there, one is thin. | One point missing or some off-topic content. | Task mostly not met. | |
| Organisation and flow | Clear paragraphs; varied linking words. | Paragraphs present; linkers repetitive. | No paragraphs or jumpy flow. | Ideas scattered. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic-specific, varied vocabulary. | Adequate; some repetition. | Limited; some wrong word choices. | Very limited. | |
| Grammar and accuracy | Range of structures, few errors. | Some errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors affect meaning. | Errors block understanding. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- My opinion is clear in the introduction.
- I wrote about both city and countryside.
- I used comparatives and linking words.
- My conclusion has no new ideas.
Teacher comment
Peer-review sheet
Students swap texts and give each other feedback with this sheet.
Before you finish
Before you finish
- My opinion is clear in the introduction.
- I wrote about both city and countryside.
- I used comparatives and linking words.
- My conclusion has no new ideas.
Writadia · B1 · Essays
Assessment rubric: City or Countryside? Where Would You Rather Live?
| Criterion | 4 · Excellent | 3 · Good | 2 · Developing | 1 · Beginning | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task and content | All points covered in detail; purpose and reader clear. | All points there, one is thin. | One point missing or some off-topic content. | Task mostly not met. | |
| Organisation and flow | Clear paragraphs; varied linking words. | Paragraphs present; linkers repetitive. | No paragraphs or jumpy flow. | Ideas scattered. | |
| Vocabulary | Topic-specific, varied vocabulary. | Adequate; some repetition. | Limited; some wrong word choices. | Very limited. | |
| Grammar and accuracy | Range of structures, few errors. | Some errors, meaning clear. | Frequent errors affect meaning. | Errors block understanding. | |
| Total | / 16 | ||||
Each criterion scores 1–4 (total 16). Use the task checklist below to tick what the student actually did.
Task checklist
- My opinion is clear in the introduction.
- I wrote about both city and countryside.
- I used comparatives and linking words.
- My conclusion has no new ideas.
Teacher comment
Writadia · B1 · Essays
Peer-review sheet: City or Countryside? Where Would You Rather Live?
WriterReviewer
Read your partner’s text carefully. Be kind and specific: say why, not just “good”.
Task checklist
| Yes | Partly | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| My opinion is clear in the introduction. | |||
| I wrote about both city and countryside. | |||
| I used comparatives and linking words. | |||
| My conclusion has no new ideas. |
Questions
- Does the text cover every point in the task?
- Are there paragraphs? What is each one about?
- Write two linking words the writer used.
- Is there a sentence you had to read twice?
Two stars and a wish
★ Something I liked
★ Another thing I liked
→ One suggestion
Writadia · B1 · Essays
Lesson plan: City or Countryside? Where Would You Rather Live?
- 5 minWarm-up
Show the situation on the classroom screen and ask: “What would you write in this situation?” Take two or three quick answers.
- 10 minWord pool
Open “Word pool” on the classroom screen. Students make one sentence each with: convenient, peaceful, opportunity, crowded, fresh air.
- 12 minModel text
Reveal the model sentence by sentence in “Model text” mode. At each sentence ask: “What job does this sentence do?” Write these phrases on the board: “Many people dream of ..., but I believe ...”, “Cities offer more ... than villages.”, “In the countryside, life is slower and ...”.
- 38 minWriting
Start the timer. Students write their own text; anyone stuck can use the plan in the toolkit. (140-170 words)
- 10 minPeer review
Students swap texts and fill in the peer-review sheet.
- 5 minWrap-up
Set the extra challenge as homework.
The task’s own teacher notes give extra ideas for the warm-up and focus.
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