Question:
I’ve got to write an essay to Argue for or against animal testing.
I’ve got some ideas already. I think we should test medicine on animals because nobody cares if rats and mice die, and it could help preserve people’s lives- which we do care about. But testing make up on animals is wrong. Why do women wear make up anyway?
Answer:
Well, some women look pretty terrible in the mornings, John.
Let’s focus on the question though.
It’s really good you’re distinguished between testing for cosmetic and medicinal purposes – and you should make this clear in your introduction. If you talk about cosmetic needs first in the introduction, deal with it first in the essay.
Why is cosmetic testing on animals wrong?
- You’ve already said it’s unnecessary.
- You could then explain how animals might suffer from the chemicals eg- from blindness, skin irritation, physical pain (perhaps stinging).
- It’s not fair they should be caged up instead of free in the wild.
- You could then explain animals and people react differently anyway.
- Then you might explain how people would be treated better than animals if make up was tested on them – for example, they might be paid to test the products.
For medicinal purposes, list your arguments similarly.
- You’ve already said the benefits to humans outweigh the loss to animals.
- Give another two reasons for medicinal tests.
Remember: you only need 3 or 4 arguments for each part (cosmetic / medicinal) of your essay – and you might not even use all of them.
When you’ve listed the arguments, put them in order with the most important going first. Jot down why you think what you think.
When your views are in order, look for links between each point.
Then start writing.
Do include examples (eg of when experiments go wrong).
Imagine your reader disbelieves everything you say. Work really hard to convince him/her to believe you. You could even use some of the persuasive devices I listed in Writing to Persuade.
Remember to argue for or against. It’s okay to be for medicinal testing but against cosmetic testing – as long as you make it clear. You can’t be partly for and partly against both types of testing because you’ll seem wishy-washy then.
As always, remember you get marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar – so check your writing carefully; using long, sophisticated words; and, of course, for linking paragraphs and arguments and for being persuasive!
If you’re doing the higher tier, aim to write two sides of A4; if you’re doing the foundation tier, write at least one side of A4.
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