Page 14 - Journeys B2 (Workbook)

1 Identity and Personality

Writing

A. Discuss with a partner.
1. What do you think are the benefits of growing up with lots of siblings?
2. What might be the advantages of being an only child?
3. If you could choose, would you prefer to have more brothers and sisters, or fewer?

B. Complete the sentences.

argument balanced conclusion develop expand favour introduction opinion opposing

1. An essay can either focus on one side of an or present a
view.
2. The writer should include their own opinion in the before the main body of the text.
3. As you your essay, either on the main argument in
of your point or show views.
4. At the end, you should restate your opinion in the .

Does the number of siblings you have affect your personality?

Many people believe that coming from a large family means Secondly, the education which the children
that a person develops particular positive and negative receive, both in the home and in a formal
personality traits, such as a strong sense of responsibility but setting, will affect the way they behave as
also more protectiveness and possessiveness of personal well as the characteristics they develop. This
belongings. However, I don’t believe that we can generalise again is a factor which relies heavily on the
and say that such traits are inherent in people coming from way parents bring up their children, rather
families of a certain size. than the number of family members.

Other factors will affect how a child grows up in a large family; To sum up, I believe there are more significant
primarily, the family income. In an affluent family, children may factors affecting how a child develops their
not feel the need to become overly possessive as they will not personality than the size of the family they
have had to fight for their own possessions; the family having grow up in.
enough money to provide them with everything they need.

C. Match the linking device to its use. Then add D. Work with a partner. Add at least two more
two more linking devices to each category. reasons to each column.

1. addition a. as well as Does your cultural identity determine your future?
2. conclusion b. however Reasons in favour Reasons against
3. contrast c. secondly
• Children from •Our globalised
4. exemplify d, such as traditional families are society allows people
expected to behave to choose their own
5. order e. to sum up in a certain way. path.

E. Now, write your essay (160–190 words), using
the information from the table.

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