Spouses

In marriages today, some argue that it is the responsibility of both spouses to earn a living
for the family.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many these days contend that both spouses should work and provide for the entire family. In my
opinion, though advisable in certain circumstances, it is preferable to subdivide roles within a family.
Those who support this argument focus on the righteousness of empowering women in marriages.
Historically, women did not have the freedom in most cultures to work. In recent decades, as women
have gained more rights both formally and informally in society, this has allowed them to extend
themselves through their careers. Connected to this empowerment is also a sense of duty. Not only
do women now have the opportunity to work and develop their full potential, they also have the
privilege of taking on greater responsibility. The end result is they can both help alleviate financial
burdens at home and gain improved self-esteem.
However, a clear division of responsibilities in a family is the best way to nurture one’s child. If both
parents work, as has become increasingly common in Western nations, there is a strong likelihood
the children will be neglected. Though affluent families can mitigate this drawback with a nanny to
look after the children and a cleaner, this is a poor substitute for the love of one’s actual parents.
Moreover, most working-class families must simply work harder at their jobs and at home. This can
produce significant fatigue over the long term and cause parents to feel powerless, overextended,
and even lead to anxiety conditions and depression.
In conclusion, ideally both parents would have jobs but in reality this does not allow for proper
balance in a family. This does not imply that only males should have jobs as either the husband or
wife can become the primary earner.
Analysis
1. Many these days contend that both spouses should work and provide for the entire family. 2. In
my opinion, though advisable in certain circumstances, it is preferable to subdivide roles within a
family.
1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who support this argument focus on the righteousness of empowering women in
marriages. 2. Historically, women did not have the freedom in most cultures to work. 3. In recent
decades, as women have gained more rights both formally and informally in society, this has allowed
them to extend themselves through their careers. 4. Connected to this empowerment is also a sense
of duty. 5. Not only do women now have the opportunity to work and develop their full potential, they
also have the privilege of taking on greater responsibility. 6. The end result is they can both help
alleviate financial burdens at home and gain improved self-esteem.
1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
6. State the fullest possible result.
1. However, a clear division of responsibilities in a family is the best way to nurture one’s child. 2. If
both parents work, as has become increasingly common in Western nations, there is a strong
likelihood the children will be neglected. 3. Though affluent families can mitigate this drawback with a
nanny to look after the children and a cleaner, this is a poor substitute for the love of one’s actual
parents. 4. Moreover, most working-class families must simply work harder at their jobs and at
home. 5. This can produce significant fatigue over the long term and cause parents to feel
powerless, overextended, and even lead to anxiety conditions and depression.
1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Develop the example fully.
1. In conclusion, ideally both parents would have jobs but in reality this does not allow for proper
balance in a family. 2. This does not imply that only males should have jobs as either the husband or
wife can become the primary earner.
1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then
check below.
Many these days contend that both spouses should work and provide for the entire family. In my
opinion, though advisable in certain circumstances, it is preferable to subdivide roles within a
family.
Those who support this argument focus on the righteousness of empowering women in
marriages. Historically, women did not have the freedom in most cultures to work. In recent
decades, as women have gained more rights both formally and informally in society, this
has allowed them to extend themselves through their careers. Connected to
this empowerment is also a sense of duty. Not only do women now have the opportunity to work
and develop their full potential, they also have the privilege of taking on greater responsibility.
The end result is they can both help alleviate financial burdens at home and gain improved self-
esteem.
However, a clear division of responsibilities in a family is the best way to nurture one’s child. If
both parents work, as has become increasingly common in Western nations, there is a strong
likelihood the children will be neglected. Though affluent families can mitigate this drawback with
a nanny to look after the children and a cleaner, this is a poor substitute for the love of
one’s actual parents. Moreover, most working-class families must simply work harder at their jobs
and at home. This can produce significant fatigue over the long term and cause parents to
feel powerless, overextended, and even lead to anxiety conditions and depression.
In conclusion, ideally both parents would have jobs but in reality this does not allow for proper
balance in a family. This does not imply that only males should have jobs as either the husband or
wife can become the primary earner.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you
remember the new vocabulary:
contend argue
spouses husbands and wives
provide for earn money for
entire family whole family, all children and the husband and wife
advisable a good idea
certain circumstances some cases
preferable better
subdivide roles split responsibilities
within inside of
support help
argument contention
focus on pinpoint
righteousness feeling right and just
empowering feeling more confident
historically in the past
freedom ability to do what you want
most cultures many nations
in recent decades the last 20 or 30 years or so
gained have acquired
formally in laws
informally in society more generally
allowed permitted
extend themselves do more
careers jobs
connected related to
empowerment becoming stronger
sense of duty feeling of responsibility
opportunity chance
develop their full potential achieve more in life
privilege something to be grateful for
taking on greater responsibility assume more duty in life
end result final consequence
alleviate financial burdens help fix money issues
gain improved self-esteem feel more confident
clear division definite separation
nurture help to grow
increasingly common more and more prevalent
Western nations countries in Europe, America
strong likelihood good chance of
neglected not paid attention to
affluent rich
mitigate lessen
drawback downside
nanny someone who looks after the children
cleaner person who cleans the house
poor substitute doesn’t replace fully
actual in fact, real
working-class families less wealthy families, normal families
significant fatigue lots of tiredness
over the long term for a while
powerless without any power, weak
overextended overburdened
even lead to actually cause
anxiety conditions worrying
depression feeling very sad
in reality actually
proper balance in everything in order
imply necessitate
primary earner main person making money for a family, primary breadwinner
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down
the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
Many these days c_________d that both s________s should work
and p___________r the e________________y. In my opinion,
though a___________e in c_______________________s, it
is p__________e to s_____________________n a family.
Those who s_________t this a__________t
f___________n the r________________s of e__________g women in
marriages. H______________y, women did not have the f__________m in m__________s to
work. I____________s, as women have g_________d more rights
both f___________y and i___________y in society, this has a__________d them
to e__________________s through their c___________s. C__________d to
this e________________t is also a s_____________y. Not only do women now have
the o______________y to work and d___________________l, they also have
the p_________e of t__________________________________y. The e__________t is they can
both help a________________________s at home and g________________m.
However, a c____________n of responsibilities in a family is the best way to n______e one’s child.
If both parents work, as has become i___________________n in W_____________s, there is
a s______________d the children will be n_______d. Though a_________t families
can m________e this d________k with a n_____y to look after the children and a c_________r,
this is a p______________e for the love of one’s a_______l parents. Moreover,
most w______________________s must simply work harder at their jobs and at home. This can
produce s________________e o________________m and cause parents to
feel p________s, o____________d,
and e___________o a___________________s and d________n.
In conclusion, ideally both parents would have jobs but i________y this does not allow
for p_____________n a family. This does not i_____y that only males should have jobs as either
the husband or wife can become the p_____________r.