A ‘for and against’ essay is a ‘pros and cons’ essay in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view. You are required to present both sides in a fair way by discussing them objectively and in equal detail. The writer can state his/her opinion on the issue directly or indirectly.
A ‘for and against’ essay is a formal piece of writing. The purpose of this essay type is to take a balanced consideration of the stated issue. You need to explain the opposing viewpoints with relevant reasons, statistics, facts and examples. This kind of essay topic entails you to avoid any strong or emotional language to express your opinion.