What kind of questions can I expect in task 2
THE IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING TEST -TASK 2 TUTORIAL
Task 2 in the IELTS Academic Writing Test is more important than
task 1. You have to write more, it's a more difficult task and it
is worth more to your final band for writing as more weight is
given to Task 2 than to Task 1.
The Task for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing
The IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 asks you to write a short
essay of a minimum of 250 words. The essay is usually a discussion
of a subject of general interest. You may have to present and
justify your opinion about something, give the solution to a
problem or compare differing ideas or viewpoints.
Marking for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing
Your task will be marked in three areas. You will get a mark
from 1 to 9 on Arguments, Ideas and Evidence, Communicative Quality
and Vocabulary and Sentence Structure. Your final band for Task 2
will be effectively an average of the three marks awarded in these
areas. Task 2 writing is more important than Task 1 and to
calculate the final writing mark, more weight is assigned to the
Task 2 mark than to Task 1's mark. To get a good overall mark
though, both tasks have to be well answered so don't hold back on
Task 1 or give yourself too little time to answer it properly.
Arguments, Ideas and EvidenceThis mark grades you on the content
of your essay. The argument is how you present your case as regards
the question. The ideas part is how many and how good your ideas
are in helping your argument. The evidence is the facts that you
use to back up your ideas. Evidence is very important in Task 2.
You need to bring in facts from your own experience in order to
support your ideas. The three parts (Arguments, Ideas and Evidence)
are not independent but blend together to give a good answer.
Together they really present the content and substance of your
essay.
Communicative QualityThis is how you are making yourself
understood and whether the reader of your writing understands what
you are saying. Are you communicating well with the reader and are
your ideas that you want to present understood by the reader?
Vocabulary and Sentence StructureThis area looks at the your
grammar and choice of words. The marker will look at whether the
right grammar and words are used and whether they are used at the
right time, in the right place and in the right way. Most people
are predominantly worried about their grammar but, as you can see,
grammar is only half of one section of three used to grade your
writing. IELTS is much more interested in communication rather than
grammatical accuracy.
Paragraphing for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing
This is a very easy thing to do but it can have an enormous
effect on the clarity of your writing. I have said this for Task 1
but for Task 2 it's is even more important. In Task 2 you will be
writing more and it is therefore more important to divide your
writing up into divisions to make it easier to read.
Very often people use no paragraphing and the examiner is faced
with a "sea" of writing with no breaks from start to finish. For
me, the best writings are those where there are paragraphs
separated by an empty line and also indented. In this way your
ideas are separated clearly. It shows and gives organization to
your writing and makes it more readable.
For Task 2, have a paragraph break after your introduction, and
then for every differing section of your separate ideas with the
supporting evidence. Then have a final paragraph for your
conclusion. You should aim to have 3 or 4 paragraphs plus the
introduction and conclusion.
Look at this section on paragraphing. It is divided into 5
separate paragraphs dividing the 5 different areas that I want to
present to you, the reader. The 5 areas are:
Paragraph 1Why paragraphing is important for Task 2.
Paragraph 2How to divide your paragraphing.
Paragraph 3Where your paragraph divisions should occur.
Paragraph 4The division of paragraphs in this section.
Paragraph 5Explaining the comparison with this section and the
one below to show how paragraphing can work.
Below I will repeat paragraphs 1 - 4 of this section on
paragraphing but I am going to remove all the paragraphs and line
breaks and make it a "sea of writing" as I said can happen above. I
hope you feel that this section is easier to understand than the
one below!! (By the way, I haven't used line breaks through this
entire tutorial as there would be too many and it would be too
confusing).
Paragraphing(bad example section)
This is a very easy thing to do but it can have an enormous
effect on the clarity of your writing. I have said this for Task 1
but for Task 2 it's is even more important. In Task 2 you will be
writing more and it is therefore more important to divide your
writing up into divisions to make it easier to read. Very often
people use no paragraphing and the examiner is faced with a "sea"
of writing with no breaks from start to finish. For me, the best
writings are those where there are paragraphs separated by an empty
line and also indented. In this way your ideas are separated
clearly. It shows and gives organization to your writing and makes
it more readable. For Task 2, have a paragraph break after your
introduction, and then for every differing section of your separate
ideas with the evidence. Then have a final paragraph for your
conclusion. You should aim to have 3 or 4 paragraphs plus the
introduction and conclusion. Look at this section on paragraphing.
It is divided into 4 separate paragraphs dividing the 4 different
areas that I want to present to you the reader. The 4 areas are:
Paragraph 1: Why paragraphing is important for task 2: Paragraph 2:
How to divide your paragraphing. Paragraph 3: Where your paragraph
divisions should occur. Paragraph 4: An example to show you how
paragraphing works.
I hope you feel that the first section was easier to understand
than this second one!!
Ideas to Think About for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing
1Timing
The exam paper recommends that you spend about 40 minutes on
this question and this is about right. Remember that Task 2 gives
more to your final writing band and so you should make sure that
you have enough time after Task 1 to properly answer Task 2. Some
students do Task 2 first in order to make sure that Task 2 is
answered well before they get onto Task 1. There is no problem with
this but make sure you write the 150 words to give a good answer
for Task 1 as well.
So, whatever you decide to do about your approach to Task 1 and
Task 2 in the writing paper, make sure that you spend approximately
20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. This should give you
the right amount of time to provide good answers to both tasks.
2Answering the question.
Although this sounds very straightforward, people don't often
properly answer the question set and therefore don't get the band
that they should even if the writing is very good.
First of all read the question very carefully in order to see
exactly what it asks you. Very often there will be more than 1 part
to the question; sometimes even 3 or 4 parts. When you produce your
answer you must answer all the different parts of the question. How
much you produce on each part depends on how important you think it
is.
You have to write a formal academic English essay of the type
that would be required for teachers or tertiary education courses.
Formulate and develop an argument and show a personal response.
Give your opinions and back them up with evidence and examples.
Your answer should persuade, be consistent and develop logically
towards a conclusion, which answers all parts of the question.
Another important basic is to write at least 250 words. Writing
less does not answer the question, which tells you to write at
least 250 words. If you write less than 250 words, the examiner
marking your paper will give you a maximum of 5 for Arguments,
Ideas and Evidence or even less. It is no problem to write more
than the 250 words; there is no upward word limit on the essay.
Time is your only constraint.
The question wants you to produce an essay. Therefore don't give
a list of numbered notes (your paragraphs should not be numbered).
Give the examiner a proper essay with an introduction, a main body
with your ideas and evidence and a conclusion, all divided of
course with the paragraphing techniques discussed above.
3Planning
Many students that I have taught have regarded writing an essay
plan as a waste of time. The only answer I can give is that it
depends on the individual. If you are a good essay writer who can
automatically organize your ideas and structure in your head so
well that you can produce a good structured essay without planning,
then I say that's it's fine not to write an essay plan.
Also if you're really short of time and you need to get writing
on page, then you don't want to waste time on planning. However, if
none of these conditions apply, then 1 or 2 minutes thinking about
your ideas and how you are going to present them will not be
wasted. I'm not saying that you should spend 10 minutes on this.
Just take a scrap of paper and jot down some ideas that you are
going to use in your essay.
Then you can divide the ideas into 3 or 4 paragraphs in a
logical order. This shouldn't take you long and the structure that
this will give your essay will be well worth the time that you
spend doing it.
Writing The Essay in the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing
All too often students begin planning or even writing their
answers in the IELTS Writing Module before they understand what is
actually expected of them. Following the steps below will help you
to plan a well-structured and coherent essay or report that
addresses the given task.
Preparation
You may wish to spend about 5-7 minutes working out exactly what
you are going to do. There are five steps to consider.
Study the question carefully. Most task statements or questions
have a key instructional word or words telling you what to do. Note
these words with a highlighting pen.
There are also key topic words which point to the most important
parts of the question. Underline those words too. Ask yourself how
the key words relate to the given instruction.
Think carefully about the topic. How do you feel about it?
Establish a point of view and list some points for development.
The answer normally takes the form of a short essay. The word
essay' comes from an old French word essai which meant to attempt
or try out', or to test'. In an IELTS Writing Module Task 2 answer,
your purpose is to develop your point of view in a convincing
way.
Decide which points will be written as topic sentences. Think
about how they will develop into paragraphs.
Ensure that your points are arranged in a logical order.
Writing
When you are writing a Task 2 answer, a structure based on the
following elements could be used (summarised in the flow chart
opposite).
Introductory paragraph
The introduction of a Task 2 answer should begin with a general
statement or idea of your own that takes into account the key topic
words or their synonyms. The last sentence of the introduction
should include a thesis statement which shows the point of view or
direction that will be taken in the answer. 1The Introduction
First of all, don't repeat any part of the question in your
introduction. This is not your own work and therefore will be
disregarded by the examiner and deducted from the word count. You
can use individual words but be careful of using "chunks" of the
question text.
Your introduction should first say what you understand by the
question. Then give the main issue or issues that you intend to
bring into your answer. Don't go into any detail; you can save that
for the later paragraphs.
Finally, the question often asks you to take up a position over
an issue. There is no right answer for putting your views at the
start and then explaining this through the essay, or developing
your opinion though your essay and stating your final stance at the
end. I personally like the opinion at the start of the essay.
Quickly and clearly answer the question, making your attitude
plain. Don't give any reasons. Again, that's what the body of your
essay is for. You don't have to do it this way though. You can wait
until your conclusion to give your position as regards the
question.
2The Body of Your Essay
Body paragraphs each consist of several sentences that are
arranged in a logical way to develop a main idea. You can expect to
write about 2-4 body paragraphs for a Task 2 answer. Each of these
contains an appropriate connective word to ensure a smooth
transition between paragraphs. This connective is then put in a
topic sentence which is the main point of the paragraph clearly
stated in a sentence. Every sentence in the paragraph must be
directly related to it. Try to develop every paragraph adequately.
This may be done through the use of examples, explanations, detail,
logical inference, cause and effect or making comparisons or
contrasts. There are many different ways to organise your ideas for
body paragraphs. Be confident of the ideas you choose. You should
aim to have 3 or 4 paragraphs in your answer. This is not exact.
You can write more or fewer paragraphs, as your answer requires.
Remember you've only got about 40 minutes to cover all the question
areas so don't be too ambitious and try to write too much.
In the body of your essay you should do several things. You need
to examine all parts of the question. Remember there is often more
than 1 question contained in the essay question text. You need to
look at all that is asked and look at both sides of every issue.
IELTS essay questions usually ask you something which has two or
more points of view, and you need to consider both sides of every
argument no matter what your opinion is.
3The Conclusion
This doesn't need to be a long paragraph. You need to sum up
your points providing a final perspective on your topic. All the
conclusion needs is three or four strong sentences, which do not
need to follow any set formula. Simply review the main points
(being careful not to restate them exactly or repeat all your
examples) and briefly describe your feelings about the topic; this
provides an answer to all parts of the question. An anecdote can
also end your essay in a useful way.
A good conclusion serves several purposes:
It indicates the end of your essay.
It gives your final thoughts and assessments on the essay
subject.
It weighs up the points in your essay and should strengthen your
thesis statement.
Do not simply repeat your opening paragraph. This appears too
mechanical and superficial.
INTRODUCTION General statement
Thesis statement
BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Topic sentence including connective word
First supporting sentence
Second supporting sentence
Third supporting sentence
BODY PARAGRAPH 2
BODY PARAGRAPH 3
FURTHER BODY PARAGRAPHS
CONCLUSION Final assessment with concluding connective
Editing (about 3-5 minutes)
In the last few minutes, you should check for obvious errors,
such as spelling or grammatical errors. Be sure you have written
what you intended and that there are no important ideas
missing.
Study the checklist for editing. It lists points to think about
when checking your essay. Become familiar with the list so that you
will know what to check for in the actual IELTS Writing Module.
Checklist for editing1. I have used accurate grammatical
structures, for example, consistent verb tenses, subject-verb
agreement, accurate word formation (especially of nouns, verb and
adjectives) and appropriate use of a' and the' as well as
prepositions.
2. I have used a range of sentence structures.
3. I have used appropriate vocabulary.
4. I have used accurate spelling.
5. I have stated the main idea for each paragraph in a topic
sentence and all the points are related to this topic.
6. I have used connective words effectively to link ideas so
that the thoughts move logically and clearly from sentence to
sentence and paragraph to paragraph.
7. I have developed each paragraph adequately.
8. I have supplied enough detailed information and sufficient
examples or facts.
9. I have developed a definite point of view.
10. Every paragraph that I have written has definitely helped to
address the task.
Look below at the example. The question asks whether or not you
believe whether societies should use capital punishment. There are,
of course, two points of view:
(1) capital punishment should be used and
(2) capital punishment shouldn't be used.
Let's say for example that you don't believe that capital
punishment should be used by societies. No matter what point of
view you have, you should look at both sides, though naturally your
writing will favour the position that you have taken. Give the
reasons why you don't believe in capital punishment but then look
at the opposing view and say why you don't accept it. In this way
you will show the reader your powers of analysis when looking at
such an issue.
Don't forget that when you have finished looking at this issue
there is a second part of the question to be analysed too.
As we said earlier, your ideas need to be supported by examples
and it is in the body of your essay that they should appear. For
every idea that you present try and give an example from your own
experience that shows that your idea is right.
An example from your own experience means something that you
know from your life, from your country's news or history or
anything that you have read anywhere. You can actually invent
examples if you need as long as they seem realistic and believable.
The examiner is probably not going to research anything you write
about.
An Example of the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing
It's very difficult to visualize and understand all the things
that I have said above. Here I will try and provide you with an
example question and then go through the stages of thought to show
you how to approach an IELTS Task 2 essay.
Here is a possible question that would be typical for a Task 2
essay question.
"Do you believe that societies ought to enforce capital
punishment or Are there alternative forms of punishment that would
be better used?"First of all you need to consider the question.
What does it ask? Straight away, you can see that it asks 2
things.
It wants to know if you believe that society should use capital
punishment and it also wants to know if you can offer any
alternatives to capital punishment. Your answer should give a
balanced view of both parts of this question. What is important to
realize is that there is no correct answer here. You can present
any point of view as long as you can support it.
So, in your planning stage you should have a roadmap for the
introduction, each paragraph and the conclusion. Here is my brief
plan for the essay.
Intro
What cp is. Where it's used. (not my country). Differing
opinions.
I don't believe in cp.
There are alternative punishments.
Body
1. Inhumane - we shouldn't sink to the level of criminals.
2. We can get convictions wrong; prisoners can be released if
there's an error. Mentally ill. Examples.
3. Alternative punishments: life means life; hospitals for
criminally insane. Costs more but society has a duty to care.
4. Many countries favour it and they say it works. Prisons too
full. Killers deserve nothing less. Some crimes deserve it. Not my
morals though.
Conclusion
I don't agree. We can do other things. Avoid mistakes and make
modern society a humane one.
The above is a basic plan of how I want to write my essay. It's
not rigid. I can change my ideas and format as I write if I feel I
can do better.
I can also add things that I've forgotten as the essay goes on.
It's normal of course for you to have new, good ideas as you write
and the skill is to get them into your essay without upsetting the
balance of the essay. How do you do this? It's practice again. You
won't get good at writing essays and adapting your writing well
without practice.
So, below is an example essay using the plan above as a
basis.
Example Essay for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing
Capital punishment is the killing of a criminal for a crime that
he has committed. Previously most countries employed this method of
punishment but nowadays it is much less widely used. I personally
do not believe that societies today should use capital punishment
and I also believe that there are alternative punishments that can
be used.
My main argument against capital punishment is that I believe we
do not have the right to kill another human being regardless of the
crime. I don't believe in the old religious maxim of "an eye for an
eye." Modern societies shouldn't turn to such barbaric
punishments.
Another argument against capital punishment is that people can
be wrongly convicted and executed. If a man is in prison, he can be
released if later proved not guilty. If he is dead, there is
nothing that can be done. In the UK, a group of supposed terrorists
were convicted of murder in Birmingham in the 1970s. They were
proved innocent about 15 years later and released. If they had been
executed, innocent people would have died.
There are alternative punishments available. For bad crimes
prison life sentences can be given with criminals imprisoned for
the rest of their lives. Also a lot of horrific crimes are
committed by people who are mentally sick. These people are not
responsible for their actions and can be kept safely and
permanently in secure hospitals. Yes, this costs a lot more but I
believe it is the duty of society to do this.
There are arguments for capital punishment. Many people feel its
threat stops serious crime and that criminals deserve nothing less.
It's cheaper and keeps the prisons manageable. I can understand
this point of view but I cannot agree with it.
So, in conclusion, I don't believe in capital punishment, as
there are less barbaric alternatives available. We can avoid
horrific mistakes and make modern society a humane one.
What kind of questions can I expect in task 2 ?Most questions in
Writing Task 2 are designed to get you to give an opinion on a
topic. The topics are non-specialist, so you dont need to be an
expert in the different areas. The topics that are chosen are ones
that it is not easy to decide which side of the argument you agree
with: The arguments for & against are not clearly black or
white, but more grey so you will probably agree with some points on
both sides of the argument. For example: "Education should be free
for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?"Task 2s are split into two parts1) The statement and2)
The questionTogether they make up the task.
Example:The statementMore and more students are taking a year
off after finishing school to travel or work before they go to
university. However, some people dont agree with this.
The questionWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of this
?
What you need to do is to read the statement carefully and
underline what you think are the keywords. Keywords in task 2
statements are usually nouns, verbs, modifiers (eg: more / less/ a
few / some) & negatives (e.g.: not / dont).
Look at the example again below:The statementMore and more
students are taking a year off after finishing school to travel or
work before they go to university. However, some people dont agree
with this.
The questionWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of
this
Tip:You should underline around 30% to 40% of the statement. It
is very easy to underline about 80% at first because youre not sure
exactly what to do and all the words appear to be very important.
Dont worry too much if youre underlining over 50% at first because
as you practice further, the number of words you underline will
decrease as you become more confident.
i)The statementSome people believe that governments should look
after their citizens health and education, while others think it is
up to individual people to take care of these matters.
The questionShould health-care and education be free for
everyone?
ii)The statementMany millions of dollars are spent each year on
space exploration, while on Earth many people cant afford to eat.
This money is wasted and should be redirected to more useful
projects that help people in need.
The questionTo what extent do you agree with this statement?
iii)The statementThe increasing use of the Internet as a means
of education is changing peoples study skills.
The questionIn what ways is the Internet affecting the way
people read, write & access information?
What do the questions mean?
1. To what extent do you agree with this statement ?
a) Be careful ! A lot of students think that they only have to
write about one side of the argument in To what extent questions.
To what extent means how much, so you might only agree 40% for
example, therefore you will need to write most of your answer on
the disagree side, even though the word disagree isnt in the
question.
2. Discuss.
a) Quite easy this one. When you discuss something it means to
look at all relevant sides of an argument.
3. What are the causes of pollution and suggest some possible
solutions.
b) If the question has the word and in it, then it is going to
be a two-part question.
Two-part questions need two-part answers: 1 paragraph on the
first part and 1 paragraph on the second part. Usually, at least
one part is concerned with causes, effects or solutions. Often, as
in question 5, one part of the question deals with one side of an
argument (for, against, agree or disagree); if this is the case,
you should write about that side ONLY, otherwise, if you write
about both sides, you wont have enough time to write about the
second part of the question.
4. What are the qualities of a good teacher ?
c) If the question starts with What are the and mentions only
one thing (i.e.: good, bad, advantages or disadvantages), then it
is a list question. With list questions all you need to do is
provide a list of things that support the question in this case a
list of qualities that make a good teacher. Normally, students will
spend one paragraph on each point and explaining it in detail, so
they might have three or four body paragraphs.
5. What are the arguments for free education for everyone and
outline con
ways in which this might be possible. b) See question 3.Overall
organization plans for Task 21)An answer showing both sides of an
argumentINTRODUCTION
BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Arguments for
BODY PARAGRAPH 2 Arguments against
CONCLUSION
2) An answer listing points (you should write about 3 to 5
points)INTRODUCTION
BODY PRAGRAPH 1 Point 1
BODY PRAGRAPH 2 Point 2
BODY PRAGRAPH 3 Point 3
CONCLUSION
3) An answer for a two-part questionINTRODUCTION
BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Arguments for
BODY PARAGRAPH 2 - Suggestions
CONCLUSION
How do I use linking phrases effectively? Suggested answer
keyTask 2: There is not a 'correct' answer to the topic. You must
evaluate the topic, organize your ideas, and develop them into a
cohesive and coherent response. You will be scored on how well you
are able to utilize standard written English, organize and explain
your thoughts, and support those thoughts with reasons and
examples.
BrainstormSpend the first three to five minutes brainstorming
out ideas. Write down any ideas you might have on the topic or
table. The purpose is to extract from the recesses of your memory
any relevant information. In this stage, anything goes down. Write
down any idea, regardless of how good it may initially seem. You
can use either the scratch paper provided or the word processor to
quickly jot down your thoughts and ideas. The word processor is
highly recommended though, particularly if you are a fast
typist.Strength through DiversityThe best papers will contain
diversity of examples and reasoning. As you brainstorm consider
different perspectives. Not only are there two sides to every
issue, but there are also countless perspectives that can be
considered. On any issue, different groups are impacted, with many
reaching the same conclusion or position, but through vastly
different paths. Try to 'see' the issue through as many different
eyes as you can. Look at it from every angle and from every vantage
point. The more diverse the reasoning used, the more balanced the
paper will become and the better the score.
Example:The issue of free trade is not just two sided. It
impacts politicians, domestic (US) manufacturers, foreign
manufacturers, the US economy, the world economy, strategic
alliances, retailers, wholesalers, consumers, unions, workers, and
the exchange of more than just goods, but also of ideas, beliefs,
and cultures. The more of these angles that you can approach the
issue from, the more solid your reasoning and the stronger your
position.
Furthermore, dont just use information as to how the issue
impacts other people. Draw liberally from your own experience and
your own observations. Explain a personal experience that you have
had and your own emotions from that moment. Anything that youve
seen in your community or observed in society can be expanded upon
to further round out your position on the issue.
Pick a Main IdeaOnce you have finished with your creative flow,
stop and review it. Which idea were you able to come up with the
most supporting information? Its extremely important that you pick
an angle that will allow you to have a thorough and comprehensive
coverage of the topic or table. This is not about your personal
convictions, but about writing a concise rational discussion of an
idea.
Weed the GardenEvery garden of ideas gets weeds in it. The ideas
that you brainstormed over are going to be random pieces of
information of mixed value. Go through it methodically and pick out
the ones that are the best. The best ideas are strong points that
it will be easy to write a few sentences or a paragraph about.
Create a Logical FlowNow that you know which ideas you are going
to use and focus upon, organize them. Put your writing points in a
logical order. You have your main ideas that you will focus on, and
must align them in a sequence that will flow in a smooth, sensible
path from point to point, so that the reader will go smoothly from
one idea to the next in a logical path. Readers must have a sense
of continuity as they read your paper. You dont want to have a
paper that rambles back and forth.
It is better to write in regular, not very sophisticated
English, than to use phrases or structures you dont fully
understand.If you need Band 6 - no need for complex sentence
structure. If your goal is Band 7 - then show advanced sentence
structure, language and vocabulary.
Dont write more than 260-265 words in IELTS Writing 2 task. Why?
Not because you will get lower mark, but because of these 2
reasons:
1) It takes more time2) More words = more mistakes
If you are told to cover specific points in your essay/letter -
cover every point, examiners actually count them.
Dont overuse connecting words (like However, Furthermore,
Moreover, etc) - examiners are watching for you to do that.
Start Your EnginesYou have a logical flow of main ideas with
which to start writing. Begin expanding on the issues in the
sequence that you have set for yourself. Pace yourself. Dont spend
too much time on any one of the ideas that you are expanding upon.
You want to have time for all of them. Make sure you watch your
time. If you have twenty minutes left to write out your ideas and
you have ten ideas, then you can only use two minutes per idea. It
can be a daunting task to cram a lot of information down in words
in a short amount of time, but if you pace yourself, you can get
through it all. If you find that you are falling behind, speed up.
Move through each idea more quickly, spending less time to expand
upon the idea in order to catch back up.Once you finish expanding
on each idea, go back to your brainstorming session up above, where
you wrote out your ideas. Go ahead and erase the ideas as you write
about them. This will let you see what you need to write about
next, and also allow you to pace yourself and see what you have
left to cover.
First ParagraphYour first paragraph should have several easily
identifiable features. First, it should have a quick description or
paraphrasing of the topic or table. Use your own words to briefly
explain what the topic or table is about.
Second, you should explain your opinion of the topic or table
and give an explanation of why you feel that way. What is your
decision or conclusion on the topic or table?
Third, you should list your 'writing points'. What are the main
ideas that you came up with earlier? This is your opportunity to
outline the rest of your paper. Have a sentence explaining each
idea that you will go intend further depth in additional
paragraphs. If someone was to only read this paragraph, they should
be able to get an 'executive summary' of the entire paper.
Body ParagraphEach of your successive paragraphs should expand
upon one of the points listed in the main paragraph. Use your
personal experience and knowledge to support each of your points.
Examples should back up everything.
Conclusion ParagraphOnce you have finished expanding upon each
of your main points, wrap it up. Summarize what you have said and
covered in a conclusion paragraph. Explain once more your opinion
of the topic or table and quickly review why you feel that way. At
this stage, you have already backed up your statements, so there is
no need to do that again. All you are doing is refreshing in the
mind of the reader the main points that you have made.
Most candidates have difficulty completing the IELTS Writing
Task 2 essay on time. However, candidates seeking higher band
scores, say, 7 and above, should plan to write a conclusion
paragraph that includes not just a Restatement of the Thesis but a
true concluding sentence as well.
The purpose of the conclusion sentence is to leave the reader
with one more idea, to round out the discussion and bring it to a
satisfying end. Often, the sentence can unify the essay by
returning to an early idea, perhaps even the one in the Hook, and
ending on it.
The concluding sentence should not, however, contain a main idea
or, worse, a strong opinion. It is merely supposed to leave the
reader with one last, light thought to consider. So, if you write a
concluding sentence, make it a suggestion, a recommendation or a
prediction. And keep the language light and speculative.
For example, if you had written an Opinion Essay on the subject
of mandatory retirement, and you had written that you were against
it because it was harmful to companies, workers, and workers
families, you would not want to conclude with yet another opinion.
In other words, do not end with an even stronger opinion, such as:
"The government must change its policy of mandatory retirement
before more economic damage is done." Thats far too strong for a
conclusion. Instead, consider these kinds of concluding
statements:
- Recommendation: "Because people are able to work effectively
longer today, perhaps the government might reconsider its
policy."
- Suggestion: "Because costs of living are going up and people
need to work beyond retirement age, it would be in the interest of
the economy that the government rethink its retirement
policies."
- Prediction: "If the government reviewed its policies about
mandatory retirement, some able-bodied workers might be able to
work beyond retirement age, to the benefit of everyone."
Notice that none of the statements tells the government what to
do. They just propose a reconsideration of the policy. Also, notice
that the prediction statement does not say what will happen, which
is a different kind of prediction, but what might or could result.
Its also helpful to include words like perhaps and maybe, to
reinforce the idea that statement that the statements are
conditional, that is, that they merely note possibilities, rather
than things that must or will occur.
Dont PanicPanicking will not put down any more words on paper
for you. Therefore, it isnt helpful. When you first see the topic
or table, if your mind goes as blank as the page on which you have
to write your paper, take a deep breath. Force yourself to
mechanically go through the steps listed above.
Secondly, dont get clock fever. Its easy to be overwhelmed when
youre looking at a page that doesnt seem to have much text, there
is a lot of blank space further down, your mind is full of random
thoughts and feeling confused, and the clock is ticking down faster
than you would like. You brainstormed first so that you dont have
to keep coming up with ideas. If youre running out of time and you
have a lot of ideas that you havent expanded upon, dont be afraid
to make some cuts. Start picking the best ideas that you have left
and expand on those few. Dont feel like you have to write down and
expand all of your ideas.Check Your WorkIt is more important to
have a shorter paper that is well written and well organized, than
a longer paper that is poorly written and poorly organized.
Remember though that you will be penalized for answers shorter than
the required minimum limit. Dont keep writing about a subject just
to add words and sentences, and certainly dont start repeating
yourself. Expand on the ideas that you identified in the
brainstorming session and make sure that you save yourself a few
minutes at the end to go back and check your work.
Leave time at the end, at least three minutes, to go back and
check over your work. Reread and make sure that everything youve
written makes sense and flows. Clean up any spelling or grammar
mistakes that you might have made. If you see anything that needs
to be moved around, such as a paragraph that would fit in better
somewhere else, cut and paste it to that new location. Also, go
ahead and erase any brainstorming ideas that you werent able to
expand upon and clean up any other extraneous information that you
might have written that doesnt fit into your paper.
As you proofread, make sure there arent any fragments or
run-ons. Check for sentences that are too short or too long. If the
sentence is too short, look to see if you have an identifiable
subject and verb. If it is too long, break it up into two separate
sentences. Watch out for any 'big' words you may have used. Its
good to use difficult vocabulary words, but only if you are
positive that you are using them correctly. Your paper has to be
correct, it doesnt have to be fancy. Youre not trying to impress
anyone with your vocabulary, just your ability to develop and
express ideas.Final NoteDepending on your test taking preferences
and personality, the essay writing will probably be your hardest or
your easiest section. You are required to go through the entire
process of writing a paper very quickly, which can be quite a
challenge.
Focus upon each of the steps listed above. Go through the
process of creative flow first, generating ideas and thoughts about
the topic or table. Then organize those ideas into a smooth logical
flow. Pick out the ones that are best from the list you have
created. Decide which main idea or angle of the topic or table you
will discuss.
Create a recognizable structure in your paper, with an
introductory paragraph explaining what you have decided upon, and
what your main points will be. Use the body paragraphs to expand on
those main points and have a conclusion that wraps up the topic or
table.
Save a few moments to go back and review what you have written.
Clean up any minor mistakes that you might have had and give it
those last few critical touches that can make a huge difference.
Finally, be proud and confident of what you have written!
This is how they grade your essay: you receive points for Task
Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical
Range and Accuracy. Looks heavy? Never mind, here comes the simple
English version:
Task Response means that your essay shows that you understood
and covered the topic from all its sides, aspects, etc. Lets take
this topic for example - Internet: connecting or isolating people?.
Those who chose to write about how Internet connects people - loose
marks, those who chose to write about how Internet isolates people
- loose marks, those who compare and contrast both sides of the
Internet and give arguments for and against - gain marks.
Coherence and Cohesion means how well you connected the
paragraphs and sentences inside each paragraph. You see, all of
your paragraphs need to be logically connected. For example, if
paragraph 1 explains the advantages of the Internet, and paragraph
2 explains its disadvantages, then paragraph 1 should have last
sentence saying something like this: In spite of Internet being
such a help in communication, its drawbacks can not be overlooked.
This sentence creates the connection between 1st and 2nd
paragraphs. If it wasnt there, examiner could think that you jumped
from advantages to disadvantages without a reason. The same rule
applies to sentences inside the paragraph. Every sentence should
lead to the next one.
Lexical Resource means vocabulary and different types of
sentences, simple and complex. You should be able to use words and
their synonyms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy means spelling and grammar of
sentences. You should be able to spell the words correctly, do not
forget articles a and the, punctuations is also important, etc -
you get the picture, dont you?
One more important thing to know: the four criteria are equally
weighted. It means that if you forgot about Coherence and Cohesion
in your essay, you will loose 1/4 of your essay points.
IELTS Essay Writing : A simple guide
Id like to present my strategy to go about essay writing. If you
do not like, tell me why. If you do, I am glad to be helpful. Well,
here is the task I found in a textbook on IELTS .
Enormous effort is put into researching and marketing 'the
perfect potato crisp' while research into stress at work, for
example, is ignored. How important are staff working conditions?
Should employers research and improve the working conditions of
their staff or should they concentrate more on their product?
The question as it stands implies you should speculate about
what comes first product or workers? So it is an opinion essay.
If you decided on an opinion essay, give it a proper
structure.
1) Introduction is a must. You dont believe you could get a good
grade without introduction, do you? 2) 3 paragraphs are also
necessary three is a magical number. It can do wonders to your
overall band score. 3) Conclusion. You do not want to infuse your
examiner with a feeling of incompleteness.
My opinions I will try to be positive about work force. They
really deserve to be cared about. I hope you feel the same. Some
scholars call it brainstorming. Lets storm our brains.
First of all, you should not wander off trying to find ideas in
the darkest parts of your mind. We will get some obvious hints
right from the assignment.
Enormous effort is put into researching and marketing 'the
perfect potato crisp' Brilliant! research into stress at work, for
example, is ignored Could not be stated better! How important are
staff working conditions?... Oh! We know what you are up to. Of
course they are! Should employers research and improve the working
conditions of their staff? - Lots of thanks, youve been most
helpful providing ideas. should they concentrate more on their
product?..- Devious, but thank you anyway for bringing it up
again.
I think they have already written the better part of the essay.
We should only rephrase these expressions to avoid the offence of
plagiarism.
Inquisitive minds will easily complete the list of ideas with
their own suggestions. Hard thinkers like myself might as well stop
brainstorming right here.
I know, I know you are going to blame me for this, because it is
not sufficient to develop 3 paragraphs. But brainstorming never
ends. I am far from assuming that you will stop thinking after 5
minutes of initial excessive brain work and will begin writing down
words in mechanical way dreaming of buying a new car. There is also
vocabulary building part, and you have a clear structure of your
essay.
Opinion = in support of workers
Introduction topic and opinion in short Paragraph 1 - staff
working conditions are important Paragraph 2 - employers should
research and improve the working conditions Paragraph 3 -
concentrating more on their product is bad Conclusion short summary
of paragraphs
------------------------------------------- Rephrasing ideas
------------------------------------------- In my opinion, it is
the hardest part. It is about your vocabulary, so nothing we can do
but remember some basic expressions. If you get stuck, just write
down whatever comes to your mind looking at the key words of the
assignment. You will sort it out later on. Some of the words you
will insert into sentences, the rest will stay untouched. It surely
pays off; you would not bother thinking of necessary vocabulary as
you write.
Example vocabulary -Key words: research analyze, explore,
inquire, investigate, look into, study marketing advertising,
promoting, pushing products ,working condition situation, state,
work load ,stress at work pressure, nervous tension, difficulty,
hardness, strain ignore disregard, do not take into account, close
the eyes to employers managers, bosses staff work force, personnel,
employees ,concentrate on the product consider closely, direct
attention, fix attention, focus, give attention do a lot of damage
to overall productivity friendly environment
Beginning to write -Introduction.
Earlier, we agreed to fight against staff overload. Let state
the problem and introduce our opinion. (Simply speaking, lets
rewrite the assignment).
Nowadays, most businesses concerned primarily with improving and
pushing products at all costs, therefore neglecting the strain this
strategy puts on their personnel. I believe it is of vital
importance to restrain excessive work load. I also think employers
should pay more attention to organizing friendly working
environment for their employees.
OK, it is sleeping time I am tired and will have no more of this
nonsense. If you are not satisfied call my customer service,
otherwise look forward to the next part Paragraphs.
P.S. I might be absolutely wrong. Feel free to destroy my
carefully thought-out system, but dont forget to suggest something
more useful instead. I will appreciate if you supply supporting
ideas for the paragraphs of the essay according to my plan.
PARAGRAPHS Sounds frightening But well make it if we follow
simple rules.
The first rule - KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE
Be practical simple ideas come easy and take less effort to
develop. Dont be tempted to amaze your examiner with profound
knowledge of slang, idioms and pedantic words. Different styles,
used in one essay, may produce a funny alienating mixture. Of
course, I wouldnt vote for dull writing. A bit of variety never
hurts.
The second rule DEVELOP YOUR PARAGRAPHS
A good paragraph must have 1) Topic sentence (statement) 2)
Arguments 3 arguments advisable, each followed by 3) Supporting
details 4) Transition words and markers
Task Enormous effort is put into researching and marketing 'the
perfect potato crisp' while research into stress at work, for
example, is ignored. How important are staff working conditions?
Should employers research and improve the working conditions of
their staff or should they concentrate more on their product?
Introduction
Nowadays, most businesses are concerned primarily with improving
and pushing products at all costs, therefore neglecting the strain
this strategy puts on their personnel. I believe it is of vital
importance to restrain excessive work load. I also think employers
should pay more attention to organizing friendly working
environment for their employees.
First paragraph
In my point of view, conditions that employers provide for their
personnel are very important. Fist of all, uncomfortable offices
affect the pace of work. Extra efforts to keep everything organized
may become the biggest time wasters. Secondly, inconvenient
timetables influence labour productivity. Repetitive long hours at
work get workers exhausted. Finally, relations between managers and
employees matter. Unfriendly atmosphere undermine self-esteem,
co-operation and ability of staff to come up with creative
ideas.
Timing issues and MY ESSAY
Time could kill your essay as well as bad structure and poor
vocabulary. But do not try to kill time yourself. Allow no more
than a minute for panicking, sweating and jittering, then stop. Has
it put down a single word for you? I guess no.
If at the end of your panicking session the only sentence that
comes to your mind is What am I going to do? look at your watch.
Notice down the time. Set 10 minutes for completing what I have
already described in my first post. I strongly advise you against
exceeding the 10-minute limit for this part. No use trying to cram
down a further lot of information if you have no time to develop
it. What is done is done. Take the next step paragraphs.
Another 30 minutes should be wisely distributed. Time you will
spend on each paragraph depends on your ability to produce
consistent chunks of text approximately 50 70 words in length. The
words left to build up a 250 word essay might be divided between
the introduction and conclusion. In my case it takes about 7-8
minutes per paragraph.
Several minutes (6 to 9) to the deadline might be devoted to
writing a short conclusion and proofreading
Well, thats how it works.
Actually, I didnt try to work against the clock since I had been
writing this essay on separate occasions. But I have done it for
educational purposes and it has proved itself viable under time
pressure.
Ideas Bank
Theme/TopicCausesEffectsSolutionsOutcomes
Family BreakdownMaterialism, Drugs, Need for moneyDrug
addiction, Poor grades at school, ImmoralityTherapy, Education,
Family supportIlliteracy, Alcoholism, Crime, Domestic violence,
Gender mistrust
Internet AddictionAccess to hi-tech equipment, Diverse program
entertainment, Boredom/LonelinessTruancy, Health problems, Computer
crime, Time mismanagementTime constraints, VDU screen
protection/keyboard correct setup, Tighter fraud
legislationFinancial concerns, Exposure to improper/inappropriate
programming
Excessive TV WatchingAdvent of cable networks, Unemployment,
Free-timeCopycat behavior, False sense of identity, Reluctance to
studyCurfew on time, Program preferencing, Develop outside
interestsSkip school, Anti-social tendencies, Movie role modeling,
Disillusionment
IlliteracyPoverty, Lack of access to resources, Distance,
WarCrime, Street waifs, Low levels of social adjustmentTeacher
status enhancement, School building program, Scholarship preference
for country childrenOverall increase of human resources, Reduction
of crime statistics, Motivation for learning in/[de]creases
UrbanizationJob availability, Disappearance of arable land,
Better lifestyleOvercrowding, Infrastructure pressures, Pollution,
CrimeDecentralization policies, Restrictions on
movement/settlementDeclining agricultural capabilities, Increasing
gap between have/have-nots
Extinction of SpeciesGreed for animal parts, Overconsumption,
Human expansionLoss of fauna/flora hinders scientific research,
Beauty of natural world suffersSustainability priorities, Crackdown
on illegal flora/fauna dealingsDesensitized profit motive towards
nature, Future generations ignorant
Polarity of WealthLack of law/justice, Corruption, Inequality of
access to resourcesJealousy, Crime, Pride, Fortress
mentalityLiteracy and equal rights extension, HR training,
technology transferPoverty and beggar proliferation, Civil
disobedience, Rich leach their society
Corrupt GovernmentCivilian lack of action, Nepotism, Military
juntasPower and wealth stays in few hands, People forced into
unethical behaviorDemocratization, Civil law priority over
military, Re-education, International isolation, Lack of
transparency and accountability
WarsExtreme nationalism, Border violations, Political
incitement/pretence Population displacement, Death/injury,
Ecological destructionMediation/negotiation, Pacts, UN resolutions,
Trade/cultural delegations Enmity between countries, Loss of
GDP/GNP, Youth suffer
Intense NationalismLow self-esteem, Xenophobia, Inability to
deal with cultural differences/changeRacism, Victimization of
ethnic minorities and 2nd generation members, Exodus of oppressed
race[sRemoval of ethnocentric force[s], Re-education of indigenous
or native elements, Dialogue xsionOn-going distrust and blame
attributed to minorities, Reunification through
multiculturalism
Crime and ViolenceLack of access issues, Poverty and ignorance,
Jealousy, Need for powerInsecurity, Anarchy, Immorality in society,
Faltering national progressStricter punishments, Educational and
vocational training, Strengthen law Political disharmony, Breakdown
in law and order, Impunity issues
Water PollutionLack of sewage systems, Industrial pollution,
Toxic and dumped waste, Health and sanitation risks, Epidemics,
Infant mortality rates, Clean-up existing water problems, Prosecute
industrial law-breakers, Control over-consumptionWater treatment
equipment expensive/complicated, Ignorance of consumers re: H2O,
Investment reqs
Air PollutionVehicle emissions, Dust, Industrial output, Green
house gases/CFCsHealth risks, respiratory ailments, Ozone
depletion, Global warmingPublic transport support, Reduce burning,
Fine polluters, Initiate Kyoto A.Developing/developed nations need
for catch-up or cartel domination
IndustrializationTechnological advances, Development trends,
Globalization, InvestmentPollution, Decline of traditional ways of
life, Mega-cities, Consumer re-preferencing, Recycling products,
decentralizationGlobal warming, Allergies and disorders, Various
pollutants, Surplus product
Population ExplosionUncontrolled birth rates, Immigration, Low
educational standardsLack of food and land, Crime and unemployment,
On-going povertyFamily planning, Migration controls, Old age
pensions, Limited resources or will to restrain birthrate or
illegal migration
RacismSee, INTENSE NATIONALISM
SexismLack of laws protecting women, Cultural acceptances of
inequalityDomestic violence, Lack of representation in government,
Education and law-based initiatives, Positive discrimination
practicesRole model recognition, Gender merging, Reluctance of
women
DesertificationExcessive chemical fertilizers, Drought, Limited
co-operation bn countries, Climate changeInfertile land, Loss of
agricultural production, Starvation, PovertyIrrigation, Natural
fertilizers, Tree planting, Reclaiming land, Prevention of
salinationFarmer reluctance to accept new programs/ides, Lack of
potable water, Incorrect flora replacement
Drug AbuseFamily breakdown, Smuggling, Peer group pressure,
Criminal activity, Health problems, Young lives destroyed,
DisillusionmentCommunity education, Border controls, Drop-in
centers, School monitoringRequirement for govts to initiate
reforms, Difficulty to supervise adolescents
Disposal of WasteToo many waste makersDisposal of waste
issuesReturn to organic waste Excess exceeds removal
Depletion of OzoneCFCs, Vehicle emissions, Newly-emerging
nationsGlobal warming, Skin cancers, DesertificationReduction of
ozone-depleting chemicals, Alternative energy sourcesThreat to
major species, Planet degradation
Acid RainPollutants collected in water cycle, On-going
industrial wasteFish stocks die off, Older buildings eroded, Water
supplies contaminatedClean up rampant industrialization, Restore
water purity, Prosecute offendersCorrosion, Soil contamination
Loss of RainforestCattle ranching, Illegal logging, Cropland
requirements, Illicit cuttingWater table displacement, Rural
dwellers jobless, Salination Reforestation, Establish nature
reserves, Containment of agriculture Large-scale erosion, Entire
species depleted or exterminated, Medical loss
Cost of EducationRising living standards, Demand for specialized
knowledge, Business-driven profit margins Imbalance between
haves/have-nots, Certain subjects become redundant or
over-commercialized Government subsidies, Scholarships, Affirmative
action for the disadvantagedLack of facilities, Lack of trained
personnel, Few jobs for graduates
Cultural DifferencesImmigration, Religious
practices/beliefsMulticulturalism,
Discrimination/RacismIntermarriages, Public awareness
programs,Ethnic cleansing, Forced relocation of ethnic groups
Drying up of RiversHydroelectric dams, Industrial and irrigation
schemesDepletion of fish species, Fishing industry decline,
Disputes over waterwaysAlternate energy sources, Regional
planningDislocation of populations, Barren land, Water wars
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no
specialist knowledge of the following topic. Controversial
proposition
It is now 30 years since man landed on the moon. Since then more
and more money has been spent on space research and exploration.
Some people think that this is not a good use of our resources and
that any hope of establishing human colonies in space is
unrealistic.]
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
You should write at least 250 words.
Text 1 - IELTS script illustrating the stages of a hortatory
exposition
[Thesis]
Human beings endeavour for establishing colonies in the space is
unrealistic and is a waste of
limited resources on the earth.
[Argument 1 + Evidence for]
It has been 30 years since the United states successfully had
its man landed on the moon and
since then, countries like the US, the former Soviet Union and
China have spent huge amount
of manpower and money for the exploration of the outer space,
mostly for military purpose.
However the human beings have not benefited from such heavy
investment. On the contrary,
lives were lost in a number of accidents, including the
explosion of a US spacecraft.
[Argument 2 + Evidence for]
The increased exploration, much in the name of establishing
human colonies, is more or less
the result of extensive arms race between a few powerful
countries, which may accelerate the
destruction of the earth itself. With advanced technologies
gained from such attempts, human
beings are in the jeopardy of a few who control the
technologies.
[Argument 3 + Evidence for]
Our resources are very limited, and should be used for the
benefit of the general public on the
earth, many of them still fighting for adequate food and
clothing. If the amount of money used
for space development in the US are diverted to fighting against
poverty, the whole Africa can
be benefited. And if the current space technologies are used for
the civil purpose, the
productivity of the developing countries can be raised
significantly.
[Argument 4 + Evidence for]
Increased publicity of establishing human colonies in the space
will also make people less
treasure the limited resources on the earth and dream that for
one day we can move to another
planet and explore the abundance of resources there. But do we
have an idea even vaguely,
how long it will take us to that day? Or can we arrive at that
day?
[Recommendation]
Stop space race! And use our resources for the well-being of the
earth and its residents!
Extract 1
(Recommendation stage taken from hortatory discussion)
In my opinion, more and more money should be spent on space
research and explitation. No
one can predict the future. The resources on the earth may also
depleted one day. We should
try our best to find out any other possible alternatives. The
earth environment is getting
worser and worser. May be the earth is no longer suitable for
human being to live in the future. We really need to do something
and find out other possible alternatives before it is too late.
Extract 2
(Position stage taken from analytical discussion)
All things considered, space research and exploration might have
some drawbacks, since is
very costly and this could result in relatively depriving
funding to other domains, but isnt it
worth a try? This new opening could lead us to many new exiting
discoveries. All in all man
has opened his wings and there is no turning back.
Extract 3.
Thesis (presenting the overall position of the writer)
The establishing of human colonies in space has created conflict
among many people. I
personally believe that money should be spend on space research
and exploration provided
that each state has taken care of certain more important
priorities.
Extract 4.
Issue (presenting the overall proposition to be debated)
Man landed on the moon 30 years ago. Since then more and more
money has been spent on
space research and exploration. Some people support on this
while others think that it is
unrealistic to spend our resources on space research and
exploration.
Television has had a significant influence on the culture of
many societies. To what extent would you say that television has
positively or negatively affected the cultural development of your
society? You should write at least 250 words
Use your own knowledge and experience and support your arguments
with examples and relevant evidence.
Sample answer
It has been around forty years since television was first
introduced into Australian households and people today still have
mixed views on whether it has a positive or a negative influence on
the society.
Many people believe that television damages culture. It promotes
the stronger cultures of countries such as Britain and North
America and weakens the cultures of less wealthy countries. This is
because the stronger, wealthier countries are able to assert their
own culture by producing more programs that are shown widely around
the world. These programs then influence people, particularly young
people, in the countries where they are shown. Also, because
television networks need to attract large audiences to secure their
financial survival, they must produce programs which are
interesting to a broad range of people. In Australia this range is
very broad because we are a multicultural society and people of all
ages like to watch television. To interest all these different
people, most television programs are short in length, full of
action and excitement, do not require much intelligence or
knowledge to understand, and follow universal themes common to all
cultures, such as love and crime. Television programs which
concentrate on or develop themes pertinent to one particular
culture are not so successful because they interest a smaller
audience.
Nevertheless we much acknowledge that television does have some
positive effects on the cultures within a society as well. People
who do not live within their own culture can, in a limited way,
access it through the multicultural station on the television. For
example, Aboriginal children who have grown up in white families,
or migrants and international students living in Australia, can
watch programs from their own culture on the television.
In conclusion, I hold the view that television promotes and
strengthens those cultures that are wealthy and influential while
it weakens the cultures that are already in a weakened
position.
Teacher's comments
Here is what a teacher said about the sample answer:
The essay has a clear introduction which poses the problem.
Three paragraphs which makes relevant points on the topic and a
conclusion which sums up the main point of the whole essay. The
grammar and vocabulary are rich and varied. It is therefore a very
good answer.
Strategies for improving your IELTS score
The style of essay required for Task 2 of the IELTS writing test
is standard to academic courses. There are several published
textbooks available to assist you to improve your writing skills
for this part of the test. Structure and cohesion should be evident
at the essay level, within and
between paragraphs and within and between sentences. Structure
and cohesion have a very important effect on the readability and
clarity of your essay as a whole. The structure of your essay
should show a clear development from introduction, through your
points and on to the conclusion. Your essay needs to have an
introduction, body and conclusion. Structure and cohesion should
also be apparent within and between paragraphs. Each paragraph will
typically contain a topic sentence which states the main point of
your paragraph. The topic sentence is usually the
first one. This will be followed by the evidence which supports
the point of the paragraph. The final sentence will typically lead
into the point of the following paragraph. A good essay will also
have structure and cohesion within and between sentences. It is
important that you are confident using linking devices such as
relative clauses, connectives and transition signals.
"Do you believe that societies ought to enforce capital
punishment or Are there alternative forms of punishment that would
be better used?"Capital punishment is the killing of a criminal for
a crime that he has committed. Previously most countries employed
this method of punishment but nowadays it is much less widely used.
I personally do not believe that societies today should use capital
punishment and I also believe that there are alternative
punishments that can be used.
My main argument against capital punishment is that I believe we
do not have the right to kill another human being regardless of the
crime. I don't believe in the old religious maxim of "an eye for an
eye." Modern societies shouldn't turn to such barbaric
punishments.
Another argument against capital punishment is that people can
be wrongly convicted and executed. If a man is in prison, he can be
released if later proved not guilty. If he is dead, there is
nothing that can be done. In the UK, a group of supposed terrorists
were convicted of murder in Birmingham in the 1970s. They were
proved innocent about 15 years later and released. If they had been
executed, innocent people would have died.
There are alternative punishments available. For bad crimes
prison life sentences can be given with criminals imprisoned for
the rest of their lives. Also a lot of horrific crimes are
committed by people who are mentally sick. These people are not
responsible for their actions and can be kept safely and
permanently in secure hospitals. Yes, this costs a lot more but I
believe it is the duty of society to do this.
There are arguments for capital punishment. Many people feel its
threat stops serious crime and that criminals deserve nothing less.
It's cheaper and keeps the prisons manageable. I can understand
this point of view but I cannot agree with it.
So, in conclusion, I don't believe in capital punishment, as
there are less barbaric alternatives available. We can avoid
horrific mistakes and make modern society a humane one.
Enormous effort is put into researching and marketing 'the
perfect potato crisp' while research into stress at work, for
example, is ignored. How important are staff working conditions?
Should employers research and improve the working conditions of
their staff or should they concentrate more on their product?
Nowadays, most businesses are concerned primarily with improving
and pushing products at all costs, therefore neglecting the strain
this strategy puts on their personnel. I believe it is of vital
importance to restrain excessive work load. I also think employers
should pay more attention to organizing friendly working
environment for their employees.
In my point of view, conditions that employers provide for their
personnel are very important. First of all, uncomfortable offices
affect the pace of work. Extra efforts to keep everything organized
may become the biggest time wasters. Secondly, inconvenient
timetables influence labour productivity. Repetitive long hours at
work get workers exhausted. Finally, relations between managers and
employees matter. Unfriendly atmosphere undermine self-esteem,
co-operation and ability of staff to come up with creative
ideas.
I convinced that researching and improving employees working
conditions is rewarding. To begin with, improving workplace is an
integral part of effective personnel policy. It helps a company
become the employer of choice for skilled workers. Furthermore,
neglecting to monitor the wellness of staff leads to extra expenses
since more workers would use the insurance plan. Finally,
businesses seeking efficiency should gather information on the
latest advances in work space ergonomics. Strong competition forces
employers to upgrade staff work areas to boost the performance of
staff.
I also feel that concentrating solely on the product is
ineffective. For one thing, marketing, even most aggressive, would
not make the product any better. The perfect potato crisp results
from the work of well-trained staff. For another, companies
overlooking workers needs in favour of merchandise are unstable.
Staff retention problems restrain the companys potential to come
regularly on the marker with new offers. At last, neglecting staff
damages the reputation of a manufacturer. Customers might refuse
buying a product, if they know it is made through hard exploitation
of workers.
To summarize, employers should accept working conditions as
being very important to successful company development.
Disregarding researching and improving working conditions
undermines enormous effort put into promotion of the product.
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