Active Learning Seminars

Presented by Nigel Veal

Please take part!

for IELTS

Writing Task 2

Task 2: Write an essay discussing an argument or a point of view, using a minimum of 250 words.

Time allowed:40 minutes

Make sure your writing

f cuses on the reader

• Do not use contractions such as can’t, I’ll, don’t or abbreviations such as eg.• Do not use slang such as kids, guys or stuff.• Do not make personal comments directly to your reader, such as I hope you like my essay.

Understand

1. the topic

2. the task

Topic

It is inevitable that as technology develops so traditional culture will be lost. Technology and tradition are incompatible.

Task

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Plan your essay

Section Plan for sample Task 2 essay

The introduction State viewpoint:Strongly disagree, technology and tradition are compatible.

The body Support this viewpoint:Argument 1: in many countries they live side by side, eg Japan.

Argument 2: throughout history, technology has been incorporated into traditional cultures, eg the introduction of tractors.

Argument 3: technology can preserve traditional cultures, eg ancient manuscripts, artifacts.

The conclusion Re-state viewpoint:

Traditional cultures are not necessarily lost through the development of technology.

Paraphrase the question stem!

Nowadays

State your viewpoint

In my opinion, I think…

In order to predict, practise using modal verbs of possibility. For example, the world may/might/could/improve (if there were a world government).

Write in paragraphs

The body of your essay

Reason 1 First/First of all… One reason for this viewpoint is that…

Reason 2 Second… In addition…

Reason 3 Third/Finally… Another reason is that…

Opinion essaysIn my opinion,blah, blah, blah…..

The issue What should we do about the traffic?

The writer expresses her viewpoint about this issue. She proposes a suggestion.She draw a conclusion.

I think we can improve the traffic problem by improving public transport.The government should build an underground train system.

She puts forward arguments to support her claim.

Many people would leave their cars at home and use the train if it were reliable and cheap.Improving public transport is more efficient and better for the environment.

She quotes evidence to support her claim.

The government’s own surveys in 2012 concluded that over 20% of people would use a new train system regularly.

She argues against someone else’s claims.

I don’t agree with the government that we must build roads to solve the traffic problem. More roads will lead to more cars.

Support your opinion with

Support your reasons with

reasons.

examples.

Words in argumentative texts

an opinion a fact a viewpoint a stance a position

to argue for to argue against to put forward an argument

to claim to make a claim to support to prove to imply

to indicate to show

evidence an implication

to conclude to draw a conclusion to come to a conclusion

Balanced argument essay

Statement For Against

School uniforms should be abolished in all schools

• Uniforms are expensive so not having to buy them saves money.

• Children can show their individuality.

• Wearing a uniform will prevent students being judged on the way they look.

• If students wear a uniform, they won’t pressure their parents to buy designer/ fashionable clothes that some families can’t afford.

• Wearing a uniform can foster a sense of pride in their school.

• Students will always find a way to pass judgment on their peers.

Example of a balanced argument essay

Task 2 assessment criteria

1. Task Response2. Coherence and Cohesion3. Lexical Resource4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Cohesive phrases include wordings like:

Because of this, …As this shows, …As can clearly be seen from this example, …It is clear that…Thus, the idea that…To illustrate this, …After analyzing both points of view, …Without a doubt, this causes…

Linking parts of your essay together

Expressing contrastbut howeverneverthelessyet

Adding further supportin additionalsofurthermore

Expressing similaritieslikewisesimilarly

Expressing conditionsifunlesswhenwhether

Providing reasonsin order toso as not toso that

Stating resultsthusas a resultso

consequently because in the same way

on the other hand moreoverother wise

consequently because in the same way

on the other hand moreoverother wise

Besides

Be careful

Although governments have a role to play, but it is ultimately individuals who need to be persuaded to choose more sustainable forms of transport.

Paraphrasing

excessive number of = too manyleads to = causesmany problems = numerous problemsin order to = so as totackle these problems = solve these problems

Traffic Problems

Countable and uncountable nouns

advice advancefact pollutionmoney toxin

transport trafficknowledge news

progress machineryinformation research travel dollar journey

vehicle politicsreport equipment

machine

advicepollution

moneytransport trafficknowledge news

progress machineryinformation research

travelpolitics

equipment

exhausted smoke exhaust fumes

Man, I’m exhausted!

Think of your essay as a sandwich

Vary your sentence structure

Gerunds are very versatile

If a person appears to be relatively wealthy, perhaps owning an expensive car, living in a nice house and generally enjoying a high standard of living, then most people would say this person is successful.

owning livingenjoying

owning livingenjoying

Passing exams or completing a course can be considered successful activities. Passing completingPassing completing

Another type of success can be achieved simply by doing one’s own particular job effectively.

doingdoing

Don’t try to translate your ideas from Vietnamese into English!

for IELTS

Writing Task 2

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