Académique Documents
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Writing Task 2
Opinion Essays
Other types of essays
• HOW TO DEVELOP A THESIS STATEMENT
• STRUCTURE
• MODEL ANSWER
Opinion Essays
1.Agree or Disagree
IELTS Writing Task 2 requires you to write an academic-style essay on a common topic. You have 40 minutes
to write at least 250 words.
Task 2 can be broken down and thought about more easily in 5 steps:
1. Question Analysis
2. Planning
3. Introduction
5. Conclusion
WRITING TASK 2
2.Writing about the topic generally and not answering the specific question;
PLANNING
One of the biggest fears students have is opening up the writing paper, looking at
task 2 and having no ideas. Idea generation in IELTS writing task 2 is something
students worry a lot about, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
3. Mind Mapping
4. 5 Questions Method
The introduction is the first part of the essay the examiner will read and it will give them a good
first impression of what to expect in the rest of the essay. Just like in person, first impressions last.
Common Problems
1.Paraphrase question
Paraphrasing means stating the question again, but with different words so that it has the same meaning.
We do this by using synonyms and flipping the order of the sentences around.
2.Thesis statement
This is the most important sentence in your essay. This is your main idea and I often describe it to
students as how you feel about the whole issue in one sentence. It tells the examiner that you have
understood the question and will lead to a clear and coherent essay.
3.Outline statement
Now that you have paraphrased the question and told the examiner what you think in your thesis
sentence, you are now going to tell the examiner what you will discuss in the main body paragraphs. In
other words, you will outline what the examiner will read in the rest of the essay. This should be one
sentence only.
WRITING TASK 2
Ways of Paraphrasing
1: Using Synonyms
Synonyms are different words that have the same meaning. This method simply replaces words with the
same meaning in order to produce a new sentence.
THESIS STATEMENT
A thesis statement is the most important sentence in your IELTS writing task 2
answer. It is contained in the introduction and each introduction should have one;
along with a paraphrase of the question and an outline statement.
A thesis statement is your main idea and described as how you feel about the whole
issue in one sentence. It tells the examiner that you have understood the question and
will lead to a clearer; more coherent essay.
WRITING TASK 2
CONCLUSION
The conclusion is the easiest paragraph to write because in many ways you are just
using ideas you have already mentioned in your introduction and main body
paragraphs. However, this is the last thing the examiner will read and it is therefore
crucial that you finish strongly.
5.Two-part Question
WRITING TASK 2
BODY/SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH
1. Topic Sentence
2. Description/Explanation
3. Examples/Further Discussion
4. Summary of the Paragraph/ Counter Arguments
CONCLUSION
1. Restatement of the Thesis
2. Generalization of the Body
3. Reiteration of Stand or Opinion
WRITING TASK 2
• Task response
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy.
WRITING TASK 2
TASK ACHIEVEMENT
1. Are there enough words?
- There must be at least 250 words.
2. Does the essay address all parts of the task?
- A question may have from one to four parts. Each of them must be addressed as fully as possible.
- Consider the task “ Some people think that wild animals should not be kept in zoos. Others believe
that there are good reasons for having zoos. Discuss both these views and give your opinion”.
- An essay about this topic should cover three parts:
a. Reasons not to keep animals in zoo.
b. Advantages of zoos
c. Own opinion
- If a candidate forgets to cover one part out of three, they won’t get more than 5 for Task Response
3. Is writer’s position clear enough?
- A candidate can NOT change his or her opinion while writing the essay, otherwise, they won’t score
more than 6.
4. Are arguments and examples good enough?
- Some students use irrelevant examples or weak arguments, thus getting no more than 6.
WRITING TASK 2
COHERNCE AND COHESION
The examiner will check how well a candidate can organize his or her writing.
-Conclusion
a.Restatement of thesis
b.Generalization of body
c.Opinion/Stand
WRITING TASK 2
COHERNCE AND COHESION
The examiner will check how well a candidate can organize his or her writing.
Most sentences must be ‘error free’. Use words and phrases accurately—
spelling, meaning, collocations and word
formation
VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR SOLUTION
Know all the grammatical rules
It is better to write ‘simple’ word or phrase that is correct than a ‘complex’ word or
phrase that is wrong and you are not sure about
AGREE OR DISAGREE
• Introduction
Paraphrase question
Thesis statement
Outline sentence
• Conclusion
Summarize main ideas and
reiterate opinion
Example:
Having big salary is more important than job satisfaction.
• Conclusion
Summary of main ideas
Example:
The government's investment in arts, music and theatre is
a waste of money. Governments should invest these funds
in public services instead.
• Conclusion
Summarise main ideas and state opinion
Example:
Some people believe the aim of university education is to
help graduates get better jobs. Others believe there are
much wider benefits of university education for both
individuals and society.
• Conclusion
Summarize man ideas and state opinion
Example
• Conclusion
Summary of main ideas
• Conclusion
Summary of main ideas
Example
In some countries, young people are encouraged to work
or travel for a year between finishing high school and
starting university studies.
• Conclusion
Summary of main ideas
Example
The United Nations recently celebrated its 70th
anniversary.
4. Write an introduction.