Task Achievement

The first ingredient in Writing Task 2

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Basics

According to the Band Descriptors, to achieve band 7 or higher, you must:

1. Cover the requirements of the task by writing about everything in the

question
2. Present a clear position/opinion throughout your response
3. Present, extend and support your main ideas with supporting details
4. Don’t overgeneralize
An Overview of Structure
Paragraphs Requirements

Introduce topic, paraphrase question language

Introduction
and state thesis (main ideas + position/opinion)

Discuss and/or support your position with main

Body Paragraph 1
idea #1, supporting details and examples

Discuss and/or support your position with main

Body Paragraph 2
idea #2, supporting details and examples

Summarize main points of the essay along with

Conclusion
your position/opinion (restate thesis)

Structure allows you address all parts of

the task and clearly present your ideas
What is Overgeneralization?
Overgeneralization is when you make a statement that may be true in some or many cases,
but NOT in all cases!

Example: “Living in big cities is stressful, because they are too overcrowded.”

Is this true for everyone who lives in big cities? No, because some people enjoy big cities

Example: ”Children do not exercise nowadays.”

Is this true for every single child? No, because some children do exercise

Note that we cannot verify these “generalized” statements

How to Stop Overgeneralizing
To avoid overgeneralizing, you have to soften your statement with the words below:

Modal Language Frequency Adverbs Non-specific Quantifiers

often many
could
sometimes some
may
usually few
might
generally a number of
can
typically a lot of
probable
tend to several
likely
occasionally numerous

Generalization: “Living in big cities is stressful, because they are too overcrowded.”

Correction: “Living in big cities can be stressful, because they tend to be too overcrowded.”
How to Stop Overgeneralizing
Generalization Correction

Children do not exercise nowadays. Children tend not to exercise nowadays.

Generally speaking, living in another

Living in another country is difficult.
country can be difficult.

Taking an exam is stressful. Taking an exam is often stressful

In many cases, learning a new language can

Learning a new language is challenging.
be challenging.

Living in a city is more convenient. Living in a city is typically more convenient.

Prison is more effective for reform. Prison may be more effective for reform.
Second Ingredient:
Coherence & Cohesion