The document provides guidance for writing Task 2 essays for the IELTS exam. It recommends focusing on understanding the topic, planning the essay structure, using cohesive linking phrases, and varying sentence structures to tie ideas together coherently in 3 sentences or less.

1. Active Learning
Seminars
Presented by Nigel Veal

2. Please take part!

3. for IELTS
Writing Task 2

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

5. Time allowed:
40 minutes

6. Make sure your writing
f cuses
on the reader

7. • 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.

8. 1. the topic
Understand
2. the task

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

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

11. Plan your essay

12. 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.

13. Paraphrase the question stem!

14. Nowadays

15. State your viewpoint

16. In my opinion, I think…

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

18. Write in paragraphs

19. 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…

20. Opinion essays

21. The issue What should we do about the traffic?
The writer expresses her I think we can improve the traffic problem by
viewpoint about this issue. improving public transport.
She proposes a suggestion. The government should build an underground
She draw a conclusion. train system.
She puts forward arguments Many people would leave their cars at home and
to support her claim. use the train if it were reliable and cheap.
Improving public transport is more efficient and
better for the environment.
She quotes evidence to The government’s own surveys in 2012
support her claim. concluded that over 20% of people would use a
new train system regularly.
She argues against someone I don’t agree with the government that we must
else’s claims. build roads to solve the traffic problem. More
roads will lead to more cars.

22. Support your opinion with reasons.
Support your reasons with examples.

23. 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

24. Balanced argument essay

25. Example of a balanced argument essay
Statement For Against
School uniforms • Uniforms are expensive so • If students wear a uniform,
should be abolished not having to buy them saves they won’t pressure their
in all schools money. parents to buy designer/
fashionable clothes that some
families can’t afford.
• Children can show their • Wearing a uniform can foster
individuality. a sense of pride in their
school.
• Wearing a uniform will • Students will always find a
prevent students being way to pass judgment on
judged on the way they look. their peers.

26. Task 2 assessment criteria
1. Task Response
2. Coherence and Cohesion
3. Lexical Resource
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

27. 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…

28. Linking parts of your essay together

29. consequently on the other hand
because
because moreover
moreover
in the same way
in the same way other wise
other wise
Expressing contrast Adding further support
but in addition
however also
nevertheless furthermore
yet
Expressing similarities Expressing conditions
likewise if
similarly unless
when
whether
Providing reasons Stating results
in order to thus
so as not to as a result
so that so

30. Besides

31. Be careful

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

33. Paraphrasing
excessive number of = too many
leads to = causes
many problems = numerous problems
in order to = so as to
tackle these problems = solve these problems

34. Traffic Problems

35. Countable and uncountable nouns
advice advance
advice
fact pollution
money toxin
transport traffic
transport traffic
knowledge news
progress
progress machinery
information research
travel dollar journey
travel
vehicle politics
equipment
report equipment
machine

36. exhaust fumes
exhausted smoke

37. Man, I’m exhausted!

39. Think of your essay as a sandwich

40. Vary your sentence
structure

41. Gerunds are very versatile

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

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

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

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

46. for IELTS
Writing Task 2

47. English is your
to
Success!

48. Get your
passport here!