The document provides guidance on how to structure a discussion essay for Task 2 of the IELTS exam. It notes that a discussion essay requires identifying two sides of an issue and discussing both before giving your own opinion, whereas an opinion essay simply requires stating your opinion. It includes sample questions that could be used for a discussion essay and provides guidance on how to plan and structure a response, including using discourse markers, examples, complex sentences, varied vocabulary, and writing within the 250 word limit.

1. Task 2 Discussion Essays

2. Identify the Discussion Essay
• Computers are being used more and more in education and
so there will soon be no role for the teacher in education.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Computers are being used more and more in education.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own
opinion.
• Computers are being used more and more in education. Some
people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that
it is leading to negative consequences.
Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own
opinion.

3. How will the structure differ from an
opinion essay?
Look at both structures and tell the other people
in your group which one you would use for an
opinion essay and which one you would use for
a discussion essay.

4. Example
Look at the example and put it in the correct
order.

5. Discourse Markers
Highlight the discourse markers/connectors in
the example essay.

6. Lexical Resource
How has the author used synonyms?

7. Grammatical Range
Can you identify the complex sentences?
Examples
Conditional sentences i.e. ‘If…’
Subordinate clauses i.e. ‘….that…., …..which…..,
….who…’.

8. Idea Generation
What are the benefits of university education?

9. Example Question
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.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

10. Planning
Using the structure provided, plan your essay.
Don’t just talk about it, write a plan.

11. Writing Practice
You have 30 minutes to write your answer to the
example question.

12. Feedback
• Are the ideas relevant?
• Did they follow the correct structure?
• Are their discourse markers appropriate?
• Did they include error free complex
sentences?
• Is their vocabulary relevant, appropriate and
varied?
• Did they write 250 words?

13. IELTS Advantage
For more great resources on discuss both
views task 2 essays, please visit our site
http://ieltsadvantage.com/