An overview of IELTS Writing Task 02. Part of class lecture.

1. IELTS Writing (Task 02)

2. 2
In order to get a great score on the
IELTS Writing Exam, you need to be
able to structure your essay logically.
Fortunately, this is easy.
Here is the basic structure:

3. Types of Essay
Task 02
1

4. “You can’t just learn one basic structure, but there are a
limited number that you need to learn.
The five most common IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are:
Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
Advantages and Disadvantages
Problem and Solution
Discussion (Discuss both view)
Two-part Question
We will look at each of these in turn.

5. Structure
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6. 6
Paragraph 1- Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
Sentence 3- Outline Statement
Paragraph 2- Supporting Paragraph 01
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
Sentence 2- Explain Topic Sentence
Sentence 3- Example
Sentence 4- Concession Sentence

7. 7
Paragraph 3- Supporting Paragraph 2
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
Sentence 2- Explain Topic Sentence
Sentence 3- Example
Sentence 4- Concession Sentence
Paragraph 4- Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary
Sentence 2- Prediction or Recommendation

8. 8
Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
Common Question Words
What is your opinion?
Do you agree or disagree?
Towhat extent do you agree or disagree?
Example Question
Maintaining public libraries is a waste of time since computer
technology is now replacing their functions.
Towhat extent do you agree or disagree?

9. 9
Advantage & Disadvantage Questions
Typical Question Words
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own
opinion.
Example Question
People now have the freedom to work and live anywhere in the
world due to the development of communication technology and
transportation.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the
disadvantages?

10. 10
Discussion (discussion both views)
Questions
Typical Question Words
Discuss both sides of this argument…
Discuss both points of view...
Example Question
Some people believe that higher education should be funded by
the government. Others, however, argue that it is the
responsibility of individuals to fund their higher education.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

11. 11
Problem & Solution
Typical Question Words
Problem and solution.
Cause and solution.
Example Question
Students are becoming more and more reliant on
computers.
What are some of the problems associated with reliance on
computers, and what are some of the possible solutions?

12. Two Part Questions
Typical Question Words
There will normally be a statement and they will then
ask you to answer two separate questions.
Example Question
Happiness is considered very important in life.
Why is it difficult to define?
What factors are important in achieving happiness?

13. Planning
13

14. In some countries an increasing number of people are suffering from
health problems as a result of eating too much fast food. It is therefore
necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Paragraph 1
Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
Sentence 3- Outline Statement

15. How to Write a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is your main idea and 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.

16. Main Body Paragraph 1
Supporting Paragraph 1
⬥ This paragraph should include:
⬥ Topic Sentence
⬥ Explanation
⬥ Example
⬥ Concession
A concession statement demonstrates that you have thought about the
other side of the argument, thus making your argument stronger. It could
look something like this:

17. Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary
Sentence 2- Prediction or Recommendation
Don’t write any new ideas in this paragraph.
A summary should just restate your thesis statement and your main
supporting points.

18. Plan
Take your time to read the question.
Think carefully about your answer.
Brainstorm lots of ideas.
Cull to the best ideas.

19. Analysing the Question
Take your time to think about three important things:
keywords
micro-keywords
action words
Keywords tell us the main topic.
Micro-keywords refine the main topic to a few specific
ideas or areas that we should talk about.
Action words tell us what we should do.

20. Analyzing the Question
Let’s look at an example question.
Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans
face in the 21st Century and sea levels are continuing
to rise at alarming rates.
What problems are associated with this and what are
some possible solutions.
What are the keywords, micro-keywords, and action words?

21. Analysing the Question
The keywords are ‘global warming‘. This is our general
topic. We are going to write about this, but we cannot
write about just any problems associated with global
warming.
The micro-keywords are ‘humans‘ and ‘sea level rise‘.
So instead of writing just about the huge topic of global
warming and any problems associated with that, we
have to talk about how sea level rises will
affect humans.
The action words are problems and solutions. Our task
is therefore to write about that and only that. It does not
ask our opinion or about the disadvantages and
advantages or about the causes, just the problems and
solutions.

22. Some ideas
Problem: flooding of people’s homes and businesses
Solution: build flood barriers or move to higher areas
Problem: loss of agricultural land and starvation
Solution: switch to more suitable crops
Problem: displacement of millions of people
Solution: move people in a planned and orderly way
before the floods
Problem: ground water undrinkable
Solution: build desalination plants

23. THANKS!
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