This document provides a lesson on identifying the topic in IELTS writing tasks. It explains that clearly understanding the topic is crucial to scoring well. Students are instructed to carefully read the essay question and identify one or two key words that indicate the topic. Multiple examples of essay questions are then given for students to practice identifying the topic. The document emphasizes that the topic may focus on a specific area, group, or place rather than the broader subject.

1. Writing Lesson 1: Identify the Topic
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2. Introduction
In the writing for task, one of the first things you need to do is identify the
topic of the essay.
If you write about the wrong topic or go off topic when you write your answer,
this is likely to substantially reduce your band score.

3. How do I identify the topic?
Remember, in IELTS writing, you are usually presented with some
issue or problem that is currently affecting society and you need
to discuss it.
So you need to read the question carefully and identify what the
issue is. You will normally only be looking for one or two key
words.
Have a look at the following question. What is the issue?

4. How do I identify the topic?
The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in
many countries.
Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest
solutions.
You should have identified teenage crime as the topic.
The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in
many countries.

5. What if I identified ‘crime’ as the topic?
Your essay would be wrong if you wrote about crime generally. When you have a
topic, it may require you to talk about a particular area, group of people or place.
In this case, the question specifically wants you to address the issue of TEENAGE
crime.
When you identify the topic, always look carefully to see if it is being narrowed
down to a particular area that you need to focus on.

6. Identify the Topic - Practice
Have a look at the following essay questions and choose the best answer to
identify the topic. Remember, this is not a full analysis of the question - you
are just looking for the broad topic area.
Sometimes more than one answer may be possible. In this case, when you
identify the topic, choose the most precise.

7. Identify the Topic – Practice
1. 'Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for
part of each week and communicating with their office using
computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many
countries and is expected to be common for most office workers
in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected
by the growth of telecommuting?
A, Working from home
B, Telecommuting
C, Computer technology

8. Identify the Topic – Practice
2, To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?
A, Animal research
B, Animals
C, Scientific research
3, We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses,
hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in
the future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more
suspicious of their benefits?
A, The benefits of computers
B, Computers in businesses, hospitals, crime detection, and flying.
C, Computer dependency

9. Identify the Topic – Practice
4, In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in
the past 10 years?
A, Information technology and work
B, Information technology
C, Working practices

10. Identify the Topic – Practice
5, Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society
develops it is increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the
helpless animals that are killed. All blood sports should be banned. Discuss the
main arguments for this statement and give your own opinion.
A, Animal cruelty
B, Blood sports
C, Blood sports and uncivilized activity

11. Identify the Topic – Practice
6, A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by
people and that they should have the same rights as humans, while others
argue that humans must employ animals to satisfy their various needs,
including uses for food and research. Discuss the arguments in favour of both
these positions and state your own position on the issue.
A, Satisfying human needs
B, Animals and humans
C, Animal rights

12. Identify the Topic – Practice
7, Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's
forests amounts to death of the world we currently know. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
A, The Earth
B, Deforestation
C, Death of the world

13. Identify the Topic – Practice
8, The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many
people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home
because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a
different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement?
A, Studying abroad
B, Studying
C, Living in a different culture

14. Identify the Topic – Practice
9, Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor
alternatives to a natural environment. Discuss some of the
arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos.
A, Natural environments
B, Alternatives to zoos
C, Keeping animals in zoos

15. Identify the Topic – Practice
10, Many countries are currently witnessing an increase in
criminal activity among young people. Discuss reasons for this
phenomenon and suggest ways to deal with the problem.
A, Youth crime
B, Criminal activity
C, Increases in crime

16. Answers
1, B
2, A
3, C
4, A
5, B
6, B
7, B
8, A
9, C
10, A

17. Well done
End of the lesson
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