WRITING STRATEGIES
(IELTS WRITING TASK 2)
Language Proficiency C1 - Week 4
1
Common topics
• Education • Children and Families
• Health, Diet and Fitness • Technological Development
and Change
• Globalization
• The Environment
• Work and Unemployment
• Public Transport
• Crime, the Law, and
Criminal Justice • Advertising
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Types of essay
• Opinion essays (agree/ disagree) => positive/negative
trend
• Argumentative essays (for and against / discussion)
• Problem - Solution essays
• Cause - Effect essays
• Advantage(s) and Disadvantage(s) essays
• Double question essays
4
Opinion essays
• Introduction: state your opinion clearly - (partially)
agree OR (partially) disagree
• Body: give reasons for your opinion (facts and
examples)
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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Opinion essays - pro tips
• Common questions
• (To what extent) do you agree or disagree?
• What is your opinion on…?
• Does this have a positive or negative development/
trend?
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Opinion essays - pro tips
• Discuss ONLY one view (agree OR disagree)
• State YOUR opinion both in the introduction and in the
conclusion
• Explain one reason for your opinion in paragraph 2 and
another in paragraph 3
• DON’T write a paragraph about what other people think!!!
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Positive-Negative development essays
• Introduction:
• Paraphrase the topic
• Thesis statement - take your stand (positive/ negative/ balanced view)
• Body (either completely positive OR negative)
• 1st reason/ effect: topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• 2nd reason/ effect: topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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Positive-Negative development essays
• Body (both positive and negative to an extent)
• Positive effect(s): topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• Negative effect(s): topic sentence + explanation +
example(s)
• Which one outweighs the other (should be stated in the
topic sentence)
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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Positive-Negative development - tips
• Similar to opinion / argumentative essays => make sure your thesis
statement includes the keywords to distinguish the essay type
• This type of essay can be combined with another question =>
double question essays
• Common question:
• Is this a positive or negative development/ trend?
• Do you think this trend / development is more positive or
negative?
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Positive-Negative development essays
• Today many people use the Internet and smartphones
to transfer money to friends, family, and businesses. Is
this a positive or negative development?
• Some countries import a large amount of food from
other parts of the world. To what extent is this a
positive or negative trend?
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For and Against essays
• Introduction: paraphrase both views + state your view
about the topic - agree with one, disagree with the other
• Body:
• 1st viewpoint (topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• 2nd viewpoint (topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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For and Against essays - pro tips
• Common questions
• Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Keywords: (While) some people…, (but / however / yet) others…
• Do
• discuss TWO opposing views
• discuss the view that you disagree with first
• develop both sides of the argument equally
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Cause - Effect essays
• Introduction:
• Paraphrase the topic
• Thesis statement - state the cause(s) & the effect(s) clearly but briefly
• Body:
• The cause(s) (topic sentence + explanation + example(s))
• The effect(s) (topic sentence + explanation + example(s))
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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Cause - Effect essays - pro tips
• Common key words/ phrases
• Causes / What could lead to this…
• Effects/ consequences / What does this lead to…
• Do
• check the question(s) carefully - cause & effect or effect &
cause
• develop both sides equally
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Problem-Solution essays
• Introduction:
• Paraphrase the topic
• Thesis statement - state the problem & the solutions clearly but briefly
• Body:
• The problem (topic sentence + explanation + example(s))
• Solutions (topic sentence + explanation + example(s))
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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Problem-Solution essays - pro tips
• Common key words/phrases
• Cause / problem / issue / reasons for this (..)
• Solutions / measures/ how we deal with/ address/ tackle/ handle it
• Do
• discuss the problem (or cause of the problem) in one paragraph and the
solutions in another
• make sure the solutions are directly linked to the problem
• develop both paragraphs equally
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Advantage-Disadvantage essays
• Introduction:
• Paraphrase the topic
• Thesis statement - overview of the advantage(s) and disadvantage(s)
• Body:
• The advantage(s): topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• The disadvantage(s): topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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Advantage-Disadvantage essays - pro tips
• Common questions
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of …?
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of …
• Does the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
• *benefits and drawbacks / pros and cons
• Do
• identify the theme and the main topic
• choose 1-2 advantage(s) and disadvantage(s) to develop well
• make sure the advantages/ disadvantages (in one paragraph) are linked
• develop both paragraphs equally
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Double question essays
• Introduction:
• Paraphrase the questions
• Thesis statement - brief answer to both questions
• Body:
• 1st question: topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• 2nd question: topic sentence + explanation + example(s)
• Conclusion: paraphrase your thesis statement
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Double question essays - pro tips
• Do
• identify the theme and the keywords in each question
• consider the question words (how/ what/ why)
• answer both questions equally
• briefly answer both questions in the introduction
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Writing strategies
• Identify the topic
• Make an outline
• Write the thesis statement
• Write the essay
• Consider hedging (cautious) language
(impersonalization and adverbs of uncertainty) and
nominalization
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Key to a good introduction
• A background information sentence
• A clear and concise thesis statement
• Appropriate length (2-3 sentences, 40-60 words)
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Key to a good conclusion
• A paraphrased version of the thesis statement
• A final message
• Appropriate length (2-3 sentences, 40-60 words)
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General reminders
• Avoid contraction (I’m, it’s, you’re, etc.)
• Avoid using such as when referring to your main
points (in the thesis statement and topic
sentences)
• Avoid using etc. => unnecessary, make your writing
less formal
• Numbers from zero to ten should be written in
words, not numbers (except for when you are
referring to time)
• Avoid starting a sentence with a coordinating
conjunction (FANBOYS) => use subordinating
conjunctions 25
Topic 1
Some people like to save extra money. Others want to spend it right away. Discuss
both views and give your opinion.
• Type of essay: argumentative essay
• Theme: Finance/ Life
• Save money:
• Reason 1: to achieve financial independence and/ or financial goals (make
investment, buy a house or a car)
• Reason 2: preventative measure => have savings for emergencies or
unexpected expenses
• Spend money:
• Reason 1: personal satisfaction by owning materialistic items
• Reason 2: a decent financial background or even well-off => a lack of need for
savings or financial goals to pursue 26
Topic 1
Some people like to save extra money. Others want to spend it right away. Discuss
both views and give your opinion.
• Type of essay: argumentative essay
• Theme: Finance/ Life
• Paraphrased statement: How one should use their money has always
been a common topic of debate. Some hold the view that money
should be saved while others argue that money is to be spent.
• Thesis statement: It is true that both have reasonable grounds but I
personally concur with the former opinion on saving money.
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Topic 2
It is necessary to be competitive in order to succeed in life. To what extend do you
agree or disagree with the statement?
• Type of essay: opinion essay (agree/ disagree)
• Theme: Work/ Life
• Agree:
• Reason 1: encourages one to work harder, self-development
• Reason 2: higher-quality outcomes/ results (achieve goals, get promoted)
• Paraphrased statement: It is believed that competition is crucial for success
in life.
• Thesis statement: In my perspective, competitiveness, if exploited
properly, does bring out positive outcomes in terms of self-improvement
and higher-quality results which can benefit both the individual and others.
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Topic 2
It is necessary to be competitive in order to succeed in life. To what extend do you
agree or disagree with the statement?
• Disagree:
• Reason 1: accomplishment becomes about winning, not gaining new
skills => not improving oneself in the long run
• Reason 2: drains mental health => negative mindset: working against
others instead of working together and helping one another
• Paraphrased statement: It is believed that competition is crucial for
success in life.
• Thesis statement: In my view, competitiveness, if exploited extensively,
may lead to unfavorable outcomes which can extend to failure in self-
improvement and draining one’s mental health in the long run.
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