Ielts Writing Task 2 Anatomy

8/15/2019 Ielts Writing Task 2 Anatomy

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IELTS WRITING TASK-2: ANATOMY OF ANEXCELLENT ESSAY

TUE SDAY, MARCH 22, 20 16

Do you know that many candidates follow a tradition to answer IELTS writing task-2

(academic)?

The Tradition: irst! they think a"out too many #oints to answer the $uestion%%%then write those

ideas&#oints one after another%%%%and make it a 'ungle of words that "ecome difficult to read%

Incredi"le tradition% ou should try it%

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Le##o! /: $e*elo. Fo'u#e% 0aa+a.h with Cohee!'e

5lright! "efore we get into all the details! let6s get a glim#se of a ,ery common $uestion I usually

get from my su"scri"ers8

So here is the fact.%

It takes too long to finish%

Do you know why?

It ha##ens when you try to #resent too many ideas in your writing%

9ut! you dont ha,e time for this (:* minutes allowed for Task-2)

That make sense! why should not gather too many #oints%

It`s simply = waste of energy + waste of time.

ou can write ; or more "ody #aragra#hs after the introduction%

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9ut! limit the focus to one distinct idea%

ou should8

<ut only one main idea #er #aragra#h

5dd ;&= more sentences #er #aragra#h%

Start each "ody #aragra#hs with one focus or ma'or #oint of discussion and then #ut other

sentences to create a logical "ridge%

In this way! the entire #aragra#h will concern itself with a single focus%

If you write like this- it will "e easily understanda"le to the eaminer%

ou are not getting it clear?

If Im right...%%

Let me gi,e you a sim#le formula8 <ie >ethod%

<IE method8

< - <oint

I - Illustrate

E E#lain

<oint8 >ake a strong #oint as e#ressed in the to#ic sentence or claim statement@

Illustrate8 Ai,e some #ractical e,idences@

E#lain8 Show how the&these e,idence su##orts the #oint%

1ow to wite 0oi!tTo.i' Se!te!'e3



our to#ic sentence is the most im#ortant sentence of the #aragra#h%

It should contain8 a single idea or to#ic B your o#inion (a"out that idea)%

or eam#le8

Cnline education has "ecome more #o#ular form of distance education in recent years%

In this case! the to#ic is8 online education your o#inion is8 it has "ecome more #o#ular in

recent years%

emem"er that! a good to#ic sentence should not "e too general or too s#ecific%

Too general: Cnline education has "ecome ,ery #o#ular%

Too specific: Cnline education has "ecome ,ery #o#ular form of distance education in Fa#an!

3hina! GS5 and 3anada where almost 2= + of the enrolled students in any institution #refer

online%

0ow! you ha,e to illustrate the idea e#ressed in the to#ic sentence%

1ow to Illu#tate the To.i'3

or illustration! you need to #ro,ide some eam#les that su##ort the to#ic sentence% These

eam#les will hel# you to ela"orate to#ic sentence%

or instance! look at #re,ious #oint8

HCnline education has "ecome more #o#ular form of distance education in recent years%

ou need to come u# with some reasons why online education "ecomes #o#ular%

Like8



Students ha,e freedom to take lessons from home! they dont ha,e to "e #resent themsel,es

#hysically in the lecture room% The e#erience of ,irtual learning en,ironment ,ia the internet

whene,er needed makes it time inde#endent% or many learners! it #ro,ides the a"ility to

maintain #ersonal "usy schedules and take classes at the same day%

1ow to E4.lai!3

0ow! you ha,e illustrated the to#ic with reasons%

Its the time to ela"orate how the eam#les connect to your #oint%

Ctherwise! the eaminer may "ecome o,erwhelmed with too many eam#les you ha,e #ro,ides

.may think your eam#les does match the #oint you,e mentioned at the "eginning of the

#aragra#h%

Thats why you need to make it clear in one sentence! like "elow8

These flei"ility of online learning make it a ,ery #owerful and #o#ular medium of education%

It is interesting to notice how the entire #aragra#h is focused on a single to#ic- the #o#ularity of

online learning%

Thats the key #oint- write each #aragra#h on 'ust one single to#ic%

Don6t include a new to#ic&idea in this #aragra#h%

rite a se#arate #aragra#h for a new to#ic%

emem"er! each new #oint should ha,e its own #aragra#h%

Let take an eam#le of IELTS (5cademic) writing $uestion taken fromofficial IELTS #age%

https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/~/media/8CEA04A5ABDF4A2C8FE8FEF2E59253C3.ashx

https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/~/media/8CEA04A5ABDF4A2C8FE8FEF2E59253C3.ashx



Lets agree with the #oint that Hthe "enefit of nuclear technology far outweighs the

disad,antage.and write a #aragra#h a"out it%%%as "elow8

Jst "ody #aragra#h8

0uclear #ower is ,ery en,ironment friendly source of energy with almost no car"on foot#rint%

(Point)%or eam#le! 5ir #ollution from coal! oil and gas #ower #lants is ,ery high and

contri"utes to significant en,ironmental and health ha7ard% 9ut! nuclear #lants ha,e 7ero

emission and do not cause air #ollution% 5lthough! it #roduces some radioacti,e waste "ut it can

"e managea"le "y isolation without any en,ironmental damage% (Illustration)This flei"ility of

nuclear #ower make it a ,ery #otential source of clean energy% (Eplanation)

0ow you want to write a"out another ad,antage of nuclear energy@ like8 low fuel cost%

K0uclear #ower is ,ery en,ironment-friendly and chea# source of energy with almost no car"on

foot#rint%

ou should not write a"out low fuel cost in the Jst #aragra#h8

ather! you should add this #oint (low fuel cost&chea#) in a separate paragraph8

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2nd "ody #aragra#h8

0uclear technology is also ,ery chea# source of energy that "rings the cost down (Point)% The

cost of uranium which is used as a fuel in generating electricity is $uite low% 5 little amount of

uranium can #roduce much energy com#are to thousands of tons of coal or #etroleum needed to

#roduce the same energy% (Illustration)These technological ad,antages make it more economic

o#tion than others% (Eplanation)

Le##o! 2: State+i'ally 5#e Cohe#i*e $e*i'e# i! theLiteatue

Aood English users do two things ,ery well when writing IELTS essay8

!irst! they identify what is "eing asked in the $uestion%

"econd! they #ut J**+ effort to answer this in the "est #ossi"le way%

9ut! theyre #ro"a"ly wondering8

Khy I do not get a well enough "and score though I write it ,ery wellK

ou might "e wondering8

Khat is missing when they write is so well?K

ell! today I6m going to make it easy for you%

5ll you need to do is a little twist "y adding some elements of transition and sign#ost in your

task-2 essay%

What i# Si+!.o#ti!+3



ou may see traffic signs around the streets of a city%

These signs hel# you to find your way%

The IELTS eaminer is also kind of walking through your essay and looking for such signs%

ou need to use #hrases and words as a sign to guide the eaminer to remind where you #lan to

go net.

ou can use single words such as /owe,er6! urthermore6 and inally6! and #hrases such as

9y contrast6 and In conclusion6

That6s easy%

5nd what ha##ened?

<eo#le 10C a"out the intention of your net sentence.#resent your essay as clearly as

#ossi"le%

our IELTS eaminer will get im#ressed%

The reality is this8 you will get a hike in writing "and score for satisfying the cohesion marker%

What i# Ta!#itio!3

Transitions are usually longer #hrases or whole sentences to indicate Kthe shiftK of focus from

one idea to the net%

>ost often you will write a"out Hcause and effect! H#ro"lem and solution or Hcom#arison and

contrast in IELTS writing task-2%

0ow if you really want to satisfy the eaminer. and ensure that he&she S3CE you "etter.

you should deli,er transitional #hrases%



/ere6s how8

#$ause % Effect

Due to &9ecause of&5s a conse$uence of "urning more and more fossil fuels! the concentration of

greenhouse gas is increasing in the atmos#here%

#Pro&lem'solution

Cne suggestion to hel# sol,e the #ro"lem is.....%5n alternati,e solution could "e..

#$omparison and contrast

In s#ite of a##arent glo"al warming! few strategies ha,e "een taken to minimi7e the ad,erse

effect%

Cn the other hand&on the contrary! #eo#le are o#ting for more usage of fossil fuels in the long

run%

5nd that6s it%

ou see% It AETS 9ETTE.

Le##o! 6: 0o*i%e Su&&i'ie!t 0oi!t#

5s I said8 ou don6t need to think a"out TCC >G3/ #oints to write in your IELTS writing task-

2 essay%

Its necessary "ecause-often you can come out with a list of #oints concerning the essay%

.Instead of #ut down these long list of #oints in your essay-make it short%



Ctherwise! youll ne,er find time to write them all%

Cften its a good #ractice to write down ; or : good ideas down the essay%

Then 'ust start to flow around these ideas in ; to : "ody #aragra#hs following <IE >ethod%

9ut wait%

/ere6s where things get sticky.

Sometimes our mind is "lank.you canMt think of anything%%% you are looking at task-2 $uestion

again and again "ut cant come u# with any idea to start%

3ynical! yes! "ut still true%

Its called writer "lock% It ha##ens in IELTS writing test.

hat is the solution?

The solution is8 Mind Mapping%

The 0owe o& Mi!% Ma..i!+ i! IELTS

hen you try to answer to the $uestion! you need to generate s#ontaneous ideas%

>ind ma##ing hel#s you to generate those ideas%

hen you write down one idea! it o#ens the door of your mind "y e#osing what lies "eneath%

Ill e#lain%

Lets take a ty#ical eam#le of our #re,ious $uestion8



They can use the "lank #a#er and di,ide it into three hori7ontal areas%

rite each of the key words in the essay8 nuclear wea#on6! world #eace6 and threat one after

another%

hy ; CDS?

Cur "rain is hardwired to catch three items at a time! which is why this techni$ue works so well%

5fter lay out these keywords ,isually! find the main ideas #resented in the $uestion! which is8

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The threat of 0uclear wea#on maintains the world #eace%

0uclear energy #ro,ides chea# and clean energy%

Let your mind start to flow around and o,er these main ideas%

3reate some su##orting (or contrasting) ideas yourself%

5sk / Nuestions like "elow8

/ow&why nuclear wea#on maintains the world #eace.since when.

/ow&where nuclear energy #ro,ides chea# and clean energy

ou e,entually come u# with #oints like8

0uclear wea#on maintains #eace (when)

Since the /iroshima 9om"ing of 2nd orld ar%%

0uclear wea#on maintains #eace (why)

<eo#le&3ountry fear of com#lete annihilation

5,oid war among countries ha,ing nuclear wea#on

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LNABWY1uTus/Vu-4EtarqNI/AAAAAAAACC8/Ao6tho6mi3YVM3e5g0-ALf57saGRcXr8g/s1600/Mind-Map-2.png



>aintain glo"al #eace."y the "alance of #ower%

ou see%

The GLE C T/EE is working..%oull "e flooding with #oints and ideas.

ou may "e wondering that you may come u# with a short list%

9ut! it is not true%

In fact! when you write down 'ust one idea! the list will follow automatically "y o#ening layer

after layer like an onion%

ou can then con,ert those small hints of an idea into a fully grown sentence%

So this #rocess will hel# you to access things you already know@ and it will hel# you to think

a"out where to get e,idence to "ack u# what you know%

It6s a "it like a cooking reci#e%

ou look at the reci#e to see what ingredients are needed to write your IELTS essay%

hat to do with your mind-ma# afterward%%%

5nd that leads me to my net #oint.

Le##o! 7: 0e#e!t Clea A+u8e!t#

HI s#eak English% Therefore! I am English%

(/eck! e,en if you S<E51 English! you are not English "ecause may"e you are not "orn in

England)



Aenerally! when we talk! its not "ased on logic or e,idence%

9ut! in the academic contet! you need argument%

5rgument means to #ersuade someone of something with reasoning%

(riginal argument:

I was "orn in England

I s#eak English%

Therefore! I am English%

(/eck! e,en if you,e 9C0 in England S<E51 in English! you are not English "ecause

may"e your #arents and grand#arents are not "orn in England or you may "e "rought u# in the

GS5)

/ere! I need to "ack u# the claim.I am English with more e,idence logic%

Thats eactly what you need to do in your IELTS riting Task-2%

<resent strong and clear argument%

The eaminer will look forward how well your answer is argued%

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1ow to wite #to!+ a!% 'lea A+u8e!t3

>ore than 2!*** years ago the Areek #hiloso#her 5ristotle e#lained ; "asic ways to make an

argument8 ethos! logos! and #athos%

Areek farmers used this strategy for a##ealing their cases to Areek courts%

This classical argument model has stood as a model for writers o,er thousands of years%

ou can ,isit this link if you are curious a"out it%

9ut first! let me tell you how you can initially "reak through and succeeded with this method%

This is the holy grail of making an effecti,e argument-

Hor each #oint you raise in your essay! you must either refute or concede%

The rules are sim#le8

ou need to acknowledge and dis#ro,e that are counter to the thesis of your essay%

What i# Co!'e##io!3

This means you need to acknowledge the other side&differing #oints of ,iew on the IELTS essay

to#ic% >aking concessions #ro,es that you understand "oth sides of the issue%

What i# Re&utatio!3

5 refutation is where you #ro,e the counter-arguments wrong and e#lain why you do not agree

with it with su##orti,e e,idence%

http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/jgarret/3waypers.htm

http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/jgarret/3waypers.htm



Le##o! 9: 0e#ua%e E4a8i!e with E&&i'ie!t O+a!iatio!

o& 0aa+a.h#

ight now% ou ha,e finish mind-ma##ing and come u# with list of ideas or #oint%

Don6t wait for a Hcom#lete list% Don6t wait for things to look #erfect%

Start writing your essay right away when you can list three or four "road ideas%

If you fail to write your ideas in clear! organi7ed massages! you are at risk for8

.not achie,ing task res#onse

.and not getting a high "and score%

https://sites.google.com/site/djuicege/home/Argument-Example.png



Cff course! you cant write your ideas randomly.you need to organi7e them in #aragra#hs%

riting and organi7ing good #aragra#hs is one of the most im#ortant as#ects of creating a well-

organi7ed and de,elo#ed essay%

5 classic format for writing is the fi,e-#aragra#h essay%

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZwjzWRduvDA/Vu_N0CSRaAI/AAAAAAAACDc/QTYGS8f51MMTNCXlwmn5YUIZNwAf-K0_g/s1600/persuade%2Bexaminer.png



5s a matter of fact! it is not the only format that eists@ there are others like four or si #aragra#h

essay model%

9ut! I think fi,e-#aragra#h is more useful in writing IELTS writing task-2 essay% ou ask?

Lets see why%

Take a look at this image closely! and then I6ll walk you through it%

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6gG-1LR9vEU/Vu_OD07JlkI/AAAAAAAACDo/QACke6wBYFYXkDfGRddd3pdnAC2RoHFHQ/s1600/essay-outline.jpg



In this agree or disagree essay! lets agree with the #oint of ,iew #resented in the $uestion%

ou can organi7e your #aragra#hs as "elow8

<aragra#h J R Introduction

<aragra#h 2 R Descri"e how nuclear wea#on maintains word #eace

<aragra#h ; R Descri"e how nuclear #ower #ro,ides chea# and clean energy

<aragra#h : R Show how these "enefits far outweigh the odds%

<aragra#h = R 3onclusion

That makes it clear why = #aragra#h structures are useful in IELTS%

Nuestion is.

/ow 3an ou 5ctually rite all these = <aragra#hs?

or that! let6s di,e dee#er.

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1ow %o I wite a! e&&e'ti*e i!to%u'tio!3

5n ecellent IELTS essay has a solid introduction%

In introduction you clarify the $uestion and state how you are going to e#lore it%

In a way! it ser,es as a Mroad ma#M of the essay%

ou can follow this "asic #attern (reci#e) for writing introduction #aragra#hs8

;a< A! i!to%u'toy #tate8e!t ;What the )ue#tio! i# aout<

This sentence should "roadly state the to#ic of the $uestion%

ou can sim#ly do it "y 'ust 7ooming in to a s#ecific idea from the "road conce#t #resented in

the $uestion%

/owe,er! you should not include8-

..too many details

..co#y the same words of the $uestion

/a,e a look at this eam#le8

)uestion:

HIf countries are serious a"out sol,ing traffic #ro"lems! they should ta #ri,ate cars ,ery hea,ily

and use the money to #ro,ide free or ,ery chea# rail tra,el%

To what etend do you agree or disagree with the a"o,e?

Introductory statement:



>any nations are facing massi,e (s#ecific-how serious) traffic congestion in their cities

(s#ecific)%

;< I%e!ti&y you 8ai! i%ea

/ere you write how you feel a"out the whole issue of the $uestion%

<icture this8

The congestion makes tra,el difficult and causes en,ironmental damage% In order to sol,e this

#ro"lem! it is necessary to esta"lish alternati,e solutions%

;'< Outli!e #tate8e!t ;1ow you ae +oi!+ to a!#we it<

Gntil now! you write a"out the general to#ic and the facts surrounding the to#ic%

0ow! you need to state what you will "e arguing.what you are going to co,er in your essay%

/ow a"out this8

KIn my o#inion! the "est way to finance the de,elo#ment of #u"lic trans#ort is to ta car dri,ers%K

Thats it%

Thing J8 ou ha,e cleared the to#ic of the essay

Thing 28 ou ha,e said s#ecific concern relates to the to#ic

Thing ;8 ou ha,e clearly state what you are going to e#lore in this essay%

1ow to wite o%y .aa+a.h#3

ou ha,e stated what you are going to discuss generally in the last sentence of your introduction%

0ow! you should e#lain! discuss or #ro,e this%



ou should mo,e from general to s#ecific information%

ou can do this in se,eral "ody #aragra#hs%

The "ody #aragra#hs are the heart of your essay% It is essential for writing an ecellent essay%

/ow to write it?

I,e already discussed it earlier in <IE >ethod%

9ut the $uestion remains8 should you 'ust write ; #aragra#hs using <ie formula%

0o%

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There is more you should concern%

That is.%

ou may include ; "ody #aragra#hs in your IELTS essay."ut all these ; must ha,e some

coherence and unity%

That said%%

ou should maintain a flow of transition%

Aet it?

Im taking a"out using transition signals "etween #aragra#hs%

I,e already discussed it in *esson : "trategically ,se $ohesi-e e-ices%

9ut! that was a"out using transitional words within the indi,idual sentences of a #aragra#h%

/ere! I will discuss how to use it from one #aragra#h to the net%

If you write ; or : "ody #aragra#hs! you need to show the relationshi# "etween your first! second

#aragra#hs! "etween second and third #aragra#hs! and so on%

Two #aragra#hs are linked "y adding a transition signal to the to#ic sentence of the second

#aragra#h%

This transition signal may "e a word! a #hrase! or a de#endent clause that re#eats or summari7es

the main idea of the first #aragra#h%

This acts as a hand-off from one idea to the net%



So! Instead of treating #aragra#hs as se#arate ideas! transitions can hel# readers understand how

#aragra#hs work together! reference one another! and "uild to a larger #oint%

>any times! it only takes a few words to draw these connections%

Lets a##ly this in the eam#le I,e mentioned while descri"ing <IE method%

RR Last line of first "ody #aragra#h8

KThese flei"ility of nuclear #ower make it a ,ery #otential source of clean energy%K

RR irst line of second "ody #aragra#h8

K5nother im#ortant thing to note a"out the flei"ility of nuclear technology is its chea#ness%K

(Instead of%%%%%%%0uclear technology is also ,ery chea# source of energy that "rings the cost down)

1ow to wite Co!'lu#io!3

5 lot of IELTS candidate write the essay so well "ut finish it with a half-"aked conclusion%

5n ecellent IELTS essay has strong finishes! where the conclusion is one of the most #owerful

com#onents of the essay%

If your conclusions aren6t #owerful! then theyMll weaken your whole essay%

Luckily! itMs not too com#licated Fut write what you,e already write%

ou can e,en follow a sort of formula%

ou can write your IELTS essay conclusion "y following ; #arts8

;a< Re#tate the Ge!eal I%ea



ou can start "y restating the general idea made in the introduction% It reminds the eaminer the

,ery "asic idea "ehind writing your essay%

;< Su88ay o& %i#'u##e% .oi!t#

<ro,ide J or 2 strong sentences that draw together all the #oint% It will "uild a relationshi#

"etween the general idea and the e,idence #ro,ided in the essay%

It also reminds the eaminer the ideas that ha,e "een argued in all #re,ious "ody #aragra#hs%

;'< 0o*i%e #o8e i!#i+ht#

/ere is the golden rule%

DonMt try to "ring in new #oints at the end of your conclusion or try to sol,e any #ro"lem%

Fust #ut some suggestion for future research in a clear! con,incing message%

/ere you #ro,ide some insights or o,er,iew future #ossi"le research that a reader can "e awareof after reading your whole essay%

O!e la#t thi!+ =

If you are reading this and come to this end! #lease dont get confused%

Dont "e "affled with long list of to do things I #resent here for your IELTS task -2 wrting%

I made a free! easy to follow and eye catching checklist for you that will hel# you #ut these

strategies into action for your IELTS essay%

It outlines ste#-"y-ste# eactly how to use the techni$ues that I talked a"out in this #ost.

including a "onus ti# that I didn6t include here%



/ere6s where you can download the checklist8

Ielts Writing Task 2 Anatomy

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