PREPARATION SUPPLEMENTARY COURSE

WRITING TASK 2
LESSON 1-2
INTRODUCTIONS & CONCLUSION
1. Basic rules in IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing = Semi-Academic Writing = Formal + Precise + Objective. Therefore,

a. Do not use slang, jargon, colloquialisms (spoken language expressions, phrasal verbs and
idioms), or sexist language.

b. Do not use shortened verb forms (contractions), such as they're, isn't, can't.

Avoid abbreviated versions of words. (For example, instead of writing "photo," "phone" and
"TV," write "photograph," "telephone," and "television.")

c. Do not use conversational opening phrases, such as Well, you see, Yes…, Let's move on.

d. Do not use bullet points or lists.

e. Avoid nonstandard diction. ("ain't," "theirselves," "hisself," "anyways," "alot" (the accepted
version is "a lot"), and "alright" (the accepted version is "all right"), especially “lots of”.

f. Do not use first-person pronouns I, We, me, us … in the body paragraphs of the essay.

Note that on the contrary, you SHOULD use “I” “my” “me” in the introduction and the
conclusion of the essay.

g. Limit the use of short and non-descriptive verbs such as keep, put, get, go, have, …; instead of
that, use more expressive and precise verb to describe the action maintain, lay, own, move …

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 Informal Formal

say sorry

go up

go down

set up

look at

find out

bring about

put of

make up

stand for

find out

think about

get

seem

show

keep

2. Understand what should be done

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a. Task Response:

In order to do so, you need to

 Understand the test format

 ALWAYS state your opinion

 Understand question’s types

b. Coherence and Cohesion: c. Lexical Resources

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d. Grammatical range and Accuracy

This means that you should focus

more on the range of the number of

grammatical structures you must

inclucde in your essay rather than

grammatical accuray.

 In order to produce complex sentences, you should use these devices to combine your

simples sentences into complex ones.

# Recommendation : In an essay, you should use at least 5 of the above devices to make complex

sentence that can easily be recognized by the examiner.

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3. The Introduction in IELTS Writing

All IELTS task 2 questions has the same general formula

TOPIC + QUESTION

(chủ đề bài viết) (câu hỏi của bài viết)

Ex: Đề thi ngày 15/7/2017

Many animal species are becoming extinct due to human activities on land and in
sea.  Topic

What are the reasons and solutions? Question

a. Question Types:

- Questions which often require the candidate to discuss on an opinion or a

statement:

o Do you agree or disagree?

o Discuss both views and give your opinion.

o Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

- Questions which often require the candidate to discuss on a trend:

o What are the causes and solutions? / causes and effects?

o Is this a negative or positive trend?

b. The “Topic” part in the formula can be put under two forms:

1. As you have already seen, there will be 1 topic sentence + 1 question in the
formula

Đề thi IELTS Writing 3/2/2018

The only way to improve safety of our roads is to give much stricter punishments for
driving offences. What extent do you agree or disagree?

2. The topic sentence will be divided into two parts:

Đề thi IELTS Writing 3/3/2018

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Some people think that newly built houses should follow the style of old houses in
local areas. Others think that people should have freedom to build houses of their
own style. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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INTRODUCTION TEMPLATE to tackle each form of the writing question:

1. There has been considerable debate/ a matter of concern/a controversial issue

among people over whether (The only way to improve safety of our roads is to
give much stricter punishments for driving offences). In my opinion, I would
suggest a range of (reasons) (to support this idea).

Or if the question requires us to discuss on a trend:

There has been a significant increase in the popularity of (Many animal

species which are becoming extinct due to human activities on land and in
sea). From my point of view/perspective, there are some (causes and
solutions) to this particular situation.

2. It is true that some skeptics would advocate that (newly built houses should
follow the style of old houses in local areas). However, there are others who
argue that (people should have freedom to build houses of their own style). In
this essay, I will outline my reasons to support the later/former idea.

Let’s take a look at the following example:

It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and
going to university and a lot of people believe this is a good thing.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

- Question Type: agree or disagree

- Topic Sentence: 1

“a lot of people believe this is a good thing”

=> This is what the question asks us to agree or disagree.

“It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and
going to university” => explain “this” in the statement above.

 There has been considerable debate among people over whether (having a
year off between finishing school and going to university is a good thing). In
my opinion, I would suggest a range of (reasons) (to support this idea).

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Practice

Write introductions & conclusions for the following questions:

1. Many people think that foreign visitors should pay more than local visitors for
cultural and historical attractions. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2. Some people think that all teenagers should be required to do unpaid work in their
free time to help the local community. They believe this would benefit both the
individual teenager and society as a whole. Do you agree or disagree?

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ZIM Building, 130F Thai Thinh 2 (65 Yen Lang), Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da Dist, Hanoi
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3. Some people feel that both boys and girls are better educated when they go to
separate schools, but others feel that children would learn much more in a
coeducational environment. Discuss both view and give your opinions.

4. Several languages are in danger of extinction because they are spoken by very small
number of people. Some people say that the governments should spend public money
on saving these languages, while others believe that would be a waste of money.
Discuss both view and give your opinions.’

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ZIM Building, 130F Thai Thinh 2 (65 Yen Lang), Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da Dist, Hanoi
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5. Leaders and directors in an organisation are normally older people. Some people
think younger leader would be better. Do you agree or disagree?

6. Many young people change their jobs and careers. What are the reasons for this? Do
the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

7. Children's education is expensive. In some countries, the government pays some of

or all of the costs. Do the advantages outweigh its disadvantages?

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8. An increasing number of people change their careers and place of residence several
times in their lives. Is this a positive or negative development?

.....................................................................................................................................

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ZIM Building, 130F Thai Thinh 2 (65 Yen Lang), Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da Dist, Hanoi
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