HANOI UNIVERSITY

ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES DEPARTMENT

INTENSIVE WRITING

TERM 3
(STUDENT’S BOOK)
 –

students’

Build up students’
 SECTION 1

IMPROVING ESSAY WRITING SKILLS

UNIT 1 REVIEW ON ESSAY WRITING
AIMS: This unit is aimed at providing the students with
- a review on writing an essay, including introduction on three main kinds of essays,
structure of an essay and assessment criteria
- and some practice exercises to improve their ability in writing three main kinds of
essays.

I. STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY

he essay to attract your reader’

/or the “plan” of your essay. The
 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
The only way to reduce the amount of traffic in cities today is by reducing the need for
people to travel from home for work, education or shopping. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words.

These days, reducing the amount of traffic in cities is one solution to problems like saving
energy and preventing the environmental pollution. There is a debatable measure by reducing
the need for people to travel from home for work, education or shopping. It is easy to see the
advantages and disadvantages of this suggestion, and that it is definitely not the only
way to solve problems.

On the one hand, we are living in a modern society and have enough abilities to apply
this solution. Thanks to developments in information technology, networks are being built and
connecting people from different corners in the world. Distance-learning helps pupils attend
classes without going to school. Remote applications are widely used in offices, which allows
many people to work more effectively and have more time with their families. Online
transactions in shopping are now not a dream but the reality. Moreover, they become more and
more convenient for most people.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages in forcing people to sit at home and
contact each other remotely. Firstly, most people do not have such a good condition to work
with computers due to their financial and educational abilities. Secondly, many jobs require
people to work in groups at the same place, so these people should commute many times in a
day to go to work and return home. Moreover, many people prefer traditional life style. They
use to gather together, have their activities in groups and use traditional means of transport.

In fact, we should restate that there are other ways to reduce the overload of cities'
roads. Firstly, governments can introduce public transport, which immediately reduces the
number of vehicles commuting in cities. Secondly, new means of transports using solar energy
or cell energy are being studied and will soon appear on markets. At the present, the least
thing governments can do is planning new transport systems, making them more scientific and
comfortable.

All things considered, reducing the amount of traffic in cities by providing new
conditions, which help reduce the need of people in commuting, is an interesting and
realistic idea. It has some advantages as well as disadvantages and besides it, we can apply
other measures to solve the problems and give society a wide range of choices. Whatever a
solution is, it should place society's interest in the first order of attention.
II. ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

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Coherence and
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(Adapted from by New Oriental Education & Technology Group

III. MAIN KINDS OF ESSAYS

1. PROBLEM – SOLUTION ESSAYS

Focusing on solutions

Conclusion (summary + writer’s opinions)

The rising levels of congestion and air pollution in most of the world’s cities can be
attributed to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to reverse this
decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage people to use
their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible ways to encourage the use of
public transport.

Anyone who lives in a city is aware of the increasing number of cars on the roads and the kinds of
problems this creates: traffic jams, air pollution and longer commuting periods. As economies grow
and access to cars spreads to an increasing number of people, this trend is likely to worsen. The
solution, it would seem, is for governments to encourage the use of public transport in urban
areas, thus decreasing dependence on the car.

One way to stimulate public transport use is to make private cars more expensive and
inconvenient. The introduction of tolls along urban motorways has been successfully employed in
many cities. Other such measures are high-priced permits for parking in urban areas and the
restriction of parking to a limited number of cars. Faced with high costs or no place to park,
commuters would perhaps be more willing to abandon their car in favor of buses or trains.

There are also less punishing ways of spurring public transport use. The construction of free
car parks at suburban train stations has proven successful in quite a number of countries. This
allows commuters to drive part of the way, but take public transport into the central, most
congested, urban areas.

Indeed, making public transport more comfortable and convenient should work to attract
more commuters and decrease traffic congestion. Public transport that is convenient and
comfortable retains its passengers, much likely any business that satisfies its customers. The more
commuters committed to taking public transport, the less congestion on city streets.

In short, the problem of traffic congestion could not be solved quickly. However, it is not a reason
for avoiding taking action. I think the main responsibility falls on to the government to encourage
people use public transport more often in major cities to minimize our dependence on cars.

Focusing on problems and solutions

PLAN A

Conclusion (summary + writer’s

PLAN B

Conclusion (summary + writer’s

 The world is experiencing a dramatic increase in population. This is causing problems
not only for poor, undeveloped countries, but also for industrialized and developing
nations. Describe some of the problems that overpopulation causes, and suggest at
least one possible solution.

In most countries in the world, the population is increasing alarmingly. This is especially true in
poor, undeveloped countries. Overpopulation has caused a considerable number of
problems which can be solved only by the great efforts of both the governments and the
individuals.

In poor countries, it is difficult to provide enough food to feed even the present number of
people. In addition, education to limit the number of children per family is not always successful.
Poorer countries usually have a lot of unemployment too, and an increase in population simply
makes the situation worse. The environment also suffers when there are too many people living
on the land.

In rich, industrialized and developing countries, it is difficult for governments to provide

effective public services in overcrowded cities. Moreover, there is usually a great deal more crime,
which is often due to high rates of unemployment. Further large increases in population only
cause overcrowding, unemployment and crime.

There are two main solutions to the overpopulation problem. Firstly, every woman who is
pregnant, but who does not want to give birth, should be allowed by law to have an abortion.
Secondly, governments must educate people to limit the size of the family. In China, couples are
punished financially if they have more than one child. This may seem cruel, but the “one child
policy” is beginning to have an effect in the world’s most populous nation. Eventually similar
policies might also be necessary in other crowded nations such as India.

To sum up, if the population explosion continues, many more people will die of starvation in poor
countries, and life in the cities, even in affluent nations, will become increasingly difficult. It is
therefore essential for governments to apply feasible solutions to prevent the population boom,
especially in poor nations.
Focusing on causes and solutions

PLAN A

Conclusion (summary + writer’s

PLAN B

writer’s
These days, in many countries, fewer and fewer people want to become teachers,
particularly in secondary schools. What are the reasons for this, and how could the
problem be solved?

A generation ago, teaching in a high school was considered an extremely well-respected and
popular job, and in some countries this is still true. However, in many parts of the world, there has
been a sharp drop in the number of young people who want to become high school teachers. This
essay will look at the reasons for this and propose some solutions.

One of the main causes of the problem is that teachers’ salaries are lower than those in
many other jobs. Teachers’ pay has not kept pace with that of other professions, such as law or
medicine. In the UK, for example, a doctor with five years’ experience will earn far more than a
teacher with the same experience. The solution would be for the government to raise
teachers’ pay significantly, which would attract more people into the profession.

Another problem is that many children do not behave well in class. That is to say, teachers
often have to deal with pupils who disobey them, which often causes them to give up teaching.
This tends to put off potential teachers as well. To tackle this issue, parents must give their
children a sense of respect for teachers in order to make children behave better in class.

A third cause of the problem is that teachers often have too much work to do. Most teachers
are snowed under with marking and paperwork, which means that they have to stay late at school
and work at home in the evening. As a result, many teachers are tired and stressed and their job
has a negative effect on their family life. The way forward could be to cut teachers’ hours, and
to take on more teaching assistants, which would make teaching an easier job.

To sum up, teaching has become a much less popular job in many countries due to reasons such
as the salary, pupils’ behavior and the working hours. This is a serious problem and unless we can
get more talented young people to become teachers, the education of our children will suffer. My
view is that the main responsibility for solving the problem lies with parents and the government.

2. DISCURSIVE ESSAYS

be supported by justifications, examples, and/or reasons. The writer’s own opinion should be

….

PLAN A
1. General statements + thesis statement (advantages and disadvantages)
2. Advantages of the issue
3. Disadvantages of the issue
4. Conclusion (summary + writer’s opinions)

What are the disadvantages and advantages of mobile phones?

Mobile phones have certainly had an enormous impact on us. They have significantly changed the
way we communicative with each other in both our personal and our professional lives. However,
the impact has not all been positive.

Generally, mobile phones have created a number of objections. By far the most common
criticism of mobile phones is that we are now expected to be available all times of the day and
night, especially for work-related communication. Before mobile phones were invented, anyone
who wanted to contact us had to wait until we were at work, which meant time spent away from the
office was our own. Mobile phones mean that the separation between work and free time has
disappeared. Another negative effect is that in places such as theaters, cinemas or public transport
we often have to listen to the noise of infuriating ring tones and loud one-sided conversations. A
final drawback is that these small but very expensive devices are easy targets for thieves. A great
deal of street crime involves hand phones.

On the other hand, there are several obvious benefits from this invention. The most powerful
argument in favor of mobile phones is that they can be used to call for help in the most inaccessible
places, for example, when our car breaks down in a remote area. Another positive aspect of mobile
phones is the fact that they can be available for potential customers at all time. Finally, mobile
phones are extremely simple and convenient to use.

To sum up, I feel although there are some clear drawbacks to mobile phones, their efficiency and
portability has greatly improved our ability to communicate in both our professional and personal
lives. In my opinion, the benefits of having mobile phones certainly offset the drawbacks.

PLAN B

General statements + thesis statement (2 views)

Arguments in favor of view 1
Arguments in favor of view 2/Arguments against view 2
Conclusion (summary + writer’s opinions: view 1/view 2)

Some people feel that advertising has negative effects on our society because it
encourages people to buy more unneeded items, while others feel that it is beneficial for
our economy. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Advertising is truly a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allows manufacturers to promote
their products and to make profit but on the other hand it often encourages wasted
consumption of goods.

Advertising has become an integral part of the consuming economy and people
increasingly rely on product promotion to let them know about new products and to find the
best bargains in the marketplace. For example, people who are shopping for a new car or a
holiday often use the Internet, magazines or other sources of advertising to help them select items
that best meet their needs at the best possible price. In this way, advertising is one of the key
elements for creating profitable companies which can reach the maximum number of potential
customers and the same time for allowing competition that reduces prices for consumers.
However, although advertising has benefits, it has a downside. Marketers target vulnerable
members of the community such as children who are too young to have developed critical thinking
skills, teenagers who need to be fashionable, or those who rely on consumer goods to give them a
sense of self-esteem. These people can often be persuaded to buy expensive goods and ultimately
useless goods that they do not need, and the goods frequently end up on our waste landfills. This
represents a huge waste of resources.

In my opinion, we need advertising since it is one of the main drivers of our economy. However, we
also need to have some laws which control unscrupulous advertisers and protect the weaker
members of our community.

PLAN C

General statements + thesis statement (2 views)

Arguments in favor of view 1 / view 2
Arguments against view 1/ view 2 + Arguments in favor of view 2/view 1
Conclusion (summary + writer’s opinions: view 2/view 1)
Some people believe it is better for governments to spend any available money for sports
on providing facilities for the general population. Others believe that instead they should
invest in training top athletes to win major competitions. Discuss both points of view and
give your opinion.

Governments often do not have a huge amount of money to spend on sports development in their
country. They have to make a decision about the most useful projects on which to spend
their money.

There are many arguments in favor of the idea that it is good for a government to spend
money on supporting the training of people who have already achieved success and who
are likely to achieve more. Firstly, having successful sportspeople gives a country a sense of
pride. People feel good about their country and about themselves. In addition, having a famous
sportsperson from a particular place can help make that country better known in the wider world.
Finally, successful national athletes are good models for the young. Perhaps, they will go on to
become successful sportspeople themselves.
However, there are drawbacks to spend money only on outstanding athletes. It can give the
impression that sport is all about winning whereas in fact, cooperation, trying hard and learning to
lose well are just as important. For these reasons, many people feel it is better for
governments to spend money on ordinary sports projects, which try to encourage everyone
to do some forms of sport, even if they never achieve much success. This can help reduce
levels of health problems, such as being overweighed, and get children off the streets, doing
something useful instead of getting into trouble.

I personally believe that it is a much better use of money to help everyone to participate in sports
because this leads to a healthier population with a more balanced view of life and it also shows a
sensible attitude to achievement.

3. ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS
PLAN A

1. General statements + writer’s opinion (Agree or Disagree)

2. Pro-arguments
3. Counter-arguments and writer’s refutation
4. Conclusion (writer’s opinion + relevant solutions)

Prison is the best punishment for criminals. To what extent do you agree or disagree with
this statement?

These days, every time you turn on the television or flick through the pages of a newspaper, you
learn about crime. Some people believe that the best way to punish criminals is to sentence them to
time in prison. I completely disagree with this idea.

Firstly, life in jail is far too comfortable for prisoners. For example, many inmates have access
to luxuries such as television, computers and sports facilities. In other words, spending time behind
bars is more like being in a holiday camp. If prison is going to act as a deterrent, then I believe it
needs to be considerably tougher.
Another reason why I disagree with prison as a punishment is that a large number of
prisoners are not actually a danger to society. Take shoplifter as an example. They are often
locked up in the same cells as murderers, rapists and violent criminals. I strongly believe that this is
a serious waste of taxpayers’ money. What is more, petty criminals may even learn how to commit
more serious crimes when they are inside.

It may be argued that prison can help to rehabilitate offenders. Many imamates have the
opportunity to study while they are doing time. As a result, many never re-offend when they are
released. However, reality shows that prisons are merely a breeding ground for criminals, and
are, therefore, not doing the job they are supposed to do. There is incidence of re-offending
among former prison in-mates and the rise in the seriousness of crimes committed by re-offenders
as evidence for their case. It can be seen that young people enter prison for minor offences and
come out equipped with the skills to commit more serious crimes. For this group, the prison process
is not working.
In conclusion, although it is a common belief that prison is the best way to punish criminals, I
believe it is too soft and that it is not necessary in the majority of cases. Personally I think prison
should be the last option when all the others have failed.
IELTS advantage writing skills: a ste

PLAN B

1. General statements + writer’s opinion (Agree or Disagree)

2. Pro-argument 1 ( + argument to refute the other side)
3. Pro-argument 2 ( + argument to refute the other side)
Conclusion (writer’s opinion + relevant solutions)
In recent years, many countries have become extremely concerned about the increase in
crimes committed by young people. Tough measures and strict punishments are
necessary to stop youths from re-offending. To what extent do you agree or disagree with
this opinion?

One of the most serious problems existing in society today is the rising crime rate among young
people. The number of offences committed by teenagers, which is usually higher in urban areas,
includes crimes such as joy-riding, vandalism, theft and mugging. However, I am not convinced
that simply by giving heavy punishments is the best approach.
In recent months, new measures to address this issue have included getting young offenders
to meet their victims. As a result, youths see the harm or damage they have caused, which may
put them off re-offending. Another method, the electronic tagging of young offenders, which has
been piloted in England and Wales, also has benefits. It means that movements and behaviors are
monitored. Consequently, it is more difficult to commit crimes.

A different approach, which many feel is a better solution, should be to provide better social
facilities such as youth clubs or local sports facilities. If young people have activities to occupy
them, they are less likely to offend.

Finally, I strongly believe that education is more important than tough measures. Therefore,
parents, teachers‟ social workers and officers all have a responsibility to raise awareness of serious
consequences of crime among young people.

To sum up, I would recommend a number of strategies to lower crime rates among young people.
Indeed, I feel that there is not always one simple solution but different approaches depending on
each particular situation. Undoubtedly, tackling crime among young people who may be as young as
eight should involve a combination of new strategies, improved social facilities and better education.

1. General statements + writer’s opinion (both Agree and Disagree)

2. Arguments for the statement
3. Arguments against the statement
Conclusion (writer’s opinion + relevant solutions)

Recently, some office workers have begun to work from home instead of commuting to an
office each day and this idea is growing in popularity. Do you think this growth is a positive
or a negative development for society?

Recently, email and online video or chat programs allow people to be connected to their offices or
to other workers via computers and as a result of this, many more employees are able to work from
home. In my opinion, this trend has both advantages and disadvantages.

There are some advantages to working from home. One of the main advantages of this new
lifestyle is its flexibility. Employees with young children, for example, can plan their working day
around the needs and schedules of their children, working early in the morning or late at night.
Work patterns can also follow varied schedules, with workers being asked to work harder at busy
times and given time off, then the workload is reduced. Another advantage is the saving of time,
fuel, transport, and resources. People who do not have to commute to work save money on petrol
and running a car and in turn this contributes to cleaner air and a reduction in pollution levels.

However, there are also disadvantages to this new way of working. The main one is the
potential for poor workplace communication. Managing large and complex projects would become
very difficult if most employees worked at home and did not meet regularly to discuss and allocate
tasks. Workers who rarely or never meet could fail to develop company spirit, and individuals might
get bored or lonely working at home by themselves most of the time. This could reduce productivity
and good work habits.

In conclusion, this new trend has both benefits and potential problems, but provided the problems
are well recognized and managed well, I feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
III. PRACTICE

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people say that the best way to improve public health is by increasing the
number of sports facilities. Others, however, say that this would have little effect on
public health and that other measures are required. Discuss both these views and give
your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

The inequality between rich and poor nations is now wider than it has ever been before.
What do you think are the main causes of this difference and what do you think can be
done to reduce the gap?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from you own knowledge or
experience. Write at least 250 words.

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Women and men are commonly seen as having different strength and weaknesses. Is it
right to exclude males or females from certain professions because of their gender?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience. Write at least 250 words.