WRITING

UNIT 1 - PART 1
OBJECTIVES
In this lesson, you will
• be introduced to IELTS Writing Task 2 format and requirements.
• practice analyzing Task 2 prompts to understand task requirements

A. THEORY – INTRODUCTION TO IELTS WRITING TASK 2

A. 1| MULTIPLE CHOICES QUESTIONS
Read the following questions (1-7) on Writing Task 2 and guess the correct answers

How much time do you have for Writing Task 2? How many words do you need to write?
60 minutes at least 250 words
40 minutes at least 400 words
20 minutes at least 150 words

Can you choose any topic you like? Can you give examples from your knowledge
YES when writing?
NO YES
NO

How many paragraphs should you write? What should you do during the first 5 minutes?
at least 1 paragraph Reading the prompt and Brainstorming
at least paragraphs ideas
at least paragraphs Writing the first paragraph

What should you do during the last 5 minutes?

Writing the last paragraph
Re-reading the essay and fixing mistakes

In the IELTS Writing Task 2

• The questions are usually about general topics such as the environment, education, or the media.
• You should answer the question by giving your opinions supported by reasons and examples.
• The essay should consist of: an introduction (1 paragraph), the main body (2-3 paragraphs), and
then a conclusion (1 paragraph)
• You must write at least 250 words.
• You should spend 40 minutes on Task 2.
• You should spend the first 5 minutes brainstorming for ideas and the last 5 minutes checking your
essay for mistakes (grammar, spelling, punctuation...)

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 Analyzing the IELTS Writing Task 2 prompt
• Writing Task 2 has two parts the topic and the task type.
• The topic is the situation given in the prompt, or what you should write about in your essay; for
example: family, the environment, or health.
• The task type is usually the question, or what the examiners want you to do with the topic. Some
common task types are “agree or disagree” , “advantage or disadvantage”, “discuss both views”,
and “problem-solution”.

B. IN-CLASS PRACTICE
B. 1| RECOGNIZING TOPIC AND TASK TYPE - MULTIPLE CHOICE
Read the prompts (A-C) below and answer questions (1-6) with the correct options (a, b, or c)

(A) Trying to change your bad habits can be very hard.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?
1. What is the topic?
Daily life activities are hard to change
It’s hard to adopt good habits
Bad habits are not easy to break
2. How should we answer the question (task
type)?
a. Explain why we should change our bad habits
b. Explain why we think breaking bad habits is
hard or easy
c. Write about the disadvantages of bad habits.

(B) Doing sports daily has many different benefits.

To what extent do you agree with this statement.
3. What is the topic?
a. Doing sports is very important
b. Doing sports every day can be beneficial
c. Sports has many different benefits
4. How should we answer the question (task
type)?
a. Explain how we can do sports daily
b. List the advantages of doing sports daily.
c. Explain why we think doing sports every day is
beneficial or not

(C) The computer plays an important role in our daily lives.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
5. What is the topic?
Social media plays an important role in our
li e
Computers are very important for our daily
li
The good and bad sides of computers
6. How should we answer the question (task
type)?
Suggest ways in which computers are important for
our daily li
Write about the good and bad sides of
of our dependence on computers
Give reasons why computers are good for us

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B. 2| IDENTIFY TOPIC AND TASK TYPE
Answer the questions (1 and 2) for each prompt (a-f) below. An example has been done for you.

People need to spend more time with their families than at work. To what extent do you agree
with this view?
What is the topic? The topic is “people should work less and spend more time with
their famil .”
2. What should you write about the topic? I should write if I agree /disagree that people
should work less and spend or time with families and give the reasons for my opinion
People should walk to school or work rather than drive. Do you agree or disagree with
this statement?

What is the topic?

2. What should you write about the topic?

c) Many teenagers use the Internet daily. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

1. What is the topic?

2. What should you write about the topic?

d) People nowadays spend more time sitting than being active. What is the cause of this problem?
What can be done to solve this?

1. What is the topic?

2. What should you write about the topic?

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e) Computers have become an important part of schools. Do the advantages of this development
outweigh the disadvantages? .

1. What is the topic?

2. What should you write about the topic?

f) In some countries it is getting harder for young people to find work. What do you think are the causes
of this problem and what are some solutions to this problem?

1. What is the topic?

2. What should you write about the topic?

C. HOMEWORK
C. 1| MATCHING
Matching the prompts (1-10) with the correct topics (A-E) and task types (i-iv). Each prompt may
match with more than one topic.

1. It is much more convenient to watch a movie
on television or computer than to buy a ticket
and go to the cinema.
Do you agree or disagree?
3. Some people say that teenagers should work
part-time and earn money. Others argue that
teenagers should not have to work after school.
Discuss both views and give your opinion
5. It is often claimed that electronic devices will
soon replace paper books.
Do you agree or disagree with this claim?
7. Today, many people are overweight. What
are the primary causes of this? What measures
can be taken to overcome this problem?
2. Despite the popularity of sports facilities and
gyms, people are less fit nowadays than ever
before. What do you think are the main causes of
this problem? What solutions can you suggest?
4. More and more people are choosing to use
emails instead of sending mail by post. What
are the advantages and disadvantages of this
trend?
6. The best way to travel is to travel in a group
led by a tour guide.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?
8. International tourism brings lots of benefits as
problems to host countries. Do the
disadvantages of international tourism outweigh
the advantages?

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 9. Nowadays families are not as close as they 10. There is no need to maintain a close
used to be. relationship with distant relatives.
What do you think are the causes of this? Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
What can be done to make families closer?

TOPIC LIST: TASK TYPE LIST:

A. Family and Friends Causes and Solutions

B. Technology
Agree or Disagree

C. Sports and Health

Discuss both views
D. Work
Advantages and Disadvantages
E. Travel and Tourism

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 WRITING
UNIT 1 - PART 2
OBJECTIVES
In this lesson, you will
• practice analyzing Task 2 prompts to understand the tasks' requirements
• practice idea generation techniques (brainstorming / mind map etc.)

A. THEORY – BRAINSTORMING AND MIND MAPPING

Brainstorming

• Brainstorming is the process of producing ideas for your paragraphs.

• One way to organize your brainstorming is to create a mindmap.
Steps to Mindmapping
Draw a circle with the main topic in the middle
Write as many ideas related to the topic as you can think of. The ideas should be written in phrases
or words, NOT in sentences. At this stage, don't care about grammar or if the ideas are good or bad
Use symbols and drawings (lines, arrows etc) and numbering (1,2,3) to show the relationships
among ideas (main ideas and their supporting ideas, causes and effects etc)
Cross out bad ideas (too general, too limited, not related to the topic etc)

Below is a sample Mindmap for the prompt: “Describe a task you find easy to do”

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B. IN-CLASS PRACTICE – BRAINSTORMING
B.1| INDIVIDUAL MINDMAP
On your own, read the prompt below and practice mind mapping. Work quickly. Don’t worry about how
good each idea is. Don’t worry about spelling and grammar either. Just try to create a lot of ideas, as
many as possible, within a few minutes.

The computer has taken an important role in our daily life. What are the advantages of this?

BRAINSTORMI AREA:

ADVANTAGES

B.2| DISCUSS WITH A PARTNER

Work with a partner ompare your mindmap discuss whether you can add or remove any idea. Give
reasons why you pick or don’t pick the ideas. Use the sample Mindmap from section A to help you.

B. 3| BRAINSTORM IN GROUP
In a group of 2-3 students, create a Mindmap to answer the prompt below. First, draw out as many ideas
as you can as a group. Then, discuss which ideas are good and which are bad. Use the sample Mindmap
from section A to help you.

The computer has taken an important role in our daily life.

What are the DISADVANTAGES of this?

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C. HOMEWORK
C. 1| MATCH IDEAS
Look at the . Then decide where to put the items in the table. The first one has been
done for you as an example.

In many countries, more and more people are becoming overweight. Why is this happening? What
solutions can you suggest?

increase fast food

cheap go on diet vegetable is expensive
price
lack of exercise play computer games more than sports provide free gyms
soft drinks are cheap control what children eat make junk food more expensive
Causes of overweight o o
cheap f foo go on diet

C.2| ADD NEW IDEAS

Can you add one more point to each column in the table?

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 WRITING
UNIT 2 - PART 1
OBJECTIVES
In this lesson, you will
• identify the topic sentence and supporting sentences a sample paragraph

A. THEORY
A. 1| LEAD - IN
Discuss the following questions with your partner.
• How long have you been learning English?
• Do you find learning English easy or difficult? Why?

A. 2| WRITING SAMPLE
Read the paragraph and answer the questions 1-4.

1
Learning English can be really easy since there are many ways to practice the language. 2 At school,
my teacher, Mr Mark, organizes many fun activities and projects. 3 These activities and projects
always require us, students, to talk to each other in English. 4 At home, I listen to English music and
watch YouTube videos in English. 5 Sometimes, when I go out on the street and meet a foreigner, I try
using English to help them to find their way around. 6 With so many opportunities to use English, I
don’t have to struggle when learning English.

1) What is the topic of the paragraph? 2) What’s the writer most important opinion
about the topic?
a. English a. Everyone should learn English
b. Learning English b. It’s easy to find ways to practice English
c. The writer’s teacher c. English is a very useful subject

3) How many ways to learn English did the

writer describe?
a. one
b. two
c. three

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 WHAT IS TOPIC SENTENCE?
• A topic sentence is usually at the beginning of a paragraph:
o The paragraph from Exercise 2: the first sentence is the topic sentence.
• A topic sentence expresses the topic of the paragraph and the main idea about that topic.
o The paragraph from Exercise 2: the topic is learning English, and the main idea is:
learning English is easy because there are many ways to practice
WHAT ARE SUPPORTING SENTENCES?
Supporting Sentences
• give information that explains and expands the main idea expressed by the topic sentence.
• answer questions – who? what? when? why? and how? about the main idea– and give details
• can have many goals:
give reasons: Lukas quit school because he has found a really good job.
give facts: More than 10% of the student population is international.
give examples: For example, most Vietnamese students love Maths.
define: Many tourists visit Bangkok, which is the capital and largest city in Thailand.

B. IN-CLASS PRACTICE
B. 1| IDENTIFY TOPIC SENTENCES
Look at these topic sentences (1-4). Circle the topic of the sentence. Underline the main idea.

1. This soccer ball was the gift I liked best.

2. Reading novels, such as the Twilight series, can help students improve their English.

3. A water park is a perfect place for this year’s school trip.

4. Going to school instead of staying home was the best decision.

2| MATCH SENTENCES
Match the supporting sentences (C-F) with corresponding topic sentences (A and B).

Learning maths can be really easy since there are many ways to practice.
Maths is a really useful subject

According to research, students with good maths scores in high schools earn more money when they
start working.
Shopping is a great opportunity to learn maths because we always need to calculate how much
money we can spend on one item.
By easy I mean we can learn it both in the classroom and in our daily life.
For example, maths is very important if you want to learn business or engineering, and these two
careers pay very well.

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B.3| CATEGORIZE
Match the supporting sentences (C-F) from Exercise B.2 with corresponding goals listed below.

(a) give reasons (b) give facts (c) give examples (d) define

C. HOMEWORK
C. 1|MATCH SENTENCES
Match the supporting sentences (1-8) with corresponding topic sentences (A and B).

A: Low-fat diets are an excellent way to stay healthy and slim.

B: High-protein diets are favoured by athletes and competitors.

1. These foods help build muscles and increase energy.

2. They are preferred by the general public because they help with weight reduction.

3. Low-fat diets are recommended by most physicians.

4. Many athletes eat high-protein foods, such as meat, beans, and nuts.

5. Low-fat foods include fruits, vegetables, and pasta.

6. Because they are easy to find in stores, low-fat foods are convenient.

7. Athletes generally have high-protein diets to give them more energy.

8. A low-fat diet is a diet that includes lean meat and lots of vegetables.

C.2| CATEGORIZ
Match the supporting sentences (1-8) from Exercise C.1 with corresponding goals listed below.

(a) give reasons (b) give facts (c) give examples (d) define

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