6/14/2021

Idea development-2VBA21.1

Simple way of developing ideas

1. Simple topic sentence.

2. The main benefit is that...
3. Another advantage of zoos is that...
4. From a personal point of view,...

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Example
Zoos have several benefits. The main benefit is that zoos play
an important role in wildlife conservation. They help to protect
endangered species, such as pandas or rhinos, and allow
scientists to study animal behaviour. Another advantage of zoos
is that they employ large numbers of people, therefore providing
job opportunities and income for the local area. Also, the money
that zoos make can be used for conservation projects. From a
personal point of view, zoos are interesting, educational and fun.
They are entertaining for families, and teach children to
appreciate wildlife and nature.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and
avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good
thing. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

There are good reasons why some people feel the need to
make significant changes to their lives from time to time. Firstly,
any new situation that a person encounters can be an opportunity
to learn and grow as a person. A new job, for instance, might
present challenges that push the person to adapt, acquire new
knowledge, or add to his or her skill set. Secondly, a change can
represent a break with the past and an old routine which has
become boring and predictable. Finally, as well as making life
more fun and interesting, new experiences can be good for our
physical and mental health.

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Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same

things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that
change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views
and give your own opinion.
On the other hand, it is understandable why people might
avoid change. Whenever people are forced to change their
lifestyles, jobs or even to move house, they are likely to
experience stress and worry as they try to adapt to the new
situation. By contrast, we feel comfortable and confident when we
stay with what we know. The decision to persist with a course of
action or stick to one chosen path often leads to greater success
in life. For example, by staying in the same job for many years, a
person can become an expert in his or her field, which will lead to
better opportunities for promotions and career progression.

5-sentence paragraph plan

• Example:
• Many people believe that sports professionals earn too much money.
They argue that sport is a form of entertainment rather than a vital public
service. We could easily live without sportspeople, yet other professionals
who contribute much more to society are undervalued and underpaid. For
example, football players can earn enormous salaries by simply kicking a ball,
while doctors, nurses and teachers earn a fraction of the money despite
being essential for our health and prosperity. From this perspective, sports
stars do not deserve the salaries they currently earn.
• (As you can see, the paragraph explains the view that sportspeople earn
too much money. This came from a discuss both views question.)

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Idea, Explain, Example

A good way to write main body paragraphs is this:
Start with an idea; Explain it in detail; Give an example
Here's an example of how to build a paragraph using the above
method:
A sense of competition is necessary for success in life, and
should therefore be encouraged. Competition motivates children
to get good grades at school or become better at sports, while
adults compete to climb the career ladder. In a job interview, for
example, candidates compete to show that they are the most
qualified, hard-working and competent person for the post.

Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a

foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school.
Advantages/Disadvantages

• Advantages of learning • Disadvantages of learning

languages at primary age: young
children learn faster, they are
less self-conscious or shy, they
pick up the pronunciation better,
they enjoy copying and learning
through games, nowadays
languages are just as important
as maths etc.
languages at primary age: other
subjects are more important at
that age (maths, mother tongue
language, science), learning a
new language is confusing and
wastes time, could delay
development of child's first
language.

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Some people believe that school children should not be given homework
by their teachers, whereas others argue that homework plays an
important role in the education of children.

• Planned ideas (arguments against • Opposite view (some homework is

homework)
1. Topic (e.g. People disagree with
homework for several reasons)
2. Firstly: homework does not
improve educational outcomes
3. Example: achievements of
countries like Finland
4. Secondly: school day is long
enough, children are tired
5. Finally: play time is equally
beneficial for development
necessary)
1’. Topic (e.g. In spite of the above
arguments, I support the view
that…)
2’. Explain: encourage independent
learning, problem solving
3’. Explain: apply knowledge learnt
in the classroom
4’. Example: maths exercises to
consolidate ability to...
5’. Result: prepares people to work
alone as adults

Against mandatory homework

• There are several reasons why people might argue that homework
is an unnecessary burden on children. Firstly, there is evidence to
support the idea that homework does nothing to improve educational
outcomes. Countries such as Finland, where school children are not
given homework, regularly top international educational league
tables and outperform nations where setting homework is the norm.
Secondly, many parents would agree that the school day is already
long enough, and leaves their children too tired to do further study
when they return home. Finally, it is recognised that play time is just
as beneficial as study time from the perspective of brain
development. To sum up

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Support mandatory homework

• I support the view that homework has an important role to play
in the schooling of children. The main benefit of homework is that it
encourages independent learning and problem solving, as children
are challenged to work through tasks alone and at their own pace. In
doing so, students must apply the knowledge that they have learnt in
the classroom. For example, by doing mathematics exercises at home,
students consolidate their understanding of the concepts taught by
their teacher at school. In my view, it is important for children to
develop an independent study habit because this prepares them to
work alone as adults. In conclusion, ...

Office1
Office [2]1
Office [3]1
Office [4]1
Topic: The Internet has caused people to be isolated from their
Office [5]1
Office [6]1

real lives. Do you agree or disagree?

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Office1 Microsoft Office User, 8/2/2017

Office [2]1 Microsoft Office User, 8/2/2017
Office [3]1 Example-led approach:
Microsoft Office User, 8/2/2017

Office [4]1 Topic sentence-ponit

Microsoft Office User, 8/2/2017

Office [5]1 Example

Microsoft Office User, 8/2/2017

Office [6]1 Result-Explanation

Microsoft Office User, 8/2/2017
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Body 1: Let’s see how the example is used

• I think this trend could be profitable if the young disregard
the negative and focus on the positive aspects of sports
stars’ lives. Ronaldo, a world-class forward striker, for
instance, is infamous/notorious for his extreme
individualism, but still is a mirror of
diligence/meticulousness and determination for all the
efforts he has exerted in football training. Many
adolescents who worship him/ are Ronaldo’s fan have
overlooked his undesirable personal traits and trained
themselves hard to achieve extraordinary results in their
lives. In this way, the young/youth may still benefit from
sports stars’ valuable life lessons.

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Body 2: Let’s see how the explanation works

together with example
• However, I contend that this is generally an adverse trend
because with the majority of youngsters, it may lead to
unpleasant consequences. This is because the young could
be immature and they may imitate all the actions of the
celebrities, irrespective of whether these actions are
beneficial or not. What these young people may copy may
range from a materialistic lifestyle, an individualistic way of
living to more problematic behaviors such as sexism, racism
or discrimination. Such outcomes are harmful not only for
the juveniles themselves but also for the society as a whole
in the future.