TASK 2-GENERAL TRAINING AND ACADEMIC WRITING

Skill 15-Determining the Task

In Writing Task 2, you will write an essay expressing and supporting an opinion. You
will be asked to write about your opinion in one of the following ways:
• agree or disagree
• describe advantages and disadvantages
• discuss two points of view and give your own
• suggest solutions to a problem
• answer two questions
You must do what the task asks you to do.

PRACTICE
Read the following tasks and determine what each one asks you to do. Choose your answers
from the list above and write them on the lines.

TaskA ......................................... : ...............................................................................

Some people believe that success means earning a lot of money. Others believe that
success is defined by personal happiness.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

TaskB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Smoking tobacco is becoming increasingly popular among young people, with

potentially serious effects on their health.
Explain some reasons for this problem and suggest some possible solutions.

TaskC ........................................................................................................................ .

More and more fathers are taking a break from their careers so that they can stay home
and take care of their children while their wives work. This is better for the family than
having both parents workfull time.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

TaskD .........................................................................................................................

These days, children have easy access to home computers, tablet computers, and
smartphones, a_nd many spend a large part of theirfree time using these devices.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this situation and give your own opinion.

WRITING MODULE 159