English Writing Course

Week one
 Contact
• Instructor: Lucy Ahfong
• Email: lucy.ahfong@gmail.com
 Course materials

You should bring to every class:

- Your own notebook (for this class only)
- a pen or pencil
 Rules and Expectations
• English only please!
• Please be on time and do not be late.
• Mobile phones may only be used for an English/
Chinese dictionary.
• Absolutely no texting, chatting or video game
playing!
• Please come to every class prepared with
materials.
• Please use your own words. Do not plagiarize or
copy other peoples’ words.
 IELTS Writing Task 2
• For the second task for the IELTS Writing Exam, you
will be asked to write a clear argument, discussion or
report on a given topic.
• In the exam, you have 40 minutes and have to write a
minimum of 250 words, but ideally around 350
words.
• Your argument has to be presented clearly logically
and you are expected to support your ideas with
evidence and examples from your own knowledge
and experience.
 Course Description
1) How to write an essay for Task 2
2) Types of essay questions – 3 different types
3) Organising your essay: Structure and linking
4) Writing introductions
5) Writing conclusions
6) Useful grammar and vocabulary
 Writing warm-up
• Tell me about your experiences writing English
• Did you write essays or stories or both?
• Do you enjoy writing?
• What are some difficulties you have with
English writing?

If possible, please explain and give examples.

 Why does my English writing
sound so Chinese??!!
• Basic composition structure
– English: Introduction – Body – Conclusion
– Chinese: qi-cheng-zhuan-he – (beginning-following-turning-concluding)
• When to introduce the theme?
– English – First paragraph
– Chinese – Last paragraph
• Organising your thinking
– English – Provides the main argument and then details - deductive
– Chinese – provides details and then concludes with the main argument – inductive
• Conclusion
– English – The thesis is rewritten in a different way
– Chinese – Unrelated to the thesis
• Tone of the essay
– English – Straight to the point
– Chinese –Soft, not expected to express opinions directly
• Responsible for interpretation
– English – The writer – ideas are clear for the reader to understand
– Chinese – The reader – responsible to interpret the deeper feeling
 How is the IELTS exam graded?
IELTS examiners are looking for four different things in your
essay:
•Vocabulary: You need to have a good range of academic words
and phrases for the main IELTS topics
•Grammar: You need to use accurate grammar and a range of
complex structures
•Organization: You need to write clear, well-organised
paragraphs, and an answer which is easy to follow
•Ideas and argument: You need to make sure you have well-
developed ideas, that you answer the question fully and that
you give a clear view point
 Structure of the Essay
• Depends on the question but for IELTS Task 2
– 4 – 5 paragraphs are sufficient.

Three types of Task 2 questions

• Advantages and Disadvantages – 4-6
paragraphs
• Problem and Solution – 5 paragraphs
• Opinion essay – 4/5 paragraphs
 The 5 Paragraph Essay Structure

The 5 paragraph essay is

–a useful structure for organizing writing, especially
academic  and research essays and papers
–useful for arguing a point or an opinion

Can be used also for

–English-speaking university applications
–English-speaking university essays and research
papers
Reasons for non-native English speakers to
learn the 5-paragraph essay
• It helps with organization of writing
• Examiners can understand what a writer is
trying to say in an essay is organized way even
if the grammar and vocabulary is lacking 
 Advantages and Disadvantages
Essay
In this type of essay, you have to discuss the
positive and negative sides of a topic and then
express your view.

Example
“What are the advantages and disadvantages
of working from home?”
 Structure of Advantages and
Disadvantages Essay
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2+3: Main body – Disadvantages
Paragraph 4+5: Main body – Advantages
Paragraph 6: Conclusion + opinion
 Problem and Solution Essays
You have to explain the causes of a common social
problem and make some suggestions about how to
solve it.

Example
“These days, in many countries fewer people want
to become teachers, particularly in secondary
schools. What are the reasons for this, and how
could the problem be tackled?”
 Structure of Problem and Solution Essays

Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Cause 1 + Solution 1
Paragraph 3: Cause 2 + Solution 2
Paragraph 4: Cause 3 + Solution 3
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
 Opinion Essays
You have to state your view about a topic then
justify your opinion.

Example
“Should smoking be banned in public places?”
 Structure of Discussion and give
your Opinion Essays
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2 +3: Main points to support your
opinion
Paragraph 4: Alternative opinion
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
What do these essays have in
common?

They all have an….

Introduction & a Conclusion
 Writing Introductions
Why is it important to make a good start to your
essay?
-First impressions are so important. Helps make
a good impression on the examiner
-The introductory paragraph of any paper, long
or short, should start with a sentence that
attracts the interest of your readers.
 Introduction Paragraph

Consists of four sentences:

1st sentence: THE HOOK -A sentence which makes the
reader interested to read your essay

•2nd sentence: THE TOPIC - Add an extra sentence to

support the first –
•What your essay or paragraph is about
•Provides background
•Defines the problem
 Introduction paragraph

3rd sentence: Rewrite the question in your own

words

4th sentence: Tell the reader your plan

 Let’s look at an example essay
question
“These days more and more people are going to
other countries for significant periods of time,
either to find a job or to study. There are clearly
many benefits to doing this, but people who live
abroad can also face some difficulties.”

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of

living and working in a foreign country.
 Example of an Introduction
1st sentence: Hook sentence
Nowadays, taking a year to live or study abroad is becoming
increasingly popular.
2nd sentence: Topic sentence
For many people, especially young adults, the chance to spend
an extended period of time overseas is an attractive one.
3rd sentence: Re-write the question in your own words
However there are both pros and cons to deciding to
do this.
4th sentence: Your plan
In this essay, I will discuss some of the reasons why moving
abroad is so popular and some of the challenges to be overcome.
Now read this question. This model introduction
is in the wrong order. Rewrite it correctly
These days, people work in more than one job and
often change career several times during their life.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

A In this essay, I will look at both sides and try to draw

some conclusions.
B Many have at least one change of career at some point in
their lives.
C Nowadays, it is beginning more and more common for
people to take two jobs
D But what are the benefits of this situation and what are
the drawbacks?
 Answer:
C Nowadays, it is beginning more and more
common for people to take HOOK
two jobs
B Many have at least one change of career at
some point in their lives. TOPIC
D But what are the benefits of this situation
RE-WRITE
and what are the drawbacks? THE QUESTION
A In this essay, I will look at both sides and try
to draw some
YOUR conclusions.
PLAN FOR THE ESSAY
 Useful Tenses ( 时态） for
Introductions
Look at these examples.
Present perfect ( 现在完成时 ): The number of
teachers has gone down in the last decade
•Present simple ( 一般现在时） : These days,
many young people take a break before going to
university
•Present continuous ( 现在进行时） : The cost
of living in big cities is rising all the time
What the tense is used for? Name of tense

Present simple ( 一般现在时）

1. To talk about general These days, many young people take a
statements and facts break before going to university

Present perfect ( 现在完成时 ):

2. To talk about recent The number of teachers has gone down
changes in the last decade

Present continuous ( 现在进行时）

3. To talk about things The cost of living in big cities is rising all
which are changing right the time
now
 Complete these typical sentences for introductions
using the verbs in brackets in the correct tense

1. It is clear that running a business is becoming (become)

more popular
2. Most people……..(say) that they ………(eat) too much
unhealthy food.
3. There is no doubt that house prices……..(rise) all the
time.
4. In the last decade, the number of people taking a gap
year……….(rise) sharply.
5. Recently, it……….(become) evident that obesity rates
are a serious problem
1. It is clear that running a business is becoming
(become) more popular
2. Most people say that they eat too much unhealthy
food. Present simple
3. There is no doubt that house prices are rising all the
time. Present continuous
4. In the last decade, the number of people taking a gap
year has risen sharply. Present perfect
5. Recently, it has become evident that obesity rates are
a serious problem. Present perfect
 Useful phrases for Introductions
Time expressions Useful phrases

Over the last few years…. + Most people say that…..

present perfect
In the last decade……+ present It is clear that……is becoming
perfect more popular
Recently, it has…. + present There is no doubt that…...
perfect
These days……..+ present
simple/ present continuous
Nowadays, fewer people +
present simple
 Now, it’s your turn….
Write four-sentence introductions for these exam
questions.
1.What are the pros and cons for children watching television?
2.All over the world, societies are facing a growing problem
with obesity. What are the reasons for this rise in obesity? How
could it be tackled?

Remember the four sentences for your introduction: Hook

sentence, topic sentence, re-write the question and tell the
reader your plan.
 Model answer

What are the pros and cons for children

watching television?
These days, it is a common sight to see children spending hours
on end watching television. The majority of youngsters have a
TV set in their bedroom and some even download their favourite
programmes on their mobile phones. However there are
concerns about whether television provides positive input for
our children or it is harmful to them. In this essay I will consider
the advantages and disadvantages of children watching TV and
offer my opinion.
 Model answer
All over the world, societies are facing a growing
problem with obesity. What are the reasons for
this rise in obesity? How could it be tackled?

There is no doubt that the problem of obesity is becoming worse

and worse and it is having an impact on more and more people.
In the last few years obesity rates have rocketed and the
problem is now an epidemic, particularly in the Western world.
This essay will look into the main causes of obesity among adults
and children and propose some solutions.
 What are some problems non-native English
speakers have when writing papers?
• Too many descriptive words are used
• The main idea isn’t stated until the end
• English grammar
• Incorrectly use “a”, “an” and “the”
• Too much emotional language
• Too many details
• Lack of vocabulary
• How to use link words: however, nevertheless, additionally
• Verb tense (using wrong tense)
• Don’t use exact words (Chinglish)
• Wrong punctuation (? ! , “)
• Should we use simple or advanced words? Use the one that you
are comfortable with! 