SESSION 24

IELTS Writing
What to expect from this lesson

1. Progress Test 2 Feedback

2. Opinion Essay Practice

01 Progress Test 2 Feedback
Common mistakes – Here’s what I found!

1. Contraction 4. Sentence fragment

2. Ambiguity 5. Exaggeration

3. Comma splice 6. Word choice

7. Rhetorical questions/Idioms
1. Contraction
A short form of a word

• Secondly, by using fast trains, the environment won’t be affected as much as

using other type of transportations
• Residents won't have to worry about unexpected accidents anymore.
• However, this increases the chances of multiplied casualties in accidents –
such a thing wouldn't happen with normal accidents

Survival Rule #1: AVOID using CONTRACTION!

1. Contraction
A short form of a word
will not
• Secondly, by using fast trains, the environment won’t be affected as much as
using other type of transportations
• Residentswill
won'tnothave to worry about unexpected accidents anymore.

• However, this increases the chances of multiplied casualties in accidents –

such a thing wouldn't happen with normal accidents
would not

Survival Rule #1: AVOID using CONTRACTION!

2. Ambiguity
Ambiguous= unclear, vague

● Overall, while having cities connected by a modern high-speed rail network is a

positive thing that brings many benefits, […]
● Regarding advantages it can be a better way to use public vehicle or better
facilities.

Survival Rule #2: AVOID using “ambiguous” words like

“thing”, “something”, etc.
2. Ambiguity
Ambiguous= unclear, vague

● Overall, while having cities connected by a modern high-speed rail network is a

way/measure
positive thing that brings many benefits, […]
● Regarding advantages it can be a better way to use public vehicle or better
facilities. an effective

Survival Rule #2: AVOID using “ambiguous” words like

“thing”, “something”, etc.
3. Comma splice
Independent and Dependent Clauses
Independent/Complete Clauses Dependent/Incomplete Clauses

These are all I have Until you come and say hi to me

Visitors to visited land need food How you treat me

Where I buried the will is secret Working with you until recently
3. Comma splice

When you join 2 independent clauses with a comma (,) and

NO conjunction, it’s called a comma splice
3. Comma splice

Fast trains are very expensive which they might need high cost tickets, this might
not beneficial for a large scale usage of citizens.

Survival Rule #3: NEVER use comma (,) to connect 2 independent

clauses. Connect them by using appropriate conjunctions
(FANBOY); separate them using semicolon (;) OR turn them into 2
separated sentences.
3. Comma splice

Fast trains are very expensive which they might need high cost tickets, and this
might not beneficial for a large scale usage of citizens.

Survival Rule #3: NEVER use comma (,) to connect 2 independent

clauses. Connect them by using appropriate conjunctions
(FANBOY); separate them using semicolon (;) OR turn them into 2
separated sentences.
3. Comma splice

Fast trains are very expensive which they might need high cost tickets; this might
not beneficial for a large scale usage of citizens.

Survival Rule #3: NEVER use comma (,) to connect 2 independent

clauses. Connect them by using appropriate conjunctions
(FANBOY); separate them using semicolon (;) OR turn them into 2
separated sentences.
3. Comma splice

Fast trains are very expensive which they might need high cost tickets. This
might not beneficial for a large scale usage of citizens.

Survival Rule #3: NEVER use comma (,) to connect 2 independent

clauses. Connect them by using appropriate conjunctions
(FANBOY); separate them using semicolon (;) OR turn them into 2
separated sentences.
4. Sentence fragment

A sentence fragment is a clause that is missing one of 3 critical components:

a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
4. Sentence fragment

• Firstly, is about the development of new transportation it will cost a lot of funds
and time.
• While others believe in improving existing public vehicle.

Survival Rule #4: Just don’t make fragment sentences! That’s all!
5. Exaggeration

Exaggeration is a statement that tends to make something seem

larger, better, or worse THAN it really is
5. Exaggeration

• No one can deny that the money should be spent on setting up a new railway
network for the modernisation of the city.
• […] these types of transportation run faster than any other public vehicles.
• For instance, Japan has the greatest and the most modern subway networks in
the world and it saves a lot of time for many people.

Survival Rule #5: Avoid using “absolute words” like

“everybody”, “nobody”, “everyone”, “all”, “no”, “never”, etc.
5. Exaggeration
Most people argue
• No one can deny that the money should be spent on setting up a new railway
network for the modernisation of the city.
many
• […] these types of transportation run faster than any other public vehicles.
• For instance, Japan has the greatest and the most modern subway networks in
the world and it saves a lot of time for many people.
effective

Survival Rule #5: Avoid using “absolute words” like

“everybody”, “nobody”, “everyone”, “all”, “no”, “never”, etc.
6. Word choice

• On the other hand, improving existing transportation is also necessary. For

instance, the road and the street's quality will be increased.

Improved, upgraded

Survival Rule #6: Understand the word like you understand

your best of best friends!
7. Rhetorical questions/Idioms

• On the other hand, we can’t say that focusing money on public transport is a
bad idea. Why?
• Improve the speed, saving money and time while decrease the amount of
petrol- it’s “one stone kills two birds.”
• But every coin has two faces […]

Survival Rule #7: DO NOT use rhetorical questions and

idioms in an academic essay!
02 Structure of an essay
Balanced Opinion vs. Discussion Essay
1. Introduction
• Introduce the topic/general knowledge
• Thesis statement (give your STANCE)

2. Body 1: Write about the 1st side of the issue

• Topic sentence
• Supporting Idea 1
• Supporting Idea 2
3. Body 2: Write about the 2nd side of the issue
• Topic sentence
• Supporting Idea 1
• Supporting Idea 2

4. Conclusion
• Summarize the main points
• Restate your STANCE
Do you agree or disagree with the statement that
government should invest more money in science
education rather than other subjects to develop the
country?
Thank you and good luck