IELTS 101 – EPISODE 55

IELTS WRITING
HOW TO DEVELOP
‘WINNING’ PARAGRAPHS
IDEA
DEVELOPMENT –
WHY?
Why do I need to develop my
ideas?
 It’s one of the requirements in IELTS Writing.

Band Task Response

7 ▪  addresses all parts of the task
▪  presents a clear position throughout the response
▪  presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a
tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus
6 ▪  addresses all parts of the task although some parts may be more
fully covered than others
▪  presents a relevant position although the conclusions may
become unclear or repetitive
▪  presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately
developed/unclear
5 ▪  addresses the task only partially; the format may be
inappropriate in places
▪  expresses a position but the development is not always clear and
there may be no conclusions drawn
▪  presents some main ideas but these are limited and not
sufficiently developed; there may be irrelevant detail
Okay, so how do I develop my
ideas?
First, you need to take a position.
- Band 5: expresses a position but the development is
not always clear and there may be no conclusions
drawn.
- Band 6: presents a relevant position though the
conclusions may become unclear or repetitive.
- Band 7: presents a clear position throughout the
response
Second, you need to find relevant ideas to back up your position.
But where do these ideas
come from?
Second, you need to find relevant ideas to back up your position.
- Things you are told
Example: ‘Renewable energy is much cleaner than traditional
fuels.’
- Things you know
Example: ‘Renewables are not as good as they have been
portrayed to be; it is nuclear energy that’s the answer.’
- Things you don’t know you know
Example: ‘There must be reasons why renewables are not being
widely adopted: cost, infrastructures, and the public’s perception
of this type of energy.’
Third, you need to back up your relevant ideas with relevant arguments
& evidence.

Idea: ‘Renewable energy is much cleaner than traditional fuels.’

- central idea: cleaner
Þ Definition: Energy from wind or sunlight is much less harmful to the
environment compared to coal or gas.
Þ Comparison: Meanwhile, coal or gas produces a huge amount of
carbon dioxide.
Þ Example: A recent study shows that factories that use coal produce
more than 42 percent of mercury emissions.
Þ Implication: Because it affects the environment which means it
affects human lives, it is necessary to start switching to renewable
sources of energy.
Full paragraph:

Renewable energy is much cleaner than traditional fuels. Energy

from wind or sunlight is much less harmful to the environment
compared to coal or gas. Meanwhile, coal or gas produces a
huge amount of carbon dioxide. A recent study shows that
factories that use coal produce more than 42 percent of mercury
emissions. Because it affects the environment which means it
affects human lives, it is necessary to start switching to renewable
sources of energy.
Full paragraph (after some colors have been made):
Renewable energy is much cleaner than traditional fuels. Energy
generated from renewable sources like wind or sunlight has been
unequivocally proven to produce much less air pollution
compared to fossil fuels like coal or gas. The combustion of the
latter, on the other hand, entails huge amounts of carbon dioxide
being released into the air. A recent study reveals the damning
consequences of a world powered by fossil fuels: factories
powered by coal in the US are responsible for 42 percent of
mercury emissions. Phasing out the mining of such fuels which
degrade the natural environment and switching to cleaner
sources of power are necessary steps to take in the future.
 General advice & tips
- Read tons.
- Focus on one idea per paragraph.

- Research after you’ve completed your essay.

- Write it in Vietnamese first if you must.
- It doesn’t matter if your grammar is all over the
place.
- Vocabulary should be added on an as-needed
basis.