English Language School

Школа Английского
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Section Writing task

Lesson A cause/ Solution essay

 A Cause/Solution essay

The Cause/Solution task tests your ability to write about cause and
suggest ways to solve the problem mentioned in the task.

1. Read the instructions carefully –do you need to give only

solutions or both causes and solutions.
2. Spend time planning your main points and supporting points
3. Put two or three causes in the first main paragraph and
possible solution s in the second main paragraph. (Causes -1
Remember there is a problem/solution essay, so do not confuse it
main paragraph, Solutions-2 main paragraph)
with the cause/solution essay. In the problem/solution essay you
4. Use flexible language of cause and consequences.
5. Write a brief, well-organized introduction, at least two main
must only raise some problems regarding the task and come up with
paragraphs and a short conclusion. solutions.
6. Write in paragraphs. TASK:
7. Use an academic register or style. An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers
8. Write at least 250 words. are leaving their own countries to work in developed countries. What
9. Use a safe solution essay model to follow. problems does this cause? What can be done to deal with this
situation?
Cause and Solution Essay structure

Introduction
Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question
Sentence 2-Outline Sentence

Main Body Paragraph

Sentence 1- State Cause effect why the problem exists
Sentence 2- Explain Cause effect
Sentence 3- Result of this Cause
Sentence 4- Example (Give another Cause or Reason by using the same structure again)

Main Body Paragraph

Sentence 1- State Solution
Sentence 2- Explain Solution
Sentence 3- Result of this Solution
Sentence 3- Example ( Offer another solution by using the same structure again)

Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary
Sentence 2- Recommendation or Prediction
Analyze the task by answering the questions below

1. What are the causes of food

shortages?
2. What are the solutions?

1. It asks about the problem of people suffering from poor health

because of air pollution.
2. It asks you to think of some causes/reasons for this problem
3. It asks you come up with some solutions to this problem
4. Causes: air pollution from industry; (e.g. factories) more traffic on
the road ; burning fossil fuels
5. Solutions: ‘cleaner’ industrial processes; reducing the amount of
road traffic, e.g. people should use public transport , transport
goods by rail rather than road; use renewable, sustainable energy
(e.g. wind, solar energy)
Strategies
1. Reading and think about the problem and the questions. Make
sure you understand what the Underline key words.
2. Make a brief plan. Think about the most important ideas you
need to include, for example, the main causes and main
solutions to the problem.
3. Your essay should include an introduction, two main
paragraphs and a conclusion.
4. Your introduction can be brief. You should first restate the
problem in your own words and then briefly explain why this
problem is a serious one.
5. Begin each main paragraph with a topic sentence (a sentence
that states the main idea of the paragraph).
6. In the first paragraph, the topic sentence should indicate
that you are going to discuss the causes of the problem. Use
vocabulary of cause and effect to explain why the problem
exists.
7. In the second paragraph, the topic sentence should indicate
that you are going to discuss the solutions to the problem.
8. In both paragraphs, you should use linking words and
phrases to signal that you are moving from one point to
another.
Sample Answer
Nowadays, we are living in a society based on consuming. As a result,
some people have problems in dealing with this budget and they get
into debt by buying things they do not need and cannot afford.
(introduction)
The kind of behavior is encountered quite often in our present days ,
mainly because of the possibility of buying goods in leasing. Hence.,
people buy most of the goods using the credit card without having a
clear idea on how much money they possess and they owe. Also,
another cause for this behavior could be psychological. The
advertisement and the subliminal messages one encounters in a
regular day in a big city has an enormous impact on one’s brain. The
main problem is the lack of awareness of the serious effects that
advertisement can have on people. (first main paragraph)
9. In the second paragraph, you should support
the solutions you give with examples,
explanations or experiences.
10. The final paragraph can be brief. You should
restate the main arguments and bring the essay
to a conclusion, for example, you could
indicate which solution is best.
11. Your paragraphs should be clearly separated,
for example, you can leave a blank space
between them or indent the first line of each
new paragraph.
12. Keep track of the time. You have about 40
minutes to do Task 2.
13. Make sure your handwriting is clear and legible
enough for the examiners to read.
On income and monthly spending would be very
helpful in order to prevent people from adopting this
dangerous behavior, measures should be taken so as
to raise awareness among people. Also, one must
learn how to manage his budget in order to get a
balance between necessity and pleasure. Keeping a
record would give the customer an overall image on
how his budget should be spent. (2 main paragraph)
All summed up, the changes of becoming a victim of
the consumer’s society are high nowadays due to the
surrounding temptations but this problem could be
easily avoided by being aware of these dangers and
having a rational attitude when dealing with money.
(conclusion)
 It is crucial to use conjunctions (linking words) in Writing task 2

Cause -Effect Examples

Therefore/Consequently Many drivers lack proper training; therefore, they do not know what to
do in an emergency.

So Sometimes drivers use their cell phones, so they are too distracted to
avoid dangerous situations.

As a result
Results in / accounts for
Causes/leads to /gives rise to /is
responsible for
Sometimes drivers use their cell phones; as a result they are too
distracted to avoid dangerous situations
Equipment failure also plays a role. For example, a loss of brakes
results in accidents.
Bad weather conditions in winter leads to an increase in the number of
accidents on the roads.
 You must use a variety of words and verbs to avoid repetition and vary sentence
structures to get a high band score.
Introducing and proposing solutions

Verbs Modal verbs Nouns

recommend must recommendation
suggest Should Suggestion
propose Ought to Solution
Might/may Idea
Could proposal
I recommend that young drivers be required to take an additional motorway driving test before they get
their driving license.
My recommendation is that the following steps be taken.
I suggest that the government do this right away.
I propose that the government identify dangerous roads and fix the problems.
Manufacturers should build safer vehicles.
Laws requiring seat belts must be enforced.
Remember, the question asks you to suggest solutions - not just one solution. Use linking words
such as first, another, finally and so on, to propose alternative solutions .
Sample essay from Liz (an IELTS expert) Band 9

Many offenders commit more crime s after serving their first punishment. Why is this happening , and what measures can be
taken to tackle the problem?
A large number of criminals who serve their first prison sentence , leave prison only to reoffend. This is mainly because of the lack of
rehabilitation and difficulty finding regular employment once released. There are a number of solutions which should be implemented
to deal with criminals who reoffend.

Firstly, the reason for most first –time offenders committing crimes again, once they have been released from prison, is due to the lack
of rehabilitation whilst in prison. In other words, offenders are not a change to retrain and learn new skills for their future or develop a
deeper understanding of correct moral behavior and instead mix with other criminals, which only strengthens their criminal intentions.
Secondly, repeat offending is also owing to the difficulty in finding employment after being released. As a result, many of them
struggle financially which leads them back to crime, regardless of the consequences.

There are two effective solutions to the problem of repeat offenders. One way to tackle this is to ensure that all criminals entering
prison are given the chance to retrain with useful skills which will hopefully ensure them a job after they have served their sentence. By
doing this, it will help them reintegrate back into society and give then some means of supporting themselves financially. Another
method of dealing with criminals who reoffend is to have more supervision and checks in place when they are back in society. This
solution would hopefully prevent them from reoffending because they are being so closely watched.
In conclusion, having training in prison and also close observation when first time offenders are released in dealing with the issue. If
governments implemented these solutions, crime figures would soon drop. (290 words)
 Comments:
This essay addresses the task completely. Both causes and solutions are given and developed with
relevant ideas. Linking is used not only effectively but also flexibly, Paraphrasing is also used effectively
to help the reader. There is a range of sentence structures and also tenses used. Vocabulary is also flexible
with a good range of less common words.

Task response -9 Coherence and Cohesion - 9 Grammar - 9 Lexical Recourse - 9

ƒfully addresses all parts
of the task
ƒ presents a fully
developed position in
answer to the question
with relevant, fully
extended and well
supported ideas
uses cohesion in such a way
that it attracts no attention
ƒ skillfully manages
paragraphing
ƒ uses a wide range of ƒ uses a wide range of
vocabulary with very structures with full
natural and flexibility and accuracy; rare
sophisticated control minor errors occur only as
of lexical features; rare ‘slips’
minor errors occur
only as ‘slips’
 Spend a few minutes reading and thinking about the problem and the questions. Make sure you understand what the task is asking
1
you to do. Underline key words.

You don't have a lot of time, but you should make a brief plan. Think about the most important ideas you need to include, for example,
2
the main causes and main solutions to the problem

33
Your essay should include an introduction, two main paragraphs and a conclusion.

44 Your introduction can be brief. You should first restate the problem in your own words and then briefly explain why this
problem is a serious one.

Begin each main paragraph with a topic sentence (a sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph). In the first paragraph, the topic
5
sentence should indicate that you are going to discuss the causes of the problem. In the second paragraph, the topic sentence should
indicate that you are going to discuss the solutions to the problem.
 6 In both paragraphs, you should use linking words and phrases to signal that you are moving from one point to another.

7 In the first paragraph, you should use vocabulary of cause and effect to explain why the problem exists .

38
In the second paragraph, you should support the solutions you give with examples, explanations or experiences.

49 The final paragraph can be brief. You should restate the main arguments and bring the essay to a conclusion, for example,
you could indicate which solution is best

Your paragraphs should be clearly separated, for example, you can leave a blank space between them or indent the first line of each
10
new paragraph.
 11 Keep track of the time. You have about 40 minutes to do Task 2.

3 12 Make sure your handwriting is clear and legible enough for the examiners to
read.
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!