Test section – Writing Task 2

Essay structure and writing an introduction

Activities
1. Understanding the question – True or False
2. Generating ideas
3. Planning the structure
4. Writing the introduction
5. Writing the essay

Aims
• to help students understand how to prepare for writing
• to help students identify and plan the structure of an essay
• to help students write clear and concise introductions

Learning outcomes
• Students will have understood how to structure their essay by looking at
possible essay outlines.
• Students will have analysed two introductions.

Information about this section of IELTS

In Writing Task 2, test takers will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of
view, argument or problem. They will be expected to write at least 250 words and are
advised to spend 40 minutes on this task. The essay should be written in formal,
academic English.
Time 45 minutes
(90 if doing writing in class)
Level B1+
Class Suitable for groups / large classes
F2F / Online
Interaction Pair or group work
Individual work
Materials Worksheets x4 attached

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Activity 1: Understanding the question – True or False
Material: Worksheet 1
Time: 15 minutes
Procedure:
• introduce focus of the lesson: Writing Task 2 – Essay structures and
introductions
• give each student a copy of Worksheet 1 and one minute to read the Task 2
question.
• elicit possible next steps before writing i.e. brainstorming ideas.
• draw attention to the True / False task and clarify the importance of spending
time with the question before rushing into an answer.
• give students time to work on T/F task alone before checking answers in pairs
and then in open-class.

Answers
a) discuss reasons why distance learning can be good for learners True
b) discuss reasons why distance learning is good for colleges and universities
False
c) discuss the history of distance learning False
d) discuss the problems associated with distance learning True
e) discuss reasons why distance learning is not suitable for some learners True
f) give a detailed account of the types of course that can be followed by distance
learning False
g) discuss reasons why distance learning is bad for colleges and universities False
h) describe the kind of learner that would be suitable for distance learning True
i) come to a logical conclusion about the value of distance learning in your view
True
j) say what you would like to learn by distance if you had time. False

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Activity 2: Generating ideas
Material: Worksheet 1 and students’ notebooks / whiteboard
Time: 5 minutes
Procedure:
• draw attention to exercise 2 at the bottom of the worksheet.
• students work together to generate ideas for both sides of the argument.
• if you wish, you can do this as a class by using the whiteboard as a
mind map / table and eliciting ideas from students.

Activity 3: Planning the structure

Material: Worksheet 2
Time: 5 minutes
Procedure:
• before handing out Worksheet 2, elicit a possible essay structure.
• give each student a copy of Worksheet 2.
• draw attention to the 2 different essay outlines and exercise 1.
• students complete the 2 essay outlines with words and phrases provided.
• check in open class.
• working in pairs or small groups, students discuss the analysis questions.
• get class feedback, elicit and focus on the importance of following a logical
structure, no one structure is the ‘ideal’, neither of these is better than the other,
as long as it adds to the coherence of the essay.

Answers
Essay outline 1:
Introduction, disadvantages for unsuitable learners, advantages for suitable
learners, conclusion.
Essay outline 2:
Introduction, advantages and disadvantages of distance learning, suitable and
unsuitable learners for distance learning, conclusion.

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Activity 4: Writing the introduction
Material: Worksheet 3
Time: 20 minutes
Procedure:
• before handing out Worksheet 3, elicit what an introduction should / shouldn’t
include.
• clarify for students that an introduction sets out for the reader, the examiner in
the case of IELTS, what the essay is going to be about. It should clearly refer
back to the question but not simply copy whole phrases from it. From reading
the introduction, the reader, i.e. the examiner, should have a good
understanding of what they are about to read and the writer’s position.
• draw attention to the analysis questions in exercise 1.
• allocate 2 minutes for students to read the first introduction and consider their
answers.
• students discuss the analysis questions with a partner / in small groups.
• repeat the procedure for introduction 2.
• get class feedback and answers to exercise 3 open class.

Answers
Introduction 1
a) No. The opening sentence has been completely copied from the question.
More and more colleges and universities are offering distance learning
b) No, you could perhaps infer their opinion is against distance learning from
the details offered of friends’ experiences.
c) Yes, the writer outlines how they will respond to the question but seems to
include an extra paragraph of unnecessary information on the history of
distance learning.
I will examine these questions below, firstly by considering the advantages and
disadvantages of learning in this mode, and then by looking at the kind of learner that
suits distance learning. But first, here is a brief history of distance learning.
d) Yes.
In the past, this type of learning was sometimes called a correspondence course.

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 I know several people who have tried this type of course and they all gave up after a few
weeks.
But first, here is a brief history of distance learning.

Introduction 2
a) Yes. The first sentence is a paraphrase of the topic.
The possibility of studying at further and higher education through distance learning has
increased throughout recent years.
b) Yes. The introduction ends with a positive statement, they argue for distance
learning.
… this way of study has revolutionised access to education and created more opportunity
and benefits for a wider range of learners.
c) Yes. From the second sentence, you can see that the writer is likely to have
a paragraph describing the disadvantages including inequality of access
followed by a positive, perhaps longer paragraph describing the advantages
including opportunities for different types of learners.
Despite a few issues, including inequality of access for some learners, this way of
study has revolutionised access to education.
d) No. A short concise introduction which includes no unnecessary information.

3. Essay structure 1.

Activity 5: Writing the essay

Material: Worksheet 4
Time: 40 minutes (at home)
Procedure:
• draw attention to Worksheet 4 and the essay question.
• you may wish to carry out the first 4 points in class if you have time.
Alternatively, you can ask students to submit their essay structure plan
alongside their finished essay.

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Follow-up activities

Draw attention to how writing a clear and concise introduction, which sets out their
position and the overall structure of their essay, can impact their band score. These are
provided as guidance though you may need to adapt this to include your students’
target band scores. https://www.ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/writing-band-descriptors-task-
2.ashx

Task Response Coherence and Cohesion

Band • addresses all parts of the task • logically organises information and ideas; there
7 • presents a clear position is clear progression throughout
throughout the response • uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately
• presents and extends main ideas • presents a clear central topic within each
paragraph

Band • addresses all parts of the task • arranges information and ideas coherently and
6 although some parts may be more there is clear overall progression
fully covered than others • uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion
• presents a relevant position within and/or between sentences may be faulty
• presents main ideas but some or mechanical
may be inadequately • uses paragraphing but not always logically
developed/unclear

Band • addresses the task only partially • presents information with some organisation but
5 • expresses a position but the there may be a lack of overall progression
development is not always clear • makes inadequate, inaccurate or over-use of
• presents some main ideas but cohesive devices
these are not sufficiently • may not write in paragraphs, or paragraphs may
developed be inadequate

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 Writing Task 2

Worksheet 1

Understanding the question

Example question

More and more colleges and universities are offering courses via distance learning.
Distance learning has many benefits, but there are also drawbacks, and not every
learner will be suited to this mode of study.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

1 Read the essay question and decide if the following statements are True or False.

For the essay question above, you should…

a) discuss reasons why distance learning can be good for learners

b) discuss reasons why distance learning is good for colleges and universities
c) discuss the history of distance learning
d) discuss the problems associated with distance learning
e) discuss reasons why distance learning is not suitable for some learners
f) give a detailed account of the types of course that can be followed by distance
learning
g) discuss reasons why distance learning is bad for colleges and universities
h) describe the kind of learner that would be suitable for distance learning
i) come to a logical conclusion about the value of distance learning in your view
j) say what you would like to learn by distance if you had time.

2 Work with a partner and brainstorm ideas for both sides of the argument.

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 Writing Task 2

Worksheet 2

Planning the structure

1 Complete the 2 possible essay outlines with notes from the box below.

Advantages for suitable learners Conclusion Introduction

Suitable and unsuitable learners for distance learning Conclusion

Introduction

Disadvantages for Advantages and disadvantages

unsuitable learners of distance learning

2 Discuss with a partner:

How are the essay structures different from each other?

In which ways are they similar?
Is one structure ‘better’ than the other?
Which one would you choose to write this essay?

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 Writing Task 2

Worksheet 3

Writing the introduction

1 Read through the introduction below considering the following questions:

a) Has the writer paraphrased the topic?

b) Is the writer’s position clear? What is it?
c) Is it easy to tell how the rest of the essay will be structured?
d) Is there any unnecessary extra information?

More and more colleges and universities are offering distance learning. In the past, this
type of learning was sometimes called a correspondence course. The advent of the
Internet as a learning medium has helped to create distance-learning opportunities
worldwide. Learners need to have a computer and an Internet connection in order to
follow these courses. However, is it really possible to learn from home? Are such courses
suitable for all learners? I know several people who have tried this type of course and
they all gave up after a few weeks. I will examine these questions below, firstly by
considering the advantages and disadvantages of learning in this mode, and then by
looking at the kind of learner that suits distance learning. But first, here is a brief history
of distance learning.

2 Read through the introduction below considering questions a-d again:

The possibility of studying at further and higher education through distance learning has
increased throughout recent years. Despite a few issues, including inequality of access
for some learners, this way of study has revolutionised access to education and created
more opportunity and benefits for a wider range of learners.

3 Which of the essay structures is the writer of introduction 2 likely to use?

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 Writing Task 2

Worksheet 4

Writing the essay

Work through the steps covered today to write your essay.

1 Analyse the question.

2 Brainstorm possible ideas.
3 Plan which ideas to write about and the structure of your paragraphs.
4 Write an introduction which paraphrases the topic, establishes your position and
makes it clear to the reader what the rest of the essay will be about.

Many city centres these days have traffic flow problems, causing congestion and
pollution. One solution is to build fast ring roads on the outskirts of a city, taking traffic
away from the centre. While this is helpful in some ways, it also causes new problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

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