WRITING TASK 2

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FORMAT

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 The 4 Paragraph Structure

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It’s important for your essay to have a clear paragraph

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structure, as this helps you to organise your ideas better,

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and means you will write a more coherent essay. I

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generally suggest a 4 paragraph structure:

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● Paragraph 1: introduction

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● Paragraph 2: body paragraph 1

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Paragraph 3: body paragraph 2

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●

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● Paragraph 4: conclusion

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INTRODUCTION – 5

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MINUTES

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● a very important element of your Task 2

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essay.

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● A two-sentence introduction should be

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your goal.
TYPE 1: OPINION – BASED

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 Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question

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Paraphrase the topic described in your question

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prompt.

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Try to avoid using the same words and phrases as

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the prompt.

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● Sentence 2- Thesis Statement (It is agreed…/It is
disagreed…/This essay agrees/disagrees…)

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- After presenting the topic, you need to provide your

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perspective on it.

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- Important! You MUST answer the essay question directly in

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your thesis. Students sometimes lose points because their thesis

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does not answer the question directly enough. Read your

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question prompt carefully and make sure your essay will answer

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every part of the question.

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● Sentence 3: Outline statement ( OPTIONAL, ONLY
WHEN YOUR LEVEL IS GOOD ENOUGH)
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A thesis statement usually appears at the

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conclusion of the introductory paragraph of a

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paper. It offers a concise summary of the main

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point or claim of the essay, research paper, etc. It

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is usually expressed in one sentence, and the

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statement may be reiterated elsewhere.

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SAMPLE QUESTION:

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● Some people believe that unpaid community service should be

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a compulsory part of high school programmes (for example

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working for a charity, improving the neighborhood or teaching

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sports to younger children). To what extent do you agree or

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disagree?

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Sentence 1- Paraphrase question

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● Some people believe that unpaid community service

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should be a compulsory part of high school

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programmes (for example working for a charity,

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improving the neighborhood or teaching sports to

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younger children).

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● Paraphrase: It is argued that voluntary services like

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charity, cleaning the neighborhood, imparting knowledge

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to the underprivileged should be made mandatory in the

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high school curriculum.
Sentence 2- Thesis Statement
The most important sentence in your essay

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It tells the examiner that you have understood the question and

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●

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will lead to a clear and coherent essay.

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I strongly agree to this

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Sentence 3: Outline statement

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● you will outline what the examiner will read in the rest of

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the essay. This should be one sentence only.

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as it not only helps in students becoming socially responsible

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adults but also in shaping their character.
● Some people believe that unpaid community service should

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be a compulsory part of high school programmes (for

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example working for a charity, improving the

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neighborhood or teaching sports to younger children). To

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what extent do you agree or disagree?

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EM
● It is argued that voluntary services like charity, cleaning

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the neighborhood, imparting knowledge to the

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underprivileged should be made mandatory in the high

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school curriculum. I strongly agree to this as it not only

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helps in students becoming socially responsible adults but

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also in shaping their character.
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COMMON PROBLEMS WITH INTRODUCTION

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1: Talking too generally about the topic.

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Most of these essays start off with ‘Nowadays……’ or ‘In

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modern life….’ followed by general information about the

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topic. In my opinion, this is the worst start you can

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possibly make. Remember that you are supposed to answer

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the question not write generally about the topic.

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2: Not including a thesis statement

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● This is the most important sentence in the

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essay. Not including one will lose you marks

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in several different ways. I will tell you more

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about this below.

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3: Trying to write a ‘hook’ or be entertaining

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● Remember this is an IELTS exam, not a university essay. There are

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no extra points for being interesting, in fact being boring will

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probably help you. This will help you avoid ‘flowery’ language.

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4:

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● Bad Introduction

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Nowadays, cars are a very popular way of getting around (

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redundant). Day by day many more people drive cars around

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but others feel that they cause global warming. Global

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warming is one of the most serious issues in modern life.

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They also affect people’s health and well-being which is also

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a serious issue.

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GIVE ME THE REASONS WHY THIS IS A BAD

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INTRODUCTION

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REASONS

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talks about the topic very generally

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● copies words and phrases from the

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question

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doesn’t include a thesis statement or

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●

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outline statement.

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PRACTICE AND EXERCISE

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Some people believe that crime is a result of social

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problems and poverty, others think that crime is a result of

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a bad person’s nature. Discuss both views and give your

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own opinion.

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● 2: Schools are no longer necessary because children can

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get so much information available through the internet,

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and they can study just as well at home. To what extent do

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you agree or disagree?

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SAMPLE ANSWERS

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● Many people argue that social problems and impoverishment
cause crime while others think crime is attributable to

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people’s innately bad traits. I largely agree with the former

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point of view, and this essay will elaborate on my position.

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● It is argued that voluntary services like charity, cleaning the

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neighborhood, imparting knowledge to the underprivileged

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should be made mandatory in the high school curriculum. I

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strongly agree to this as it not only helps in students

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becoming socially responsible adults but also in shaping their

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character.

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 SAMPLE ANSWERS

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● It is true that the digital revolution has had

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profound effects on important aspects of our

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lives, including education. While advances in

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technology have led some people to argue that

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children no longer need schooling, but should

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instead study online at home, I completely disagree

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with such a view.

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HOMEWORK:

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1: Some people say that nowadays children have too much freedom.

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To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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2: Everyone should stay at school until 18. To what extent do you agree

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or disagree?

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TYPE 2: IDEA– BASED

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● Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question

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● Sentence 2- Outline Sentence

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Question: Students are becoming more and more reliant on

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computers.

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What are some of the problems associated with reliance on

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computers, and what are some of the possible solutions?

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● Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question

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Students are becoming more and more reliant on

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computers.

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AD
Learners are becoming ever more dependent on technology,

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such as the Internet and mobile devices.

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Sentence 2- Thesis statement

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This essay will discuss the main problems associated with

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dependence on computers and suggest viable solutions.

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PRACTICE AND EXERCISE

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1: Write another introduction for the provided question.

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2: It is observed that in many countries not enough students are

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choosing to study science subjects. What are the causes? And

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what will be the effects on society?

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3: High school students are usually not good at managing

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money. What are the reasons? What are the solutions?

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SAMPLE ANSWERS

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● In recent years, fewer students have preferred to study science

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subjects and this seems to be an increasingly common trend in

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many countries. There are a number of reasons behind this
tendency and I would argue that it has a serious negative impact

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on society.

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It is true that high school students are not renowned for their

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skills in managing their own finances. Two factors stand out as

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being responsible for this failing, but there are steps which can be

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taken to remedy the problem.

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CONCLUSION

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● Just like the introduction, you should not spend more

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than 5 minutes introduction the conclusion

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● Repeat your stance
Summary of your idea (OPTIONAL, ONLY WHEN

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●

YOUR LEVEL IS GOOD ENOUGH)

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An easy way to write the conclusion is to paraphrase

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your thesis statement plus a summary of your main

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ideas. Note that the structure of conclusion can vary

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based on the 3 types of essay
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OPINION-BASED

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● Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory

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part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving

AR
the neighborhood or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do

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you agree or disagree?

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=> Introduction: It is argued that voluntary services like charity, cleaning the

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neighborhood, imparting knowledge to the underprivileged should be made

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mandatory in the high school curriculum. I strongly agree to this as it not only

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helps in students becoming socially responsible adults but also in shaping their

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character.

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=> Conclusion: In conclusion, teenagers should be made to partake in unpaid

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work as part of their schooling because it will help them learn things they

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wouldn’t ordinarily learn from their teachers and it will also boost their
chances of getting into third level education.
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AR
Some people believe that crime is a result of social problems and poverty, others

AC
think that crime is a result of a bad person’s nature. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion.

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EM
Introduction: Many people argue that social problems and impoverishment cause

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crime while others think crime is attributable to people’s innately bad traits. I largely

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agree with the former point of view, and this essay will elaborate on my position.

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Conclusion: In conclusion, despite some influences of people’s inborn traits, I am

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convinced that social inequality and poor living conditions lie at the root of people's

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criminal acts.
IDEA-BASED

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Fewer and fewer people walk on a daily basis. What are the

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reasons and how to encourage them to spend their time
walking?

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Introduction: In modern life, many people have lost the habit of

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walking regularly. While there are various reasons for this

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trend, some measures can be implemented to encourage people to

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take up walking as part of their daily routine.

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=> Conclusion: In conclusion, some reasons why people are walking

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less regularly can be identified, and some simple solutions should be

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adopted to encourage them to walk more frequently.
A LONGER VERSION

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● In conclusion, the inactivity of people and

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their hectic pace of life are two main causes

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of the given phenomenon. And the

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government should raise public awareness of

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the benefits of walking as well as improve

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public facilities and space to motivate/

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encourage people to walk more regularly.

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● It is observed that in many countries not enough students

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are choosing to study science subjects. What are the causes?

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And what will be the effects on society?

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AC
Introduction: In recent years, fewer students have preferred to

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study science subjects and this seems to be an increasingly

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common trend in many countries. There are a number of reasons

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behind this tendency and I would argue that it has a serious

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negative impact on society.

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=> Conclusion: In conclusion, there are dangers in the increasing

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shift away from studying science subjects and the causes of this

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phenomenon should be addressed urgently.
 LONGER VERSION

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● As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job

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satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing. What factors

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contribute to job satisfaction? How realistic is the expectation of job

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satisfaction for all workers?

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Introduction: As the majority of adults spend most of their time at work,

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being content with your career is a crucial part of a person’s health and

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happiness. This essay will first discuss which elements lead to job satisfaction

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and it will then address the question of how likely it is that everyone can be

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happy with their job.

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=> Conclusion: In conclusion, being satisfied with your trade or profession is

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an important part of one’s well-being and respect from one’s colleagues and

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fair pay can improve your level of happiness. However, job satisfaction of all
workers is an unrealistic prospect.
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CHECKLIST
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 YOUR MISSION

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N
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1: High school students are usually not good at managing money. What are the
reasons? What are the solutions?

AC
AD
2: Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory
part of high school programmes (for example working for a charity, improving

EM
the neighborhood or teaching sports to younger children). To what extent do

Y
you agree or disagree?

09
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3: Schools are no longer necessary because children can get so much

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information available through the internet, and they can study just as well at

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home. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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 LU
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In conclusion, persuading high school students to manage

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their money wisely is not an easy task for the reasons

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explained, but parents and government can implement

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some common-sense solutions.

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In conclusion, although there are excellent study sites

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online, schools provide the necessary structural

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framework in which learning can take place in a

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disciplined study environment.

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BODY STRUCTURE

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– 25 MINUTES

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● The two main paragraphs affect your final writing score

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much more than the introduction and conclusion. These two

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paragraphs are the parts you need to spend the most time on.

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Your opportunity to explain your thesis.

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●

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● Each body paragraph should present ONE main point.

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● Use supporting details and/or examples to explain your main

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point before moving on to the next body paragraph.

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● Paragraphs must be clearly written and be arranged in a

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logical order, like chronologically or in order of

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importance.
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 LU
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It is observed that in many countries

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not enough students are choosing to

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AD
study science subjects. What are the

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causes? And what will be the effects

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on society?.

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BODY PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

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Sentence 1: Paragraph linking + Topic sentence

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The first sentence in your body paragraph that tells the

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reader the main idea of that paragraph.

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There are two important factors influencing the decision of

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some students not to opt for science modules in school or

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university.

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● SENTENCE 2: Sequential linking + Main idea 1

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Firstly, science subjects are widely perceived as

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demanding in terms of both workload and intellectual
content.

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SENTENCE 3: Explanation (or supporting ideas)

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Thus, the reluctance of some students to embark on

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subjects such as biology, physics or chemistry, which

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could be too challenging in their opinion, is

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understandable.

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SENTENCE 4: An example

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● SENTENCE 5: Sequential linking + Main idea 1

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Secondly, it is true that in many Western countries, the

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public image of science and scientists is unglamorous.

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● SENTENCE 6: Explanation (or supporting ideas)

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SENTENCE 7: An example

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●

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In popular TV programmes, for example, science

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students are portrayed as boring ‘geeks’, and this deters

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youngsters from taking up science as a career.

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There are two important factors influencing the decision of

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some students not to opt for science modules in school or

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AR
university. Firstly, science subjects are widely perceived as
demanding in terms of both workload and intellectual content.

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Thus, the reluctance of some students to embark on

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subjects such as biology, physics or chemistry, which they

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fear will be too challenging, is understandable. Secondly, it is

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true that in many Western countries, the public image of

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science and scientists is unglamorous. In popular TV

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programmes, for example, science students are portrayed as

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boring ‘geeks’, and this deters youngsters from taking up

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science as a career.
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COMMON PROBLEMS

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AN IDEAL
VERSION
YOUR MISSION

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WRITE BODY 2 FOR THE PROVIDED QUESTION

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AC
● The effects of this trend on society are potentially grave. One significant problem

AD
may be that not enough qualified science students come through the educational system
to supply the trained workforce that certain branches of industry require for their

EM
research and development purposes. This will, in turn, affect national economic

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expansion, essential for raising living standards. Another negative impact is the

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imbalance in the economy which results from the growing number of students who

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choose to take arts and humanities subjects rather than to study science. Almost

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certainly, this will result in rising unemployment among school leavers and graduates

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who have followed such courses. Surveys of graduate unemployment in the USA and

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Europe indicate that this is a real concern.
HOMEWORK
Fewer and fewer people walk on a daily basis. What are the reasons and

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how to encourage them to spend their time walking?

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AR
● There are two main reasons, in my opinion, why fewer people walk regularly nowadays. Firstly, the development of

AC
technology has discouraged some people from walking. Escalators and lifts have appeared everywhere in most towns
and cities, especially in shopping centres and offices. They are, admittedly, convenient and time-saving but they also

AD
encourage laziness. Secondly, as part of our modern lifestyle, so many journeys are made by car. For example, parents

EM
now often drop off and pick up their children at the school gate, even if the school is near their home. This is
understandable in one sense, as parents worry about the safety of their children, especially if there are busy main roads to

Y
cross to get to school.

09
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● There are measures which could be implemented to encourage people to walk more often. In low-rise buildings, the
use of the stairs should be obligatory, with a lift only for disabled people. In order to dissuade people from using their

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cars unnecessarily, no-stopping zones ought to be established in the vicinity of schools. If children become accustomed

03
to the habit of the daily walk to school, then responsible parents would need to accompany them. The whole family

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would thus get used to regular walking exercise. As another measure, pavements should be improved and more

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pedestrian-only zones established in city centres. Covered walkways and more trees could provide relief from rain and
sun in such zones.
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

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STEPS TO FINISH ONE ESSAY

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N
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1. Read and analyze the question properly

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2. Get an idea of what the main theme is

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3. Learn a proper structure for the essay

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4. Gather the vocabulary appropriate for the topic

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5. Write the points logically and sequentially in the form

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of paragraphs

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6. Check for any possible errors in Grammar or spelling

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7. Count the number of words.
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WHAT TO DO?

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AC
AD
EM
T P W C

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THINK PLAN WRITE CHECK

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CHECKLIST

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 CHECKLIST

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● 4 kinds of sentences (simple, complex, compound, compound complex sentence)
Passive voice

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●

● Relative clause + reduced relative clause

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● Conditional sentence

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● Diversify tense: present (simple, continuous, perfect), past (simple, continuous, perfect),

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future (simple, continuous, perfect)

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● Dummy subject (it/ there) => Subjunctive mood

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● Noun clause using wh (what, how, whether)

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● Cleft sentence

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● Participle clause

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● Inversion
● Other sentences: too + adj + a + n, ....
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