WRITING GUIDE
Preparation and Exam Tips
WRITING ONLINE COMMENTS
Comments on social media sites are probably the most frequent forms of writing of any text type for the
majority of humankind. However, such emotional comments with few words, but plenty of emojis and
exclamation or question marks cannot be the purpose of a language exam task.
Fortunately for exam developers, there is a range of online text types such as articles, blog posts and
forum posts, to which commenting is equally recommended, or even invited. You will find exactly this
“write-a-comment-to-a-text-you’ve-read-online” context in the exam.
Topics in Online Comment Tasks
• The topic statement for the online comment task specifies two things: 1) the theme itself; 2) the
standpoint of the invented writer of the original online text: e.g.
» “You’ve read a blog post in which the writer criticised (2) the building of an ultramodern new library
(1) in your town.”
» “You’ve read an article in which the writer praised (2) the habit of eating insects as a new form of
nutrition for humans. (1)”
» “You’ve read a text online stating that English should be the only foreign language taught in your
country’s education system. (1+2)”
• Remember, although the task claims that you’ve read the original text, you only know the topic and
the standpoint. So, your very first task is to think about what the key 3-4 arguments of that original
text may have been. This quick thinking will decide what points and arguments you are going to
present in your comment.
Structure Of Online Comments
Considering the genre of non-social media type comments, the points and arguments you want to put
forward require a logical structure. So, please, try to follow the pattern recommended below if you
choose to write an online comment in the exam.
Opening Paragraph
• Since the online comment needs no title, your job is to specify the topic you are going to refer to and
express your overall positive or negative opinion to the imagined writer. Thus, at the beginning of
your comment, the word “you” must appear, and then it may reappear a few more times later in the
text (see section on Style below).
Body Paragraphs (3-4)
• One difficulty for the writers of this more serious comment type is to avoid the emotional outcries
so common in social media. This point from The Guardian’s commenting guidelines shows the
expectations of exam situations, too: “Comments… are premoderated to ensure discussion remains
on topics raised by the writer.” Consequently, your 3-4 paragraphs will present your concrete
arguments for and/or against the original text, focusing fully on the topic.
• As in all other discursive genres in Task 2 of the Writing test, you are supposed to put forward one
piece of argument in each of your body paragraphs. You may decide to refer specifically to each one
of the original article’s imagined ideas or not. If you have doubts whether you need paragraphs, here
is a reminder from a blog: “Use the return key: Nothing puts readers off like a wall of text. If you’re
putting effort into a long comment, take a moment to ensure it is spaced out into paragraphs…”.
• In an online comment, you are not obliged to bring up a counter-argument. If you feel each of your
points and paragraphs shows only a pro or only a con argument, that is perfectly acceptable.
• Since all or most sentences within paragraphs need to be logically connected to one another, you
are required to use linking words for that purpose: e.g. “consequently”, “What follows from that”,
“specifically” etc. Similar linking devices could also be crucial to introduce or link paragraphs too: e.g.
“Admittedly”, “Referring to the mayor’s actions” etc. RMIT University’s Australian branch provides a list
on its Coherence: Linking Words and Phrases page.
Closing Paragraph
• You could end your comment in a variety of ways. One of them is to repeat how pleased or unhappy
the original article has made you in view of your arguments above. Another approach is to offer a
kind of solution that you think is missing from the original text.
Style
• The style of this genre is informal and chatty, similarly to the online article and the review.
• The writer is speaking directly to their readers, who are divided into two groups: one is the writer
of the original text, the others are the fellow readers. Thus, you will use the pronouns “you/your” to
address the writer, and “we/our/us”. to talk to all the readers you would like to influence with your
points of argument.
• However, there is another aspect you should consider. While the conversational style is
unquestionable, you ought to use the specific, often formal vocabulary related to the particular topic
(e.g. see topics above: advantages/disadvantages of libraries; ways of eating sustainably; issues of
foreign language teaching etc.)
Suggestions for further preparation
■ If you would like to see how readers comment seriously or jokingly but responsibly in The
Guardian, check the comment section for any article you may be interested in, if you see this
symbol with a number below it:
■ Even if you are not a fan of car racing, the blog (Racefans) referred to above offers Top ten
tips for writing a great comment, most of which are relevant in an exam situation, too.