WRITING
TASK 2
- Task 2 essay structure
- Introduction
- Paragraph structure
General Information
● Task 2 is an academic essay. You should write atr least 250 words.
● Question types:
○ Opinion questions (Some people believe that reading stories from a book is better than
watching TV or playing computer games for children. To what extent do you agree or disagree?)
○ Discussion questions (Online courses have been welcomed as a great opportunity by many
students, other students see these courses as a poor substitute for classroom teaching. What are
the advantages and disadvantages of studying an online course?)
○ Discussion with opinion questions (Some people think that the teenage years are the
happiest times of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite
of greater responsibilities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.)
○ Problem questions (Some people believe that young people know about international pop and
movie stars but know very less about famous people from the history in their own country. Why is
this? How can more interest be created in young people to gain more knowledge about their own
famous people from history?)
○ Two-part questions (Some people think that going to the gym is one of the most important
factors in achieving good health. Do you think that people can be healthy without going to the
gym? What other factors contributr towards good health?)
General Information
● Task 2 is an academic essay. You should write atr least 250 words.
● Question types:
○ Opinion questions (Some people believe that reading stories from a book is better than
watching TV or playing computer games for children. To what extent do you agree or disagree?)
○ Discussion questions (Online courses have been welcomed as a great opportunity by many
students, other students see these courses as a poor substitute for classroom teaching. What are
the advantages and disadvantages of studying an online course?)
○ Discussion with opinion questions (Some people think that the teenage years are the
happiest times of most people’s lives. Others think that adult life brings more happiness, in spite
of greater responsibilities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.)
○ Problem questions (Some people believe that young people know about international pop and
movie stars but know very less about famous people from the history in their own country. Why is
this? How can more interest be created in young people to gain more knowledge about their own
famous people from history?)
○ Two-part questions (Some people think that going to the gym is one of the most important
factors in achieving good health. Do you think that people can be healthy without going to the
gym? What other factors contributr towards good health?)
ESSAY STRUCTURE
● INTRODUCTION
○ Introduce the topic. Provide background information about the topic.
○ Thesis statement: state what the essay will be about
● BODY PARAHRAPHS: each paragraph must include:
○ A topic sentence (TS): identify the topic or subject of the paragraph. It gives the main idea (or
controlling idea), which explains what the writer will say about the topic.
○ Supporting sentences (SS): support the topic sentence with 2 or 3 smaller ideas. SS can be
examples, explanations, facts, definitions and reasons.
○ Concluding sentence (optional): last sentence. Summarize the main points of the paragraph and
restates the topic sentecne, but in different words.
● CONCLUSION
○ Summarize the main points in the body paragraphs. Provide an overall comment or opinion based
on the main points.
Analysis of essay structure
People are living much longer than before, and this creates
enormous pressure on government services.
What are some of the effects of a much larger, older population?
What can governments do to deal with this problem?
● Identify:
• the problem
• the aspects of the problem (i.e. causes, effects, or solutions)
• The problem is a much larger older population.
• The aspects of the problem are effects (What are some of the
effects of...?)
and solutions (...what can governments do to deal with this
problem?).
Analysis of essay structure
People are living much longer than before, and this creates enormous
pressure on government services.
What are some of the effects of a much larger, older population. What can
governments do to deal with this problem?
Advances in medicine and healthier lifestyles mean that people are living
longer, and many countries have aging populations. This creates challenges
for governments in supporting a growing number of older people. This essay
will look at the effects of this problem and suggest possible ways that
governments can manage it.
● Main topic: Which part introduces the main topic (the problem)?
● What kind of information does it include?
● Which part is the thesis statement?
● What does it include and what tense is it written in?
Analysis of essay structure
● The issue of people living longer has serious effects for
governments, taxpayers, and the elderly. It is usually left to the
government to support older retired members of the population.
This places pressure on taxpayers who provide this money to the
government and can also leave older people feeling that they are
no longer contributing to society. Elderly people also need a
higher level of care and medical assistance, so governments with
aging populations need to spend large amounts on health services
such as hospitals, nursing homes and in home care.
● What is each paragraph about?
● How does each paragraph support the thesis statement?
Analysis of essay structure
● However, practical solutions to these problems can be found.
Governments could increase the retirement age and encourage
people to stay at work longer. This would reduce the number of
people who rely on government support as their main source of
income and would provide the elderly with a greater sense of
purpose. It also means that with people working for longer, the
government would receive extra tax revenue, which they could
use to fund more health care services for older people.
● What is each paragraph about?
● How does each paragraph support the thesis statement?
Analysis of essay structure
● The first paragraph is about the effects of the problem. The
second paragraph is about the solutions to the problem.
● Effects and solutions are the two topics mentioned in the thesis,
so these body paragraphs directly support the thesis statement.
They do not include any information unrelated to the thesis
statement.
Analysis of essay structure
● In conclusion, aging populations put pressure on governments and
taxpayers, but by encouraging people to stay at work longer, governments
can reduce the effects of this problem. This is an important measure to
ensure governments are taking responsibility for the health and wellbeing
of their people.
● What phrase is used to begin the conclusion?
● How does the conclusion relate to the body paragraphs?
● The last sentence is a final comment. What does it express?
● It starts with the phrase ‘In conclusion,...’.
● It summarises the main points in the body paragraphs (effects and
solutions).
● The final sentence provides an overall comment or opinion based on the
main points.
Your turn
● Some people believe that reading stories from a book is better than
watching TV or playing computer games for children. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
● Remember, introduction must include:
○ The topic
○ A thesis statement