IELTS Writing Task 2
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Road Map: Section 1: Introduction Section 2: Vocabulary Section 3: Steps Section 4: Action Plan Section 5: Write Section 6: Homework Task Section 7: More Practice and Resources Section 8: Rubric
IELTS Writing Task 2 Explained Writing task 2 is always a discursive essay (http://writecampus.com/discursive.html http://writecampus.com/discursive.html)) question where you are given a point of view, an argument or a problem and asked for your opinion on the question. You will often be asked to take a position from an argument: to agree or disagree. You can approach the question in TWO ways: 1. You can agree OR disagree 2. You can agree AND disagree, which is called µfor and against¶ agains t¶ essay (http://academic-essays.info/2007/12/07/for-and-against-essay/ http://academic-essays.info/2007/12/07/for-and-against-essay/)) For and Against Essays In this type of academic essay, the t he writer doesn¶t express his personal opinion until the conclusion. When you approach questions that ask you to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of something, write a µfor and against¶ essay. Writing Task 2 requirements: You must write at least 250 words in 40 minutes. m inutes. Your writing will be assessed on the following criteria: 1. Task response: how well do you understand the task and answer the question? 2. Coherence and cohesion: how your essay is organized and how the different parts are connected. 1
3. Lexical resource: have you used an appropriate range of vocabulary? 4. Grammatical range and accuracy: have you used range of grammatical structures and have these been accurate?
Sample IELTS Task 2 Question You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:It is inevitable that as technology develops so traditional cultures must be lost. Technology and tradition are incompatible - you cannot have both together. 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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IELTS Writing Task 2 Useful Words Expressing Views I would argue that I firmly believe that It seems to me that I tend to think that People argue that Some people think/say that It is understood that It is generally accepted that Refuting an Argument I am unconvinced that I don¶t believe that It is hard to accept that There is little evidence to support the«« It is unjustifiable to say that Defining By«« I mean By this I mean In other words That is to say To be more precise Here I¶m (not) referring to Providing Support For example For instance A good example of this is Indeed In fact Of course If this were the case Firstly Naturally In my experience Let me illustrate Presenting 3
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First of all« I¶d like to begin with Secondly/ Then I¶d like to move on to« Not forgetting the matter of Before we go any further, let us look at Last but not least there¶s To summarize, To conclude Generalizing Generally speaking,« There are in the region of « On the whole As a rule Emphasizing What we really need are.
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How to approach IELTS Task 2 Understand
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the question
y
Read the question.
y
Ask yourself about each of the keywords in the question.
y
Analyze the task and make sure you understand what you are asked to discuss.
Brainstorm
the main ideas
y
Think of your view on the topic.
y
Think of arguments against the viewpoint you want to discuss.
y
State your position clearly.
y
Make sure you say what your position is, and that it s tays the same.
y
You will need a few main ideas, but remember that you need main ideas on both sides of the argument.
Decide how you will organize your essay Introduction
Briefly
restate the issue in the topic. State simply that the
issue has advantages and disadvantages or reasons to be 'for' or 'against' it. (Save your opinion for the end.) Main
Body
Devote a separate paragraph to each side of the argument. Start with a clear topic sentence announcing one side of the argument. Develop with 2-4 aspects.
Use
linking words and
elaborate, where needed, with reasons and/or examples. Conclusion
End by weighing up both sides and expressing your opinion.
© http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/4722/member_submitted/how_to_organize_your_essay_c omposition
Use
topic sentences and supporting
details 5
More information @ http://www.scribd.com/doc/18190074/Argument-Essay
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Action Plan
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Analyze the task to see how many parts you have to write about.
Decide on your position and your main ideas.
Introduce your answer by re-phrasing the question and stating your position.
Write three to five paragraphs on your main ideas, with supporting arguments.
Link your ideas together so that your answer is logical and clearly developed.
Try to use a range of relevant vocabulary and sentence types.
Conclude
Check
by re-stating your position and summing up your arguments. your answer for errors and count the number of words you have used.
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Writing Practice
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Task one: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Modern technology is changing our world. This has advantages and disadvantages such as bringing people closer together through communication. It also has disadvantages such as destroying the differences between cultures. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Task two: You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world¶s cities can be directly attributed to the number of private cars in use. Governments must encourage their citizens to use t heir cars less and public transport more. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? 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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LC3 Week 5 Homework (20 Points)
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You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Parents and teachers make many rules for children to encourage good behavior and to protect them from danger. However, children would benefit from fewer rules and greater freedom. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? 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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Online Practice and Resources
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1. Sample IELTS Writing Task 2 questions http://www.scribd.com/doc/3008689/ielts-writing-task-2-essay-100plus-essay 2. Excellent website on academic writing http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/start 3. Sample answers - IELTS Writing Task 2 http://www.scribd.com/doc/5278572/IELTS-Task-2-Essay4160 4. Argument topics http://www.writefix.com/argument/topics.htm 5. IELTS Writing help http://ieltswriting.info/ 6. Sample graded IELTS Writing Task 2 (band 7) http://www.ieltsexam.net/IELTS-WritingSamples/IELTS_Sample_Writing_Academic_Task_2_5.pdf
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RUBRIC Score Question response
2/24/2011 3:29:00 AM Coherence
Vocabulary
Grammar
and cohesion
5.0
sufficiently
sequences
uses a wide
uses a wide
addresses all
information
range of
range of
parts of the task
and ideas
vocabulary
structures
presents a well-
logically
fluently and
the majority of
developed
manages all
flexibly to
sentences are
response to the
aspects of
convey precise
error-free
question with
cohesion well
meanings
makes only
relevant,
uses
skillfully uses
very
extended and
paragraphing
uncommon
occasional
supported ideas
sufficiently
lexical items
errors or
and
but there may
inappropriacies
appropriately
be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation
4.0
addresses all
logically
uses a
uses a variety
parts of the task
organises
sufficient
of complex
presents a clear
information
range of
structures
position
and ideas;
vocabulary to
produces
throughout the
there is clear
allow some
frequent error-
response
progression
flexibility and
free sentences
presents, extends
throughout
precision
has good
and supports
uses a range
uses less
control of
main ideas, but
of cohesive
common
grammar and
there may be a
devices
lexical items
punctuation
tendency to over-
appropriately
with some
but may make
generalise and/or
although
awareness of
a few errors
supporting ideas
there may be
style and
may lack focus
some under-
collocation
(letter writing)
/over-use
may produce
presents a clear
presents a
occasional
purpose, with the
clear central
errors in word
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Score Question response
Coherence
Vocabulary
Grammar
and cohesion
3.0
tone consistent
topic within
choice, spelling
and appropriate
each
and/or word
paragraph
formation
addresses all
arranges
uses an
uses a mix of
parts of the task
information
adequate
simple and
although some
and ideas
range of
complex
parts may be
coherently
vocabulary for
sentence
more fully
and there is a
the task
forms
covered than
clear overall
attempts to
makes some
others
progression
use less
errors in
presents a
uses cohesive
common
grammar and
relevant position
devices
vocabulary but
punctuation
although the
effectively,
with some
but they rarely
conclusions may
but cohesion
inaccuracy
reduce
become unclear
within and/or
makes some
communication
or repetitive
between
errors in
presents relevant
sentences
spelling and/or
main ideas but
may be faulty
word
some may be
or mechanical
formation, but
inadequately
may not
they do not
developed/unclear always use
impede
(letter writing)
referencing
communication
presents a
clearly or
purpose that is
appropriately
generally clear;
uses
there may be
paragraphing,
inconsistencies in
but not
tone
always logically
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Score Question response
Coherence
Vocabulary
Grammar
and cohesion
2.0
addresses the
presents
uses a limited
uses only a
task only
information
range of
limited range
partially; the
with some
vocabulary,
of structures
format may be
organisation
but this is
attempts
inappropriate in
but there
minimally
complex
places
may be a lack
adequate for
sentences but
expresses a
of overall
the task
these tend to
position but the
progression
may make
be less
development is
makes
noticeable
accurate than
not always clear
inadequate,
errors in
simple
and there may be
inaccurate or
spelling and/or
sentences
no conclusions
over-use of
word formation may make
drawn
cohesive
that may
frequent
presents some
devices
cause some
grammatical
main ideas but
may be
difficulty for
errors and
these are limited
repetitive
the reader
punctuation
and not
because of
may be faulty;
sufficiently
lack of
errors can
developed; there
referencing
cause some
may be irrelevant
and
difficulty for
detail
substitution
the reader
(letter writing)
may not write
may present a
in
purpose for the
paragraphs,
letter that is
or
unclear at times;
paragraphing
the tone may be
may be
variable and
inadequate
sometimes inappropriate
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Score Question response
Coherence
Vocabulary
Grammar
and cohesion
1.0
responds to the
presents
uses only basic
uses only a
task only in a
information
vocabulary
very limited
minimal way or
and ideas but
which may be
range of
the answer is
these are not
used
structures with
tangential; the
arranged
repetitively or
only rare use
format may be
coherently
which may be
of subordinate
inappropriate
and there is
inappropriate
clauses
presents a
no clear
for the task
some
position but this is progression in has limited
structures are
unclear
the response
control of word
accurate but
presents some
uses some
formation
errors
main ideas but
basic
and/or
predominate,
these are difficult
cohesive
spelling; errors
and
to identify and
devices but
may cause
punctuation is
may be repetitive,
these may be
strain for the
often faulty
irrelevant or not
inaccurate or
reader
well supported
repetitive
(letter writing)
may not write
fails to clearly
in paragraphs
explain the
or their use
purpose of the
may be
letter; the tone
confusing
may be inappropriate
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