Ielts Writing Task 2 Notebook for Students

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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