Writing Task 2: Essay Structure and Planning

Overview of Task 2:
Writing a 250-word essay on a given topic in 40 minutes.

Types of essays:
Opinion, Discussion, Problem-Solution, and Advantages-Disadvantages.

Scoring criteria:
Task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range, and accuracy.

⁕ Importance of structure, coherence, and argumentation.

Introduction:
Paraphrase the question, present a clear thesis statement, and outline the main points.

Body Paragraphs:
Paragraph 1:
Topic sentence, supporting points, examples or explanations.

Paragraph 2:
Topic sentence, supporting points, examples or explanations.

Optional Paragraph 3:
If needed, add a third paragraph following the same structure.

Conclusion:
Summarize the main points, restate your opinion or the essay’s key message, and avoid introducing new information.

Step 1:
Analyze the question to understand what is being asked.

Step 2:
Brainstorm ideas and select your main points.

Step 3:
Organize your ideas into a logical structure (Introduction, Body, Conclusion).

Step 4:
Write a brief outline, noting down key points and examples you will use in each paragraph.

Sample Task:
Some people believe that technology has made life more complicated. Others argue that it has simplified our lives. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Planning Activity:
⁕ Analyze the task and identify the type of essay.
⁕ Brainstorm and list points for both sides of the argument.
⁕ Create an outline with a clear thesis statement, main points for each body paragraph, and a brief conclusion.

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☛ Next Class Writing Practice - Task 1 and Task 2