Hi, I'm Jessica Beck form the 3 Keys Success System, now available online.
Part of what we cover in our course is naturally, how to organize a Task 2 essay.
If you are coming at IELTS from an academic writing background, or even from preparing
for another test like TOEFL, you may have different ideas about what to do in writing
Task 2.
Remember that IELTS it's unique, writing Task 1 and Task 2.
These are unique question types and expectations that are not like any other test.
Task 2 is a short essay.
It's only 250 words, and if you are trying to do a five paragraph essay, or good lord,
a six paragraph essay in 250 words, that's impossible.
You're gonna have paragraphs with one or two sentences.
You can't have a one or two sentence paragraph.
That's not a paragraph, okay.
So in writing Task 2 you have to follow a simple, clear outline of four paragraphs.
An outline which will be applicable to every IELTS Task 2 question.
That's what we do in our course, is simplify things for you, and give you the basic outline
that can be used for a seven or higher on every question that IELTS gives you.
So let me outline the basic requirements for what to fill in in writing Task 2.
First of all, of course you need an introduction.
Naturally, you should know that by now.
The introduction is four sentences, three or four sentences.
The first sentence should generally introduce the topic.
The next sentence, or next two sentences should introduce the two opinions about the topic.
And the last sentence should be your thesis statement, which is the main idea of your
essay.
So, for example, a thesis statement might be, in this essay I'm going to introduce both
sides to this issue, as well as give my own opinion.
Remember guys, the most important thing here is to ... well, not the most important, but
very important.
Do not overthink it, do not try to come up with some complicated thesis statement.
You don't have time.
You only have 40 minutes to plan, write, and check this essay.
You don't have time to over-analyze and overthink, and you simply can not do that.
Don't put that pressure on yourself, because you don't have to.
A simple thesis statement, such as the one I just gave you, can still get you that seven
or higher.
Where you really impress the examiner, is in the body.
So if we're doing an argument essay, you have the one side, like the advantages in paragraph
two, the disadvantages, and your opinion in paragraph three.
Very clearly organized.
Again, do not overthink it.
The topic sentence can be something simple, such as, "There are surprising number of disadvantages
to this phenomenon."
It's simple, simple.
But, it has the main idea of the paragraph, and it has some impressive vocabulary.
So, fantastic.
Next, in the body paragraph, after the topic sentence you give a more specific reason such
as a disadvantage that you're mentioning.
And then, you have to give very, very specific examples and details about the reason.
Every sentence must be necessary, every sentence must give the examiner new information.
Do not just say the same thing over and over, and a lot ... I've seen it before, a lot of
students do that.
They might say, "The biggest disadvantage of this is not finishing your education.
A reason why this is bad is because you don't finish school.
And everyone should be able to finish school."
Those three sentences are saying exactly the same thing.
Just remember, every sentence must give new information, all right.
And the more specific the better.
Being very specific gets you high scores in every category, excepts grammar of course.
The task response, the cohesion coherence, vocabulary, being very specific will get you
higher scores in those three categories.
In a body paragraph, topic sentence, very simple, but good vocabulary, reason, and then
specific examples and details.
Now, when you get to the conclusion, two or three sentences.
I know I just said a paragraph can not have two sentences, but the conclusion can be very
short.
That's fine.
What I tell my students is to have just a summary of your opinion.
Paraphrase your opinion again, and then give your opinion about the future.
That's it, simple, okay.
So most of your effort and time go into the body, all right.
What you should do is write down this outline I just said, try to recreate it in your own
essay, and of course, if you want model examples, vocabulary, and more specific outlined details,
please check out my course, 3 Keys IELTS, to find out how to give the examiner what
she wants, or he wants for that seven or higher.
Thank you very much for listening, and have a wonderful day.