Writing topic descriptions: Visual 2

My answer: The graph illustrates the stages in the process of natural gas
production and distribution
Sample answer: The diagram above gives an overview of the process followed in
producing and distributing natural gas.

Read the following writing task and look at the visual:

My answer: The flow chart above give an overview of the process used in the
production of electricity form fossil fuel .
Sample answer: The diagram illustrates the process used to produce electricity
using fossil fuels, such as coal.

OVERVIEW
Read the following writing task and look at the visual:

Paraphrase the information from the rubric to identify what information the visual
shows by studying the data carefully. Identify the main trends or most significant
features contained in the data.
Now look at the two different types of candidates' overviews about the visual
and answer the question below:
A
B

In Task 1, it is very important to spend time carefully analysing the visuals in order
to
identify the key features. If you miss a key feature, this can affect your score.So,
when you look at a visual, first ask yourself the following questions: Which
places, people or things is the information about?, How many different things are
being compared?,
What units are used to show amounts, numbers or proportions? and What period
of time
does the visual refer to?. This last question will determine what verb tenses you will
use.

For example, past tense, present perfect tense or even future. Lets look at an
example. So, first of all, which places, people or things is the information about?
Well, in this case the table is about the use of atomic energy in six countries.

This also answers the second question, How many different things are being
compared?. That is, we have to compare the atomic energy use of these six
countries.

We also need to check, What units are used to show amounts, numbers or
proportions?. In this case, the table shows percentages.

Finally, we need to ask ourselves, What period of time does the visual refer to?.

In this case, the table covers a twenty year period, from 1980 to 2000.

So, what tense would you use?

Thats right, simple past tense. Now we need to analyse the table in more detail
in order to identify the overview and the key features. How are these different? The
overview is the main overall trend or trends, while the key features are the
other important details contained within the visual.
Remember, in Task 1, you do not need to describe every tiny detail. Lets look again
at the table. Overall, you can see in the graph that in all countries, there was an
increase in the use of atomic energy. This is our overview and could be expressed

like this.

Now, lets focus on the key features. In order to identify them, you should ask
yourself questions such as: Which information is the most important?, and
What are the biggest or smallest changes shown in the graph?. So, if we again
use our table as an example, lets find some key features. First of all,
we can see that the single biggest expansion occurred in the USA, where production
rose from 0.9 to 2.71 percent. Another key feature that you could mention is that
Africa had the smallest increase in the use of atomic energy.
A further feature that you could mention is that the use of atomic energy as a
percentage of total energy production roughly tripled in the UK, Japan, and the

Former Soviet Union.

So to recap, whenever you have to write about visual data in Task 1, you need to
spend some time analysing it, carefully looking for the overview, and the key
features. In the next activity, you will get the chance to practise doing this.

ANALYSING AND DESCRIBING KEY FEATURES PRACTICE

The following exercises allow you to practise analysing visual information to find
the main features or trends.

VISUAL: RUBBISH
Study the visual below and read the ending of the sentence describing it.
Click on the drop-down list below to select the best sentence beginning to
complete the sentence.

Drop-down: Rubbish
(1/1 point)
1. ............................ objects found on the beach were cigarettes, which were twice as
common as any other type of rubbish.
1. Which of the following fits in gap 1?
By far the most common

By far the most common - This answer is correct.

VISUAL: WHALES
Study the visual below and read the ending of the sentence describing it.
Click on the drop-down list below to select the best sentence beginning to
complete the sentence.

Drop-down: Whales
(1/1 point)
1. ............................ took place in the 2010-2011 period when the number of whales
sighted grew from a low of 40 to a high of over 100 individual whales.
1. Which of the following fits in gap 1?
The most significant change

The most significant change - This answer is correct.

VISUAL: CROPS
Study the visual below and read the ending of the sentence describing it.
Click on the drop-down list below to select the best sentence beginning to
complete the sentence.

Drop-down: Crops
(2/2 points)
1. ............................ crop grown in the area in 2011-2012 was wheat, which made up
approximately two-fifths of the total.
1. Which of the following fits in gap 1?
The single biggest

The single biggest - This answer is correct.

2. ............................ agricultural product was canola, which amounted to
approximately 20% of all crops grown.
2. Which of the following fits in gap 2?
Another substantial

Another substantial - This answer is correct.

VISUAL: PRISON
Study the visual below and read the ending of the sentence describing it.

Click on the drop-down list below to select the best sentence beginning to
complete the sentence.

Drop-down: Prison
(2/2 points)
1. ............................ downward with both male and female prisoners showing a
marked decline in numbers.
1. Which of the following fits in gap 1?
The general trend is

The general trend is - This answer is correct.

2. ........................... in each year reported, there were significantly more young male
than young female prisoners in this country.
2. Which of the following fits in gap 2?
It is worth noting that

It is worth noting that - This answer is correct.

Focus on Language: Describing Data

In Task 1 of the IELTS Academic Writing Test, you are given a visual that presents
some
information. You need to analyse and describe this information clearly and
accurately. When
your paper is marked, the examiner will be assessing your grammar and
vocabulary. In
this video well focus on the language youll use to write your sentences.
Often you will need to describe the trends in the data, that is how the figures
change over
time. You will also need to make comparisons between different elements given in
the graph
or graphs. This means you will write about how data is similar or different.
Lets
look at an example.
This line graph is about global energy consumption since 1970 by generating
method. The vertical
axis shows percentage figures, and the horizontal axis shows the years since 1970.
We can identify two overall trends: the slight decrease in consumption of energy
from petroleum
and coal; and the slight increase in energy generated by gas and nuclear energy.
We would
mention these overall trends in the overview.

Now, we need to write about this in more detail. When we do this, we must mention
the data
to support the description. Lets begin with the energy source with the highest
consumption,
petroleum. Well use three expressions: peaked at over 50%, gradually
declined;
and has remained stable. Lets use these to make our sentences. The
consumption
of petroleum peaked at over 50% in 1973, then gradually declined over the next 12
years.
Since 1985, global petroleum consumption has remained stable at 40%. Remember,
its very
important to include data from the graph.

Now lets look at the global consumption of nuclear energy. Can you think of some
words
to describe this pattern? Did you think of these phrases? Notice that you need to
carefully
choose your tense to match the time. Well use past simple for finished time in the
past.
And well use present perfect for time beginning in the past, but continuing until
now. Lets
put these phrases together. For the first decade after 1970, the rate of nuclear
energy consumption was unchanged at around 5% worldwide. After 1980, it slowly
increased, and since 1995 it has plateaued

at 12%.

Notice that rather than repeating the rate of nuclear energy consumption, we can
say it. This improves cohesion.
So weve looked at how you might describe trends, that is, how something changes
over
time. Usually, well see this in line graphs like the one we were looking at, but we
could
also see trends in charts or even tables. Next, well focus on how to make
comparisons
by describing similarities and differences in something in fixed time. For this, well
look at a pie chart.
This pie chart shows us which languages English originated from.
Its important to note that pie charts give information about the whole of something,
in this case, the English language. We can see the parts which make up the whole,
or
100%. In an overview we would try to group the data to make a statement. We
could say
that three languages Germanic languages, French and Latin, had the greatest
influence in roughly
equal proportions, and much less influence came from Greek, other languages and
the names
of people and places.
So lets look at how we would compare each of these six influences on English. Well
write about the dominant group first. We can see that the influence of French and
Latin
is exactly the same at 29%, and that of Germanic languages is almost as much at
26%. All three
of these languages together make up more than 80% of the origins of English. Lets
write

this into sentences.

Remember that it is very important that we give data from the chart in our
sentences.
Also look at how we change the use of the word influence from a noun to a verb.
This shows the examiner that you are flexible in vocabulary use.
We still need to mention the smaller sections of the pie chart. Clearly, the influence
of
these groups is smaller than French, Latin or Germanic Languages. We should think
of words to say how much smaller. We could say considerably smaller, or
significantly
smaller.

Heres a short sentence about this. It begins with a linking expression to show that
were
moving from the more influential languages to these smaller groups of languages.
The beginning of this sentence lists three parts of the pie chart: Greek, other
languages
and proper names. Then at the end, we gave the percentage figures for each of
these languages
or language groups. Notice that these figures were given in the same order as the
languages.
So the figure for the first language, Greek, is the first figure, 6%, and so on.
To make this clear to the reader, we use the word respectively at the end of the
list. This technique works well for two or three items, but not more than that.
In this video weve looked at language for describing trends, or changes over time,
in
the example of a chart about energy consumption, and weve seen the example of
the pie chart
where we needed to compare the influence of languages on English. Ive shown you
just
a small sample of the kind of language you will use in Task 1 of the IELTS Academic
Writing
Test. Its a good idea for you to build your vocabulary for this kind of writing before
you do the test. Now you will have the chance to practise some language for
describing data.

FOCUS ON LANGUAGE: DESCRIBING DATA PRACTICE

In this activity, you will describe changes and trends over time.
Drag and drop the nouns from the table to the column that shows their
meaning.
NOTE: Click on the SHOW DICTIONARY button to look up any words you're unsure
of the meaning.

DESCRIBING DATA AND TRENDS

Look at the following graph:

Now complete the following drag and drop activity.

FOCUS ON LANGUAGE: DESCRIBING DATA PRACTICE 2

This table contains adjectives and adverbs that can be used with some nouns and
verbs to show the speed and/or amount of change.
Drag and drop an adjective/adverb from the top of the table into the section of the
table which shows its meaning.

VISUAL: SOURCES OF BEEF CONSUMED

Study the visuals below:

Read the sentences below. For each gap in the sentences, type ONE word into
the box provided. Use the words from the previous activity.

VISUAL: AVERAGE HOURS SPENT AWAKE

Study the visual below:

Read the sentences below. For each gap in the sentences, type ONE word into
the box provided. Use the words from the first activity.

Quiz: Hours Awake

My answer:
Sample answer

Skills Focus: Selecting and Grouping Information

Can you remember what the instructions say in Task 1 of the Academic Writing Test?
Let me remind you. The instructions tell you to summarise the information by
selecting
and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. So what
does this
mean exactly? Well, it means that you need to transfer information that is given
visually
into a clear and comprehensive written summary. You need to do more than simply
list information.
You need to identify, present, highlight and illustrate the important features of the
visual, and organise the information that you are giving in a logical way, so that its
easy for your reader to follow. Lets look at an example of how you can do this.
So lets begin with a look at the question. Here are the instructions, which dont
change
for IELTS Academic Task 1 Writing. So as you know, you should spend about 20
minutes on
the task and write at least 150 words. And you need to summarise the information
in the
visual by selecting, reporting and comparing the information.
Now lets look at the type of visual we have to describe. Were told that its
a flow chart. Do you remember what a flow chart is? Were also told that the flow
chart depicts different sources of natural gas and shows how it's distributed. Where
does the gas that we use in our homes come from?
So now lets look at the flow chart. Can you see the title?
Can you see the key features that Ive circled?
And can you also see the blue arrows connecting the key features? This is all
important information
that well want to include in our answer. But first, we need to come up with an
overview

of what this flow chart is all about.

The title helps us a little. Were told that this diagram illustrates natural gas
production and distribution. But lets just see if we can get any more information
from
the visual. Storage seems to also be an important stage in the process. So for our
overview,
we can say that this flow chart depicts natural gas production, storage and
distribution.
Now lets go on to look at how we can select and group the information in the visual
when
we write the rest of the summary.
This visual is a flow chart, so its describing a process. Now, the first thing we need
to
do is decide where to begin our description of this process. Where would be a logical
place to start? How about over here on the left? In English, we generally expect to
see
information presented from left to right, rather than from right to left, so thats
one clue, and the second clue is that if you look at the direction of the arrows, they
all start from here, so it would make sense to start with these sources of natural
gas,
gas wells, oil wells, and imports. Notice how Ive grouped these three key features
together
because they are all sources.
Now follow the arrows and keep going right, to the middle of the diagram. Im going
to group these key features together when I talk about how the gas is stored and
piped
between the storage areas.
Next I want to focus on how the gas is transported from the regional storage facility
to the
retail storage facility, and finally how it makes its way from there to the home,
where

the retail customer is.

So now lets look at an example answer which identifies and presents these key
features
in an organised and logical way. The answer should group the features as weve
tried
to do, rather than just present a list of features in random order that arent
connected
in any way.
Notice how the writer begins with an overview of the whole process, which has
three main
parts: production, storage and distribution. Then, as we suggested, start your
description
of the key features in the flow chart with the sources.
Continue your description by describing how the gas is stored.
And finally, finish your description by talking about how the gas is distributed to
customers.
Why dont you take a moment now to read the whole response.
So I hope you now have a better understanding of how to select and group
information in
Task 1 of the IELTS Academic Writing Test. Im sure youre ready now to do some
practice
to help you build some more skills around selecting and grouping information from
the
visual.

SKILLS FOCUS: SELECTING AND GROUPING INFORMATION

PRACTICE

Read the following writing task carefully.

Writing > Unit 3: Task 2 of the Writing Test > Unit Aims

UNIT AIMS
In this unit, you will learn:

how to analyse the Task 2 question

how to structure and plan an essay

how to link ideas

how to write introductions, paragraphs and conclusions

How much do you know about Task 2 of the IELTS Academic Writing Test? In this
unit, Im
going to introduce you to Task 2, where you're required to write an essay in
response
to a statement or question.
Throughout the unit, we will take a closer look at the skills and practice you need.
Firstly, well look at analysing the question and breaking it down to help you answer
all
its parts. Then well examine ways of structuring your essay. Well look in more
detail at
developing an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. In this unit, we will
also
examine language and skills that will be useful for writing an appropriate response
in Task
2 of the IELTS Academic Writing Test.
Lets start by learning more about Task 2.
Introduction to Writing Task 2

SUMMARY: HOW TO DO WRITING TASK 2

Step 1: Read the question carefully. Note the topic and the task. How many parts
are there to the question?
Step 2: Think about your response to the question. What is your position?

Step 3: Note down some ideas. Choose two or three main ideas that you will use to
support your position.
Step 4: Make a brief essay plan. Plan to write 4 to 5 paragraphs, including 1
paragraph for the Introduction, 2 to 3 paragraphs for the Body, and 1 paragraph for
the Conclusion.
Step 5: Write your essay. Write at least 250 words. Try to use a range of grammar
and vocabulary and try to be as accurate as you can.
Step 6: Allow a minute or two to read over your answer and check it before
handing it in.
Lets now focus on Task 2 of the IELTS Academic Writing Test. In this section of the
Writing

Test, you need to write an essay, a short piece of writing written in formal language
with a clear structure and purpose.
So lets begin with a brief overview of this task. You need to write an academic
essay
in response to a question. So, in other words, your essay must relate to the question
that
you have been asked. You should show that you understand the question and you
should
answer it by taking a position and giving reasons and examples to support your
points.
You have to write at least 250 words and your essay should be organised logically. It
should
also show that you can use a range of language accurately and appropriately. Now,
you have
about 40 minutes to do all of this, so you need to approach this task quickly and
efficiently.
Ill give you some advice on how you can do this.
Lets start by looking at an example of an essay question.
Can you see the highlighted text? Those are the instructions for this task. They are
the
same for Task 2 in every IELTS Academic Writing Test. So, as you can see, you're told
how

long to spend on this task, about 40 minutes, and how many words to write, at least
250
words. This is good advice. As you know, you have two writing tasks to complete in
one
hour. Task 2 of the IELTS Writing Test is longer and worth slightly more of your
IELTS Writing grade than Task 1. So thats why you should spend a little more time
on
it. Notice that youre also told that when you answer the question, you should
support
your position by giving reasons and examples. These can come from your own
knowledge and
experience of this topic.
Now, lets look at the essay question. Unlike the instructions, the essay question will
change from one IELTS test to the next.

So, the topic of this essay is childhood obesity, or children who are overweight.
Were told that this is a problem in some western societies,

such as Australia and the United States. Now, lets look at the task. What do we
have
to do in this essay? Well, were asked to explain the causes of this problem, so in
other words, why do so many children in these developed countries become
overweight? Now,
were also asked to suggest some possible ways of overcoming this problem, so as
you
can see this question has two parts. To do well in this task, you need to address all
parts of the question, so be sure to read the question carefully.
So what exactly should an essay look like? Well, an academic essay has a standard
format
or structure that writers are expected to follow. You should write in full sentences;
no notes or bullet points, and your essay should be organised into paragraphs. The
IELTS
Task 2 essay is only 250 words, so four or five paragraphs for your essay is
sufficient.
The essay begins with an introduction. This should introduce the topic and briefly
give
some background information, followed by your position and a very brief outline of
the main
points of the essay. The next part of the essay is the body. This
contains the main points that you're using to support your position. Two or three
paragraphs
is sufficient here, depending on how many main points you have in your argument.
And the final paragraph is your conclusion, in which you sum up your main points
and re-state
your position.
Lets look at a sample essay now so that you can see what the structure looks like.
First, here is the question. You can see its about why countries host large sporting
events

like the Olympics, even though theyre very expensive. What do you think? What
might be
some possible reasons?

And this is what the whole essay looks like.

This essay is about 290 words long, and

it's divided into four paragraphs. Lets briefly look at each one now.
This is the introduction. It introduces the topic and gives some background
information,
then it gives the writers position and gives a preview of what the essay will be
about. Notice how the writer uses some of the information given in the question, by
putting it into her own words.
This is the first paragraph of the body of the essay. It explains the first reason why
countries want to host big sporting events. Note the use of signpost language here.
Its
clear that the writer is going to explain the first main point in this paragraph.
This is body paragraph 2. It explains the second reason why countries want to host
big
sporting events. Notice how the writer refers back to the previous reason and then
signals
that this paragraph will be about another reason.
And this is the conclusion. Notice how the writer uses a concluding linker, 'In
conclusion',

to show that we have come to the end of the essay.

Now, lets talk about how the essay is assessed. The examiner will assess your
essay in four
different areas. Firstly, task response; in other words, how
well you answered the question. Your essay should address the question and have a
clear
position, supported by reasons and examples. Secondly, coherence and cohesion.
This means
that your essay is organised logically and has a clear structure, with an introduction,
a body and a conclusion. Your essay should be divided into paragraphs, with each
paragraph
having a clear central idea. Thirdly, your lexical resource, that is, your
ability to use a range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately.
And finally, grammatical range and accuracy, or how well you can use English
grammar.
Weve talked a little about the first two areas here - that is, how to answer the
question
and how to organise your essay, so now lets briefly look at what the examiner is
looking
for in terms of your grammar and vocabulary.
Lets start with lexical resource, or vocabulary. Look at body paragraph 1 again from
the sample
essay. Notice how the writer shows that she has a wide range of vocabulary by
using synonyms,
that is, words and phrases that have a similar meaning.
Now lets look at grammatical range and accuracy. Here is body paragraph 2 from
the
sample essay. Notice how the writer uses complex sentences, and a range of
grammatical structures,
such as passive voice, to show that she has a good command of English grammar.
So, now that I've described how to write the IELTS Task 2 essay, why dont

you take some time to read over this summary? I should point out that this is one
way to
approach this task, which we think is effective, but it is not the only way. After that,
Im
sure youre ready to do some practice to help you build some more skills around
writing
essays.

GETTING STARTED: ANALYSING QUESTIONS,

BRAINSTORMING AND PLANNING
Look at the example Writing Task and then hover your mouse or click on the
highlighted questions below to see some explanations.
Example:

Now ask yourself:

What's the topic?
What's the task?
What are the limits?

Drag and Drop: Education Policy

(1 point possible)
Read the following writing task carefully.

Now complete the drag and drop below.

NOTE: if you are using a tablet to take this quiz, drag and drop activities can be
completed by tapping once on the text box and then tapping and dragging it to the
appropriate space. The words will magnify when you click on them.

Drag and Drop: Climate Change

(1 point possible)
Read the following writing task carefully.

Now complete the drag and drop below.

EVALUATING BRAINSTORMING NOTES

Read the following writing task:

Look at the three different types of candidates' notes about the writing task
and answer the question below:

Drag and Drop: Matching a plan to an essay

(1 point possible)
Read the following writing task and complete the drag and drop activity
below.

Read the essay and drag the notes that match relevant paragraph of the
essay into the corresponding box next to the paragraph.
NOTE: if you are using a tablet to take this quiz, drag and drop activities can be
completed by tapping once on the text box and then tapping and dragging it to the
appropriate space. The words will magnify when you click on them.

Paragraph Structure
In Task 2 of the IELTS Academic Writing Test, one of the four areas on which your
essay
is assessed is coherence and cohesion. One important aspect of this is
paragraphing,
that is, how well you can organise your ideas into paragraphs. Remember, your
essay will
probably consist of four or five paragraphs. Youll have an introduction and a
conclusion

paragraph, as well as two or three body paragraphs. So now, lets focus on how you
can write
a well-organised paragraph.
So lets begin with a brief overview of the structure of a paragraph. First, a
paragraph
should contain one central idea. This main idea should come in your first sentence,
the
topic sentence. The topic sentence should be a general statement, it shouldnt be
too specific. You should develop the idea in the paragraph with about three
supporting
sentences. These sentences may give reasons, examples, effects, or details.
Now, lets take a look at an example paragraph.
In this paragraph, which is from an essay about the benefits of education,

the writer begins with a topic sentence. Notice how he uses the phrase 'generally
speaking' to show
that this is a general statement. In other words, it may not be true for all people,
but it is true for most people. So the main idea of this paragraph, is that it is not
until
people get older that they appreciate the value of their education. When youre a
child or a teenager, you may not realise how important school is. After the topic
sentence,

the writer uses the remaining sentences in the paragraph to develop the main idea.
As
you can see, the writer gives an example of a useful skill that is learned at school,
reading. Notice how the writer uses a linking expression, 'For example', to show that
he is
giving an example of the main idea. The writer then gives an additional reason, and
uses
the word 'also' to show this. And finally, notice how the writer gives a personal
example
from his own experience. He uses the expression, 'In my case' to signal this.
This diagram shows the structure of a good paragraph(Topic sentence, 3
supporting sentences, concluding sentence). Notice the final sentence here,
a concluding sentence. Now this is optional, but you can include a concluding
sentence
at the end of your paragraph, which sums up the main idea. Think of it as a restatement
of your topic sentence. Lets look at an example of this.

This is the same paragraph on the benefits of an education, with the addition this
time
of a concluding sentence. Can you see how the writer uses the linker, 'Therefore' to
begin the concluding sentence? And notice how the concluding sentence is a
general statement,
like the topic sentence. So the purpose of the concluding sentence is to remind the
reader
of what the paragraph is about. Now remember, a concluding sentence is optional,
but it
can help to make your argument a clear one.
You might find it helpful to think of your paragraph as a hamburger. The topic
sentence
and the concluding sentence are the buns, and the supporting sentences are the
filling,

the meat and the salad.

Lets just remind ourselves where this paragraph would fit into an essay. This
paragraph would
be part of the body of the essay, and you would have two or three of these
paragraphs
in the IELTS Section 2 essay.
So, I hope you now have a better understanding of paragraph structure. Im sure
youre
ready now to do some practice to help you build some more skills around writing
essays.

PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE PRACTICE

Read the following writing task:

Now complete the following activity below.

HIGHLIGHT: PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE PRACTICE

Using your mouse, highlight the text which you think is the topic sentence in the
paragraph below. Then, highlight the supporting sentences.
_______________________________________________________
One of the most important benefits of taking a year off between high school and
university is that it can help you to make the transition to adulthood. If you choose
to travel, for example, being away from your family in a foreign country forces you
to grow up quickly. It is up to you to get to the airport on time, or find a place to
stay for the night, as your parents are not there to do these things for you.

ORDERING SENTENCES
Read the following writing task:

Now complete the drag and drop activity below. Order the sentences to make
a coherent paragraph.
Hint: the topic of this paragraph is comparing the advantages and disadvantages of
travelling by private car with using public transport.

DRAG AND DROP: ORDERING SENTENCES

better.

However, travel by public transport, such as train, bus, or ferry, is much

During peak travel times, or rush hours, the roads are very busy.

It is reliable, fast, and comfortable, but not always as convenient as

travelling by private car.

There are often traffic jams, and it can take thirty minutes to travel five or
six kilometres by car.

DRAG AND DROP: ORDERING SENTENCES

During peak travel times, or rush hours, the roads are very busy.

There are often traffic jams, and it can take thirty minutes to travel five or
six kilometres by car.

better.

However, travel by public transport, such as train, bus, or ferry, is much

It is reliable, fast, and comfortable, but not always as convenient as

travelling by private car.

Writing the Introduction

The first paragraph in your essay is called the introduction. In this lesson, we are
going
to learn about writing a good introduction. A good introduction is important because
it
tells the reader what your essay is going to be about and it also provides the reader
with their first impression of your writing.
A good introduction should :
summarise the essay topic in your own words,
state your position or perspective on the topic
and briefly outline what the essay will discuss.
So lets look at an example.

Well start with the essay question. Lets have a look at the topic, the task and the
parts of the question. Remember, we always want to do these steps to ensure we
cover
all the parts of the question. Can you work them out? Why not pause the
presentation here
and try to break down the question before you move onto the next part.
Now lets see how you went. So, heres the topic, space exploration.
And heres the task. Ask yourself the question.
And here are the ideas to address in your essay.
Do you remember the three things you need to make a good introduction? Here are
those
three key points once again to refresh your memory; summarise the topic, state
your position
or perspective on the topic and outline what the essay will discuss. Here is an
example

introduction.

Take a look at the highlighted part. This is where the essay question has been
summarised
and the candidate has been sure to use their own words.
'However, it is now becoming clear that space exploration programs are a waste of
money.'
This is the candidate's position on this argument. Clearly, he or she agrees that
'space exploration
is a luxury we cannot afford', as stated in the essay topic. Notice, though, that the
writer also mentions the opposite opinion in the previous sentence.
Finally, the introduction needs to explain what the essay will discuss and the
candidate
has listed those ideas here.
Remember, the introduction gives the reader the first impression of your writing so
make
sure its a great one! Here are some dos and donts to help you achieve that when
writing an introduction. Firstly, dont copy the question word-for-word
into your introduction as anything copied directly from the question will not be
assessed.

Make sure you include one or two general statements introducing the topic and
include a thesis
statement which shows your opinion or position on the topic and the direction your
essay
will take.
You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Following these guidelines
should
help you to do that.

WRITING INTRODUCTIONS
Read the following writing task:

Now look at how this question is being answered in the introduction below.
Hover your mouse over the different colours to see some corresponding
messages about what is written.
There is no doubt that modern societies are dangerously reliant upon oil. The
dependency causes serious environmental problems because of pollution
and, furthermore, the depletion of finite resources. There are alternative

energy sources available to modern societies and there are also lifestyle
choices that people can make in order to reduce the damage. This essay will
discuss some of these alternatives and, in addition, the lifestyle changes
people could make.
Blue(writers oponion), Red (a summery of the problems in the writers own
words), Green( asummery of the alternatives/solutions to the problems).
Yellow( Thesis statement giving the direction of the essay.

Now re-order the sentences below to make a coherent introduction.

DRAG AND DROP: ORDERING SENTENCES

After reading the topic above, order the sentences in the table to make a coherent
introduction.
Drag the sentences on the right hand side of the column to match the phrases on
the left hand side of the column.

Grammar Focus: Complex Sentences

In Task 2 of the IELTS Academic Writing Test, one of the four areas on which your
essay
is assessed is Grammatical Range and Accuracy. One important aspect of this is
sentence structure.
It is important to use complex sentences. If your sentences are all simple, then you
will lose marks for grammatical range. So, lets look at how you can include complex
sentences in your writing.
So lets begin with a brief overview of sentence structure. A simple sentence
contains
only one main or independent clause, for example, 'The baby cried'. A complex
sentence contains
one main or independent clause and at least one subordinate or dependent clause.
For example,
'Although I was tired, I stayed up late studying.' As the name suggests, the
independent clause
can stand on its own, while the dependent clause cannot.
Now, lets take a look at how you can link your ideas to create complex sentences.

Look at these two simple sentences. They have a common theme.

. We can combine these short

sentences into a larger sentence in a number of ways.
For example, we could use a relative pronoun like 'where', 'which', or 'that'
to create complex sentences like these.

Another way to make complex sentences is to use linking words and phrases to
link your
ideas and show the relationships between them. The kinds of relationships you can
show include

comparison and contrast, cause and effect, additional information, and

opposition.This table shows some of these linking words and phrases.

On the left, you can see the

meaning or function of these words and phrases, and on the right, you can see
them used in
example sentences. You may find this table a useful reference when you are
practising
Task 2 writing tasks.
So I hope you now have a better understanding of the importance of using complex
sentences
in your writing. Im sure youre ready now to do some practise to help you build
some more skills around linking your ideas and showing relationships between
them.

Sentence 1. The average adult can weigh up to 5000 kilograms. The average adult
has a lifespan of 60 to 70 years.

Sample Response
The average adult, which can weigh up to 5000 kilograms, has a lifespan of 60 to 70
years.
or
The average adult, which has a lifespan of 60 to 70 years, can weigh up to 5000
kilograms.
Sentence 2. Females reach sexual maturity between 9 and 12 years of age.
Females can produce young until around 50 years of age.

Sample Response
Females, which reach sexual maturity between 9 and 12 years of age, can produce
young until around 50 years of age.
or
Females, which can produce young until around 50 years of age, reach sexual
maturity between 9 and 12 years of age.
Sentence 3. Asian elephants live in many different habitats. The habitats include
open grasslands, marshes, and forests.

Sample Response
The habitats where Asian elephants live include open grasslands, marshes, and
forests.
or
Asian elephants live in many different habitats, which include open grasslands,
marshes, and forests.
Sentence 4. Asian elephants are threatened by a loss of habitat. The loss of
habitat is caused by warfare, agriculture, human settlement and logging.

Sample Response
Asian elephants are threatened by a loss of habitat, which is caused by warfare,
agriculture, human settlement and logging.

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
Read the following writing task:

Quiz: Conditional Sentences

(3/3 points)
Fill in the gaps in the conditional sentences with the appropriate form of the
verb given in brackets.
1. If governments around the world do not pass laws to reduce pollution levels,
temperatures ....... (continue) to increase.
This answer is correct.
will continue

will continue or may continue or might continue or could continue

2. If temperatures continue to increase, there ....... (be) serious consequences for
the world's climate.
This answer is correct.
will be

will be or might be or could be or may be

3. The fight against global warming would have started earlier if all of the world's
governments ....... (sign) the Protocol on Climate Change.
had signed

The Essay Body

Useful Language
Making General Statements
It appears/seems that many people prefer to drive themselves to work, rather than catch
public transport.
It has been claimed that advances in technology will lead to greater unemployment in the
future.
It is often said that this nation does not properly value its artists.
On the whole, childhood obesity is not a serious problem in my country.

Giving Reasons & Examples

Health is our most precious asset, as/ because without it, we cannot enjoy our wealth.
Health is our most precious asset. This is because without it, we cannot enjoy our wealth.
People in one of the poorest parts of Australia, for example/ for instance, were recently
found to be the happiest.
For example/ For instance, people in one of the poorest parts of Australia were recently
found to be the happiest.
Some money is essential for basic needs, such as food, clothing, and housing.
An example of a happy profession is hairdressing.
* Avoid using abbreviations (e.g) or expressions such as etc., and so on, in your
essay.
Now lets talk about approaching the body of your essay. Between the introduction
and
the conclusion of your IELTS Task 2 Academic Essay, will be the body. We will look at
how
to structure your argument, your response and at ways of linking your paragraphs
and
linking the ideas within your paragraphs. We will do this by demonstrating how your
essay needs to meet the assessment criteria for task response and for cohesion and
coherence.
In academic writing you have to make an argument, that is give your opinion and
support it with
evidence and link your ideas and your paragraphs. That's why two of the four
criteria for Task
2 Writing are task response and coherence and cohesion.
Lets look at task response first.
Task response requires two main things from you. Firstly, that you address all the
parts

of the question and secondly, that you present a clear, supported argument. This
outlines
what is expected of you in terms of what should be included in your essay for the
IELTS Academic
Writing Task 2. These items become particularly relevant when we talk about the
body of your
essay. As that is the largest part of your essay, you need to be sure that it covers
everything in the task. The first thing your essay needs to do is address all
the parts of the task.
Here is our task: 'To what extent do we agree or disagree with the idea that
space exploration
is a luxury we cannot afford and instead governments should be spending
money on global problems'.
These are the parts of the question that we need to address supported by our
reasons and
examples. So what steps can you take in those first 5 minutes of your Task 2 time to
set
yourself up for addressing the question?
Once you have read the question you must remember to analyse the question. How
many parts are
there? And ask yourself, what is my opinion? Do you think that
governments should be spending
money on space exploration? Or would that money be better spent on
fighting global problems such
as poverty and disease? Its an interesting question so its time to brainstorm
some
ideas. If you agree, why? If you disagree, what makes space exploration more
important
than fighting poverty? What are your reasons and do you have any examples to
include? Once
youve got some ideas down its time to make a brief plan.
Following these steps will help you to ensure you address all parts of the question.

In the IELTS Task 2 Writing Test instructions, you are told to, 'Give reasons for your
answer
and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.'
So, the next requirement is that we present a clear position and support it with
relevant
reasons and examples. This is called, constructing an argument.
In your IELTS essay, you can build an argument by following this pattern; make
a general
statement and be sure that it refers back to the points you outlined in your
introduction.
Then, give a reason and/or give an example. In an academic essay you have to
back up your
argument with factual evidence such as statistics. In the IELTS exam, you do not
have access
to research materials such as books, journals, or newspapers, but you can still make
general
statements based on your own knowledge and your experience to support your
argument.
Look at the following sentences. Which one is more convincing, A or B?
A, 'Too much fastfood is bad for your health.'
Or B, 'Scientific studies show that too much fast food is bad for your
health.'
If you answered B you are correct. An opinion that is held by many people or by
scientists or by a respected person is more convincing than an opinion which is only
held by one person, the writer.
When giving opinions, reasons and examples try to include some general
statements in
your essay. For more ways that you can make general statements take a look at the
following
examples.
Here is some useful language for making general statements.

It appears that many people prefer to drive themselves to work rather than catch
public
transport. It seems that many people prefer to drive themselves to work.
It has been claimed that advances in technology will lead to greater unemployment
in the future.
It is often said that this nation does not properly value its artists.
On the whole, childhood obesity is not a serious problem in my country.
As I said previously, you need to give reasons and examples to support your ideas
and your

general statements. Here is some useful language for giving reasons. Giving

Reasons & Examples

Health is our most precious asset, as/ because without it, we cannot enjoy our wealth.
Health is our most precious asset. This is because without it, we cannot enjoy our wealth.
People in one of the poorest parts of Australia, for example/ for instance, were recently
found to be the happiest.
And here is some useful language for giving examples. For example/ For instance,
people in one of the poorest parts of Australia were recently found to be the happiest.
Some money is essential for basic needs, such as food, clothing, and housing.
An example of a happy profession is hairdressing.
* Avoid using abbreviations (e.g) or expressions such as etc., and so on, in your
essay
There is also some language you need to avoid. After an expression like 'such as', it
is
appropriate to list a couple of ideas but use 'for example', rather than the
abbreviation
'e.g' . Another abbreviation to avoid is 'etc'. Even the full word 'etcetera' or
expressions such as 'and so on',
are too vague.
We definitely dont want our essays to be vague; instead, it's important that each
paragraph has just one central idea. So when you have finished that paragraph,
with a
general statement, a reason and/or an example, it is time to move on to the next
paragraph
with a new main idea. Make sure once again, that its an idea that you have outlined

in your introduction and one that supports your overall argument. Lets take a look
at an example.
So here is the task again.
And here is the introduction. Lets see whether the writer of this example agreed
or disagreed with the statement in the task.

The writer states that 'space exploration programs are a waste of money.' We can
see
that the writers position has been clearly stated and the writer agrees. The rest of
the essay has been outlined and we should expect to see three body paragraphs
focusing
on poverty, disease and the environment. Lets take a look.

That looks good. We can see that the body of the essay has three paragraphs and
each
paragraph covers one of the ideas outlined in the introduction and there is just one
main idea per paragraph. So we know that the essay has a clear overall position and
addresses
the task. Lets have a look at each paragraph in a bit more detail. We want to see a
general

statement and that the ideas are supported with reasons and/or examples. We also
want
to see that the paragraphs have been linked to each other using cohesive devices.
These
work like the glue that sticks them together.
Take a moment to read the general statement and the reason with examples.
In the second paragraph, we can see a link to the previous paragraph. Then, there
is a general statement which is surrounded by examples. In this paragraph we can
also
see another sentence supporting the central idea of the essay that governments
should
not be spending money on space exploration. Take a moment to read the
paragraph.
Here is the third body paragraph and we know it is the last body paragraph as it
starts
with the linking phrase, 'Finally, '. This is followed by the general statement and
then
the reason.
As you can see, each paragraph must have just one central idea introduced with a
general
statement and then supported by reasons and examples. And each one of these
paragraphs
in the body of your essay needs to support the overall position that you have taken.
You must
also ensure that you have addressed all of the parts of the question. If you keep all
of
these things in mind as you write the body of your essay you should be able to do a
good
job of responding to the task.
Cohesion and coherence requires three main things from you; not only do
you need to use

paragraphs and link them logically as we have seen in the examples above, you
also need
to link the ideas within paragraphs and use a range of cohesive devices
appropriately
to do that. Thirdly, you must present a clear, central topic in each paragraph.
Lets look at our sample essay again and examine the use of cohesion and
coherence
within the paragraphs.
One of the keys to cohesion and coherence is using a variety of referents, words
that
refer to the same thing that allow your paragraph to flow smoothly.
In paragraph one, the central idea is that poverty is a bigger issue than space
exploration
and governments should help people living without food and shelter first. The whole
paragraph refers to 'people who are living in poverty'. But each time the writer
refers
to them a different expression is used: 'These people', 'They' and '...this problem'.
This
demonstrates the writers ability to use a range of language to refer to the same
thing
thus linking the ideas and examples in the paragraph, and making the ideas
cohesive.
In paragraph two, the writer has done the same thing for referring to diseases, using
words like epidemics and pandemic.
In the third paragraph there are a variety of referents for the central ideas of the
environment such as 'our own (world)' and the effects of climate change.
What other devices can you use in a paragraph to connect ideas and introduce
opposite ideas?
These words and expressions are known as linking devices. We saw some being
used between paragraphs

earlier, such as 'Another urgent problem that threatens us all' and, 'Finally'. But
within
a paragraph you can also use words like 'Although', 'While' and, 'Instead of' to
introduce an
idea that you want to examine both sides of. Like in the first sentence, 'Although we
are
living in prosperous times, with people in many countries enjoying a higher standard
of living than ever before, there are still millions of people in the world who are
living
in poverty.' The writer admits that many people are not poor and have a high
standard of living,
but at the same time there are still many people living in poverty.
And of course, there is also the language you can use to introduce examples and
reasons,
such as, 'other diseases' which is then followed by a list of those other diseases,
such as 'AIDS' and 'malaria'.
Try to use words and expressions like these to link the ideas between your
paragraphs
and in your paragraphs. Remember that variety is the key. Bearing these things in
mind will
keep you on track with cohesion and coherence.

SKILLS FOCUS: COHERENCE AND COHESION PRACTICE

Hover your mouse over the different coloured text to see the structure of the
paragraphs.

Most people agree that education is important, but the length of compulsory
schooling varies from country to country.In some countries, teenagers as
young as 13 are permitted to leave school and find a job, while in other
countries, they must be 17 or 18. The idea that young people should stay in
education until they reach the age of 18 is an increasingly popular one.While
there are strong arguments in favour of this proposal, there are also some
drawbacks that should be considered.
The most important reason why young people should stay at school until they
are 18 is that they will get an education which will give them many benefits in
the long term. Studies show that young people who leave school early are
unlikely to have the skills needed to function in today's increasingly complex
society and technological workplace.In addition, these young adults with low
education and skill levels are more likely to live in poverty throughout their
lives.Therefore, a good education provides benefits for the rest of your life.

Sentence pair 1
We are free to choose what we expose our bodies to.
We should be free to choose whether or not to smoke.
Sample Response

We are free to choose what we expose our bodies to. Therefore / Thus /
Subsequently / Consequently, we should be free to choose whether or not to
smoke.
Sentence pair 2
Governments in some countries have banned cigarette advertising.
Many governments have banned smoking in public places such as airport.
Sample Response
Governments in some countries have banned cigarette advertising. In addition /
Additionally / Furthermore / Moreover, many governments have banned smoking in
public places such as airport.
Sentence pair 3
Some people argue that all drugs, including tobacco, should be banned.
Others argue that all drugs should be legalised.
Sample Response
Some people argue that all drugs, including tobacco, should be banned. In
contrast / On the other hand / However, others argue that all drugs should be
legalised.
Sentence pair 4
Smoking can cause health problems such as cancer and heart disease.
Having a poor diet has been linked to heart disease and some cancers.
Sample Response
Smoking can cause health problems such as cancer and heart disease. Similarly / In
the same way, having a poor diet has been linked to heart disease and some
cancers.
Writing the Conclusion
The final paragraph in your essay is called the conclusion. The conclusion reinforces
what you have said in your essay. Although it may give your final thoughts on the
essay
topic, you should not introduce any new information.
So, how do you write a good conclusion? At the beginning of a concluding paragraph
it is a good idea to use a concluding linker, such as, In conclusion,..., To
sum up, or, In summary, , to show the reader that this is the end of the
essay. The conclusion will also summarise your main points and restate your
opinion.

Before we look at the example conclusion lets look at the question.

Now, in this example conclusion, it is clear to see that the candidate has used a
concluding
linker. In this case: In conclusion, , so we know that this is the end of the essay
and the final paragraph.
Then, the writer restates his or her point of view. The candidate agrees that
spending
money on space exploration is a luxury that we cannot afford.
And finally, the writer sums up the main points, reiterating what the government
should be
spending money on.
To help you write a great conclusion, remember these simple
dos and donts; give your final thoughts but dont introduce any new information.
So make sure your final thoughts are the same as those expressed in your essay.
So, in summary, you use your conclusion to reinforce your ideas without adding any
new ones.
Remember to take a few moments at this point to look over your essay to make
sure you have
followed your plan and included all of the ideas that you outlined. Why not check for
errors as well?

CONCLUSIONS PRACTICE
Read the following writing task:

Now look at a candidate's conclusion in response to this writing task below.

Hover your mouse over the paragraph to find out more about each sentence.
To sum up, although the opponents of satellite television worry that foreign
TV channels are harmful, they can, in my view, have a beneficial effect on
local culture.

Writing a Conclusion: Foreign Languages

(1 point possible)
Read the following writing task:

Now read a candidate's response to this writing task:

Sample Response
To sum up, although living in a country where the language is spoken is extremely
beneficial for a language learner, it is not absolutely essential. With the rapid
development of technology, there are increasing opportunities for language
learners to learn languages, wherever they are in the world.