What is an essay?

An essay is a piece of writing consisting of several paragraphs. An essay has three parts:
an introduction (introductory paragraph), a body (two or more paragraphs) and a conclusion
(concluding paragraph).
In Part 1 we will focus on argumentative essays, in which you have to state your opinion
and then justify it. Another name for an argumentative essay is an agree/disagree essay,
discussion essay or opinion essay.

Argumentative essays
Basically, there are two types of argumentative essays:
 Type I with one-sided argument
 Type II with two-sided arguments.
One-sided argument essays are the ones where you are given ONE opinion and asked
to what extent you agree or disagree.
In two-sided argument essays you are given TWO opposing opinions. You have to
discuss both of them and also give your own opinion.

One-sided argument essay (AGREE/DISAGREE)

Here is a typical structure of an argumentative essay Type I. Usually this type of essays
consists of five paragraphs:

1. A short introduction, which clearly presents the topic to be discussed as well as your
opinion on the topic (in the thesis statement).
 a general statement to introduce the topic
 the issue (from the task) restated in your own words1
 a thesis statement: your opinion on the issue
 a scope statement: a short outline of the essay (optional)
2. The main body which consists of
2.1. Body paragraph 1
A topic sentence (the first reason why you agree or disagree) followed by supporting
details (major and minor): to develop and explain your idea given in the topic sentence
and to give examples, facts, statistics, etc. supporting the first reason
2.2. Body paragraph 2
A topic sentence (another reason why you agree or disagree) followed by supporting
details (major and minor): to develop and explain your idea given in the topic sentence
and to give examples, facts, statistics, etc. supporting the reason
2.3. Body paragraph 3

1
it is an opportunity to demonstrate your range of vocabulary and your ability to manipulate sentence constructions
 A topic sentence (an alternative* reason2) followed by supporting details (major and
minor): to develop and explain your idea given in the topic sentence and to give
examples, facts, statistics, etc. supporting the reason
3. A short conclusion where you have to summarise the main points and restate the thesis
statement.
 a summary of the key points of the essay
 a restatement of the thesis

EXAM TIP: You should spend 6-7 minutes on the first 3 stages of writing: analysing the
question, thinking of ideas, and making a plan. You should spend about 30 minutes writing
your essay, and 3-4 minutes checking it for mistakes.

Task 1. (a) Read this task and answer the questions that follow.
You should spend about 40 minutes on the task.
Write about the following topic:
Many people judge success only by money and material possessions.
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 words3.

A model argumentative essay (Type I)

These days, being successful is essential to most people. Some argue that a person is at
the top if they are wealthy, wear designer clothes, own expensive cars and live in spacious
houses. This may indeed be true but I think there are numerous other ways in which success
can be measured, and in my essay I will support my view with examples.
Firstly, education is one of the keys to success. For example, completing a course,
passing exams and getting a degree are all considered successful achievements. In other
words, knowledge and good formal education may lead a person to unlimited possibilities and
help them advance very far in life.
Another type of success can be achieved in work situations by doing one’s job
effectively, which may result in a high level of job satisfaction. At the same time career
fulfillment does not necessarily mean being in highly paid employment. Take teachers or
engineers as an example. They are often underpaid but would hardly change their job for a

2
giving an alternative reason is optional
3
Although there is no upper word limit, you should remember that there are no extra marks for long answers. Besides, do not
forget that you will be penalized if what you write is either not related to the topic or your essay is too short.
more remunerative one. To put it another way, people’s success is measured in availing
themselves of doing things that they want to do, no matter how modest their remuneration may
be.
On the other hand, there is an argument that money provides people with the freedom
of choice and various opportunities. Indeed, wealth enables us to improve the quality of life,
buy a better house or decide on a job that brings more pleasure.
In conclusion, despite the fact that in today’s society people often regard success purely
in terms of valuable possessions, nevertheless this does not account for the variety of other
ways that success can be achieved and measured. From my point of view, success cannot be
judged solely by our tangible benefits.
(295 words)
In the model essay highlight:
- the words in the opening paragraph that paraphrase the task;
- the phrase that expresses the author’s position;
- topic sentences in the paragraphs of the main body;
- the restated thesis statement in the conclusion.
Find all the discourse markers (transitions) in the model essay above and say what the relationship in each
of the cases is. Consult the list of transitions at the back of the book if necessary.

Stating your opinion

Task 2. In the introductory part of your essay, you should clearly state your opinion on
the subject. Study the phrases below carefully.
Useful phrases to express your opinion
Statement of strong agreement:
 I completely agree with this point of view.
 I fully agree with this point of view.
 I agree strongly with this viewpoint.
 I am in favour of the idea of …
Statement of strong disagreement:
 I totally disagree with this idea/ argument.
 I completely disagree with this opinion (idea).
 I am completely against the idea of (doing smth).
 I do not think that e-learning is a particularly good way to...
 I am unconvinced that…
 There is little evidence to support the view that…
 It is completely unjustifiable (unacceptable) to say that…
Statement of neutrality
 I agree to some extent with this opinion.
 I can see both sides of this argument.
 This may indeed be true but…
  Personally, I think / feel (that)…
 As far as I am concerned…
 From my point of view, …
 In my view, …
 In my opinion, …
 It seems (to me) that…
 I tend to think that…
 I would say/ argue that…
 It is doubtful whether…
 I am uncertain whether…
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Give reasons for
your answer. Use the expressions above in your answer.
1. Higher education is very important for success in today’s world.
2. University education should be accessible to people of all economic backgrounds.
3. Students should be taught how to think, not what to think.

Task 3. Read the following quotations4 about education. What aspects of education are
implied in them? Choose one of the quotations and write two or three sentences about
whether you agree or disagree with them in your own words. Give reasons for your answer.
Use one of the expressions above to start.
1. “Education is political.” Noel Castree “Questioning Geography: Fundamental Debates”
2. “Given the consumer-pleasing politics of today's universities, I have, in effect, seventy
new bosses each semester; they're sitting at the desk in front of me.” Maureen Corrigan “Leave
Me Alone, I'm Reading: Finding and Losing Myself in Books”
3. “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” Oscar Wilde
4. “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or
your self-confidence.” Robert Frost
5. “Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.”
Leonardo da Vinci
6. “The whole educational and professional training system is a very elaborate filter,
which just weeds out people who are too independent, and who think for themselves, and who
don't know how to be submissive 5 , and so on -- because they're dysfunctional to the
institutions.” Noam Chomsky
7. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps
learning stays young.” Henry Ford
8. “I don't believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students
don't have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and
we had no money. I couldn't go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10
years.” Ray Bradbury
9. “The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”
Michel Legrand
4
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/problem-solving
5
Submissive - obedient
 10. “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
Jim Rohn
11. “The complexity of our present trouble suggests as never before that we need to
change our present concept of education. Education is not properly an industry, and its proper
use is not to serve industries, either by job-training or by industry-subsidized research. Its
proper use is to enable citizens to live lives that are economically, politically, socially, and
culturally responsible. This cannot be done by gathering or ‘accessing’ what we now call
‘information’ - which is to say facts without context and therefore without priority. A proper
education enables young people to put their lives in order, which means knowing what things
are more important than other things; it means putting first things first.” Wendell Berry
12. “Education doesn’t make you happy. Nor does freedom. We don’t become happy just
because we’re free – if we are. Or because we’ve been educated – if we have. But because
education may be the means by which we realize we are happy. It opens our eyes, our ears,
tells us where delights are lurking, convinces us that there is only one freedom of any
importance whatsoever, that of the mind, and gives us the assurance – the confidence – to walk
the path our mind, our educated mind, offers.” Iris Murdoch

Task 4. (a)Writing introductions for essays is not difficult as long as you know the formula.
Study the opening paragraph in the model essay and arrange the correct order of steps in
the formula.
In the introduction you should:
… tell the reader (examiner) your plan
… focus on the question in your own words
… write a general sentence about the topic
… give your opinion on the issue
(b) Read the question below and the introduction that follows. For each section of the
introduction, indicate which of the functions given above is being addressed.
As the English language becomes more widespread, some speakers of other languages fear
that English loanwords are gradually replacing perfectly adequate native words. To what
extent do you believe that people should seek to protect the ‘purity' of their language from
the influence of English?

There is no doubt that English is becoming increasingly important as a language of

international communication in the fields of science, trade, entertainment, and international
relations. Not surprisingly, English words have appeared in many other languages throughout
the world from Japanese to French. This has prompted some people to seek to defend their
languages from this type of change. I would argue, however, that these efforts are likely to
prove futile.
How would you describe the overall organisation of the introductory paragraph? Does it
begin with the writer's opinion and then explain the context, or vice versa?
(c) Read the topics and thesis statements below. Match each thesis statement a-c with one
of the topics 1-4. For the remaining title, write your own thesis statement.
1. All forms of media but especially films and TV programmes should be censored to protect
young people. To what extent do you agree?
2. The younger generation are the main driving force behind many of the latest technological
developments. How far do you agree?
3. Blogs on the web are very effective ways for people to express their ideas and relieve
tensions. What is your opinion?
4. The modern emphasis on computers reduces the development of any creative ability. How
far do you agree?

(a) It is certainly important to make sure that people are protected from harmful material in
various media. However, I feel that care needs to be taken in doing so for various reasons.
(b) In some areas, it appears that computers reduce creativity, but I also believe they can be
used as a tool to develop creative ability in many fields.
(c) While the youth of today definitely have an impact on the way new technology develops,
there are other factors involved.

(d) Write a brief introduction for one of these essay questions.

1. The more elective courses universities introduce the more outstanding students they can
attract. What is your opinion?
2. Distance learning provides students with flexible learning opportunities that allow them
to balance their personal and educational lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
3. The Unified State Exams always guarantee transparent and fair admissions to
prestigious universities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Task 5. To prove the thesis effectively, you need to come up with real life examples that
show each supporting point (reason) in action.
(a) Study the question below. Compare the two responses and answer the questions.
What influences our purchasing decisions? Do we mainly buy things because we need them,
or are other factors involved?
Response 1 Response 2
Sometimes people are more likely to buy Sometimes people are more likely to buy
products because celebrities have been products because celebrities have been
employed to advertise them. The famous employed to advertise them. In buying the
people used in these advertisements make product, the consumer may feel ‘closer' to a
these products more attractive, so people person they admire. An example of this is
want to purchase them. Therefore, the when famous sportsmen or women endorse a
influence of celebrities can be a powerful particular brand of trainer or sportswear.
reason for some purchasing decisions. Indeed, the powerful influence of this type of
advertising on consumer behaviour is
 reflected in the large sums of money such
celebrities are often paid for their advertising
work.

Which response do you think is more satisfactory? Why?

What is the purpose of the first sentence in Responses 1 and 2? What is the purpose of each
of the remaining sentences in Response 2?
What expression is used to signal that the writer is giving an example? What expression is
used to signal that the writer is supporting the main point with evidence?

(b) For each question below, put the sentences that follow in the most logical order to create
a paragraph.
Ambition is a negative attribute of a person’s character. Do you agree or disagree with this
statement?
(a) This is because, even when they realize an ambition, they are still not satisfied.
(b) It is certainly true that ambitious people do not always create happiness for themselves or
others.
(c) For instance, a businessman who is eager to earn a six-figure salary is likely to still want
more power or even a higher salary once he reaches the desired position.

Emails are the most valuable tool for communication in the twenty-first century. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
(a) They can exchange ideas and discuss things more often as they are working, which is sure
to lead to more effective collaboration.
(b) This allows people to work together on the same project even if they are on the opposite
sides of the world.
(c) Emails have certainly had far-reaching effects on people’s ability to communicate.
(d) It is possible for people to correspond cheaply and at length from anywhere as long as they
have a connection.
Match each of the paragraphs above with the correct structure below:
- general statement – reasons why this statement is true – example(s)
- general statement – reasons why this statement is true – effect(s)

(c) Imagine that a student has run out of ideas while writing an essay. Complete her
sentences with a suitable transition or a transitional expression from the list and your own
example(s).
namely such as take for example a good example of this is
for instance a good example of this would be to to illustrate this
1. There are numerous things that students can do to improve their writing skills.
2. An educated mind can always recover from failure.
3. Success and education go hand in hand.
4. Higher education is not at all necessary for being a successful person.
5. Education opens our mind and expands it.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Space exploration is much too expensive and the money should be spent on more
important things. Do you agree or disagree with the statement?
There is an argument that exploring space is a waste of money and that there are more urgent
needs to be addressed on earth, such as reducing poverty and preventing environmental
destruction. However, I completely disagree with this opinion for two reasons.
First of all, many of the technologies we take for granted today were originated thanks to space
research. Take satellite technology, for example, which we depend on for broadcasting and weather
forecasting. Without satellites, we would not be able to follow global events as they happen, nor give
populations any warning of approaching storms. Space research has also led to the development
of new lightweight materials that offer us heat protection and enable food preservation. Therefore,
the challenge of sending human beings into space has often driven the development of new
technologies that benefit our everyday lives.
Second, we cannot foresee the distant future, so we ought to develop the capability to escape from
the earth. Gradually, we are learning how humans can survive for long periods in space and even
travel to other planets in the future. If space exploration is halted, this valuable knowledge will never
be acquired. It is true that environmental destruction is also a serious issue, but it is also true that
we remain dependent on our environment if we never accept the challenge of exploring other worlds.
In conclusion, while we undoubtedly face serious problems on our own planet, it is imperative that
we continue to explore space. This will promote further technological advances as well as provide
a possible means of escape should earth become uninhabitable in future. Ideally, all nations should
cooperate in the advancement of space research.
(278 words, IELTS 8.5)

Why does this Essay get an IELTS Band 8 score?

Task response: The introduction effectively paraphrases the question and presents a clear
opinion. The writer’s opinion is supported in the body of the essay. Concrete examples are given.
The conclusion restates the writer’s opinion and ends with a recommendation.
Coherence and cohesion: The model answer is divided into clear paragraphs and each body
paragraph contains one main idea. There are cohesive links between all paragraphs and between
most sentences.
Lexical resource: The key concept of space exploration is paraphrased several times. There are
many words characteristic of academic writing such as originated, imperative, and foresee.
Vocabulary is used with a strong awareness of collocation: take for granted, develop the
capability, accept the challenge.
Grammatical range and accuracy: The model answer is free from grammatical errors. A good
balance of simple and complex sentences is used to develop an argument. Verb tenses vary, and
other grammatical devices such as conditionals and modals are used with high accuracy.