Lesson 29 – Task 2 introductions

Today we’re going to move on to Task 2.   We’ll begin with the introduction

Let’s begin with some tips and advice

 

1. You’ve done your plan and so you should have the point that you want to make in the introduction
2. The introduction is the first thing the examiner will read so you want to make an impression and you want them to be thinking of a high band straight away
3. There are 3 things you need to do in the introduction – introduce the overall theme of the essay (e.g. is it about the environment, technology etc..), introduce the direction you will go with this theme (e.g.discuss, give your opinion, outline problems and solutions etc..) and finally state your own position on this (i.e. what will you say).
4. To do this you need an absolute maximum if 3 sentences and if you use a complex sentence you may manage to do it in 2
5. For IELTS an introduction of more than 3 sentences is TOO LONG – DON’T DO IT!!.
6. You need the rest of the words ( you only need about 30 words for your introduction & conclusion) to explore your ideas and you need to time to do this too.
7. Use the question to guide you – paraphrase it and/or use synonyms.
8. NEVER copy from the question you won’t get credit for this and the examiner might start marking from your first paragraph and it will reduce your score.
9. The examiner will not want to see your plan but they will be aware if you have planned your writing – it does show.
10. Make sure you cross out your plan or do it elsewhere don’t make it look like part of the essay – this is your working document and you can arrange it how you want (spiders diagrams, mind maps, coloured spots, smiley faces – be creative if it helps) but it is for you to work from and does not need to go anywhere near the examiner!

 

Key skills to develop:

 

Make sure you can keep your introduction short yet informative

 

• A good introduction will tell you reader what to expect in the coming paragraphs. Look at essays and see if the introductions do this. Are they satisfying? Do you feel that they are good signposts?

 

• We talked in Task 1 about the reader expecting the conclusion – it shouldn’t be a surprise – here is an exercise to share –  there are some conclusions see if you can work out what the introduction must have been and then post your ideas in the Facebook Group.

 

• In the exam you’ll need to write your introduction quite quickly and then get on the with the main part of the essay. Try choosing a variety of topics and JUST write the introduction. See how good you can get at doing this with practice. Remember just 3 sentences and mention the background, the main purpose of the essay and your position.

 

• Look at non-IELTS reading (newspapers, journals etc..) How do these writers introduce their topics? Pick out any good phrases and add them to your own language lists for task 2

 

More on introductions:

 

Simon writes about different types of introduction

Dominic and Ryan also write about introductions so check out what they say on their blogs.

 

All the advice they give is good BUT you have to out it into practice and get your work checked so that you really know if you are doing these things correctly.

 

 

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

 

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Let’s practise Task 1

 

Here is an exercise for Task 2 Introductions

Try it out

 

Now go lets go back to the plan for Task 2 in lesson 21 and write the introduction for this task (either general training or academic which ever task you are doing)

 

check your version with mine here

 

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

Now you’re done!

Good luck and let’s make great progress with IELTS!