Lesson 30 – Task 2 main paragraphs

Now let’s look at the body of the IELTS Task 2. It is here that you can really demonstrate your English ability.

Let’s begin with some tips and advice

 

1. Your first paragraph should be like the first step in a journey (the introduction is the map and the directions).
2. It should follow on logically from the end of the introduction.
3. In a discussion you will probably outline one side of the argument. In a problem-solution set out the problems and in an opinion begin to explain why you feel this way and support this with good evidence and examples.
4. You have two jobs to do here one, keep the examiner interested and two, convince him/her of your points.
5. Make the examiner want to know more and move on to your second paragraph wanting to find out what else you have to say.
6. Now is the time to think about those complex sentences – make sure you really try them here.
7. Now is the time to use great noun-phrases.
8. And now is the time to use fabulous linking words.
9. Try to use this pattern for your ideas idea + evidence and support + example (each of these will be a sentence and if you make these complex you will soon have a great paragraph with just two main points).
10. When writing body paragraphs try to control the language as you go along (this is why you MUST plan) get the ideas out of the way and focus on language. Check your list of errors (the ones you usually make you will know these. If you don’t know these here’s some advice on making an audit of them

 

Key skills to develop:

 

Make sure you can control the language – practice will do this

 

• Look over your own writing and analyse the mistakes do you know what is wrong (if not ask the teacher who corrected it)?

 

• When you get your work back don’t just look at the band and then put it away!! You have to analyse what went wrong in order to improve. You cannot do this by osmosis you have to pick it apart and then try the same things again with the hindsight (today’s word of the day) of the corrections. You see everything is connected 🙂

 

• Look at your last essay. Check the second paragraph how did you do? Check the model (if you don’t have one google the essay question and find one) how does this compare with yours? Can you adapt yours to be more like the model.

 

• Don’t ever write an essay blind – use the comments you had before – this process is incremental – you move forwards step by step and every essay you receive back corrected informs your next step.

 

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 2

 

Here is an exercise on creating great paragraphs

 

Try it out

 

And some punctuation – how good are you at this?

 

Now go back to the plan in lesson 21 and write the second paragraph for this task 2

 

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!