Lesson 27 – Task 1 more on paragraphs

Today we’re looking at paragraphs again.

 

The advice is the same but I want you to start and write your second paragraph to your Task 1 writing that we started on day 25

Let’s begin with some tips and advice

(This is the same as yesterday)

 

1. Don’t forget to include numbers in your Task 1 (academic) you’ll lose marks if you don’t.
2. On the other hand don’t add in too many numbers as that will not allow you to use good language and will also cost you marks.
3. Don’t copy things directly from the data in long lists – this is ‘lazy writing’ as you are simply copying the words.
4. Creating great sentences to ‘house’ the data will get you better band scores
5. If you want to use numbers but can’t put them into the sentences easily it is acceptable to put some of them in brackets.
6. In the general training it is important to know what type of letter is required and then sustain this level of writing for the WHOLE letter (not just in the first and last lines)
7. Try not to use too many ‘I’s’ and ‘we’s’ in a formal letter
8. Even in a letter you need to include complex sentences – Band 7 states in the last descriptor – ‘uses a variety of complex structures’
9. For all your IELTS writing make sure that you have balance. Your introduction and conclusion should be around the same length (maximum 3 sentences) BUT your body paragraphs should also balance and be around the same length – give the points you make and describe equal support.
10. Remember you will have to work quickly which is why planning is important as it will help and also the more you practise writing paragraphs (not necessarily whole essays) will help you with the time.

 

Key skills to develop:

 

Make sure you can organise the information well and create good sentences

 

• Look at models of band 6 and see how you can improve them (here are some)

 

• Now look at examples of band 7 (here are some letters too) – can you see differences? Write down the differences you can see.

 

• Lets look at band 8 (letters at band 8) – can you see differences again? Write down what you see. Now you should have an idea of how to move (step by step) from band 6 to band 7 and then on to band 8

 

• I know that these are mostly task 2 but look at the actual writing not so much the ideas

 

 

Here are some examples of people describing data – see how the language you write in Task 1 academic is really used. Think about what you can use in writing and what might be just oral.

 

The first is an English lesson

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrVpGJyEVaM&t=282s

This is a real example – he speaks quite fast and has an Irish accent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXbb4ykYR6I

 

Now for some letters – a review

This is actually about emails but the information about formal/informal is basically the same (except for emojis) for letters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-QoPcJHQws

 

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 more Task 1 paragraphs

 

Check out the Band Descriptors for Task one so you know what you have to include to get the band you want:

http://www.ielts.org/pdf/UOBDs_WritingT1.pdf

 

Now write another paragraph for Task 1:

 

 

Now go back to the plan in lesson 17 and write the first paragraph 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!