IELTS WRITING TASK 2:  ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Activity 8 > Analysing the question > 7 minutes

In Part 2 of the IELTS writing test you may be asked to write a discursive composition discussing the advantages or disadvantages of something.  Here’s an example:

	Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no special knowledge of the following topic. More and more colleges and universities are offering courses via distance learning. Distance learning has many benefits, but there are also drawbacks, and not every learner will be suited to this mode of study. To what extent do you agree or disagree? You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Before you begin writing you should take a few moments to consider what your answer should include - and what it should not include! Read the example writing task again, and then click to answer these questions.

Activity 9 > Planning your composition > 5 minutes

Once you’re sure you understand what the question is asking you to discuss, it’s time to plan. It’s worth spending 2 or 3 minutes thinking about how you’re going to organise your answer. There’s never any single ‘correct’ way to organise an essay, but it should have some kind of logic.

Here are two ways of organising an answer to the example question in Activity 8. Click here to complete the two plans.

Activity 10 > Introductory paragraphs > 10 minutes

It’s important that you make a good start to your composition - remember that first impressions last, and your opening paragraph will give the examiner his or her first impression of your work.

Your opening paragraph should not be too long. The function of the paragraph is to introduce the topic, but also to tell the reader how your essay is going to be organised. A mistake that many IELTS candidates make is to use the opening paragraph to make general statements about the topic. Instead, make sure that your first paragraph is completely focused on the question.

Here is an opening paragraph for the example question about distance learning. Read the questions again, and then read the paragraph. Click here to decide which sentences you think should not be included.

Activity 11 > Brainstorming ideas (1) > 5 minutes

In the last lesson we looked at ‘brainstorming’ as a way to generate ideas before you start writing. Spend five minutes now brainstorming ideas for the example question we have been working on. Use the following headings:

1. Advantages of distance learning
2. Disadvantages of distance learning
3. What makes a learner suitable for distance learning

Activity 12 > Brainstorming ideas (2) > 5 minutes

Here are some ideas that could possibly be included.  Click here to put each idea under the correct heading.

Activity 13 > Structuring and argument (1) > 5 minutes

Once you have brainstormed ideas, you need to pick out the best ones and build them into a structured argument. There are two ways you can do this:

The first way is to put a series of supporting points one after another. For example,

Distance learning allows you to study from home. Furthermore, it means you can study at your own pace.

The second way is to join together two opposing points of view. For example,

Presentation of distance learning material through the Internet or television broadcasts can often be more interesting than classroom presentations. However, not all learners are comfortable using computer technology.

Here are some useful phrases for joining ideas. Which phrases are for joining supporting ideas and which ones are for joining opposing ideas? Click here to put each phrase into the correct group.

Activity 14 > Structuring and argument (2) > 5 minutes

Now use the phrases from Activity 12 to join these ideas.

Activity 15 > Writing Task > 15 minutes

Here is another example of an ‘advantages and disadvantages’ style question for task 2 of the IELTS test.

1. Read the question
2. Brainstorm ideas
3. Make a plan
4. Write an opening paragraph

	Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no special knowledge of the following topic. Many city centres these days have traffic flow problems, causing congestion and pollution. One solution is to build fast ring roads on the outskirts of a city, taking traffic away from the centre. While this is helpful in some ways, it also causes new problems. To what extent do you agree or disagree? You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Lesson Review

In this lesson you have:

			practised identifying the important information in a table.
			learned how to summarise figures from a table.
			looked at what makes a good opening paragraph for task 2 discursive essays.
			reviewed language for making comparisons.
			practised planning a composition.
			reviewed useful language for structuring an argument.