IELTS Task 2 Discussion Essay Band 9 Structure

Summary

This video offers a clear strategy for tackling IELTS 'Discuss both views and give your opinion' questions. It emphasizes the importance of thinking critically about why others hold different opinions before forming your own. The video guides viewers through structuring their essays: introducing both views, presenting reasons for each, and clearly stating their own opinion. The method ensures clarity and coherence, which are essential for scoring higher band levels (7, 8, or 9). Additionally, a free course, IELTS Essay Builder, is offered to help further improve writing skills for the exam.

Takeaways

• 😀 Clear thinking is crucial for writing a high-band IELTS essay. If your thinking is confused, your writing will reflect that confusion.
• 🧠 Focus on understanding why other people hold each view rather than thinking only about your own opinion. This helps organize your thoughts clearly.
• ✍️ For 'Discuss both views and give your opinion' questions, structure your introduction by presenting both views and stating your opinion clearly.
• 📚 The main body should consist of two paragraphs: one for each view. Discuss why people believe each view and provide examples.
• 💡 Keep your analysis simple and direct. Avoid overly complex statements like 'I kind of agree' and choose one side to agree with.
• 📏 The essay should follow a clear pattern: Introduction, Main Body (two paragraphs), and Conclusion. Each section should discuss both views and present your opinion.
• 🎯 In the introduction, state your stance after discussing both views. This sets a clear framework for the reader and demonstrates your opinion.
• 📝 The conclusion should summarize both views and reaffirm your opinion to ensure your position is clear to the examiner.
• ⏳ Time management is crucial—be concise and avoid over-explaining to stay within the allotted time.
• 📈 Consider using free resources like the 'IELTS Essay Builder' course to enhance your writing skills and better understand essay structure and content.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video focuses on how to approach 'Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion' IELTS essay questions and how to structure them for a high band score.

Why is critical thinking important in writing an IELTS essay?

Critical thinking is important because it helps students to avoid muddled or confused arguments, leading to a clearer and more structured essay, which is essential for higher band scores.

What is the common mistake students make when approaching 'Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion' questions?

Students often have muddled or confused thoughts about the topic, making their writing unclear. They may try to express conflicting opinions or give vague answers.

What are the three steps to think critically about the question?

1. Understand why other people believe view 1. 2. Understand why other people believe view 2. 3. Decide which view you agree with and state your opinion clearly.

How does the video suggest structuring the introduction?

The introduction should first mention the viewpoint you disagree with (view 2), provide a reason for why people believe in it, and then state your opinion and agreement with view 1, along with the reason why people hold that view.

How should the main body of the essay be structured?

The main body should have two paragraphs: the first discussing why people believe view 2, and the second discussing why people believe view 1. Each paragraph should include an explanation and an example. The second paragraph should also include your own opinion.

What is the purpose of the conclusion in this type of essay?

The conclusion should summarize both views and restate your opinion, reinforcing the structure of discussing both views and giving your own opinion.

How does the video suggest simplifying the approach to the essay question?

The video suggests that instead of getting stuck in conflicting ideas, students should focus on one reason for each view and pick the side they agree with, avoiding indecisiveness.

What is the key to organizing thoughts clearly in the essay?

The key is to break down your thoughts into a simple structure: discuss both views, explain why people believe them, provide examples, and give your clear opinion.

How can the free course mentioned in the video help students?

The free course, IELTS Essay Builder, helps students with generating ideas, writing introductions, structuring body paragraphs, using vocabulary and grammar correctly, and overall improving their essay-writing skills.