IELTS Writing Task 2: Linking Words for the Conclusion

IELTS Liz

29 Oct 201404:12

Summary

TLDRIn this lesson, the instructor advises students on the appropriate linkers for the conclusion of their IELTS Task 2 essays. The video script emphasizes avoiding certain linkers like 'finally' and 'in a nutshell' due to their informality or incorrect context. Instead, the instructor recommends using 'in conclusion' or 'to conclude' to clearly signal the end of the essay, which is crucial for maintaining an academic tone and improving the band score.

Takeaways

📚 The lesson focuses on the best linkers to use for starting the conclusion in IELTS Task 2 academic writing.
🚫 Some commonly used linkers are inappropriate for the conclusion of an academic essay, such as 'finally', which should be used in the last body paragraph.
💡 'In a nutshell' is informal and not suitable for academic writing, despite its correct meaning to summarize main points briefly.
❌ Avoid using 'in a nutshell' in IELTS academic essays as it can negatively impact the band score due to its informality.
🤔 The phrase 'in general' does not effectively indicate a conclusion and is not recommended for starting a conclusion paragraph.
👍 'In conclusion' and 'to conclude' are the recommended linkers to start the conclusion of an IELTS Task 2 essay.
🔑 The purpose of a linker at the beginning of a conclusion paragraph is to help the reader understand the order of information and to indicate the nature of the information.
📝 When using 'in conclusion' or 'to conclude', it signals to the reader that the essay is concluding, which is appropriate for academic writing.
📉 Some linkers like 'to sum up' are acceptable but not the best choice for starting a conclusion.
🔍 The instructor emphasizes the importance of choosing the right linker for the conclusion to enhance the clarity and formality of the essay.
👋 The lesson concludes with the instructor looking forward to the next IELTS lesson.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lesson discussed in the transcript?
-The main focus of the lesson is to discuss the best linkers to use at the beginning of the conclusion for an IELTS Task 2 essay.
Why should 'finally' not be used to start a conclusion in an IELTS Task 2 essay?
-'Finally' should not be used because it is meant to indicate the final main point in the last body paragraph, not the conclusion.
What is the issue with using 'in a nutshell' in an academic essay?
-Using 'in a nutshell' is informal and not suitable for academic essays, as it can negatively affect the band score.
What does the phrase 'in a nutshell' mean and why is its use informal?
-'In a nutshell' means to summarize all the main points briefly, and it is informal because it is commonly used in speaking and informal writing.
Why is 'in general' not an appropriate linker to indicate a conclusion?
-'In general' does not specifically indicate a conclusion and therefore is not the best choice to start the concluding paragraph of an academic essay.
What are the recommended linkers to start a conclusion in an IELTS Task 2 essay according to the lesson?
-The recommended linkers to start a conclusion are 'in conclusion' and 'to conclude'.
What is the purpose of using a linker at the beginning of a paragraph in an academic essay?
-A linker at the beginning of a paragraph helps the reader understand the order of information and indicates what the information is about.
How does the use of 'to sum up' compare with 'in conclusion' and 'to conclude'?
-While 'to sum up' is acceptable, it is not recommended as highly as 'in conclusion' or 'to conclude' for starting a conclusion in an academic essay.
What does the instructor imply about the importance of using appropriate linkers in an IELTS Task 2 essay?
-The instructor implies that using appropriate linkers is crucial for clarity and can impact the band score in an IELTS exam.
What is the conclusion of the lesson regarding the use of linkers in IELTS Task 2 essays?
-The conclusion is to choose 'in conclusion' or 'to conclude' to start the conclusion of an IELTS Task 2 essay for the best results.
What does the instructor suggest for future lessons?
-The instructor suggests that there will be more lessons in the future, as indicated by 'I'll see you again in another IELTS lesson.'

Outlines

00:00

📝 Inappropriate Linkers for IELTS Task 2 Conclusion

This paragraph discusses the misuse of certain linkers in the conclusion of IELTS Task 2 essays. The instructor points out that while some linkers, like 'finally,' are commonly used, they are not suitable for a conclusion as they are meant to introduce the final main point in the last body paragraph. The paragraph also addresses the informality of 'in a nutshell,' which is not appropriate for academic writing. The instructor emphasizes the importance of using appropriate linkers to maintain the formality and academic integrity of the essay.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Linkers

Linkers are words or phrases that connect ideas within a text, making the flow of information coherent and logical. In the context of the video, linkers are essential for structuring an IELTS Task 2 essay, particularly in the conclusion section. The script discusses appropriate and inappropriate linkers for academic writing.

💡Conclusion

A conclusion is the final part of a piece of writing, where the main points are summarized and the argument is wrapped up. The video emphasizes the importance of using the right linkers to indicate the conclusion in an academic essay, with examples provided to illustrate incorrect usage.

💡IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2 is a part of the International English Language Testing System that requires test-takers to write an essay in response to a given topic. The script focuses on providing guidance for the conclusion of this task, highlighting the significance of proper linking words.

💡Academic Essay

An academic essay is a formal piece of writing typically used in educational settings to present an argument or analysis. The video script provides advice on the use of linkers in the context of academic essays, particularly for IELTS, to maintain formality and coherence.

💡Inappropriate Linkers

Inappropriate linkers are those that do not fit the context or the formality level required in a piece of writing. The script mentions certain linkers like 'finally' and 'in a nutshell' as inappropriate for starting a conclusion in an academic essay.

💡Finally

The term 'finally' is used to indicate the last in a series of points, but as the script explains, it is not suitable for starting a conclusion. It is more appropriate for the last main point in the body paragraphs of an essay.

💡In a Nutshell

This phrase means to summarize something concisely. The script points out that while the meaning is suitable for a conclusion, 'in a nutshell' is informal and not appropriate for academic writing, which could negatively affect the band score in IELTS.

💡Informal Writing

Informal writing is a style of writing that is more casual and relaxed, often used in spoken language or less formal written communication. The video script advises against using informal expressions like 'in a nutshell' in an academic essay.

💡To Sum Up

While 'to sum up' is an acceptable linker, the script suggests that it is not the best choice for starting a conclusion. The instructor recommends other linkers for a more effective academic conclusion.

💡In Conclusion

This phrase is used to clearly indicate the start of a conclusion in writing. The script recommends using 'in conclusion' as an effective linker to signal the conclusion of an IELTS Task 2 essay.

💡To Conclude

Similar to 'in conclusion', 'to conclude' is another phrase that can be used to start a conclusion, signaling to the reader that the essay is about to summarize its main points. The script suggests using such phrases for clarity in academic writing.

Highlights

Lesson focuses on the best linkers for starting a conclusion in IELTS Writing Task 2 essay.

Some common linkers used by students are inappropriate for academic essay conclusions.

The linker 'finally' is not suitable for conclusions and should be used in the last body paragraph.

The expression 'in a nutshell' is informal and should not be used in academic essays.

The phrase 'in a nutshell' can negatively impact the band score in IELTS.

The linker 'in general' does not effectively indicate a conclusion.

Three recommended linkers for starting a conclusion are 'in conclusion', 'to conclude', and 'to sum up'.

The use of 'to sum up' is acceptable but not the best choice for starting a conclusion.

Linkers at the beginning of a paragraph help the reader understand the order of information.

Using 'in conclusion' or 'to conclude' signals the start of the conclusion section in an academic essay.

Linkers are crucial for indicating the structure and flow of information in an essay.

Choosing the right linker can enhance the clarity and coherence of an essay.

The instructor emphasizes the importance of using appropriate academic language in IELTS essays.

Avoiding informal expressions is key to achieving a higher band score in IELTS Writing Task 2.

The lesson provides clear guidance on which linkers to use and which to avoid in essay conclusions.

Understanding the function of linkers in academic writing is essential for IELTS candidates.

The lesson concludes with a reminder to choose one of the recommended linkers for essay conclusions.