Theres only one type of essay: the opinion essay.

All Writing Task 2 question demand

you to write your opinions. The difference lies in how they are worded. Here are the most
common Task 2 question words:
A. Do the advantages / benefits of outweigh the disadvantages / drawbacks? or,
Discuss the advantages/benefits and disadvantages/drawbacks of..
B. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
C. Which factor () is more important?
D. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
E. Two-part question: Why do you think this is important? What is the effect of ?
F. Two-part question: What are the possible reasons for (this problem)? Suggest a
solution.
Here is a basic four-paragraph structure to organize your essay.

1. Opinion: To what extend do you agree or disagree/Do you agree or disagree?

E.g. Some people think the main purpose of schools is to turn children into good citizens and
workers, rather than to benefits them as individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Discussion + Opinion: Discuss both views and give your opinion.
E.g. Some people think that in the modern world we are more dependent on each other, while
others think that people have become more independent. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages: Discuss the advantages & disadvantages (pros & cons);
what are the benefits and drawbacks?
E.g. Many people prefer to rent a house rather than buying one. Discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of renting.
4. Problems + Solutions: Explain this problem and suggest some solutions.
E.g. In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause
for individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of
ageing populations.
5. Reasons and Solutions: Describe some reasons for this problem and suggest some
solutions. What are the causes & effects and what are the solutions for this?
E.g: Behavior in schools is getting worse. Explain the causes and effects of this problem, and
suggest some possible solutions.
6. Advantages outweigh Disadvantage: Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the
disadvantages?
E.g. Nowadays it is easy to apply for and be given a credit card. However, some people
experience problems when they are not be able to pay their debts back. In your opinion, do the
advantages of credit cards outweigh the disadvantages?
7. Positive or negative development: Is this a positive or negative development?
E.g. Marriages are bigger and more expensive nowadays than in the past. Why is this the case?
Is it a positive or negative development?
8. 2-part question: What problems do people experience in big cities? Should governments
encourage people to move to smaller towns?
E.g. Throughout history, people have dreamed of living in a perfect society. However, there is still
no agreement about what a perfect society would be like. What, in your opinion, would be the
most important element of a perfect society? What can people do to help create an ideal society?

A IELTS WRITING TASK 2: ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES

When asked to discuss advantages and disadvantages (or benefits and drawbacks) in IELTS Writing
Task 2, follow the following structure to organize your essays:
You can use this four-paragraph framework with most Task 2 essays. From this list of possible
question wordings, can you choose which other questions you can use this structure with?

B & C IELTS WRITING TASK 2: DISCUSS BOTH VIEWS AND GIVE OPINION
When asked to discuss both views and give your opinion, follow the following structure to organize
your essays:

D IELTS WRITING TASK 2: AGREE / DISAGREE / FACTORS

If your Task 2 essay is worded like this:

Which factor () is more important? or,
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
follow the following structure to organize your essays:

E IELTS WRITING TASK 2: TWO-PART QUESTIONS

When asked a two-part question, follow the following structure to organize your essays:

F IELTS WRITING TASK 2: REASONS + SOLUTION

When asked to give your opinion on an issue and suggest a solution, follow the following structure to
organize your essays:

Globalization & Essay Structure (Task 2 Writing)

As we have learned, all English essays have certain important elements. The basic
structure of an IELTS Task 2 essay should be as follows:
Paragraph 1: Introduction with Main Idea
Paragraph 2: General idea to support Main Idea with examples and details
Paragraph 3: Second general idea to support Main Idea with examples and details
Paragraph 4: Possible third general idea to support Main Idea with examples and
details
Paragraph 5: Conclusion be sure to restate the Main Idea!

If you follow this structure, it will help you to achieve a high score in Coherence and
Cohesion, since it provides your ideas in a well organised way. However, today we are
going to learn that there is more than one way to organise an essay, especially when
that essay is asking you to compare two different ideas and give your opinion. Many
IELTS questions have a structure that looks like this:
Many people believe that A is correct because it is beneficial for society. On the other
hand, some people support B. Please give your opinion on this issue and give evidence
to support that opinion.
So, the essay is asking us to compare A and B and give our opinion about which one is
better. There are two basic ways to organise this essay (while maintaining the basic
structure that we need.)
The first way is called the Thesis-Led approach. To write a thesis-led essay, I always
state my opinion very firmly at the beginning of the essay, and make sure that all my
statements support this opinion. This very basic example will give you an idea of how
your essay should look with a thesis-led approach.
Paragraph 1: Undoubtedly, A has more advantages than B.
Paragraph 2: A is beneficial for children whereas B is not.
Paragraph 3: A is enjoyable for adults while B is not.
Paragraph 4: Implementing A is far less expensive than implementing B.
Paragraph 5: In conclusion, it is clear that A is superior to B.

You can see that each paragraph of the essay mentions both A and B. If I am using a
thesis-led approach, I should not separate the sides of the topic, but compare each one
with the general ideas that I have chosen to separate my paragraphs. Thesis-led essays
are often very strong and persuasive.

 The second way to organise an essay is called the Argument-Led approach. While I
should still give my opinion on the topic, I can also discuss the advantages and
disadvantages of each argument before finally stating my opinion strongly. An argumentled essay should be structured as such:
Paragraph 1: While both A and B have merits, this essay will discuss the reasons why
A is ultimately preferable to B.
Paragraph 2: B has some benefits. On the other hand, B has many drawbacks.
Paragraph 3: Although A has some negative aspects, A has more advantages than B.
Paragraph 4: In conclusion, it is clear that A is superior to B.

Look at the following Task 2 topic which we have previously discussed:

While globalization has made it possible for us to buy a wide variety of international
products, many people believe that its preferable to buy local products, rather than
those from international companies, in order to support the local economy. Please
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this issue, and present your own opinion.
Now look at the two essays on the following pages. Which one is using the thesis-led
approach? Which one is using the argument-led approach?
1.
Undoubtedly, the development of globalization in the past few decades has led to
a massive increase in the number and variety of products that are available to buy. All
the same, there has been some debate about whether it is better to buy products from
large multinational corporations or to purchase from local producers. While it may
sometimes be convenient or preferable to buy goods from overseas, I would argue that it
remains beneficial to buy the majority of our goods from local producers.
Admittedly, the quality and variety of internationally produced items cannot be
disputed. We can buy imported clothing in any style or any colour at a reasonable price.
We can have a taste of international culture through products such as Swedish furniture,
German cars, and Indian textiles. Overseas companies like the Apple Corporation
produce the most up-to-date technology and gadgets which simply cant be recreated
locally. International products can sometimes be cheaper and more easily accessible
than ones produced at home.
Even so, it would be unwise to ignore the true cost of buying from abroad.
Whenever we send our dollars to another country, we are sending jobs there, too. Eating
fast food from McDonalds harms the business of local restaurant owners and takes jobs
and money away from the local economy. If international companies put local merchants
out of business, this will ultimately lead to less variety and control over what we

consume. Furthermore, buying products that have been transported long distances has
a highly negative effect on the environment.
Thus, although it is tempting to purchase predominantly from large multinational
companies, I believe it is in the best interest of the community for people to buy locally
whenever possible. Even if it costs a few dollars more to buy something from a local
producer, the benefits to society will certainly repay the difference.
2.
For several decades, there has been a heated debate about the advantages and
disadvantages of globalization. More specifically, consumers must decide whether they
will purchase a majority of their goods from global corporations or from local producers.
It is my opinion that people should buy from local companies in order to support the local
economy, maintain national solidarity, and protect the environment.
Buying from international producers harms small independent regions in several
ways. Firstly, it takes money out of the local economy and sends it overseas, often to
large companies in wealthy countries. This can also increase the unemployment rate in
the region, as local shops and producers are forced out of business by international
competitors. As these local shops close, consumers are then forced to buy from the
overseas producer, giving them fewer choices and less control over their daily lives.
Because they are not mass-produced, local goods may be more expensive but are often
of higher quality. Additionally, since local producers are small, they often provide
superior service and care to the customer.
Another reason to buy products that are made close to home is that this does
significantly less damage to the environment. Local products are made from nearby
materials, and so manufacturers have a vested interest in taking care of, and not
exploiting, the resources they use. Furthermore, regional goods do not travel long
distances before they are sold, which means less petrol and far less pollution are
involved with their production.
In sum, while there may be some products that simply cannot be purchased from
the local area, consumers should make an effort to buy locally-produced items whenever
possible. This ensures the security of the local economy and the protection of the global
environment for many years to come.

Now you try! Look at the IELTS Task 2 Topics in the boxes below. Choose one which is
interesting to you and try to make 2 different essay plans, one using the thesis-led
approach, and one using the argument-led approach.

Although developing countries receive a great deal of financial aid from elsewhere in the
world, they continue to have issues with poverty. Do you think that developed countries
should give more help or a different kind of help? Or do you think that developing
countries must find their own solutions to poverty?
Some have argued that the term globalization should actually be called
Americanization because it largely consists of United States culture and products being
dominant all over the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?
Differences between countries are becoming less and less evident with each passing
year. Nowadays, everyone in the world has the same fashions, eating habits, and media.
To what extent do you agree with this statement? Do you think the changes associated
with globalization are largely positive or largely negative?