Handouts Task 2

Essay writing training course - 2008
Handout 1: approaching the task
You should spend 40 minutes on this task.

Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no
specialist knowledge of the following topic:
Enormous effort is put in to researching and marketing “the
perfect potato crisp” while research into stress at work, for
example, is ignored.
How important are staff working conditions? Should
employers research and improve the working conditions of
their staff or should they concentrate more on their product?
You should write at least 250 words
Use your ideas, knowledge and experience and support your
arguments with examples and relevant evidence
I. Analyse the task and answer the following questions:

1. How many words are you expected to write?
2. How long should you spend on the task?
3. What sort of writing are you expected to produce?
4. What must you include in your answer?
II. Which of the following areas would it be appropriate to

include in the answer to this task? Explain why.
1. a comparison of different types of product
2. a discussion of the difficulties of food industries
3. an analysis of the effects of bad working environment
4. an explanation of how to make potato crisps
5. an analysis of how to be successful in business
6. a description of a business you know well
7. an analysis of the importance of a company’s product
8. a discussion of how products are manufactured
9. a discussion of the value of company staff
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Instructor: Do Tuan Minh (Ph.D) – Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Handout 2: approaching the task
Look at these questions and identify the topic words and

task words. Underline those words and write “O” for “topic
words” and “A” for “task words”:
Eg: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a

vegeterian diet?
A A O
1. Some workplaces do not ensure the safety of workers who use
dangerous equipment. What can be done?
2. People who watch a lot of violent TV will find it influences their
behaviour when they are angry or upset. Do you agree?
3. It is the responsibility of a government to protect its citizen from
natural disasters. How far do you agree?
4. How would you ensure children watch only suitable material on
television?
5. The twentieth century has seen more development than any
preceding century. What evidence can you offer to support this
statement?
6. Some people say that smoking should be permitted in places
where people gather to eat and to drink. Others find the smell of the
smoke unpleasant, and fear it is bad for everybody’s health. What is
your opinion?
7. What are the features of an ideal television show for children
below school age?
8. Discuss the ways to improve the traffic in Hanoi today?
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9. Students have to absorb a great deal of information. Describe
quick and efficient ways to do this?
10. How can society reduce the problems of people with disabilities?
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Handout 3: types of task two essay
Read the list of task 2 essays and categorise them into the
three types of essay: argumentative, discussive or account.
1. “Children over 15 should be allowed to make decisions about their

lives without the interference of their parents or teachers. Society
should accept that children mature at a younger age these day and
should adjust the law accordingly.”
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. “School uniform must be compulsory”.
Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
3. What do you think are the differences in urban and rural life?
4. “Many people agree that education should be compulsory to all
children until a certain age. Others, however, argue that children and
their families should be free to choose when to leave school”
Discuss both these views?
5. Should parents be obliged to immunise their children against
common childhood diseases? Or do individuals have the right to
choose not to immunise their children?
6. What do you think are some of the problems associated with
tourism development?
7. A company which every employee is made to feel important will
run more smoothly and experience greater success than a company
that values some employees above others.
How far do you agree?
8. Discuss the ways to improve the traffic in Hanoi today?
9. In the past, neighbourhoods were often very close, friendly places
whereas in today’s society people have little time to get to know
each other.
How does this affect our sense of belonging to a community?
10. “Examinations serve no useful purpose”
What are your views on this?
11. “The dealth penalty should be re-introduced for terrorists who
commit murder”
Discuss the arguments for and against the following topic?
12. As children do we have a natural ability and motivation to take
up new interests (such as languages, sports, and musical
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instruments ) which as adults we seem to lose? Are there too many

social pressures on adults or are there other reasons for the
apparent decline in a human being’s capacity to learn?
13. “It is inevitable that as technology develops, so traditional
cultures must be lost. Technololgy and tradition are incompatible –
you cannot have both together.”
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
Handout 4: forming ideas

Task: “School uniform must be compulsory.” How far do you agree
with this statement?
Suggestions to the task:

pro-uniforms anti-uniforms
 save money on clothing  uniforms ultimately cost more
 uniforms will cut down on  uniforms do not teach
teasing and cliques children how to deal with
 uniforms increases sense of people who are different from
community themselves
 schools will be safe from  cliques will still form
students from outsider who  it is impossible to prevent all
want to cause trouble outside intrusion
 parents will no longer have to  children will still ask for
buy designer labels designer labels for outside of
 uniforms will separate the school clothing, uniforms will
public school from the not make this issue go away
catholic/private school  If you need uniforms to
distinguish between public
and private school, it’s time
to re-evaluaate where your
child is going
 Uniforms teach children that
in order to get along everyone
must conform to the same
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standard.
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Handout 5: writing argumentative essay

Task: “It is inevitable that as technology develops, so traditional
cultures must be lost. Technololgy and tradition are incompatible –
you cannot have both together.”
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
Sample answer
The current revolution in science and technology on a global scale is a cause
for concern among traditional culture conservationists. They fear that the
whole world may eventually become a melting pot since our long standing
traditions will have to be sacrificed for economic benefits. On complete
examination, however, I am unconvinced that technological development
necessarily means the loss of traditional culture.
First, I disagree that we have to choose between technology and tradition.

Admittedly, technological advances, resulting in increased degress of
industrialisation, have changes some of the age-old traditions, e.g., the
extended family pattern, which used to be prevalent in all traditional
cultures. But such change is necessary because if there were no change,
there would be no progress. Naturally, the no-longer suitable traditions are
filtered out for a better harmony between modern lifestyle and traditional
culture. In fact, such harmony can be found in Japan, South Korea, China,
among numerous other countries world wide. I would argue, therefore, that
traditional culture and technology can happily coexist.
Moreover, technology plays an important role in traditional culture

preservation. Thanks to technological advances, we are now capable of
preserving the priceless cultural works so that our future generations can
still see the wonders of the past with their own eyes. The restoration of the
Pyramids in Egypt can be cited as a good example of this. Technology also
helps preserve traditional culture by boosting productivity, thus lifting
millions of people out of poverty, enabling them to have the knowledge,
skills, money, time, and will to conserve traditional culture. Starving people
would not care about anything other than finding enough food to feed
themselves and their families
For all these reasons, I strongly believe that we can both have technology
and traditional culture, rather than have one and lose the other. If wisely
managed and properly cared, our age-old traditions will continue to live with
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us, however developed technology might be.
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Analyse the model essay

1. What is the topic of the essay?
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2. What is the thesis statement? Identify the thesis statement in the

model essay?
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3. What are the main / key arguments in paragraphs 2, and 3? Are

they supported with supporting information? If yes, list them and
identify which kind of support they are and how they are
provided.
Paragraph 2:
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Paragraph 3:
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4. How does the writer link the paragraphs together?

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5. How does the writer signal the conclusion of the essay? What is /
are the function(s) of the conclusion?
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I. Write the introduction to this task:

“A company which every employee is made to feel important will run
more smoothly and experience greater success than a company that
values some employees above others.”
Do you agree or disagree?
Sample answer
It has been argued that if you treat all staff at work equally, you will
improve the success of your company. But how can you make every
employee feel valued and will this really make a company more
successful? By addressing these questions, I intend to show that this
argument is unrealistic and makes too many assumptions about
human behaviour.
II. Read these introductions to the same task. How do you

expect these writers to continue their responses in the body
of the essay?
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My response to this argument depends on what is meant by a

“company”. There is surely a difference between a small family-run
business and an international firm with hundreds of employees and a
well-established hierarchical structure. I intend to illustrate how some
of these differences are significant to the argument put forward.
I certainly believe that employees should be made to feel that they

make a positive contribution to the running of their company. High
self-esteem amongst staff is definitely important. However, whilst I
agree that this type of managerial approach will have internal
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benefits, I am less convinced that it will increase a company’s profits.
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I. Write the introduction to this task:

Should parents be obliged to immunise their children against
common childhood diseases? Or do individuals have the right
to choose not to immunise their children
Sample answer : For
Some people argue that the state does not have the right to make
parents immunise their children. However, I feel the question is not
whether they should immunise but whether, as members of our
society, they have the right not to.
Sample answer : against
The issue of whether we should force parents to immunise their

children against common diseases is, in my opinion, a social rather
than a medical question. Since we are free to choose what we expose
our bodies to in the way of food, drink, or religion for that matter, why
should the question of medical “treatment” be any different?
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I. Write the conclusion to complete the following answer to

the task:
As children do we have a natural ability and motivation to take
up new interests (such as languages, sports, and musical
instruments ) which as adults we seem to lose? Are there too
many social pressures on adults or are there other reasons for
the apparent decline in a human being’s capacity to learn?
Sample answer
It is undoubtedly true that children are often well motivated to learn.

However, does this motivation fade naturally as they develop or does
society put pressures on the individual that interfere with successful
learning?
It can generally be observed that children are better at learning than

adults. They will more readily take up a musical instrument, for
example, than a parent and are more likely to persist in mastering it.
Why is this so? It seems that while children have the determination to
practise, adults are less patient. This suggests that we expect to pick
things more quickly than is realistic. In addition, adults have more
commitments than the young and so perhaps they lack the time to
persist with their studies.
However, if it were true that it is only the pace of likfe that inhibits
our learning capacity, this would imply that the busier we are, the
less likely we would be to take up new interests. In my experience,
this is not generally the case.
….. (Conclusion)
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Task: “Too much importance is attached to exams at school. Do you
agree?
The sentences in the essay below are in the wrong order.
Put them in the right order and decide where the essay should be
divided into paragraphs
a. This is because one is much better at taking exams than the other.
b. However, like many other people, I feel that too many importance is
given to exams and that it is time to change the way we monitor our
children’s development at school.
c. As a result, students are often encouraged to learn facts by heart

instead of how to use the information and how to think for themselves.
d. The traditional method of assessing academic progress has always

been for students to take exams
e. Apart from this, exam questions often test how much a student has
remembered about the things he or she has been taught in the
classroom.
f. To sum up, in my opinion, less importance should be given to exams

because they are unfair, because they are often a test of memory and
because they can have a negative influence on teaching.
g. Lastly, it seems to me that exams sometimes have a bad effect on

teaching, as teachers are usually judged by the exam results of their
students.
h. Firstly, I think that the examination system is unfair because

sometimes two students with the same ability in a subject get very
different exam results.
i. Consequently, they are often more interested in preparing their

students for the exams than in making their lessons lively and
stimulating.
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Sample answer
Individualism is a fundamental value in the United States. All Americans
believe in the right to express their own opinion without fear of punishment.
This value, however, is coming under fire in an unlikely place – the public
school classroom. The issue is school uniforms. Should public school
students be allowed to make individual decisions about clothing, or should
all students be required to wear a uniform? School uniforms are the better
choice for three reasons.
First, wearing school uniforms would help make students’ lives simpler. They
should no longer have to decide what to wear every morning, sometimes
trying on outfit after outfit in an effort to choose. Uniforms would not only
save time but also would eliminate the stress often associated with this
chore.
Second, school uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups and

as individuals. Uniforms give students the message that school is a special
place for learning. In addition, uniforms creat a feeling of unity among
students. For example, when students do something as a group, such as
attend meetings in the auditorium or eat luch in the cafeteria, the fact that
they all wear the same uniform would creat a sense of community. Even
more important, statistics show the positive effects that school uniforms
have on violence and truancy. According to recent survey in Hillsborough
County, Florida, incidents of school violence dropped by 50 percent,
attendance and test scores improved, and students suspensions declined
approximately 30 percent after scholl uniforms were introduced.
Finally, school uniforms would help make all the students feel equal. People’s
standards of living differ greatly, and some people are well-off while others
are not. People sometimes forget that school is a place to get an education,
not to promote a “fashion show”. Implementing madatory school uniforms
would make all the students look the same regardless of their financial
status. School uniforms would promote pride and help to raise the self-
esteem of students who cannot afford to wear stylish clothing.
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Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students who wear school

uniforms cannot express their individuality. This point has some merit on the
surface. However, as stated previously, school is a place to learn, not to
flaunt wealth and fashion. Society must decide if individual expression
through clothing is more valuable than improved educational performance.
It’s important to remember that school uniforms would be worn only during
school hours. Students can express their individuality in the way they dress
outside of the classroom.
In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits to implementing

mandatory school uniforms for students. Studies show that students learn
better and act more responsibly when they wear uniforms. Public schools
should require uniforms in order to benefit both the students and society as
a whole.
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You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
“Parents are the best teachers”.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
You should write at least 250 words
model answer:
Throughout my life, I have been lucky enough to have a very good

relationship with my parents. They have supported me, given me
necessary criticism, and taught me how to live my life. Parents can be
very important teachers in our lives; however, they are not always the
best teachers.
Parents may be too emotionally close to their children. They can only
see their children through the eyes of a protector. For example, they
may limit a child’s freedom in the name of safety. A teacher may see a
trip to a big city as a valuable new experience. However, it might
seem too dangerous to a parent.
Another problem is that parents may expect their children’s interests

to be similar to their own. They cannot seem to separate from their
children in their mind. If they love science, they may try to force their
children to love science, too. But what if their child’s true love is art,
or writing, or car repair?
Parents are usually eager to pass on their values to their children. But
should children always believe what their parents do? Maybe different
generations need different ways of thinking. When children are young,
they believe that their parents are always right. But when they grow
older, they realise there are other views. Sometimes parents,
especially the older ones, cannot keep up with rapid social or
technological changes. A student who has friends of different races
and backgrounds at school may find that his parents have narrower
views. A student who loves computers may find that her parents do
not really understand or value the digital revolution. Sometimes kids
have to find their own ways to what they believe in.
The most important thing to remember is that we all have many

teachers in our lives. Our teachers teach us; our parents teach us; our
peers teach us; books, newspapers, and television teach us, too. All of
them are valuable.
(324 words)
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Handout 12: writing discussive essay

Task: “Many people agree that education should be compulsory to all
children until a certain age. Others, however, argue that children and
their families should be free to choose when to leave school”
Discuss both these views?
Sample answer
One feature of improved education systems around the world has been
an increase in the period of compulsory schooling for students. In many
developed and developing countries, students are now required to stay at
school until they are 15 years of age. Such education policy, however,
has raised different arguments among students, their families, and other
people of concern.
There are quite plausible reasons for opposing this policy. Low income
families, for example, may not be able to afford to keep their children at
school and may resent governments imposing this decision on them. In
fact, in many developing countries, children can help bring in much
needed income, either by working in family agricultural activities, or else
through paid employment. Compulsory schooling might also be opposed
on educational grounds. Studies have shown that compulsory schooling
might be psychologically damaging for the students who are not
motivated to learn. These students may be more ready to learn later on
as adults when their motivation is stronger.
However, there are also strong reasons why students should be obliged to
remain at school until a certain age. First, at a young age, students are
unlikely to be sufficiently mature to make sensible decisions about their
lives. Thus, we should not allow them to make decisions they may later
regret. Another reason is that in today’s society, where increasingly high
levels of skills and knowledge are required of the workforce, early school
leavers are highly likely to confront difficulties in obtaining employment.
All things considered, I am convinced that schooling should be

compulsory to all children since this is of benefit for both the individual
student and for society as a whole. Education authorities, however, must
ensure that the education provided is both affordable to families and
relevant and interesting to students.
(298 words)
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7. What is the thesis statement? Identify the thesis statement in the

model essay?
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8. What are the main / key arguments in paragraphs 2, and 3? Are

they supported with supporting information? If yes, list them and
identify which kind of support they are and how they are
provided.
Paragraph 2:
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Paragraph 3:
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10. How does the writer signal the conclusion of the essay? What is
/ are the function(s) of the conclusion?
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Task: “The dealth penalty should be re-introduced for terrorists who
commit murder”
Discuss the arguments for and against the following
topic?
The sentences in the essay below are in the wrong order.
Put them in the right order and decide where the essay should be
divided into paragraphs
a. However, in my opinion, the re-introduction of capital punishment

would have little or no effect on reducing terrorism.
b. Numerous people argue that if the government brought back the death
penalty, it would deter terrorists from carrying out their attacks against
the enemy, the police and innocent civilians.
c. I am very much opposed to the idea of “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth”.
d. Apart from this, we have seen in the past that the death sentence does
not usually deter terrorists.
e. These people believe that if terrorists knew that they would be hanged
for murder and not just sentenced to life imprisonment, they would
probably be too frightened to commit their terrible crimes.
f. In most western countries, convicted murderers are no longer

sentenced to death, but are usually given life imprisonment instead.
g. In the first place, it seems to me that most terrorists are such fanatical
people that they would be prepared to die for their cause.
h. For example, terrorist attacks against the Spanish security forces were
extremely common during the 1960s and 1970s, even though capital
punishment existed in Spain until 1978.
i. All things considered, I do not agree with those who say that we ought
to bring back the death penalty for terrorists.
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j. However, during the last twenty years, the West has seen a large
incease in acts of terrorism, and many people now feel strongly that
capital punishment should be re-introduced for terrorists who are
convicted of murder.
k. Finally, I am strongly against capital punishment because I feel that it

is morally wrong to take the life of another human being, even if that
person has commited murder.
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Task: “Logging in old-growth forests, yes or no?” Discuss?
Sample answer
One of the most controversial issues in our community is whether old-

growth forests should be logged. Some people believe that it is vital for a
country’s rural economy to continue logging in native forests. People on
the other side of the debate claim that logging will lead to the destruction
of few remaining wildernesses.
Supporters of the logging industry say that only 1% old-growth tress are
harvested and that all these trees are replanted. This, they claim, brings
new life to the forests. At the same time, they point out that logging
brings employment to rural communities. This is particularly important at
a time when a country’s rural economy is dying as more and more people
move to the cities to find work.
On the other hand, there are a growing number of people in the

community who oppose logging. They argue that logging destroys the
habitats of a great number of native animals and plants. The
consequence of this is the extinction of many species. Furthermore, they
point out that forests are vital to the environment because they absorb
carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
Although logging supports rural communities, it also threats the

environment. After looking at both sides of this debate, I believe that new
industries should be developed for the rural sectors and that we should
leave areas of untouched wilderness to be preserved for future
generations.
(232 words)
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Task: Whether cars should be banned in all town centres is a
complicated issue and one which many people have strong feelings
about. Discuss.
Sample answer
It is no exaggeration to say that the issue of banning cars from town

centres has always been much controversial. Some people believe that it
is time we forbade all cars from town centres, whereas others argue that
the cars must present.
There are some reasons why cars should be banned. Firstly, it would
greatly reduce pollution which is especially importance since town centres
always consit of tall buildings and narrow spaces which often hold the
pollution in one spot. Secondly, with less traffic, there would be fewer
accidents and hence society would save money because of reduced
medical expenses. Finally, with no cars in town centres, there would be no
need for large, ugly car park and parking spaces. This would allow more
space for buildings, houses, parks and the movement of buses and people,
which could greatly enhance a city.
Howver, there are some reasons why cars should not be banned. Firstly, it
would make it very difficult for many people to travel to work. Most
people would have to use public transport (trains and buses) which may
become overcrowded and unable to cope with the additional commuters.
Secondly, many people prefer cars because of the freedom it gives ghem,
so banning cars would not be very popular, and hence very difficult to
implement since few politicians would support the idea. Finally, cars are
sometimes necessary to travel to parts of a city where public transport
does not go. Cars are more flexible transport, particularly for the elderly
or sick.
In my opinion, cars should be restricted from town centres but only during
peak hours. It would be impractical and impossible to ban cars completely
because they are such an essential part of modern city living. Moreover,
the problems of pollution and traffic congestion may be reduced by using
alternative clean energies and improving traffic system. This solution is
not perfect but the best we can do and in fact has already been done in
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some major cities in the world such as Melbourne, Australia.
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Handout 16: writing account essay

Task: What do you think are the differences in urban and rural life?
Sample answer
Imagine life in Toronto. Now imagine life in a neighbouring rural Canadian

town. Finally, picture life in Rome, Italy. Which of these last two places is
more different from Toronto? Many people may mistakenly choose Rome
because it is in a different country. In fact, city dwellers all over the world
tend to have similar lifestyles, so the biggest differences are between
Toronto and its smaller neighbor. Urban people and rural people
regardless of their country, live quite differently. Perhaps some of the
most notable differences in the lives of these two groups include degree
of friendliness, pace of life, and variety of activities.
One major difference between growing up in the city and in the country is
the degree of friendliness. In large cities, we often hear of people living in
huge apartment buildings with hundreds of strangers. These urban
apartment dwellers tend to be wary of unknown faces and rarely get to
know their neighbors well. The situation in a small town is often just the
opposite. Small-town people generally grow up together, attend the same
schools and churches, and share the same friends. As a result, rural people
are much more likely to treat their neighbors like family and invite them
into their homes.
Another difference is the pace of life. In the city, life moves very quickly.
The streets reflect this hectic pace and are rarely empty, even late at
night. City dwellers appear to be racing to get somewhere important. Life
for them tends to be a series of deadlines. In the country, life is much
slower. Even during peak hours, traffic jams occur less often. Stores close
in the early evening and streets do not come alive until the next morning.
The people here seem more relaxed and move in a more leisurely way.
The pace of life in these two areas could not be more different.
A third difference lies in the way people are able to spend their free time.
Although life in the city has its drawbacks, city dwellers have a much
wider choice of activities that they can participate in. For example, they
can go to museums, eat in exotic restaurants, attend concerts, and shop
in hundreds of stores. The activities available to people in rural areas,
however, are much more limited. It is rare to find museums or exotic
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restaurants there. Concert tours almost never include stops in country

towns. Finally, people who enjoy shopping might be disappointed in the
small number of stores.
Life in urban areas and life in rural areas vary in terms of human
interaction, pace of life, and daily activities. Other important differences
exist, too, but none of these makes one place better than the other. The
places are simply different. Only people who have experienced living in
both the city and the country can truly appreciate the unique
characteristics of each.

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12. What is the thesis statement? Identify the thesis statement in

the model essay?
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13. What are the main / key arguments in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4?

Are they supported with supporting information? If yes, list them
and identify which kind of support they are and how they are
provided.
Paragraph 2:
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Paragraph 3:
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Paragraph 4:
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15. How does the writer signal the conclusion of the essay? What is
/ are the function(s) of the conclusion?
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Handout 17: making the main arguments clear

1. Read the following paragraph and answer the
questions:
 Can you identify the main and supporting arguments?
 What is the problem with this paragraph?
Why people commit crimes?
I don’t really agree that we should try to understand why someone has
committed a crime. I think criminals should be punished and that’s it. It
isn’t fair on the victim. In addition, I would like to comment that most
criminals know what they are doing when they commit a crime. There are
too many crimes these days. I don’t think there were so many in the past.
2. Now read the second paragraph and answer the

questions:
 What do you think the question is?
 Can you identify the main and supporting arguments?
 What type of support is provided?
I would always support any attempt to foster greater community spirit

amongst neighbours. Clearly they can be very supportive towards one
another in very practical ways: younger neighbours can assist those who
are more elderly, or people can do things for each other when they go on
holiday, like checking the mail. Regrettably though, many of us nowadays
are simply too busy to make the effort and it is not unknown for people to
go for months without ever speaking to a neighbour. I live in a block of
flats myself and of the four households on my floor, I have only met one
other occupant.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
30
Handout 18 : providing support
I. Link the following arguments using an appropriate

expression of giving support. Try to use different expressions
in different gaps.
1. It is impossible to predict what type of holidays people will be

taking in 100 years’ time. We don’t know, ______________, whether
space travel will be a realistic option in the future. _________________,
it is likely to completely transform our traditional view of a holiday.
2. I would contend that supermarkets are here to stay.

________________ in some countries they can offer so many products
that it’s hardly necessary to shop anywhere else. __________ there
are sometimes instances of local opposition, but this is usually
overcome.
3. Statistics show that the worst drivers in the world are young men.
________________ as a driver, if you look closely at any car that is
going too fast, overtaking at the wrong place or driving too close to
the car in front, it will invariably have a teenager or young man in
the driver’s seat.
4. I strongly approve of the preservation of historical buildings. Too

many have already been destroyed; ________________ in my home
town, whole streets of beautiful regency houses wre knocked down
in order to build high-rise flats.
II. Look at the notes below which a student has written in

order to prepare a response to the topic: “In the interests of
public safety, dangerous sports whould be banned. Discuss
for and against views”.
TOPIC MAIN IDEAS SUPPORT

not sure – think I agree people get lost or trapped rescue
teams
presume sports such as rescue teams involved
risk lives / have families
mountaineering / rock OK if rules etc. are obeyed
ref. news last week,
climbing / caving
Write the introduction andbut some
first people of
paragraph irresponsible
the answer.
rescuer died
__________________________________________________________________________________________
31
 Plan a second paragraph that argues against the topic

 Write this paragraph and the conclusion.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
32
Handout 19: making concessions

I. Look at the following arguments for and against some well-
known topics:
Topic For Against

Educational Adverts targeted at
A. TV and
programmes – safe children – too much
children
“baby-sitting” violence
B. Women
Children benefit from Young children need to
working versus
nurseries and day-care be with their mothers
staying at home
C. Too many cars

Build more roads More car users
in cities
Cheap to buy and

D. Newspapers Time consuming to read
contain detailed
to be read more and waste of paper
information
E. School Monotonous and prevent
Save money for parents
uniforms – yes or the development of
on children’s clothing
no personality
 In each case, imagine that your opinion is the “against”

argument. Write a short paragraph on each topic. Begin with a
sentence containing the main argument and then clarify your
view by making a concession.
Example:
As far as I can tell, television has few
benefits for children.While I agree
that there are some good educational
programme these days, far too much
advertising is targeted at children
and this makes television viewing
very undesirable.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
33
Handout 20: explaining / defining

I. Add an explanation to each of the following sentences:
1. In my opinion, extended families are more successful than nuclear
families.
2. It is often said that young people are more tolerant than old
people
3. I am convinced that an element of choice is important in the
school curriculum
4. Job commitment is not always the key to success.
II. Read the following introduction to an IELTS question on

the topic “Examinations serve no useful purpose” and
identify the writer’s technique in explaining his / her
argument:
I am convinced that examinations have a positive influence on learning

and by that I mean that they lead to a better grasp of the subject, which
is essential in areas such as medicine. While I admit that they can creat
undue pressure on students and can cause stress-related conditions, I
would argue that these problems can be largely avoided if the approach
to examinations is handled effectively by those concerned. Overall,
students are motivated by examinations and this motivation can only
benefit them.
 How strong are the writer’s views?

 How would you develop this argument?
III. Complete the paragraph below by using an appropriate

words or structure for each gap to make a strong expression
of view:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
34
One of the main arguments (1)______________ school uniforms is that

they make all school children within the same school look the same.
(2_______________ they cover up any obvious socio-economic
differences and thus prevent children from feeling embarrassed about
the clothes they wear. (3)______________ this is a very important
consideration. Children should be free to concentrate on their studies
rather than worring about their appearance. (4)______________ is not
ideal to take aways people’s freedom of choice by imposing a uniform
but I (5)______________ that children have any feelings about such
things. Neither do I (6)______________ uniforms pose a financial burden
on families. (7)______________ they would have to spend some money
on whatever their children wear to school and uniforms, in particular,
are usually relatively cheap to buy.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
35
Handout 21: giving and refuting counterarguments

Model essay
Individualism is a fundamental value in the United States. All Americans
believe in the right to express their own opinion without fear of punishment.
This value, however, is coming under fire in an unlikely place – the public
school classroom. The issue is school uniforms. Should public school
students be allowed to make individual decisions about clothing, or should
all students be required to wear a uniform? School uniforms are the better
choice for three reasons.
First, wearing school uniforms would help make students’ lives simpler. They
should no longer have to decide what to wear every morning, sometimes
trying on outfit after outfit in an effort to choose. Uniforms would not only
save time but also would eliminate the stress often associated with this
chore.
Second, school uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups and

as individuals. Uniforms give students the message that school is a special
place for learning. In addition, uniforms creat a feeling of unity among
students. For example, when students do something as a group, such as
attend meetings in the auditorium or eat luch in the cafeteria, the fact that
they all wear the same uniform would creat a sense of community. Even
more important, statistics show the positive effects that school uniforms
have on violence and truancy. According to recent survey in Hillsborough
County, Florida, incidents of school violence dropped by 50 percent,
attendance and test scores improved, and students suspensions declined
approximately 30 percent after scholl uniforms were introduced.
Finally, school uniforms would help make all the students feel equal. People’s
standards of living differ greatly, and some people are well-off while others
are not. People sometimes forget that school is a place to get an education,
not to promote a “fashion show”. Implementing madatory school uniforms
would make all the students look the same regardless of their financial
status. School uniforms would promote pride and help to raise the self-
esteem of students who cannot afford to wear stylish clothing.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
36
Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students who wear school

uniforms cannot express their individuality. This point has some merit on the
surface. However, as stated previously, school is a place to learn, not to
flaunt wealth and fashion. Society must decide if individual expression
through clothing is more valuable than improved educational performance.
It’s important to remember that school uniforms would be worn only during
school hours. Students can express their individuality in the way they dress
outside of the classroom.
In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits to implementing

mandatory school uniforms for students. Studies show that students learn
better and act more responsibly when they wear uniforms. Public schools
should require uniforms in order to benefit both the students and society as
a whole.
____________________________________________________________________
______
17. What is the thesis statement?

____________________________________________________________________
______
18. What are the main / key arguments in paragraphs 2, 3, and 4?

Are they supported with supporting information? If yes, list them.
Paragraph 2:
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_______
____________________________________________________________________
_______
____________________________________________________________________
_______
Paragraph 3:
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_______
____________________________________________________________________
_______
__________________________________________________________________________________________
37
____________________________________________________________________
_______
Paragraph 4:
________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_______
____________________________________________________________________
_______
____________________________________________________________________
_______
19. Which paragraph presents a counterargument (an argument

that is contrary to, or opposite of, the writer’s opinion)? What is
the counterargument?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
20. In which paragraph does the writer give a refutation of the

counterargument (show that it is wrong)? What is the refutation?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
21. What is the effect of the giving and refutation of

counterargument in this essay?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
Handout 22: giving and refuting counterarguments
Read the following excerps from two argumentative

essays. Underline the counterarguments and double-
underline the refutations:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
38
Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students

who wear school uniforms cannot express their
individuality. This point has some merit on the surface.
However, as stated previously, school is a place to
learn, not to flaunt wealth and fashion.
The opponents of capital punishment might say that no

one has the right to decide who should die, including
the government. However, when the government sends
soldiers to war, it is deciding the fate of those soldiers
who will die. As long as the government has a right to
send its citizens to a battlefield, it has a right to put
criminals to death.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
39
Handout 23: writing coherently
To achieve coherence, there are four ways:

 Repeating key nouns
 Using connectors and other cohesive devices (pronouns,
determiners, etc.)
 Using logical order
 Applying grammatical consistency
This exercise gives you practise with the second way.
Jot down all the linking words or phrases that you know according
to the following types:
1. to introduce the first argument: First, Firstly, First of all,

___________________________
____________________________________________________________________
_______
____________________________________________________________________
_______
2. to introduce a further argument: Secondly, Thirdly, Furthermore,
___________________
____________________________________________________________________
_______
____________________________________________________________________
_______
3. to introduce the final idea: Lastly,
Finally,______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
4. to introduce the conclusion: In conclusion, To conclude,
__________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
5. to introduce an example / evidence: For example, For instance,
____________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
6. to introduce a different / opposite idea: However, On the other
hand, ________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
40
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
7. to introduce a similar opinion: Similarly. In the same way,
_________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
8. to correct oneself: Actually, Rather,
__________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
9. to paraphrase / further explain: By this I mean,That is to say,
______________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
10. to introduce a cause – effect relationship: As a result, As a
consequence, ____________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
______________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
41
Handout 24: writing coherently
I. Choose the best answer for each of the following sentence:
1. ______ necessary pollution control measures are, many industries

hesitate to adopt them
A. No matter B. Although C. However
D. Even if
2. ______ educational institutions controlled by church, municipal, or
private corporations, Latin Americans universities are regulated
by the government.
A. Only those B. That theC. With the exception of D.
There are
3. I wrote it in my diary _______ to forget.
A. so as B. so as not C. in order D. in
case
4. The party was a disappointment _______ half of the guests left
halfway.
A. when B. but C. so that D. in so
far as
5. Penguins usually do not get wet _______ their feathers are kept oily
by tiny oil glands
A. on B. while C. since D. because of
6. I don’t mind you using my bike _______ you take care of it
A. unless B. since C. provided that D. supposed
that
7. _______ the climate, Edinburgh would be a perfect place to live
A. Despite B. In spite of C. With D. But
for
8. Public transportation in most of the nation is expanding. ______,
the use of subways and buses is declining in some metropolitan
areas.
A. Despite that fact B. Consequently C. Although D.
Inspite of the
fact that
II. Read the following paragraph and find the links which tie
the whole paragraph together:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
42
Students who come into high school from primary school find
that at first they have a few problems. The main problem is that their
new high school is much bigger, usually, than their primary school.
Another thing is that the new year 7 students are not always friendly
to him. Sometimes, they play tricks on him or tease him. Another
change is that before he was one of the biggest students in his
school; now he is one of the smallest. Yet another problem is that he
no longer has his own classroom. Now he has to go to a different
classroom for every subject. And the unfortunate student has to
carry all his things with him. He is not used to this. Moreover, our
new year 7 student does not have a class teacher either. Instead of
one teacher whom he knows well, he has six or seven teachers
whom he hardly knows at all. There is no doubt that the boy or girl
starting high school often finds it rather strange at first.
Handout 25: building complex sentences
I. Read the following sets of sentences and try to link each

set together into one complex sentence:
1. The graph is about student numbers in the UK.
The number of student in higher education has risen
The rise has taken over the last five years.
2. Students were asked how much they expect to earn when they
start work
40 per cent of them expect to earn about 21,000 pounds
2 per cent expect to earn 40,000 pounds or more
3. A typical police force in Britain has 25,000 officers
A typical town has a population of 180,000
At any time, there are only 10 officers patrolling the streets of a
typical town.
4. Drink-driving laws vary from country to country
In Poland it is illegal to drive with more than 20mg of alcohol in
your blood
In Italy it is illegal to drive with more than 80mg of alcohol in
your blood
5. The percentage of one-person households in France has risen
over the past 10 years
In 1989, 27 per cent of households in France belonged to single
people
In 1999, 30 per cent of households in France belonged to single
people
__________________________________________________________________________________________
43
6. The enrolment of students in first-degree courses has changed

since last year
The biggest change has taken place in the Biological Sciences.
9 per cent more students have enrolled in the Biological
Sciences this year
55,000 students enrolled in the Biological Sciences this year
II. Read the following paragraph which describes the results

of a survey. There are no grammatical mistakes but the
ideas could be more clearly explained and link. Use the
techniques you have learnt so far to improve it:
A sample of one hundred people were interviewed at random

about their views on the Internet. Most people had heard of the
computer facility. Few knew how to use it. 20 % of the people had
access to it. The people who said they could use the Internet
were students or were under 40 years of age. The people who
had not heard of it were 60 years old or more. The sample was
felt to be representative of the general population.
III. Link the ideas below into a coherent paragraph:

Why is relaxation important? There are several arguments:
a. Life is much faster than it used to be, e.g. modes of travel,
technology. The body can’t keep up
b. (possibly more important) Enthusiasm for work is renewed
after a break. Mistakes / accidents are less likely. We have
new ideas / approaches. Everyone benefits. Do some people
neeed more relaxation than others? The more we have, the
more we want? I think so. Age / health / stress / finances, etc
play a part but individuals differ. So must keep a balance.
Take holidays and breaks but not too many.
Handout 26: formality
I. Use nominalisation to give formality to these sentences:
1. His father died. This was probably one of the reasons why he
failed the exams.
________________________________________________________________
___
2. Telephones are often not reliable. This makes matters
complicated.
________________________________________________________________
___
__________________________________________________________________________________________
44
3. Parents are not concerned about their children. This results in

their children feeling rejected.
________________________________________________________________
___
4. The student did badly in the exam. This may have been
because he was ill.
________________________________________________________________
___
5. Children are taught music. This is very important.
________________________________________________________________
___
6. Many rural prople are illiterate. This makes finding a job in a
town difficult.
________________________________________________________________
___
7. People burn oil and coal to produce energy and heat. This
causes excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
________________________________________________________________
___
8. The government intends to build more schools. This has been
announced in the press.
________________________________________________________________
___
9. He is afraid of the sight of blood. This puts him off studying
medicine.
________________________________________________________________
___
10. He smokes first thing in the morning. This irritates his wife.
________________________________________________________________
___
11. People are greedy. This cannot be changed.
________________________________________________________________
___
12. We need to build up our bodies. This is one of the main
reasons why we eat.
________________________________________________________________
___
13.Some people cannot speak a foreign language. This may be due to a
psychological problem.
________________________________________________________________
___
14. She failed the exam. This made her very depressed.
________________________________________________________________
___
15. The lawyer was closely involved in his client’s case. This is not
a good thing.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
45
________________________________________________________________
___
16. They didn’t know English. This was not a problem for them.
________________________________________________________________
___
17. They are never satisfied. This is a problem for them.
________________________________________________________________
___
18. The consumes too much fat. This has caused him to have heart
problems.
________________________________________________________________
___
19. Earthquakes frequently occur in that region. They cause a lot of

problems.
________________________________________________________________
___
20. It is dificult to find accommodation. This is the major problem.
________________________________________________________________
___
II. Use formal verbs and other parts of speech to give

formality to these sentences:
1. Researchers looked at the way strain builds up around a fault.

________________________________________________________________
___
2. Expert Systems can help out the user in the diagnosis of
problems.
________________________________________________________________
___
3. This program was set up to improve access to medical care.
________________________________________________________________
___
4. Research expenditures have gone up to nearly 300 million
dollars.
________________________________________________________________
___
5. The use of optical character readers should cut down the
number of problems with the U.S mail service.
________________________________________________________________
___
6. Researchers have found out that this drug has serious side
effects.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
46
________________________________________________________________
___
7. Building a nuclear power plant will not get rid of the energy
problem completely.
________________________________________________________________
___
8. Researchers have been looking into this problem for 15 years
now.
________________________________________________________________
___
9. This issue was brought up during the investigation
________________________________________________________________
___
10. Engineers can come up with better designs using CAD
________________________________________________________________
___
11. The emission levels have been going up and down
________________________________________________________________
___
12. The government has made good progress in solving
environmental problems
________________________________________________________________
___
13. The results of a lot of different projects have been
pretty good
________________________________________________________________
___
14. A loss of jobs is one of the things that will happen if the
process is automated.
________________________________________________________________
___
15. The reaction of the officials was sort of negative.
________________________________________________________________
___
16. The economic outlook is mighty nice.
________________________________________________________________
___
17. The future of Federal funding is up in the air.

________________________________________________________________
___
18. America’s major automakers are planning to get together
on the research needed for more fuel efficient cars.
________________________________________________________________
___
19. We got encouraging results
__________________________________________________________________________________________
47
________________________________________________________________
___
__________________________________________________________________________________________
48

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Essay writing training course - 2008

Handout 1: approaching the task

You should spend 40 minutes on this task.

I. Analyse the task and answer the following questions:

II. Which of the following areas would it be appropriate to

Handout 2: approaching the task

Look at these questions and identify the topic words and

Eg: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a

1. Some workplaces do not ensure the safety of workers who use

dangerous equipment. What can be done?

2. People who watch a lot of violent TV will find it influences their

behaviour when they are angry or upset. Do you agree?

3. It is the responsibility of a government to protect its citizen from

natural disasters. How far do you agree?

4. How would you ensure children watch only suitable material on

5. The twentieth century has seen more development than any

preceding century. What evidence can you offer to support this

6. Some people say that smoking should be permitted in places

smoke unpleasant, and fear it is bad for everybody’s health. What is

7. What are the features of an ideal television show for children

below school age?

8. Discuss the ways to improve the traffic in Hanoi today?

9. Students have to absorb a great deal of information. Describe

quick and efficient ways to do this?

Handout 3: types of task two essay

1. “Children over 15 should be allowed to make decisions about their

instruments ) which as adults we seem to lose? Are there too many

Handout 4: forming ideas

Suggestions to the task:

Handout 5: writing argumentative essay

First, I disagree that we have to choose between technology and tradition.

Moreover, technology plays an important role in traditional culture

us, however developed technology might be.

Analyse the model essay

2. What is the thesis statement? Identify the thesis statement in the

3. What are the main / key arguments in paragraphs 2, and 3? Are

4. How does the writer link the paragraphs together?

Handout 6: writing argumentative essay

I. Write the introduction to this task:

II. Read these introductions to the same task. How do you

My response to this argument depends on what is meant by a

I certainly believe that employees should be made to feel that they

benefits, I am less convinced that it will increase a company’s profits.

Handout 7: writing argumentative essay

I. Write the introduction to this task:

Sample answer : For

Sample answer : against

The issue of whether we should force parents to immunise their

Handout 8: writing argumentative essay

I. Write the conclusion to complete the following answer to

It is undoubtedly true that children are often well motivated to learn.

It can generally be observed that children are better at learning than

Handout 9: writing argumentative essay

c. As a result, students are often encouraged to learn facts by heart

d. The traditional method of assessing academic progress has always

f. To sum up, in my opinion, less importance should be given to exams

g. Lastly, it seems to me that exams sometimes have a bad effect on

h. Firstly, I think that the examination system is unfair because

i. Consequently, they are often more interested in preparing their

Handout 10: writing argumentative essay

Second, school uniforms influence students to act responsibly in groups and

Opponents of mandatory uniforms say that students who wear school

In conclusion, there are many well-documented benefits to implementing