What kind of questions can I expect in task 2

THE IELTS ACADEMIC WRITING TEST -TASK 2 TUTORIAL

Task 2 in the IELTS Academic Writing Test is more important than task 1. You have to write more, it's a more difficult task and it is worth more to your final band for writing as more weight is given to Task 2 than to Task 1.

The Task for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing

The IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 asks you to write a short essay of a minimum of 250 words. The essay is usually a discussion of a subject of general interest. You may have to present and justify your opinion about something, give the solution to a problem or compare differing ideas or viewpoints.

Marking for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing

Your task will be marked in three areas. You will get a mark from 1 to 9 on Arguments, Ideas and Evidence, Communicative Quality and Vocabulary and Sentence Structure. Your final band for Task 2 will be effectively an average of the three marks awarded in these areas. Task 2 writing is more important than Task 1 and to calculate the final writing mark, more weight is assigned to the Task 2 mark than to Task 1's mark. To get a good overall mark though, both tasks have to be well answered so don't hold back on Task 1 or give yourself too little time to answer it properly.

Arguments, Ideas and EvidenceThis mark grades you on the content of your essay. The argument is how you present your case as regards the question. The ideas part is how many and how good your ideas are in helping your argument. The evidence is the facts that you use to back up your ideas. Evidence is very important in Task 2. You need to bring in facts from your own experience in order to support your ideas. The three parts (Arguments, Ideas and Evidence) are not independent but blend together to give a good answer. Together they really present the content and substance of your essay.

Communicative QualityThis is how you are making yourself understood and whether the reader of your writing understands what you are saying. Are you communicating well with the reader and are your ideas that you want to present understood by the reader?

Vocabulary and Sentence StructureThis area looks at the your grammar and choice of words. The marker will look at whether the right grammar and words are used and whether they are used at the right time, in the right place and in the right way. Most people are predominantly worried about their grammar but, as you can see, grammar is only half of one section of three used to grade your writing. IELTS is much more interested in communication rather than grammatical accuracy.

Paragraphing for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing

This is a very easy thing to do but it can have an enormous effect on the clarity of your writing. I have said this for Task 1 but for Task 2 it's is even more important. In Task 2 you will be writing more and it is therefore more important to divide your writing up into divisions to make it easier to read.

Very often people use no paragraphing and the examiner is faced with a "sea" of writing with no breaks from start to finish. For me, the best writings are those where there are paragraphs separated by an empty line and also indented. In this way your ideas are separated clearly. It shows and gives organization to your writing and makes it more readable.

For Task 2, have a paragraph break after your introduction, and then for every differing section of your separate ideas with the supporting evidence. Then have a final paragraph for your conclusion. You should aim to have 3 or 4 paragraphs plus the introduction and conclusion.

Look at this section on paragraphing. It is divided into 5 separate paragraphs dividing the 5 different areas that I want to present to you, the reader. The 5 areas are:

Paragraph 1Why paragraphing is important for Task 2.

Paragraph 2How to divide your paragraphing.

Paragraph 3Where your paragraph divisions should occur.

Paragraph 4The division of paragraphs in this section.

Paragraph 5Explaining the comparison with this section and the one below to show how paragraphing can work.

Below I will repeat paragraphs 1 - 4 of this section on paragraphing but I am going to remove all the paragraphs and line breaks and make it a "sea of writing" as I said can happen above. I hope you feel that this section is easier to understand than the one below!! (By the way, I haven't used line breaks through this entire tutorial as there would be too many and it would be too confusing).

Paragraphing(bad example section)

This is a very easy thing to do but it can have an enormous effect on the clarity of your writing. I have said this for Task 1 but for Task 2 it's is even more important. In Task 2 you will be writing more and it is therefore more important to divide your writing up into divisions to make it easier to read. Very often people use no paragraphing and the examiner is faced with a "sea" of writing with no breaks from start to finish. For me, the best writings are those where there are paragraphs separated by an empty line and also indented. In this way your ideas are separated clearly. It shows and gives organization to your writing and makes it more readable. For Task 2, have a paragraph break after your introduction, and then for every differing section of your separate ideas with the evidence. Then have a final paragraph for your conclusion. You should aim to have 3 or 4 paragraphs plus the introduction and conclusion. Look at this section on paragraphing. It is divided into 4 separate paragraphs dividing the 4 different areas that I want to present to you the reader. The 4 areas are: Paragraph 1: Why paragraphing is important for task 2: Paragraph 2: How to divide your paragraphing. Paragraph 3: Where your paragraph divisions should occur. Paragraph 4: An example to show you how paragraphing works.

I hope you feel that the first section was easier to understand than this second one!!

Ideas to Think About for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing

1Timing

The exam paper recommends that you spend about 40 minutes on this question and this is about right. Remember that Task 2 gives more to your final writing band and so you should make sure that you have enough time after Task 1 to properly answer Task 2. Some students do Task 2 first in order to make sure that Task 2 is answered well before they get onto Task 1. There is no problem with this but make sure you write the 150 words to give a good answer for Task 1 as well.

So, whatever you decide to do about your approach to Task 1 and Task 2 in the writing paper, make sure that you spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. This should give you the right amount of time to provide good answers to both tasks.

2Answering the question.

Although this sounds very straightforward, people don't often properly answer the question set and therefore don't get the band that they should even if the writing is very good.

First of all read the question very carefully in order to see exactly what it asks you. Very often there will be more than 1 part to the question; sometimes even 3 or 4 parts. When you produce your answer you must answer all the different parts of the question. How much you produce on each part depends on how important you think it is.

You have to write a formal academic English essay of the type that would be required for teachers or tertiary education courses. Formulate and develop an argument and show a personal response. Give your opinions and back them up with evidence and examples. Your answer should persuade, be consistent and develop logically towards a conclusion, which answers all parts of the question.

Another important basic is to write at least 250 words. Writing less does not answer the question, which tells you to write at least 250 words. If you write less than 250 words, the examiner marking your paper will give you a maximum of 5 for Arguments, Ideas and Evidence or even less. It is no problem to write more than the 250 words; there is no upward word limit on the essay. Time is your only constraint.

The question wants you to produce an essay. Therefore don't give a list of numbered notes (your paragraphs should not be numbered). Give the examiner a proper essay with an introduction, a main body with your ideas and evidence and a conclusion, all divided of course with the paragraphing techniques discussed above.

3Planning

Many students that I have taught have regarded writing an essay plan as a waste of time. The only answer I can give is that it depends on the individual. If you are a good essay writer who can automatically organize your ideas and structure in your head so well that you can produce a good structured essay without planning, then I say that's it's fine not to write an essay plan.

Also if you're really short of time and you need to get writing on page, then you don't want to waste time on planning. However, if none of these conditions apply, then 1 or 2 minutes thinking about your ideas and how you are going to present them will not be wasted. I'm not saying that you should spend 10 minutes on this. Just take a scrap of paper and jot down some ideas that you are going to use in your essay.

Then you can divide the ideas into 3 or 4 paragraphs in a logical order. This shouldn't take you long and the structure that this will give your essay will be well worth the time that you spend doing it.

Writing The Essay in the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing

All too often students begin planning or even writing their answers in the IELTS Writing Module before they understand what is actually expected of them. Following the steps below will help you to plan a well-structured and coherent essay or report that addresses the given task.

Preparation

You may wish to spend about 5-7 minutes working out exactly what you are going to do. There are five steps to consider.

Study the question carefully. Most task statements or questions have a key instructional word or words telling you what to do. Note these words with a highlighting pen.

There are also key topic words which point to the most important parts of the question. Underline those words too. Ask yourself how the key words relate to the given instruction.

Think carefully about the topic. How do you feel about it?

Establish a point of view and list some points for development. The answer normally takes the form of a short essay. The word essay' comes from an old French word essai which meant to attempt or try out', or to test'. In an IELTS Writing Module Task 2 answer, your purpose is to develop your point of view in a convincing way.

Decide which points will be written as topic sentences. Think about how they will develop into paragraphs.

Ensure that your points are arranged in a logical order.

Writing

When you are writing a Task 2 answer, a structure based on the following elements could be used (summarised in the flow chart opposite).

Introductory paragraph

The introduction of a Task 2 answer should begin with a general statement or idea of your own that takes into account the key topic words or their synonyms. The last sentence of the introduction should include a thesis statement which shows the point of view or direction that will be taken in the answer. 1The Introduction

First of all, don't repeat any part of the question in your introduction. This is not your own work and therefore will be disregarded by the examiner and deducted from the word count. You can use individual words but be careful of using "chunks" of the question text.

Your introduction should first say what you understand by the question. Then give the main issue or issues that you intend to bring into your answer. Don't go into any detail; you can save that for the later paragraphs.

Finally, the question often asks you to take up a position over an issue. There is no right answer for putting your views at the start and then explaining this through the essay, or developing your opinion though your essay and stating your final stance at the end. I personally like the opinion at the start of the essay. Quickly and clearly answer the question, making your attitude plain. Don't give any reasons. Again, that's what the body of your essay is for. You don't have to do it this way though. You can wait until your conclusion to give your position as regards the question.

2The Body of Your Essay

Body paragraphs each consist of several sentences that are arranged in a logical way to develop a main idea. You can expect to write about 2-4 body paragraphs for a Task 2 answer. Each of these contains an appropriate connective word to ensure a smooth transition between paragraphs. This connective is then put in a topic sentence which is the main point of the paragraph clearly stated in a sentence. Every sentence in the paragraph must be directly related to it. Try to develop every paragraph adequately. This may be done through the use of examples, explanations, detail, logical inference, cause and effect or making comparisons or contrasts. There are many different ways to organise your ideas for body paragraphs. Be confident of the ideas you choose. You should aim to have 3 or 4 paragraphs in your answer. This is not exact. You can write more or fewer paragraphs, as your answer requires. Remember you've only got about 40 minutes to cover all the question areas so don't be too ambitious and try to write too much.

In the body of your essay you should do several things. You need to examine all parts of the question. Remember there is often more than 1 question contained in the essay question text. You need to look at all that is asked and look at both sides of every issue. IELTS essay questions usually ask you something which has two or more points of view, and you need to consider both sides of every argument no matter what your opinion is.

3The Conclusion

This doesn't need to be a long paragraph. You need to sum up your points providing a final perspective on your topic. All the conclusion needs is three or four strong sentences, which do not need to follow any set formula. Simply review the main points (being careful not to restate them exactly or repeat all your examples) and briefly describe your feelings about the topic; this provides an answer to all parts of the question. An anecdote can also end your essay in a useful way.

A good conclusion serves several purposes:

It indicates the end of your essay.

It gives your final thoughts and assessments on the essay subject.

It weighs up the points in your essay and should strengthen your thesis statement.

Do not simply repeat your opening paragraph. This appears too mechanical and superficial.

INTRODUCTION General statement

Thesis statement

BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Topic sentence including connective word

First supporting sentence

Second supporting sentence

Third supporting sentence

BODY PARAGRAPH 2

BODY PARAGRAPH 3

FURTHER BODY PARAGRAPHS

CONCLUSION Final assessment with concluding connective

Editing (about 3-5 minutes)

In the last few minutes, you should check for obvious errors, such as spelling or grammatical errors. Be sure you have written what you intended and that there are no important ideas missing.

Study the checklist for editing. It lists points to think about when checking your essay. Become familiar with the list so that you will know what to check for in the actual IELTS Writing Module.

Checklist for editing1. I have used accurate grammatical structures, for example, consistent verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, accurate word formation (especially of nouns, verb and adjectives) and appropriate use of a' and the' as well as prepositions.

2. I have used a range of sentence structures.

3. I have used appropriate vocabulary.

4. I have used accurate spelling.

5. I have stated the main idea for each paragraph in a topic sentence and all the points are related to this topic.

6. I have used connective words effectively to link ideas so that the thoughts move logically and clearly from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph.

7. I have developed each paragraph adequately.

8. I have supplied enough detailed information and sufficient examples or facts.

9. I have developed a definite point of view.

10. Every paragraph that I have written has definitely helped to address the task.

Look below at the example. The question asks whether or not you believe whether societies should use capital punishment. There are, of course, two points of view:

(1) capital punishment should be used and

(2) capital punishment shouldn't be used.

Let's say for example that you don't believe that capital punishment should be used by societies. No matter what point of view you have, you should look at both sides, though naturally your writing will favour the position that you have taken. Give the reasons why you don't believe in capital punishment but then look at the opposing view and say why you don't accept it. In this way you will show the reader your powers of analysis when looking at such an issue.

Don't forget that when you have finished looking at this issue there is a second part of the question to be analysed too.

As we said earlier, your ideas need to be supported by examples and it is in the body of your essay that they should appear. For every idea that you present try and give an example from your own experience that shows that your idea is right.

An example from your own experience means something that you know from your life, from your country's news or history or anything that you have read anywhere. You can actually invent examples if you need as long as they seem realistic and believable. The examiner is probably not going to research anything you write about.

An Example of the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing

It's very difficult to visualize and understand all the things that I have said above. Here I will try and provide you with an example question and then go through the stages of thought to show you how to approach an IELTS Task 2 essay.

Here is a possible question that would be typical for a Task 2 essay question.

"Do you believe that societies ought to enforce capital punishment or Are there alternative forms of punishment that would be better used?"First of all you need to consider the question. What does it ask? Straight away, you can see that it asks 2 things.

It wants to know if you believe that society should use capital punishment and it also wants to know if you can offer any alternatives to capital punishment. Your answer should give a balanced view of both parts of this question. What is important to realize is that there is no correct answer here. You can present any point of view as long as you can support it.

So, in your planning stage you should have a roadmap for the introduction, each paragraph and the conclusion. Here is my brief plan for the essay.

Intro

What cp is. Where it's used. (not my country). Differing opinions.

I don't believe in cp.

There are alternative punishments.

Body

1. Inhumane - we shouldn't sink to the level of criminals.

2. We can get convictions wrong; prisoners can be released if there's an error. Mentally ill. Examples.

3. Alternative punishments: life means life; hospitals for criminally insane. Costs more but society has a duty to care.

4. Many countries favour it and they say it works. Prisons too full. Killers deserve nothing less. Some crimes deserve it. Not my morals though.

Conclusion

I don't agree. We can do other things. Avoid mistakes and make modern society a humane one.

The above is a basic plan of how I want to write my essay. It's not rigid. I can change my ideas and format as I write if I feel I can do better.

I can also add things that I've forgotten as the essay goes on. It's normal of course for you to have new, good ideas as you write and the skill is to get them into your essay without upsetting the balance of the essay. How do you do this? It's practice again. You won't get good at writing essays and adapting your writing well without practice.

So, below is an example essay using the plan above as a basis.

Example Essay for the IELTS Academic Task2 Writing

Capital punishment is the killing of a criminal for a crime that he has committed. Previously most countries employed this method of punishment but nowadays it is much less widely used. I personally do not believe that societies today should use capital punishment and I also believe that there are alternative punishments that can be used.

My main argument against capital punishment is that I believe we do not have the right to kill another human being regardless of the crime. I don't believe in the old religious maxim of "an eye for an eye." Modern societies shouldn't turn to such barbaric punishments.

Another argument against capital punishment is that people can be wrongly convicted and executed. If a man is in prison, he can be released if later proved not guilty. If he is dead, there is nothing that can be done. In the UK, a group of supposed terrorists were convicted of murder in Birmingham in the 1970s. They were proved innocent about 15 years later and released. If they had been executed, innocent people would have died.

There are alternative punishments available. For bad crimes prison life sentences can be given with criminals imprisoned for the rest of their lives. Also a lot of horrific crimes are committed by people who are mentally sick. These people are not responsible for their actions and can be kept safely and permanently in secure hospitals. Yes, this costs a lot more but I believe it is the duty of society to do this.

There are arguments for capital punishment. Many people feel its threat stops serious crime and that criminals deserve nothing less. It's cheaper and keeps the prisons manageable. I can understand this point of view but I cannot agree with it.

So, in conclusion, I don't believe in capital punishment, as there are less barbaric alternatives available. We can avoid horrific mistakes and make modern society a humane one.

What kind of questions can I expect in task 2 ?Most questions in Writing Task 2 are designed to get you to give an opinion on a topic. The topics are non-specialist, so you dont need to be an expert in the different areas. The topics that are chosen are ones that it is not easy to decide which side of the argument you agree with: The arguments for & against are not clearly black or white, but more grey so you will probably agree with some points on both sides of the argument. For example: "Education should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"Task 2s are split into two parts1) The statement and2) The questionTogether they make up the task.

Example:The statementMore and more students are taking a year off after finishing school to travel or work before they go to university. However, some people dont agree with this.

The questionWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of this ?

What you need to do is to read the statement carefully and underline what you think are the keywords. Keywords in task 2 statements are usually nouns, verbs, modifiers (eg: more / less/ a few / some) & negatives (e.g.: not / dont).

Look at the example again below:The statementMore and more students are taking a year off after finishing school to travel or work before they go to university. However, some people dont agree with this.

The questionWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of this

Tip:You should underline around 30% to 40% of the statement. It is very easy to underline about 80% at first because youre not sure exactly what to do and all the words appear to be very important. Dont worry too much if youre underlining over 50% at first because as you practice further, the number of words you underline will decrease as you become more confident.

i)The statementSome people believe that governments should look after their citizens health and education, while others think it is up to individual people to take care of these matters.

The questionShould health-care and education be free for everyone?

ii)The statementMany millions of dollars are spent each year on space exploration, while on Earth many people cant afford to eat. This money is wasted and should be redirected to more useful projects that help people in need.

The questionTo what extent do you agree with this statement?

iii)The statementThe increasing use of the Internet as a means of education is changing peoples study skills.

The questionIn what ways is the Internet affecting the way people read, write & access information?

What do the questions mean?

1. To what extent do you agree with this statement ?

a) Be careful ! A lot of students think that they only have to write about one side of the argument in To what extent questions. To what extent means how much, so you might only agree 40% for example, therefore you will need to write most of your answer on the disagree side, even though the word disagree isnt in the question.

2. Discuss.

a) Quite easy this one. When you discuss something it means to look at all relevant sides of an argument.

3. What are the causes of pollution and suggest some possible solutions.

b) If the question has the word and in it, then it is going to be a two-part question.

Two-part questions need two-part answers: 1 paragraph on the first part and 1 paragraph on the second part. Usually, at least one part is concerned with causes, effects or solutions. Often, as in question 5, one part of the question deals with one side of an argument (for, against, agree or disagree); if this is the case, you should write about that side ONLY, otherwise, if you write about both sides, you wont have enough time to write about the second part of the question.

4. What are the qualities of a good teacher ?

c) If the question starts with What are the and mentions only one thing (i.e.: good, bad, advantages or disadvantages), then it is a list question. With list questions all you need to do is provide a list of things that support the question in this case a list of qualities that make a good teacher. Normally, students will spend one paragraph on each point and explaining it in detail, so they might have three or four body paragraphs.

5. What are the arguments for free education for everyone and outline con

ways in which this might be possible. b) See question 3.Overall organization plans for Task 21)An answer showing both sides of an argumentINTRODUCTION

BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Arguments for

BODY PARAGRAPH 2 Arguments against

CONCLUSION

2) An answer listing points (you should write about 3 to 5 points)INTRODUCTION

BODY PRAGRAPH 1 Point 1

BODY PRAGRAPH 2 Point 2

BODY PRAGRAPH 3 Point 3

CONCLUSION

3) An answer for a two-part questionINTRODUCTION

BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Arguments for

BODY PARAGRAPH 2 - Suggestions

CONCLUSION

How do I use linking phrases effectively? Suggested answer keyTask 2: There is not a 'correct' answer to the topic. You must evaluate the topic, organize your ideas, and develop them into a cohesive and coherent response. You will be scored on how well you are able to utilize standard written English, organize and explain your thoughts, and support those thoughts with reasons and examples.

BrainstormSpend the first three to five minutes brainstorming out ideas. Write down any ideas you might have on the topic or table. The purpose is to extract from the recesses of your memory any relevant information. In this stage, anything goes down. Write down any idea, regardless of how good it may initially seem. You can use either the scratch paper provided or the word processor to quickly jot down your thoughts and ideas. The word processor is highly recommended though, particularly if you are a fast typist.Strength through DiversityThe best papers will contain diversity of examples and reasoning. As you brainstorm consider different perspectives. Not only are there two sides to every issue, but there are also countless perspectives that can be considered. On any issue, different groups are impacted, with many reaching the same conclusion or position, but through vastly different paths. Try to 'see' the issue through as many different eyes as you can. Look at it from every angle and from every vantage point. The more diverse the reasoning used, the more balanced the paper will become and the better the score.

Example:The issue of free trade is not just two sided. It impacts politicians, domestic (US) manufacturers, foreign manufacturers, the US economy, the world economy, strategic alliances, retailers, wholesalers, consumers, unions, workers, and the exchange of more than just goods, but also of ideas, beliefs, and cultures. The more of these angles that you can approach the issue from, the more solid your reasoning and the stronger your position.

Furthermore, dont just use information as to how the issue impacts other people. Draw liberally from your own experience and your own observations. Explain a personal experience that you have had and your own emotions from that moment. Anything that youve seen in your community or observed in society can be expanded upon to further round out your position on the issue.

Pick a Main IdeaOnce you have finished with your creative flow, stop and review it. Which idea were you able to come up with the most supporting information? Its extremely important that you pick an angle that will allow you to have a thorough and comprehensive coverage of the topic or table. This is not about your personal convictions, but about writing a concise rational discussion of an idea.

Weed the GardenEvery garden of ideas gets weeds in it. The ideas that you brainstormed over are going to be random pieces of information of mixed value. Go through it methodically and pick out the ones that are the best. The best ideas are strong points that it will be easy to write a few sentences or a paragraph about.

Create a Logical FlowNow that you know which ideas you are going to use and focus upon, organize them. Put your writing points in a logical order. You have your main ideas that you will focus on, and must align them in a sequence that will flow in a smooth, sensible path from point to point, so that the reader will go smoothly from one idea to the next in a logical path. Readers must have a sense of continuity as they read your paper. You dont want to have a paper that rambles back and forth.

It is better to write in regular, not very sophisticated English, than to use phrases or structures you dont fully understand.If you need Band 6 - no need for complex sentence structure. If your goal is Band 7 - then show advanced sentence structure, language and vocabulary.

Dont write more than 260-265 words in IELTS Writing 2 task. Why? Not because you will get lower mark, but because of these 2 reasons:

1) It takes more time2) More words = more mistakes

If you are told to cover specific points in your essay/letter - cover every point, examiners actually count them.

Dont overuse connecting words (like However, Furthermore, Moreover, etc) - examiners are watching for you to do that.

Start Your EnginesYou have a logical flow of main ideas with which to start writing. Begin expanding on the issues in the sequence that you have set for yourself. Pace yourself. Dont spend too much time on any one of the ideas that you are expanding upon. You want to have time for all of them. Make sure you watch your time. If you have twenty minutes left to write out your ideas and you have ten ideas, then you can only use two minutes per idea. It can be a daunting task to cram a lot of information down in words in a short amount of time, but if you pace yourself, you can get through it all. If you find that you are falling behind, speed up. Move through each idea more quickly, spending less time to expand upon the idea in order to catch back up.Once you finish expanding on each idea, go back to your brainstorming session up above, where you wrote out your ideas. Go ahead and erase the ideas as you write about them. This will let you see what you need to write about next, and also allow you to pace yourself and see what you have left to cover.

First ParagraphYour first paragraph should have several easily identifiable features. First, it should have a quick description or paraphrasing of the topic or table. Use your own words to briefly explain what the topic or table is about.

Second, you should explain your opinion of the topic or table and give an explanation of why you feel that way. What is your decision or conclusion on the topic or table?

Third, you should list your 'writing points'. What are the main ideas that you came up with earlier? This is your opportunity to outline the rest of your paper. Have a sentence explaining each idea that you will go intend further depth in additional paragraphs. If someone was to only read this paragraph, they should be able to get an 'executive summary' of the entire paper.

Body ParagraphEach of your successive paragraphs should expand upon one of the points listed in the main paragraph. Use your personal experience and knowledge to support each of your points. Examples should back up everything.

Conclusion ParagraphOnce you have finished expanding upon each of your main points, wrap it up. Summarize what you have said and covered in a conclusion paragraph. Explain once more your opinion of the topic or table and quickly review why you feel that way. At this stage, you have already backed up your statements, so there is no need to do that again. All you are doing is refreshing in the mind of the reader the main points that you have made.

Most candidates have difficulty completing the IELTS Writing Task 2 essay on time. However, candidates seeking higher band scores, say, 7 and above, should plan to write a conclusion paragraph that includes not just a Restatement of the Thesis but a true concluding sentence as well.

The purpose of the conclusion sentence is to leave the reader with one more idea, to round out the discussion and bring it to a satisfying end. Often, the sentence can unify the essay by returning to an early idea, perhaps even the one in the Hook, and ending on it.

The concluding sentence should not, however, contain a main idea or, worse, a strong opinion. It is merely supposed to leave the reader with one last, light thought to consider. So, if you write a concluding sentence, make it a suggestion, a recommendation or a prediction. And keep the language light and speculative.

For example, if you had written an Opinion Essay on the subject of mandatory retirement, and you had written that you were against it because it was harmful to companies, workers, and workers families, you would not want to conclude with yet another opinion. In other words, do not end with an even stronger opinion, such as: "The government must change its policy of mandatory retirement before more economic damage is done." Thats far too strong for a conclusion. Instead, consider these kinds of concluding statements:

- Recommendation: "Because people are able to work effectively longer today, perhaps the government might reconsider its policy."

- Suggestion: "Because costs of living are going up and people need to work beyond retirement age, it would be in the interest of the economy that the government rethink its retirement policies."

- Prediction: "If the government reviewed its policies about mandatory retirement, some able-bodied workers might be able to work beyond retirement age, to the benefit of everyone."

Notice that none of the statements tells the government what to do. They just propose a reconsideration of the policy. Also, notice that the prediction statement does not say what will happen, which is a different kind of prediction, but what might or could result. Its also helpful to include words like perhaps and maybe, to reinforce the idea that statement that the statements are conditional, that is, that they merely note possibilities, rather than things that must or will occur.

Dont PanicPanicking will not put down any more words on paper for you. Therefore, it isnt helpful. When you first see the topic or table, if your mind goes as blank as the page on which you have to write your paper, take a deep breath. Force yourself to mechanically go through the steps listed above.

Secondly, dont get clock fever. Its easy to be overwhelmed when youre looking at a page that doesnt seem to have much text, there is a lot of blank space further down, your mind is full of random thoughts and feeling confused, and the clock is ticking down faster than you would like. You brainstormed first so that you dont have to keep coming up with ideas. If youre running out of time and you have a lot of ideas that you havent expanded upon, dont be afraid to make some cuts. Start picking the best ideas that you have left and expand on those few. Dont feel like you have to write down and expand all of your ideas.Check Your WorkIt is more important to have a shorter paper that is well written and well organized, than a longer paper that is poorly written and poorly organized. Remember though that you will be penalized for answers shorter than the required minimum limit. Dont keep writing about a subject just to add words and sentences, and certainly dont start repeating yourself. Expand on the ideas that you identified in the brainstorming session and make sure that you save yourself a few minutes at the end to go back and check your work.

Leave time at the end, at least three minutes, to go back and check over your work. Reread and make sure that everything youve written makes sense and flows. Clean up any spelling or grammar mistakes that you might have made. If you see anything that needs to be moved around, such as a paragraph that would fit in better somewhere else, cut and paste it to that new location. Also, go ahead and erase any brainstorming ideas that you werent able to expand upon and clean up any other extraneous information that you might have written that doesnt fit into your paper.

As you proofread, make sure there arent any fragments or run-ons. Check for sentences that are too short or too long. If the sentence is too short, look to see if you have an identifiable subject and verb. If it is too long, break it up into two separate sentences. Watch out for any 'big' words you may have used. Its good to use difficult vocabulary words, but only if you are positive that you are using them correctly. Your paper has to be correct, it doesnt have to be fancy. Youre not trying to impress anyone with your vocabulary, just your ability to develop and express ideas.Final NoteDepending on your test taking preferences and personality, the essay writing will probably be your hardest or your easiest section. You are required to go through the entire process of writing a paper very quickly, which can be quite a challenge.

Focus upon each of the steps listed above. Go through the process of creative flow first, generating ideas and thoughts about the topic or table. Then organize those ideas into a smooth logical flow. Pick out the ones that are best from the list you have created. Decide which main idea or angle of the topic or table you will discuss.

Create a recognizable structure in your paper, with an introductory paragraph explaining what you have decided upon, and what your main points will be. Use the body paragraphs to expand on those main points and have a conclusion that wraps up the topic or table.

Save a few moments to go back and review what you have written. Clean up any minor mistakes that you might have had and give it those last few critical touches that can make a huge difference. Finally, be proud and confident of what you have written!

This is how they grade your essay: you receive points for Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Looks heavy? Never mind, here comes the simple English version:

Task Response means that your essay shows that you understood and covered the topic from all its sides, aspects, etc. Lets take this topic for example - Internet: connecting or isolating people?. Those who chose to write about how Internet connects people - loose marks, those who chose to write about how Internet isolates people - loose marks, those who compare and contrast both sides of the Internet and give arguments for and against - gain marks.

Coherence and Cohesion means how well you connected the paragraphs and sentences inside each paragraph. You see, all of your paragraphs need to be logically connected. For example, if paragraph 1 explains the advantages of the Internet, and paragraph 2 explains its disadvantages, then paragraph 1 should have last sentence saying something like this: In spite of Internet being such a help in communication, its drawbacks can not be overlooked. This sentence creates the connection between 1st and 2nd paragraphs. If it wasnt there, examiner could think that you jumped from advantages to disadvantages without a reason. The same rule applies to sentences inside the paragraph. Every sentence should lead to the next one.

Lexical Resource means vocabulary and different types of sentences, simple and complex. You should be able to use words and their synonyms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy means spelling and grammar of sentences. You should be able to spell the words correctly, do not forget articles a and the, punctuations is also important, etc - you get the picture, dont you?

One more important thing to know: the four criteria are equally weighted. It means that if you forgot about Coherence and Cohesion in your essay, you will loose 1/4 of your essay points.

IELTS Essay Writing : A simple guide

Id like to present my strategy to go about essay writing. If you do not like, tell me why. If you do, I am glad to be helpful. Well, here is the task I found in a textbook on IELTS .

Enormous effort is put into 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?

The question as it stands implies you should speculate about what comes first product or workers? So it is an opinion essay.

If you decided on an opinion essay, give it a proper structure.

1) Introduction is a must. You dont believe you could get a good grade without introduction, do you? 2) 3 paragraphs are also necessary three is a magical number. It can do wonders to your overall band score. 3) Conclusion. You do not want to infuse your examiner with a feeling of incompleteness.

My opinions I will try to be positive about work force. They really deserve to be cared about. I hope you feel the same. Some scholars call it brainstorming. Lets storm our brains.

First of all, you should not wander off trying to find ideas in the darkest parts of your mind. We will get some obvious hints right from the assignment.

Enormous effort is put into researching and marketing 'the perfect potato crisp' Brilliant! research into stress at work, for example, is ignored Could not be stated better! How important are staff working conditions?... Oh! We know what you are up to. Of course they are! Should employers research and improve the working conditions of their staff? - Lots of thanks, youve been most helpful providing ideas. should they concentrate more on their product?..- Devious, but thank you anyway for bringing it up again.

I think they have already written the better part of the essay. We should only rephrase these expressions to avoid the offence of plagiarism.

Inquisitive minds will easily complete the list of ideas with their own suggestions. Hard thinkers like myself might as well stop brainstorming right here.

I know, I know you are going to blame me for this, because it is not sufficient to develop 3 paragraphs. But brainstorming never ends. I am far from assuming that you will stop thinking after 5 minutes of initial excessive brain work and will begin writing down words in mechanical way dreaming of buying a new car. There is also vocabulary building part, and you have a clear structure of your essay.

Opinion = in support of workers

Introduction topic and opinion in short Paragraph 1 - staff working conditions are important Paragraph 2 - employers should research and improve the working conditions Paragraph 3 - concentrating more on their product is bad Conclusion short summary of paragraphs

------------------------------------------- Rephrasing ideas ------------------------------------------- In my opinion, it is the hardest part. It is about your vocabulary, so nothing we can do but remember some basic expressions. If you get stuck, just write down whatever comes to your mind looking at the key words of the assignment. You will sort it out later on. Some of the words you will insert into sentences, the rest will stay untouched. It surely pays off; you would not bother thinking of necessary vocabulary as you write.

Example vocabulary -Key words: research analyze, explore, inquire, investigate, look into, study marketing advertising, promoting, pushing products ,working condition situation, state, work load ,stress at work pressure, nervous tension, difficulty, hardness, strain ignore disregard, do not take into account, close the eyes to employers managers, bosses staff work force, personnel, employees ,concentrate on the product consider closely, direct attention, fix attention, focus, give attention do a lot of damage to overall productivity friendly environment

Beginning to write -Introduction.

Earlier, we agreed to fight against staff overload. Let state the problem and introduce our opinion. (Simply speaking, lets rewrite the assignment).

Nowadays, most businesses concerned primarily with improving and pushing products at all costs, therefore neglecting the strain this strategy puts on their personnel. I believe it is of vital importance to restrain excessive work load. I also think employers should pay more attention to organizing friendly working environment for their employees.

OK, it is sleeping time I am tired and will have no more of this nonsense. If you are not satisfied call my customer service, otherwise look forward to the next part Paragraphs.

P.S. I might be absolutely wrong. Feel free to destroy my carefully thought-out system, but dont forget to suggest something more useful instead. I will appreciate if you supply supporting ideas for the paragraphs of the essay according to my plan.

PARAGRAPHS Sounds frightening But well make it if we follow simple rules.

The first rule - KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE

Be practical simple ideas come easy and take less effort to develop. Dont be tempted to amaze your examiner with profound knowledge of slang, idioms and pedantic words. Different styles, used in one essay, may produce a funny alienating mixture. Of course, I wouldnt vote for dull writing. A bit of variety never hurts.

The second rule DEVELOP YOUR PARAGRAPHS

A good paragraph must have 1) Topic sentence (statement) 2) Arguments 3 arguments advisable, each followed by 3) Supporting details 4) Transition words and markers

Task Enormous effort is put into 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?

Introduction

Nowadays, most businesses are concerned primarily with improving and pushing products at all costs, therefore neglecting the strain this strategy puts on their personnel. I believe it is of vital importance to restrain excessive work load. I also think employers should pay more attention to organizing friendly working environment for their employees.

First paragraph

In my point of view, conditions that employers provide for their personnel are very important. Fist of all, uncomfortable offices affect the pace of work. Extra efforts to keep everything organized may become the biggest time wasters. Secondly, inconvenient timetables influence labour productivity. Repetitive long hours at work get workers exhausted. Finally, relations between managers and employees matter. Unfriendly atmosphere undermine self-esteem, co-operation and ability of staff to come up with creative ideas.

Timing issues and MY ESSAY

Time could kill your essay as well as bad structure and poor vocabulary. But do not try to kill time yourself. Allow no more than a minute for panicking, sweating and jittering, then stop. Has it put down a single word for you? I guess no.

If at the end of your panicking session the only sentence that comes to your mind is What am I going to do? look at your watch. Notice down the time. Set 10 minutes for completing what I have already described in my first post. I strongly advise you against exceeding the 10-minute limit for this part. No use trying to cram down a further lot of information if you have no time to develop it. What is done is done. Take the next step paragraphs.

Another 30 minutes should be wisely distributed. Time you will spend on each paragraph depends on your ability to produce consistent chunks of text approximately 50 70 words in length. The words left to build up a 250 word essay might be divided between the introduction and conclusion. In my case it takes about 7-8 minutes per paragraph.

Several minutes (6 to 9) to the deadline might be devoted to writing a short conclusion and proofreading

Well, thats how it works.

Actually, I didnt try to work against the clock since I had been writing this essay on separate occasions. But I have done it for educational purposes and it has proved itself viable under time pressure.

Ideas Bank

Theme/TopicCausesEffectsSolutionsOutcomes

Family BreakdownMaterialism, Drugs, Need for moneyDrug addiction, Poor grades at school, ImmoralityTherapy, Education, Family supportIlliteracy, Alcoholism, Crime, Domestic violence, Gender mistrust

Internet AddictionAccess to hi-tech equipment, Diverse program entertainment, Boredom/LonelinessTruancy, Health problems, Computer crime, Time mismanagementTime constraints, VDU screen protection/keyboard correct setup, Tighter fraud legislationFinancial concerns, Exposure to improper/inappropriate programming

Excessive TV WatchingAdvent of cable networks, Unemployment, Free-timeCopycat behavior, False sense of identity, Reluctance to studyCurfew on time, Program preferencing, Develop outside interestsSkip school, Anti-social tendencies, Movie role modeling, Disillusionment

IlliteracyPoverty, Lack of access to resources, Distance, WarCrime, Street waifs, Low levels of social adjustmentTeacher status enhancement, School building program, Scholarship preference for country childrenOverall increase of human resources, Reduction of crime statistics, Motivation for learning in/[de]creases

UrbanizationJob availability, Disappearance of arable land, Better lifestyleOvercrowding, Infrastructure pressures, Pollution, CrimeDecentralization policies, Restrictions on movement/settlementDeclining agricultural capabilities, Increasing gap between have/have-nots

Extinction of SpeciesGreed for animal parts, Overconsumption, Human expansionLoss of fauna/flora hinders scientific research, Beauty of natural world suffersSustainability priorities, Crackdown on illegal flora/fauna dealingsDesensitized profit motive towards nature, Future generations ignorant

Polarity of WealthLack of law/justice, Corruption, Inequality of access to resourcesJealousy, Crime, Pride, Fortress mentalityLiteracy and equal rights extension, HR training, technology transferPoverty and beggar proliferation, Civil disobedience, Rich leach their society

Corrupt GovernmentCivilian lack of action, Nepotism, Military juntasPower and wealth stays in few hands, People forced into unethical behaviorDemocratization, Civil law priority over military, Re-education, International isolation, Lack of transparency and accountability

WarsExtreme nationalism, Border violations, Political incitement/pretence Population displacement, Death/injury, Ecological destructionMediation/negotiation, Pacts, UN resolutions, Trade/cultural delegations Enmity between countries, Loss of GDP/GNP, Youth suffer

Intense NationalismLow self-esteem, Xenophobia, Inability to deal with cultural differences/changeRacism, Victimization of ethnic minorities and 2nd generation members, Exodus of oppressed race[sRemoval of ethnocentric force[s], Re-education of indigenous or native elements, Dialogue xsionOn-going distrust and blame attributed to minorities, Reunification through multiculturalism

Crime and ViolenceLack of access issues, Poverty and ignorance, Jealousy, Need for powerInsecurity, Anarchy, Immorality in society, Faltering national progressStricter punishments, Educational and vocational training, Strengthen law Political disharmony, Breakdown in law and order, Impunity issues

Water PollutionLack of sewage systems, Industrial pollution, Toxic and dumped waste, Health and sanitation risks, Epidemics, Infant mortality rates, Clean-up existing water problems, Prosecute industrial law-breakers, Control over-consumptionWater treatment equipment expensive/complicated, Ignorance of consumers re: H2O, Investment reqs

Air PollutionVehicle emissions, Dust, Industrial output, Green house gases/CFCsHealth risks, respiratory ailments, Ozone depletion, Global warmingPublic transport support, Reduce burning, Fine polluters, Initiate Kyoto A.Developing/developed nations need for catch-up or cartel domination

IndustrializationTechnological advances, Development trends, Globalization, InvestmentPollution, Decline of traditional ways of life, Mega-cities, Consumer re-preferencing, Recycling products, decentralizationGlobal warming, Allergies and disorders, Various pollutants, Surplus product

Population ExplosionUncontrolled birth rates, Immigration, Low educational standardsLack of food and land, Crime and unemployment, On-going povertyFamily planning, Migration controls, Old age pensions, Limited resources or will to restrain birthrate or illegal migration

RacismSee, INTENSE NATIONALISM

SexismLack of laws protecting women, Cultural acceptances of inequalityDomestic violence, Lack of representation in government, Education and law-based initiatives, Positive discrimination practicesRole model recognition, Gender merging, Reluctance of women

DesertificationExcessive chemical fertilizers, Drought, Limited co-operation bn countries, Climate changeInfertile land, Loss of agricultural production, Starvation, PovertyIrrigation, Natural fertilizers, Tree planting, Reclaiming land, Prevention of salinationFarmer reluctance to accept new programs/ides, Lack of potable water, Incorrect flora replacement

Drug AbuseFamily breakdown, Smuggling, Peer group pressure, Criminal activity, Health problems, Young lives destroyed, DisillusionmentCommunity education, Border controls, Drop-in centers, School monitoringRequirement for govts to initiate reforms, Difficulty to supervise adolescents

Disposal of WasteToo many waste makersDisposal of waste issuesReturn to organic waste Excess exceeds removal

Depletion of OzoneCFCs, Vehicle emissions, Newly-emerging nationsGlobal warming, Skin cancers, DesertificationReduction of ozone-depleting chemicals, Alternative energy sourcesThreat to major species, Planet degradation

Acid RainPollutants collected in water cycle, On-going industrial wasteFish stocks die off, Older buildings eroded, Water supplies contaminatedClean up rampant industrialization, Restore water purity, Prosecute offendersCorrosion, Soil contamination

Loss of RainforestCattle ranching, Illegal logging, Cropland requirements, Illicit cuttingWater table displacement, Rural dwellers jobless, Salination Reforestation, Establish nature reserves, Containment of agriculture Large-scale erosion, Entire species depleted or exterminated, Medical loss

Cost of EducationRising living standards, Demand for specialized knowledge, Business-driven profit margins Imbalance between haves/have-nots, Certain subjects become redundant or over-commercialized Government subsidies, Scholarships, Affirmative action for the disadvantagedLack of facilities, Lack of trained personnel, Few jobs for graduates

Cultural DifferencesImmigration, Religious practices/beliefsMulticulturalism, Discrimination/RacismIntermarriages, Public awareness programs,Ethnic cleansing, Forced relocation of ethnic groups

Drying up of RiversHydroelectric dams, Industrial and irrigation schemesDepletion of fish species, Fishing industry decline, Disputes over waterwaysAlternate energy sources, Regional planningDislocation of populations, Barren land, Water wars

Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic. Controversial proposition

It is now 30 years since man landed on the moon. Since then more and more money has been spent on space research and exploration. Some people think that this is not a good use of our resources and that any hope of establishing human colonies in space is unrealistic.]

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

You should write at least 250 words.

Text 1 - IELTS script illustrating the stages of a hortatory exposition

[Thesis]

Human beings endeavour for establishing colonies in the space is unrealistic and is a waste of

limited resources on the earth.

[Argument 1 + Evidence for]

It has been 30 years since the United states successfully had its man landed on the moon and

since then, countries like the US, the former Soviet Union and China have spent huge amount

of manpower and money for the exploration of the outer space, mostly for military purpose.

However the human beings have not benefited from such heavy investment. On the contrary,

lives were lost in a number of accidents, including the explosion of a US spacecraft.

[Argument 2 + Evidence for]

The increased exploration, much in the name of establishing human colonies, is more or less

the result of extensive arms race between a few powerful countries, which may accelerate the

destruction of the earth itself. With advanced technologies gained from such attempts, human

beings are in the jeopardy of a few who control the technologies.

[Argument 3 + Evidence for]

Our resources are very limited, and should be used for the benefit of the general public on the

earth, many of them still fighting for adequate food and clothing. If the amount of money used

for space development in the US are diverted to fighting against poverty, the whole Africa can

be benefited. And if the current space technologies are used for the civil purpose, the

productivity of the developing countries can be raised significantly.

[Argument 4 + Evidence for]

Increased publicity of establishing human colonies in the space will also make people less

treasure the limited resources on the earth and dream that for one day we can move to another

planet and explore the abundance of resources there. But do we have an idea even vaguely,

how long it will take us to that day? Or can we arrive at that day?

[Recommendation]

Stop space race! And use our resources for the well-being of the earth and its residents!

Extract 1

(Recommendation stage taken from hortatory discussion)

In my opinion, more and more money should be spent on space research and explitation. No

one can predict the future. The resources on the earth may also depleted one day. We should

try our best to find out any other possible alternatives. The earth environment is getting

worser and worser. May be the earth is no longer suitable for human being to live in the future. We really need to do something and find out other possible alternatives before it is too late.

Extract 2

(Position stage taken from analytical discussion)

All things considered, space research and exploration might have some drawbacks, since is

very costly and this could result in relatively depriving funding to other domains, but isnt it

worth a try? This new opening could lead us to many new exiting discoveries. All in all man

has opened his wings and there is no turning back.

Extract 3.

Thesis (presenting the overall position of the writer)

The establishing of human colonies in space has created conflict among many people. I

personally believe that money should be spend on space research and exploration provided

that each state has taken care of certain more important priorities.

Extract 4.

Issue (presenting the overall proposition to be debated)

Man landed on the moon 30 years ago. Since then more and more money has been spent on

space research and exploration. Some people support on this while others think that it is

unrealistic to spend our resources on space research and exploration.

Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To what extent would you say that television has positively or negatively affected the cultural development of your society? You should write at least 250 words

Use your own knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Sample answer

It has been around forty years since television was first introduced into Australian households and people today still have mixed views on whether it has a positive or a negative influence on the society.

Many people believe that television damages culture. It promotes the stronger cultures of countries such as Britain and North America and weakens the cultures of less wealthy countries. This is because the stronger, wealthier countries are able to assert their own culture by producing more programs that are shown widely around the world. These programs then influence people, particularly young people, in the countries where they are shown. Also, because television networks need to attract large audiences to secure their financial survival, they must produce programs which are interesting to a broad range of people. In Australia this range is very broad because we are a multicultural society and people of all ages like to watch television. To interest all these different people, most television programs are short in length, full of action and excitement, do not require much intelligence or knowledge to understand, and follow universal themes common to all cultures, such as love and crime. Television programs which concentrate on or develop themes pertinent to one particular culture are not so successful because they interest a smaller audience.

Nevertheless we much acknowledge that television does have some positive effects on the cultures within a society as well. People who do not live within their own culture can, in a limited way, access it through the multicultural station on the television. For example, Aboriginal children who have grown up in white families, or migrants and international students living in Australia, can watch programs from their own culture on the television.

In conclusion, I hold the view that television promotes and strengthens those cultures that are wealthy and influential while it weakens the cultures that are already in a weakened position.

Teacher's comments

Here is what a teacher said about the sample answer:

The essay has a clear introduction which poses the problem. Three paragraphs which makes relevant points on the topic and a conclusion which sums up the main point of the whole essay. The grammar and vocabulary are rich and varied. It is therefore a very good answer.

Strategies for improving your IELTS score

The style of essay required for Task 2 of the IELTS writing test is standard to academic courses. There are several published textbooks available to assist you to improve your writing skills for this part of the test. Structure and cohesion should be evident at the essay level, within and

between paragraphs and within and between sentences. Structure and cohesion have a very important effect on the readability and clarity of your essay as a whole. The structure of your essay should show a clear development from introduction, through your points and on to the conclusion. Your essay needs to have an introduction, body and conclusion. Structure and cohesion should also be apparent within and between paragraphs. Each paragraph will typically contain a topic sentence which states the main point of your paragraph. The topic sentence is usually the

first one. This will be followed by the evidence which supports the point of the paragraph. The final sentence will typically lead into the point of the following paragraph. A good essay will also have structure and cohesion within and between sentences. It is important that you are confident using linking devices such as relative clauses, connectives and transition signals.

"Do you believe that societies ought to enforce capital punishment or Are there alternative forms of punishment that would be better used?"Capital punishment is the killing of a criminal for a crime that he has committed. Previously most countries employed this method of punishment but nowadays it is much less widely used. I personally do not believe that societies today should use capital punishment and I also believe that there are alternative punishments that can be used.

My main argument against capital punishment is that I believe we do not have the right to kill another human being regardless of the crime. I don't believe in the old religious maxim of "an eye for an eye." Modern societies shouldn't turn to such barbaric punishments.

Another argument against capital punishment is that people can be wrongly convicted and executed. If a man is in prison, he can be released if later proved not guilty. If he is dead, there is nothing that can be done. In the UK, a group of supposed terrorists were convicted of murder in Birmingham in the 1970s. They were proved innocent about 15 years later and released. If they had been executed, innocent people would have died.

There are alternative punishments available. For bad crimes prison life sentences can be given with criminals imprisoned for the rest of their lives. Also a lot of horrific crimes are committed by people who are mentally sick. These people are not responsible for their actions and can be kept safely and permanently in secure hospitals. Yes, this costs a lot more but I believe it is the duty of society to do this.

There are arguments for capital punishment. Many people feel its threat stops serious crime and that criminals deserve nothing less. It's cheaper and keeps the prisons manageable. I can understand this point of view but I cannot agree with it.

So, in conclusion, I don't believe in capital punishment, as there are less barbaric alternatives available. We can avoid horrific mistakes and make modern society a humane one.

Enormous effort is put into 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?

Nowadays, most businesses are concerned primarily with improving and pushing products at all costs, therefore neglecting the strain this strategy puts on their personnel. I believe it is of vital importance to restrain excessive work load. I also think employers should pay more attention to organizing friendly working environment for their employees.

In my point of view, conditions that employers provide for their personnel are very important. First of all, uncomfortable offices affect the pace of work. Extra efforts to keep everything organized may become the biggest time wasters. Secondly, inconvenient timetables influence labour productivity. Repetitive long hours at work get workers exhausted. Finally, relations between managers and employees matter. Unfriendly atmosphere undermine self-esteem, co-operation and ability of staff to come up with creative ideas.

I convinced that researching and improving employees working conditions is rewarding. To begin with, improving workplace is an integral part of effective personnel policy. It helps a company become the employer of choice for skilled workers. Furthermore, neglecting to monitor the wellness of staff leads to extra expenses since more workers would use the insurance plan. Finally, businesses seeking efficiency should gather information on the latest advances in work space ergonomics. Strong competition forces employers to upgrade staff work areas to boost the performance of staff.

I also feel that concentrating solely on the product is ineffective. For one thing, marketing, even most aggressive, would not make the product any better. The perfect potato crisp results from the work of well-trained staff. For another, companies overlooking workers needs in favour of merchandise are unstable. Staff retention problems restrain the companys potential to come regularly on the marker with new offers. At last, neglecting staff damages the reputation of a manufacturer. Customers might refuse buying a product, if they know it is made through hard exploitation of workers.

To summarize, employers should accept working conditions as being very important to successful company development. Disregarding researching and improving working conditions undermines enormous effort put into promotion of the product.

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