planning ielts essays and finding ideas

this lesson looks at how planning better can help you write better essays. i focus in particular on “ideas” – something that catches many candidates out. the two key points are that the ideas you need to write an ielts essay are fairly simple and it helps to make a difference between ideas, reasons and examples.

problem 1 – not enough ideas 觀點不夠

this is one of most common reasons for candidates to go wrong in the writing paper. they see a question. try to think of ideas. come up empty and panic. you will find part of my solution to this below. for now, i will just say that you need very few ideas to write a good essay and those ideas can be simple ideas too. don’t buy a book on ideas for essays, instead learn this tip:

tip – you need only 2 ideas to write an essay and those ideas are often found in the question

problem 2 – the ideas are confused 觀點混淆

this is also a very common mistake. there are plenty of ideas to write an essay. the problem is that the reader/examiner does not know what the main ideas are.

tip – make sure you have one main idea per paragraph. this should be clear from the first sentence of the paragraph

problem 3 – too many ideas 觀點太多

yes, some people do have too many ideas. this is a trap for candidates aiming for a high score. in particular, if they are used to writing academic essays. ielts is a 250 word essay marked on language. that means it is probably much shorter than you are used to and there are no marks for quality and quantity of ideas.

tip – select only enough ideas to write a complete essay – that means one per paragraph

finding ideas for essays 怎么確定觀點呢?、

step 1 – understand the difference between ideas, reasons and examples 區分觀點、原因、例子的區別

when i ask my students in a class for “ideas”, they quite often stare at me in silence. when i ask them the question “why” or ask them to give me an example, they (normally!) have plenty to say. that should tell you there is a difference between ideas, reasons (why) and examples. the good news is ideas are not the problem in ielts, what you need are reasons and examples. they are normally much easier to find.

a paragraph is one idea: supported with reasons and examples. you only need two ideas.

step 2 – learning where to find ideas for essays?試著從問題里找觀點

the ideas you need for an essay are nearly always found in the question. they are typically so big that you think they are too easy to be a real idea. that’s the trap. what do i mean? take this example:

human activities have endangered many animal and plant species. some people think it is too late to save them, while others think humans should still take some action. discuss both views and express your own opinions.

this is one of the harder questions i have seen recently, but the ideas you need are simple enough.

it is too late to save endangered species

it is not too late to save species

it is that easy. those two ideas are your two main topic paras. all you need now are some reasons and examples.

step 3 – finding reasons and examples – ask yourself questions 通過問問題來確定原因和例子

here you have different options. one trick is simply ask yourself the questions “why?” or “how?” or “when?” or what?” that is often enough.

step 4 – thinking vocabulary gives you more “ideas” 通過詞匯來激發靈感

this is something else i use with my students a lot. it might also work for you. the concept is that once you have words, then “ideas” come naturally from those words. try thinking of “planning words” and see if it works for you.

organising and selecting your ideas reasons and examples

key concept – one idea per paragraph supported by reasons and examples 一段一觀點

look at these two sample paragraphs from the essay and see how i use simple ideas from the question:

much of the argument against taking any action to save these species is that the process is irreversible. just to take one example, there are now so few giant pandas left in the wild, they will in all probability become extinct in the foreseeable future. there are simply too few bamboo forests left in order for them to survive. this is also the case with many other endangered species who have lost, or are losing, their natural habitat.

notesthe first sentence outlines what the paragraph is about. it is the idea from the question: some people think it is too late to save them. the rest of paragraph is an explanation of that idea

giant pandas arre threatened and will die out (example)

problem with habitat (extended example)

other species have same pattern (explanation of example)

the opposite view is that it is the responsibilty of mankind to act and try and save these species for is a moral aspect to this argument because most of these species are only endangered because of man’s actions and it is our duty to make amends. another consideration is that advances in science, especially in the field of genetics, mean that we may be able to recreate some of their lost habitats. it is no longer the case that the only option is to preserve these species for future generations in zoos and botanical gardens.

notes

you should see that this paragraph follows almost the same model. there is one clear and simple idea in the first sentence. it relates back to the question words: while others think humans should still take some action. the rest of the paragraph explains that idea:

moral duty because it is our fault (reason why)

science can now help through genetics (second reason why)

zoos are not the only solution (extended second reason why)

key concept – you don’t need to include all your reasons and examples

my “notes” for this essay included all this. they are my notes, so you don’t need to understand them all. what i want you to see is that i have not included everything. in an academic essay i might have. here i have selected the ideas that were easiest to write about.

zoos (example)

breed in captivity (example extended)

preservation (how)

giant pandas (example)

medical benefits (why)

loss of habitat (why)

river dolphins (example)

biodiversity (reason)

logging and rainforests (example)

dams (example)

progress of man (why)

deforestation (how)

bamboo forest (where)

science (why)

cloning (example)

genetics (example)

moral responsibility (why)

key concept – balance your paragraphs

there are a number of different possible essay structures. my default (normal) structure is to have 2 paragraphs that balance each other – it is surprising how often this structure works. it is good for the coherence of the essay, it also makes it easier to write – especially if you are short of “ideas”. you use the second content paragraph can reflect the ideas in the first paragraph, but from the opposite point of view.

選擇觀點式

具體的表述如下：

topic：in order to do _x, there are many ways: a, b, c, d... which one do you choose? give specific reasons and examples to illustrate your answer.

在模板中用大寫_x表示一件事情，a，b，c，d代表做此事所用的不同方法。因為這種 命題形式不常見，所以我們僅提供兩個模板供讀者參照。

model(1) actually

how to do _x? the traditional methods such as a, b and so on or the modern methods for example c and d? which one you prefer depends on your own experience, life style and emotional concern. i prefer c most in my point of view. why i prefer c, actually there are three advantages of c as follows.

this can trace back to my childhood. once with curiosity, i①.

yet for another reason is that②. i can quote a common example. ③.

then why do i not like others? for example, why do i not like a? because i have a bad experience with it. ④. so, even when anyone mentioned it, i would catch a feeling of fear.

there are still many other reasons that can account for my fondness for it, but the obvious ones have been presented as above. ⑤.

①喜歡c的第一個原因

②喜歡c的第二個原因

③舉一個例子支持原因二

④舉例說明

⑤重申觀點

model(1) actually

it seems, in so many items, very difficult to prefer one to another because all of them have their advantages and disadvantages to the extent that it is hard to distinguish.

yet that does not mean that they are of the same to me. to be frank, i would prefer a if personal quality is considered as a criterion to choose things.

they why do i prefer a? i like it because it can--, thus making me--.

there is another reason why i choose a, in terms of --, --. no wonder, it again brings me convenience that i cannot get if i choose any one of the others.

the last reason is that--.

in conclusion, everybody wants to choose the one that best fits him/her. so, it is of great benefits for me to choose--.

①支持a的第一個原因

②它所帶來的好處

③a的一個方面

④支持a的第二個原因

⑤支持a的第三個原因

⑥重申觀點

單一式觀點

1. 陳述支持或者反對的理由

給出一個論點，此論點不包括兩種事物的比較，要求考生支持或反對并給出理由。具體表述如下：

topic: do you agree or disagree with the following statement? aaa. use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

aaa: 表示題目中給出的觀點，請考生在寫作時根據實際情況進行替換，

model(1)agree

before rendering my opinion, i think it is important to take a glance at the arguments on both sides. people who support aaa usually give some, even all of the following reasons. the first is that①.

the second is that②. third, ③.

generally, people who attack aaa claim that④. they also often say that there will be problems of⑤.

as far as i am concerned, i come to the notion that there are three main reasons why i support aaa. firstly, ⑥. secondly, ⑦. furthermore, ⑧.

①人們支持aaa的第一個原因

②人們支持aaa的第二個原因

③人們支持aaa的第三個原因

④人們反對aaa的第一個原因

⑤人們反對aaa的第二個原因，或如果選擇aaa會帶來的問題

⑥我支持aaa的第一個原因

⑦我支持aaa的第二個原因

⑧我支持aaa的第三個原因

model(2)disagree

i disagree with aaa for numerous reasons. the first and foremost reason is①. aaa may have some advantages, ②. there may be nothing wrong with these, and they can be easily understood by many people, but③.

aaa has also had a bad effect on④.

another innate characteristic of aaa is⑤. in addition, ⑥.

finally, it seems to be true that aaa⑦, but⑧.

aaa has done many good things. ⑨. however, we also cannot deny that⊙.

①反對aaa的第一個原因

②aaa的優勢

③這些優勢里所隱含的劣勢

④aaa的一個重大缺點

⑤aaa的第一個劣勢

⑥aaa的第二個劣勢

⑦aaa看起來的一個優點

⑧aaa的一個缺點

⑨aaa的貢獻

⊙aaa的不好之處

2. 通過比較來陳述支持或反對的理由

給出一個論點，主要是對兩個事物進行比較，要求考生支持或反對并給出理由。具體表述如下：

topic: a is superior to b in doing c. do you agree or disagree with this statement? use specific reasons to support your point of view.

在模板中用a，b進行比較的兩個事物，這種形式與對立觀點式有著很多的相似之處，考生可以進行適當的借鑒。

model (1) disagree

i completely disagree with this statement that choosing a has more advantages than choosing b. and i would like to present two explanations to conform you that i am right.

first of all, ①. generally, ②. let me give you an example: ③. thus, proving my point, ④.

the second thing that must be taken into consideration when choosing a or b is that⑤. as i have said, ⑥.

finally, the point i am trying to make is that it is not better to choose a than choose b in that⑦.

in sum, ⑧.

①支持b的第一個理由

②進一步闡述支持b的原因

③舉例說明原因一

④填入一句支持b的句子⑤支持b的第二個理由

⑥進一步闡述支持b的第二個原因

⑦支持b的第三個理由

⑧總結觀點

model (2) agree

something we all cannot neglect as we get older is to accept the opinions of others. on the question whether it is better to choose a or choose b, i have long admitted that a has a strong argument. privately, however, ①. i disagree with the above statement and support the superiority of b.

although②. there is no evidence to suggest that③. what’s more, ④. similarly, it has been said that⑤. to be sure, ⑥.

another reason why i secretly dispute the statement above is that i am very sure that⑦. for instance, ⑧.

to take the point above to an extreme, ⑨.

for me, a could never equal b. ⊙.

①提出自己的觀點：支持b

②a具備的優勢

③a勝于b

④a的第一個缺點

⑤a的第二個缺點

⑥支持b

⑦支持b的另一個原因

⑧舉例說明

⑨舉出一個極端的例子來支持b

⊙比較a和b，總結觀點

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