In IELTS writing task 2 you receive a statement about an issue and you are required to write an essay giving your opinion. Most of the time you are required to write a discursive essay – that is, an essay in which you present an argument in support of your opinion. One type of discursive essay you might choose to write is an exposition, otherwise known as a thesis essay, a one-side argument or an opinion essay. This tutorial will familiarise you with the different elements of an exposition and how you might structure them.
Lesson by Chris Tang
IELTS Course
1) Read the following IELTS response and guess the statement the candidate responded to.
Most people think that international sportive competitions are ideal occasions for meeting cultures and individuals from all over the world, as well as a pacific way of expressing national feelings. But I couldn't disagree more with this view.
The facts show that these types of sportive events bring out the worst of every nation. It does not matter if athletes are trained to give all that they can or even if they respect the rules and are able to be good losers, because sentiments of failure and victory connected with competition are not a good base to spread sympathy among nations. There is the phenomenon of hooliganism to prove it. Could ever a true pacific kind of event generate such violence?
It is certain that nowadays a world sportive competition is not like a party, and by no means a laughing matter. I think that there is not a better example than international football matches to illustrate the negativity of these "celebrations". I remember very well the Football World Cup of over ten years ago, when Spain lost the final match against Korea. A Korean football player kicked a member of the Spanish team in the face intentionally. I decided not to watch events like this anymore since the moment I saw the blood. For every neutral eye, it was not an accident. So most sport today is an awful and dirty game thanks to the pressure to compete.
To conclude, it is my belief that international sportive events are not an ally but an enemy of understanding and harmony among countries.
2) While the above essay has a few mistakes in it, it would get above a 7.0. band score on the exam, largely because it is very coherent and well structured. There are several elements this type of essay needs to contain (i-iii), match them up to their definitions (a-c)
i. Position
ii. Argument
iii. Evidence
a) Your overall opinion on the essay, e.g. here whether or not you think wealthy nations need to help poorer ones
b) Supporting ideas such as explanations, examples and justifications
c) The reasons that support your overall opinion
3) Which of these elements do you think you will find in the introduction? The body? and the conclusion of the essay?
Now try and find them in the text.
1) Many feel that international sporting occasions such as the world cup are safe way of releasing patriotic emotion and easing tension between countries.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2) i) a), ii) c), iii) b)
3) As you can see below, this exposition essay begins by the writer giving their position on the issue. Then the writer proceeds to give arguments and evidence to support their position before giving their position once more for emphasis in the conclusion. This is a good essay structure to use when you have a very strong opinion on the issue. Be careful!!! Sometimes, instead of “to what extent do you agree or disagree”, the question after the statement will read “Discuss both sides before giving your opinion”. Here you need to use a different essay structure that considers more than one side of the argument.
Most people think that international sportive competitions are ideal occasions for meeting cultures and individuals from all over the world, as well as a pacific way of expressing national feelings. POSITION But I couldn't disagree more with this view.
The facts show that these types of sportive events bring out the worst of every nation. ARGUMENT 1 It does not matter if athletes are trained to give all that they can or even if they respect the rules and are able to be good losers, because sentiments of failure and victory connected with competition are not a good base to spread sympathy among nations. EVIDENCE There is the phenomenon of hooliganism to prove it. Could ever a true pacific kind of event generate such violence?
It is certain that nowadays a world sportive competition is not like a party, and by no means a laughing matter. I think that there is not a better example than international football matches to illustrate the negativity of these "celebrations". EVIDENCE I remember very well the Football World Cup of over ten years ago, when Spain lost the final match against Korea. A Korean football player kicked a member of the Spanish team in the face intentionally. I decided not to watch events like this anymore since the moment I saw the blood. For every neutral eye, it was not an accident. ARGUMENT 2 So most sport today is an awful and dirty game thanks to the pressure to compete.
To conclude, POSITION it is my belief that international sportive events are not an ally but an enemy of understanding and harmony among countries.
