In this post: A rewrite of the Essay 3 topic sentence and conclusion, common mistakes, a 30-minute writing plan, a self-check list and practice questions.
Discuss Both Views Essays · 3 parts
- 1. The question, blueprint and frames
- 2. Body paragraphs and my five essays
- 3. Rewrite, mistakes and practice (you are here)
✦ In this post
8. Rewrite: the Body 2 topic sentence and conclusion of Essay 3
Essay 3 had a good position and good examples; its problems were a topic sentence that missed the point of comparison and a conclusion with a new reason. Here are the original Body 2 topic sentence and the last sentence of the conclusion:
Other environmental problems get more attention due to several reasons.
This is because I firmly believe that other environmental problems pose more terrible threats to our planet, as I feel keeping the environment from being harmed is essential for achieving long-term success in environmental protection.
My rewrite:
Rewrite (Body 2 topic sentence): On the other hand, as far as I am concerned, other environmental problems, such as global warming and pollution, are more serious.
Rewrite (conclusion): In conclusion, I believe that both sides have merits. On balance, it is my opinion that global warming and pollution deserve more attention than the loss of species. This is because they directly threaten human lives through extreme weather and contaminated food, water and air.
What changed: the topic sentence goes from “get more attention” to “are more serious”, answering the question “which problem is the main one” directly. It also names the two problems, so the reader immediately knows what the paragraph’s two points are. The reason in the conclusion now uses the extreme weather and pollution (food, water, air) already discussed in Body 2, and the circular “protecting the environment is essential for environmental protection” is gone.
9. Common mistakes
- Writing Both views as Outweigh: the introduction becomes “do the advantages of A outweigh the disadvantages?”, and two views become one.
- A topic sentence that contradicts the content: the topic sentence says A is bad, but the content describes A’s benefits.
- Turning the opposing side into a rebuttal: Body 1 should explain why some people think this, not introduce and rebut at the same time.
- Writing about only one side: the question says discuss both views; writing only your side directly hurts TR.
- A conclusion that gives no position or switches sides: ending with both sides have merits, or supporting a different side at the end from the one in the introduction.
- New reasons in the conclusion: both Essay 3 and Trial Essay 3 had this problem.
- Unclear references: words like their subjects, the former and the latter make the reader look back to work out what you mean.
- Overlapping arguments for the two views: Body 1 and Body 2 are really the positive and negative of the same aspect (for example, both about money), so the essay seems to go round in circles. It is better for each side to come from a different angle, for example one about careers and one about mental health.
10. A 30-minute writing plan
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0–3 min | Label each view with a short phrase (A vs B) and confirm it is Both views, not Outweigh |
| 3–7 min | Decide which side you support; think of two points for each side, and prepare more specific examples for your side |
| 7–10 min | Introduction: S1 paraphrase both views + S2 The purpose of this essay is to… explain why I believe that B |
| 10–17 min | Body 1 (side not supported): explain only why some people think this, two points |
| 17–24 min | Body 2 (side supported): On the other hand, as far as I am concerned…, two points, more specific examples |
| 24–27 min | Four-step conclusion, using only reasons you have already given |
| 27–30 min | Check: every topic sentence matches its content, the introduction and conclusion give the same position, no new reasons |
11. Self-check list
- ☐ I labelled both views, and each body paragraph discusses one of them
- ☐ The second sentence of my introduction previews my position
- ☐ The Body 1 topic sentence explains why some people support A, and the content matches it
- ☐ The examples for my side in Body 2 are more specific, and the reasoning more complete, than in Body 1
- ☐ The conclusion has four steps: In conclusion → both sides have merits → On balance… → reason
- ☐ Every reason in the conclusion has appeared in a body paragraph
- ☐ My position is exactly the same in the introduction, Body 2 and the conclusion
- ☐ No based on the aforementioned, the former or the latter
12. Practice
For the three questions below (my paraphrases), first write a short label for each view and a two-sentence introduction, then write the Body 1 topic sentence for the side you do not support:
- Some people think young people should follow social traditions, while others think young people should be free to be themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Some people think governments should subsidise fruit and vegetables to make healthy food cheaper, while others think unhealthy food should be taxed. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Some people think success in life depends on hard work and determination, while others think factors such as money and appearance matter more. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some ideas to get you started: for question 2, if you support subsidies, Body 1 can explain why some people favour a tax (it reduces consumption of unhealthy food, and the extra tax revenue can fund public health), and Body 2 can give the reasons for subsidies (improving the nation’s health, supporting local farming). When you have finished, check that your Body 1 topic sentence says “why some people think this” rather than “a tax is bad”.
Further reading
- The IELTS Task 2 Essay Framework: Introductions, Topic Sentences, Logic Chains and Conclusions
- How to Write an IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay
- IELTS Outweigh Essays: Four or Five Paragraphs, the Concession and Weighing Both Sides
- How to Write an IELTS Two-Question Essay
- A tutor who helped me cut my essays from 400 to 300 words (in Chinese)
- Live marking with a former examiner: my speaking and writing lessons (in Chinese)
- IELTS study notes overview (in Chinese)
This is the last part of “Discuss Both Views Essays”. To start again, go back to Part 1.
IELTS Notes in English · Task 2 Structure (post 4 of 9)
← Previous: How to Write an IELTS Agree/Disagree Essay: Full vs Partial Agreement, with Seven Real Essays
Next →: How to Write an IELTS Advantages/Disadvantages Essay Without Repeating Yourself
Task 1 Structure · Task 2 Structure · Topic Guides · Writing Language · Band Score Samples · Practice Methods · Speaking & Study Tips
✦ Target Your Future
Some days you practise for hours and the score still does not move. I hope these notes remind you that the setbacks are part of the road: every recording you replayed, every essay you rewrote and every sentence you finally dared to say is progress you have already made.
I wrote this down so the next person can take fewer detours. You do not have to follow my method exactly. Find a rhythm that works for you, rest when you need to, and come back for the next small step.
I hope what you take away is more than a number on a score report: a little more confidence in yourself, and the courage to step a bit closer to the world.
— Ting
← Back to IELTS notes in English
Leave a Reply