Reading sample essays
Why
The best way to learn how to write is to read. If you want to write romance novels, you need to read a lot of romance novels. If you want to write adventure novels, you need to read a lot of adventure novels. And if you want to learn how to write IELTS essays, the best practice is to read a lot of sample essays.
We will look at one sample IELTS essay at the beginning of every class (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday only). We will alternate between task 1 essays and task 2 essays. So for example one day we will look at a task 1 sample essay, and then the next day we will look at a task 2 sample essay.
In task 1 of the Academic Writing module, you are asked to write a report for a university lecturer in which you describe information presented visually, for example in diagrams, bar charts, pie charts or tables. Alternatively you may be asked to describe a process, how an object works or a map.
Writing task 2 is always a discursive essay question where you are given a point of view, an argument or a problem and asked for your opinions on the question.
In Class
Step | Description | Purpose |
1 | Your teacher will give you a sample writing question. With a partner, you’ll discuss what you think, and how you might answer this question on the test. | To practice generating ideas for IELTS writing, and to focus your attention on the question. |
2 | Your teacher will give you a model essay with some sort of task designed around it. Sometimes you may be asked to put the sentences in order, sometimes fill in the blanks, or sometimes identify paragraphs and topic sentences. | To focus your attention on the essay, and help you to notice the structure and vocabulary of a typical IELTS essay. |
3 | Your teacher will give you a copy of the completed model essay, and will read it aloud while you follow along. | Listening to the essay read aloud will help to focus your attention on it, as well as to give you the correct pronunciation for any new vocabulary words in the essay. |
4 | You may ask any questions you have about new vocabulary, grammar, structure of the essay, or anything. | To clear up any questions you may have. |
5 | Review the essay a few times at home before the next class. In particular, be sure to pay attention to the structure of the essay. How are the paragraphs organized? What information does the writer put into the essay, and what information does he leave out? | IELTS essays are highly structured. One of the four criteria you will be marked on is your essay’s organization. Pay attention to paragraphing, and topic sentences. |