理解雅思写作评分标准

Do the following questions ask for your opinion or not?

1. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
3. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
5. Is this a positive or negative development?
6. What are the benefits and drawbacks?

Answers:

• Numbers 2 and 6 are discussion questions. Discuss both sides of the issue, but don't give an opinion about which side you agree with.
• Numbers 1 and 5 are opinion questions. Give your opinion and support it. If you have a strong opinion, you don't need to mention the other side of the argument.
• Numbers 3 and 4 can be called discussion + opinion questions. Discuss both sides and make your opinion clear too.

Many people ask me about the difference between an 'argument' (opinion) essay and a 'discussion' essay. Here's an easy way to think about the difference:

• When you argue, you are trying to persuade the other person to agree with your point of view. You might even get angry!
• When you discuss, you consider different points of view, and nobody gets angry.

The question should make it very clear what it wants you to do.

If it asks you to "discuss", you should write about both sides or two views.

If the question asks whether you "agree or disagree", it's asking for your view. For this type of question, give your opinion in the introduction and support it in the rest of the essay. Develop an argument that persuades the reader to agree with you. Note: you can have a strong view or a balanced view - it's your choice.

Task 2 questions often ask you to Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Here's how I structure a 4-paragraph essay for this kind of question:

1. Introduction (2 sentences):

   First introduce the topic. I often begin with the phrase "People have different views about…".

   In the second sentence, mention both views and your own opinion. I often use the word "although" in this sentence e.g. Although there are good arguments in favour of…, I personally believe that…

2. The first view
3. The second view (I make it clear that I agree with this view)
4. Conclusion: summarise both views and your own opinion

Most discussion essays also ask for your opinion. Sometimes, however, the question doesn't ask for your opinion. It might just ask you to discuss two different views, or compare the advantages and disadvantages.

Remember: if the question doesn't ask for your opinion, don't give it.

Compare the 2 essays attached below. They are almost the same, but in the first essay I give my opinion clearly in several places, while in the second essay I've removed my opinions completely.

With opinion:

Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue their education. While there are benefits to getting a job straight after school, I would argue that it is better to go to college or university.

The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons. Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.

On the other hand, I believe that it is more beneficial for students to continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a university or college will not be able to compete.

For the reasons mentioned above, it seems to me that students are more likely to be successful in their careers if they continue their studies beyond school level.

Without opinion:

Some people believe that studying at university or college is the best route to a successful career, while others believe that it is better to get a job straight after school. Discuss both views.

When they finish school, teenagers face the dilemma of whether to get a job or continue their education. While there are benefits to getting a job straight after school, there are also good reasons why it might be beneficial to go to college or university.

The option to start work straight after school is attractive for several reasons. Many young people want to start earning money as soon as possible. In this way, they can become independent, and they will be able to afford their own house or start a family. In terms of their career, young people who decide to find work, rather than continue their studies, may progress more quickly. They will have the chance to gain real experience and learn practical skills related to their chosen profession. This may lead to promotions and a successful career.

On the other hand, it is also understandable that many students choose to continue their studies. Firstly, academic qualifications are required in many professions. For example, it is impossible to become a doctor, teacher or lawyer without having the relevant degree. As a result, university graduates have access to more and better job opportunities, and they tend to earn higher salaries than those with fewer qualifications. Secondly, the job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and sometimes there are hundreds of applicants for one position in a company. Young people who do not have qualifications from a university or college may not be able to compete.

In conclusion, there are convincing arguments for starting work straight after school, but higher education can also lead to a successful career.

When the question asks whether you agree or disagree, you can either express a strong opinion (completely agree or disagree) or you can express a balanced opinion (partly agree, or agree to a certain extent).

Let's look at two ways to answer the following question:

After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

• Introduction for a strong opinion

  Some people make their career choices according to what they enjoy doing, whereas others place more importance on earning a high salary. Personally, I support the view that job satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment are much more important than money.

• Introduction for a balanced opinion

  Some people make their career choices according to what they enjoy doing, whereas others place more importance on earning a high salary. Personally, I believe that both criteria should be given equal consideration.

If you completely agree or completely disagree:

• Make your opinion clear in the introduction and conclusion.
• Explain one reason for your opinion in paragraph 2 and another in paragraph 3. Imagine that you are persuading the examiner that your opinion is right.
• Don't write a paragraph about what 'other people' think. If you do that, you are in danger of writing a "discuss both views" essay. If you mention the opposite argument, make sure that you refute it (explain why you think it's wrong), like I did in paragraph 2 of *foreign tourists.
• Sometimes it's possible to have a strong opinion but still write about both sides of the argument. Take this question for example:

  'Teleworking', or the use of telecommunications to allow people to work from home, should be adopted by all employers in order to improve the quality of life of their staff. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

  Here's my introduction:

  The current trend towards teleworking is a positive one in many respects. However, I strongly disagree with the idea that it should be introduced in all work contexts.

  Can you see how this introduction allows me to write about both the positives and negatives of teleworking, even though I expressed a strong opinion? Which word in the question allowed me to do this?

  The word that I was thinking of is "all". I disagree with the idea of teleworking in ALL work contexts. This means that I can write one paragraph about the benefits of teleworking in some work situations, then another paragraph about the contexts in which I think teleworking would be a bad idea.

If you partly agree:

• It's important to make it clear in the introduction and conclusion that you have a balanced view i.e. that you accept both sides of the argument to some extent.

  In the last century, the first man to walk on the moon said it was "a giant leap for mankind”. However, some people think it has made little difference to our daily lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

  It is often argued that the act of sending a man to the moon has been of no benefit to normal people. While I agree that this is true in practical terms, I believe that the psychological impact of this great achievement should not be underestimated.

  Note: Can you see how I create a balanced answer by using a 'while' sentence to contrast the 'practical' and 'psychological' impacts of the moon landing?

  Nowadays celebrities are more famous for their glamour and wealth than for their achievements, and this sets a bad example to young people.

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

  It is true that some celebrities are known for their glamorous lifestyles rather than for the work they do. While I agree that these celebrities set a bad example for children, I believe that other famous people act as positive role models.

  Notice that I use a "while" sentence to express my balanced opinion.

• Write one paragraph about each side of the argument. But do this from your point of view e.g. On the one hand, I accept that… / On the other hand, I also believe that…
• Don't write a discussion essay e.g. some people believe / other people argue…

1. Introduction: what the problem is and its effects
2. Causes of the problem.
3. Possible solutions to the problem.
4. Possible results of solutions.

The role of prisons should be to punish criminals who have committed serious crimes. Training courses and education offered to prisoners are a waste of taxpayer's money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Note that it contains two sub-topics:

• Should the role of prisons be to punish serious criminals, not petty criminals (less serious criminals)?
• Are training courses and education a waste of money?

The question below contains 2 ideas or statements, highlighted in blue and green.

Wild animals have no place in the 21st century, so protecting them is a waste of resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

A student, Raymond, asked which part of this question we should answer. Should we agree or disagree with just the blue part, just the green part, or both parts?

Here's another example:

International travel is cheaper than ever before, and more countries have opened their doors to tourists. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

For this question, Raymond asks whether we need to discuss the pros and cons of travel being cheaper, or whether we should just focus on the green part. What do you think?

The marking criteria states that 'all parts of the question should be fully addressed'. The challenge sometimes is to actually identify the question (opinion/proposition) from a 'background statement'. IELTS sometimes gives a background statement to provide some context for the proposition. Even examiners occasionally find it hard to do this!

In the first question, the blue part is NOT a background statement because it clearly provides a 'proposition' - to say that something has 'no place' is expressing an opinion because there is an implied 'should'. Therefore you would have to address both parts because they are two parts of an opinion.

For the second question, both parts refer to changes, so 'the trend' in the question conceivably refers back to both of them, especially as they are logically linked. My advice is that if you are not sure, address both of them and do it equally.

• 论证方法：因果（阐述）、反证（对比）、举例、引用（统计数据）、扩展。
• 不要在开头段论证（例如举例），不要在结尾段引入新观点，必须是且仅仅是总结之前 论证过的观点。
• Do not divert

  Stay focused. Discard "good" stuff if it does not help to support your opinion.

• Do not under-develop

  论点不等于论据所以论点多不等于论证充分。Just enumerate a number of viewpoints is under-develop, which is no better than just a single point with several supporting sentences.

• Do not overdevelop(?), do not repeat.

  Otherwise it may look like not an argumentative essay. You may end up with a narrative or descriptive essay.