Semester 5 – WRITING Student’s name & class:………….

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I. TASK APPROACH

1. Analyzing the task

Find the odd one out

a measure step reason

b solution cause origin

c approach answer root

d way outcome key

e source idea means

Complete each question below with organising words from the box. You may use each item
more than once.
Agree or disagree advantages disadvantages
causes solutions measures
1.What are the ………………….. of learning skills in the modern world?
2. Any attempts to preserve the natural world will always hinder economic development. The
benefits will however far outweigh the …………… Do you ………………?
3. What are the ………………. and ………………… of taking a year off between school and
university?
4. Students should be trained on how to cope with change in the modern world. How far do you
………………….?
5. Volunteer work with disadvantaged groups like underprivileged children is the best way for
young people to learn about the real world. What are the ………………. of such work?
6. Every day, animals are becoming extinct throughout the world. What do you think the
………… of this are? What ……………… can you suggest?
7. Overcrowding in large cities has always been a problem, but with populations around the
world about to double, the social problems are vertain to multiply. What ………… can you
suggest to control the problem?

Which questions deal with giving opinions?

Which questions deal with expressing advantages and disadvantages?

Which questions deal with with expressing problem and solutions?

>Typical task words in problem and solution questions?

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2. Brainstorming
Getting started with your essay can be challenging. Sometimes it can be difficult to think of
ideas, but there are things you can do to help. One technique is to draw a mind map. A mindmap
is simply a way of generating ideas about a topic by looking at it from different angles. Each
‘angle’ is a heading in the mindmap. You should keep the heading as general as possible because
this will help generate more ideas. For example, you can look at almost any question from one of
these angles:

Personal, economic, political, educational, scientific, psychological, technological etc.

Topic: Overfishing of the world’s oceans threatens many species with extinction and is
putting the livelihood of millions of people around the world at risk. What are the causes
of this problem and what can be done to prevent it from happening?

Spend 3 minutes brainstorming ideas for the example question above. Use these
headings:

Causes of overfishing Ways to prevent overfishing

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Here are some ideas have been brainstormed for the essay. Put each ideas under

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the appropriate heading. From which angle does each idea look at?

‘factory fishing makes huge catches too easy

Bring in laws to protect fish species and limit fishing

Create an international body to police the ocean and enforce laws

Fishing provides a quick return for companies and governments

Huge areas of the world’s oceans are not protected by environmental laws

Illegal fishing is difficult to police

Put taxes on fishing which make it less attractive to companies

Raise public awareness through the media

The problem does not get enough publicity

There’s a growing demand for fish worldwide

Ban the fishing of certain species of fish

Causes of overfishing Ways to prevent

overfishing

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a. Note: After ideas are generated, it is best to choose some ideas which you can support with
reasons/examples and structure them to develop 2 body paragraphs. DO NOT try to include all of
the ideas that you have. Only well-supported points are good points.

Exercise 1:
Brainstorm the ideas for the following questions.
1. Everyday, animals are becoming extinct throughout the world. What do you think the problems
of this are? What solutions can you suggest?
2. Urbanization has always caused many problems. What are the problems and what
solutions can you suggest to control the problems?

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Semester 5 – WRITING Student’s name & class:………….………

3. Essay structuring
Read this exam question and choose T (true) or F (false)

Write about the following topic

In many countries parents worry about the amount of time their children spend watching TV and
using the Internet.

What do you think are the causes of this?

What solutions can you suggest?

T/F
1.You should explain whether you agree or disagree with the statement.

2.You should say why parents are wrong to worry about the situation T/F

3.You should explain in detail why doing these things is bad for T/F
children.
4.You should focus on a few main causes, not every one you can think T/F
of
5.Your solutions should clearly deal with the causes you mention. T/F

Choose the essay structure which would be more appropriate to answer the question. Explain why the
other structure would be less appropriate.

1 2

Short introduction to the problem Short introduction to the problem

Description of how it affects my life Description of main causes with details
Explanation of who is to blame for the Proposed solutions with explanation
problem Further suggestions with explanation
Proposed solutions Short conclusion and summary
Short conclusion and summary

Exercise 2: Understanding the outline

The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has
also created problems that did not exist before.
What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and what solutions can you
suggest?

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Semester 5 – WRITING Student’s name & class:………….………

Read the model below and complete the paragraph plan at the end, identifying the topic and main
points of each paragraph.

The enormous growth in the use of the internet over the last decade has led to radical changes to
the way that people consume and share information. Although serious problems have arisen as a
result of this, there are solutions.

There are two fundamental issues as follows. One of the first problems of the internet is the ease
with which children can access potentially dangerous sites. For example, pornography sites are
easily accessible to them because they can register with a site and claim to be an adult. There is
no doubt that this affects their thoughts and development, which is a negative impact for the
children and for society. Another major problem is the growth of online fraud and hacking. These
days, there are constant news stories about government and company websites that have been
hacked, resulting in sensitive information falling into the hands of criminals.

It is important that action is taken to combat these problems. Governments should ensure that
adequate legislation and controls are in place that will prevent young people from accessing
dangerous sites, such as requiring more than simply confirming that you are an adult to view a
site. Parents also have a part to play. They need to closely monitor the activities of their children
and restrict their access to certain sites, which can now be done through various computer
programs. Companies must also improve their onsite IT security systems to make fraud and
hacking much more difficult by undertaking thorough reviews of their current systems for
weaknesses.

To conclude, the internet is an amazing technological innovation that has transformed people’s
lives, but not without negative impacts. However, with the right action by individuals,
governments and businesses, it can be made a safe place for everyone.

(285 words)

A. Introduction
B. Main body –
 Problems:
+ Children’s accessing potentially dangerous sites
+ The growth of online fraud and hacking
 Solutions
+ Governments’
+ Parent’s
 ……………………………………………………………………………………………
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 ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
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C. Conclusion –
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4. Expressing cause and effect

If you are asked to discuss a problem and possible solutions, you will need to be able to outline
the cause of the problem and show what effect these have. Here are some useful expressions for
doing this.

RESULT ( is) due to CAUSE

owing to
because of
caused by
brought about by
on account of
as a result of

CAUSE Results in RESULT

Causes
Give rise to
Leads to bring about
Account for

Exercise 3 Complete the sentences by using appropriate phrases

1. Global warming is partly (as a result/ causes) increasing emissions of green house gases.
2. The decline of manufacturing industry (on account of/ brought about ) high unemployment in
many countries.
3. People are more worried about crime (on account of/ brings about) exaggerated reports in the
media.
4. Increasing pressure to work overtime (owing to/causes) parents to spend less time with their
children.
5. Drug for the treatment of AIDS remain unavailable to millions (owing to/give rise to) their high
cost.
6. Globalisation (as a result of/ has given rise to) a bland ‘pop culture’ followed by young people
worldwide.
7. Poor discipline at school (is due to leads to) poor parenting at home.

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8. The desire for higher profits (on account of /leads to) companies setting up in countries where
labour is cheap.

Exercise 4 Complete the paragraph by using appropriate phrases

There are a number of reasons why overfishing of the world fish stocks has reached crisis levels.
Firstly, catching large numbers has become very easy (1) ……………….. modern methods of factory
fishing. Secondly, the scarcity of fish (2)……………….. higher process, making fishing a more
attractive industry for governments and companies to invest in. This (3)………………………… even
more fishing and (4) …………………. a vicious circle of increasing demand and diminishing supply.
Furthermore, fishing in most parts of the world remains uncontrolled (5)…………………….. the lack
of environmental laws. Finally, where laws did exist they are difficult to enforce (6)……………. the
lack of an international maritime police authority.

Suggesting solutions

Once you have discussed the causes of the problem, you are ready to put forward your
suggestions for possible solutions. For every suggestion you make, you need to back up your
argument by explaining how this idea will help. Again, there are useful words and phrases for
you to do this.

The phrases below are used to show the purpose or reason for doing something. Match each
one with the verb form which follows it.
1. so that A. to prevent overfishing
In this way
2. with the purpose of B. overfishing is prevented
3. in order C. preventing overfising
So as

Exercise 5 Complete this paragraph with phrases from above.

What can be done in [1 ] prevent fish species being wiped out by overfishing? One
immediate measure is to put a complete ban on the fishing of certain species of fish [2 ]
save them from extinction. Environmental agencies should work to give the problem a higher
profile in the media [3 ] the public become more aware. Governments can help by
imposing taxes on the fishing industry. [4 ], companies may be less
likely to see fishing as an easy way to make money. Governments should also bring in
stricter laws in order to protect fish stocks from uncontrolled factory fishing. Finally, an
international body ought to be created [5 ] enforcing these laws

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worldwide.

Exercise 6 Use your own ideas and words to add results to the following solutions
1. I think the most obvious solution is to encourage people to exercise more.
As a result,…………………………………………………………………………………
2. The obvious answer is to reduce the number of working hours.
This would lead to…………………………………………………………………………
3. The government could provide each employee with their own computer.
This would enable them to ………………………………………………………………
4. One option is to persuade parents to spend more time with their children.
Consequently………………………………………………………………………………
5. A good idea is to restrict the number of cars coming into cities.
By doing this,………………………………………………………………………………
6. The government should build more skyscrapers to solve the problem.
This means that …………………………………………………………………………..

II. PRACTICE
Question 1:

Write about the following topic:

In some countries the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and
fitness are decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures
could be taken to solve them?
Write at least 250 words.

Question 2:

Write about the following topic:

Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be
effective?
Write at least 250 words.

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