How to write a paragraph

UNIT 3: HOW TO WRITE BODY PARAGRAPHS

Two main types of body paragraphs written in the IELTS Task 2 essays

Types single-idea paragraph double-idea paragraph

Structures

• topic sentence = main idea

• supporting detail 1

• supporting detail 2

• supporting detail 3

• topic sentence

• main idea 1

• supporting detail 1

• main idea 2

• supporting detail 2

EXAMPLE

Large businesses have big budgets for marketing and promotion and, as a result, people gravitate towards buying their products Is this a positive or negative development?

Single-idea paragraph

(topic sentence) Another reason why I do not support this trend is due to the fact that relentless

and aggressive advertising of big corporations can trap customers into believing that bigger

brands mean greater prestige and quality (supporting detail 1) When customers become loyal to

these businesses, they can abuse their trust and use unethical means like selling products with low

quality or unknown origin for the sake of maximizing profits (supporting detail 2) As a

consequence of believing in deceptive advertisements, consumers may expose themselves to deep dissatisfaction and potential health dangers

In some cities, people are choosing cars instead of bicycles, while in other cities riding bikes are replacing cars Why is this case? Which development do you think is better?

Double-idea paragraph

(topic sentence) There are two reasons for the higher predominance of automobile driving over cycling in certain places (main idea 1) The main reason is that cars outperform bikes in terms of time efficiency (supporting detail 1) This is especially noticeable when people have to travel great

distances If they choose bicycles in the same circumstances, it will take them twice or three times

as long to reach their destination (main idea 2) Another reason is that automobiles provide individuals with a feeling of security and safety (supporting detail 2) Car users, for example, are

more likely to avoid being victims of robberies and adverse weather conditions, such as lightning and whirlwinds

I HOW TO WRITE TOPIC SENTENCES

The topic sentence includes two parts:

TOPIC + CONTROLLING IDEA

Example

Some developing countries are expanding their tourist industry Is it a positive or negative development?

Tourism development is beneficial in some ways

topic controlling idea

PRACTICE

Identify the topics and controlling ideas of the following sentences

1 There are several reasons why children should be given homework

• The topic is

• The controlling idea is

2 There are some benefits of overseas education

• The topic is

• The controlling idea is

For a topic sentence, you need to mention reasons, advantages, or disadvantages of the given view(s).

• reason (for/why + clause)

• explanation (for/of/as to why)

• justification(s) (for)

• rationale (behind/for/of)

Þ There are several reasons why children should be

given homework

Þ There are two explanations as to why children

should not play computer games

Þ There are some justifications for the idea that the government should build sy

Þ There are two rationales behind the organization

of exams

• benefit (of/to)

• advantage (of/to)

• merit (of)

• virtue (of)

Þ There are some benefits of overseas education

Þ Online learning has some virtues

• drawback (of/to)

• disadvantage (of/to)

• demerit (of)

Þ There are two drawbacks of tourism development

Þ Advertising brings some disadvantages

WORDS WITH THE POSITIVE MEANING

• have a positive effect/impact on sb/st

• be physically/mentally beneficial to sb/st

• improve (quality, health, efficiency,

relations, etc.)

• enhance/develop/foster (skills, quality,

ability, etc.)

• enable sb to do: make it possible for sb/st

to do st

• enrich/widen (experience, knowledge,

relations, etc.)

• give somebody a chance to do st = offer

an opportunity to sb

• provide sb with easy/free access to sth

Þ Cycling regularly has a positive impact

on human health

Þ Cycling regularly is physically and mentally beneficial to people’s health

Þ By cycling regularly, people can improve

their health

Þ Listening to music can foster children’s

imagination and creativity

Þ Studying abroad enables young people to widen their knowledge

Þ University education gives students a chance to find high-paying jobs in the future

WORDS WITH THE NEGATIVE MEANING

• have a negative effect/impact on sb/sth

• be detrimental to sb/sth

• take a heavy toll on sb/sth

• pose potential threats to sb/sth

• cause sth

• lead to sth

• result in sth

• be a contributor to = be a culprit of sth

• increase risk(s) of sth/doing sth

• put sth at risk = put sth in danger

Þ Smoking has a negative impact on people’s

health

Þ Smoking is detrimental to people’s health

Þ The pressure of fame can take a heavy toll

on young people

Þ Teenage pregnancy poses potential threats

to their health

Þ The emission of carbon dioxide is a contributor to global warming

Þ Lack of physical exercise can increase the risk of obesity

Þ Drinking while driving can put human safety in danger

II DIFFERENT WAYS TO REWRITE THE TOPIC SENTENCE

Example

Firstly, playing computer games can be detrimental to children’s health

F1 The first drawback of playing computer games is that it can have negative effects on

children’s health

F2 Firstly, when children play computer games, they can suffer from some health problems

F3 Firstly, as a consequence of playing computer games, children can suffer from some

health problems

F4

Firstly, this habit can threaten children’s health

è Other substitutes: habit, experience, idea, decision, policy, trend, phenomenon,

SAMPLE

There are two drawbacks of playing computer games The first disadvantage of playing

computer games is that children can suffer from some health problems (supporting detail

1) In addition, this habit can put children’s studying at risk .(supporting detail 2)

III HOW TO WRITE SUPPORTING DETAILS

For supporting details, you can think about

Supporting details

Explanation

Example

Result

Supposition Comparison

Fact

LINKING WORDS

Explanation

• because/as/since + S + V

• This is because + S + V

• This is due to the fact that + S + V

• This can be explained by the fact that S + V

Example

• such as/like + N

• For example/For instance, S + V

• An example of this case is that S + V

Fact/Research

• In fact, S + V

• The fact is that S + V

• As a matter of fact, S + V

• Social studies have shown that S + V

• Scientific research has indicated that S + V

Result

• As a result/ Therefore/ Hence, S + V

• As a consequence/Consequently, S + V

• This results in/leads to + N

• Thanks to this, S + V

Supposition • If / Unless + S + V, S + V

• Without + N, S + will/would + V

Comparison

• While + S + V, S + V

• Compared to + N, S + V

• Unlike + N, S + V

Example

(1) There are two drawbacks to playing computer games The main disadvantage of playing

computer games is health deterioration (research) Some findings have shown that computer games tend to be highly addictive, so they can be played all day (result) As a result of

excessive exposure to computer screens combined with a lack of physical activities, children

may suffer from certain illnesses, (example) such as eye diseases, obesity, and cardiovascular

diseases In addition, when children play these games, their academic performance may be adversely affected Some young gamers reported becoming completely immersed in the virtual

world and losing focus on their studies, which resulted in some academic problems, (example) like failing grades

(2) To alleviate traffic congestion, some feasible solutions can be implemented One sensible

approach is congestion pricing, whereby cities charge cars a toll to enter certain parts of the

town at specific times of the day In theory, (supposition) if the toll is too high, some drivers will cancel their trips or take the bus or train instead In practice, it seems to work (example) For example, Singapore, London, and Stockholm have successfully reduced a large volume

of traffic in city centers thanks to congestion pricing Another viable measure is

(3) Despite the benefits of driving, I believe that cycling is a positive development overall One

argument is that riding bikes has a positive impact on the environment (comparison) Unlike

cars, which produce exhaust gases that deteriorate air quality, bikes are absolutely ecologically benign because no fuel is required and zero emissions are generated Another argument is that

MỘT SỐ LỖI SAI MÀ HỌC SINH HAY MẮC PHẢI

Lỗi 1: viết dài, viết dai viết dại

Students’ version Teacher’s version

Firstly, as the cities develop, the road for

getting a job is likely to become tougher and

severer, the employment market become more

and more competitive Newly graduates do not

have experience that meets the demand of

employers

Firstly, as the labour market becomes more competitive than ever, many fresh graduates fail to meet employers’ expectations and end

up without a job

Secondly, the society’s morality in the fast

growing cities is corrupting which is having

bad effect on the young generation In those

cities, where there is huge demand of foods, in

order to earn more money, some people use the

decayed raw materials like died pork to make

foods or use the forbidden chemical substances

to make vegetables and fruits, like durians to

grow bigger, ripen faster, look and smell

better As a result, the young living there will

withdraw a lesson that to achieve our target,

any price can be paid, without a certain care

about others’ safety or interest, which can lead

to a very bad and dangerous effect on their

characteristic building

Reduced social morality in rapidly growing cities has a direct negative impact on young people For example, unethical business practices can be imitated by young people who are desperate for shortcuts to success

First of all, one of the reasons to discuss is the

development of fast food or convenient food It

One of the factors that contribute to the rising prevalence of obesity is unhealthy diets, which

instead of cooking a healthy meal at home The

reason for it is that fast food might be cheaper

than a healthy meal with vegetables and it is

also really convenient for working people who

are really busy However, fast food has a

negative effect on people’s health because it

increases the in your body and makes them

become fatter and fatter For example, the

number of people in Western countries is

higher than in Eastern and Asian countries

because Asians usually have more vegetables

in their meal and there are just a few fast food

stores, such as KFC and McDonald, in these

countries

are detrimental to human health, they are still favored by people, especially those with hectic schedules, due to their own convenience and low prices

Lỗi 2: Ví dụ quá cụ thể, lan man mà vẫn chả chứng minh được gì

Student’s version Teacher’s version

For example, in Vietnam, who would say that

they do not know Dang Le Nguyen Vu, the

founder of Trung Nguyen Café Vu was born

in a poor family and started his business

purely out of passion

Thí sinh đang sử dụng ví dụ này để phát triển lập luận “sinh ra nghèo khó không phải là số phận”, vì vậy, thay vì nêu ra cái tên Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ mà những người nước ngoài (trong đó có người chấm bài) hầu như không biết, thí sinh chỉ cần nói chung là “các doanh nhân khởi nghiệp từ hai bàn tay trắng” hay “những doanh nhân

có xuất thân nghèo khó” là được

For example, success stories from poor entrepreneurs who built their fortune out of nothing have proved that lacking support is not necessarily a hindrance to personal development

Obviously, this would generate a less

competitive workforce, especially as opposed

to foreign skilled workers Ethiopian workers,

for example, are struggling to find themselves

decent jobs due to substandard academic

backgrounds

Thí sinh muốn dùng ví dụ để phát triển lập luận rằng “giáo dục yếu kém” khiến lực lượng lao động mất đi tính cạnh tranh; tuy nhiên, thay vì đưa ra ví dụ về đất nước Ethiopia xa lạ, thí sinh chỉ cần nói khái quát

về “những quốc gia nghèo” hay “những nước thuộc thế giới thứ ba” là người đọc đủ hiểu

This would generate a less competitive workforce in comparison with skilled workers

jobs due to substandard academic

backgrounds

According to the latest statistics from the UN

Population Fund, Vietnam is one of five

countries with the highest abortion rates in the

world and ranks first in Southeast Asia

Khi chấm bài, không ai lại đi tra Google xem dữ liệu này của thí sinh có chính xác hay không vì việc này mất thời gian và không cần thiết Đơn giản là bởi, dù dữ liệu

có chính xác 100% mà nó không phục vụ cho lập luận thì nó cũng không có giá trị gì trong bài và cũng không giúp thí sinh ăn điểm

Lỗi thứ 3: Câu rời rạc, thiếu gắn kết

Student’s version Teacher’s version

There are two reasons why people become

obese Unhealthy diets are one of them People

eat fast food and carbonated drinks too much

There are high levels of sugar, fat, and

cholesterol in those foods and drinks

There are two factors contributing to obesity One of them is unhealthy diets The dietary habits which are considered unhealthy

includes excessive consumption of fast food and carbonated drinks that are high in sugar,

fat, and cholesterol

The main threat to the environment is the

country’s rapid industrial expansion

Unprecedented levels of pollution and damage

to the fragile ecosystems result from this The

economic aspects, however, seem to eclipse

these concerns

The main threat to the environment is the country’s rapid industrial expansion This

has led to unprecedented levels of pollution and damage to the fragile ecosystems These concerns, however, seem to be eclipsed by the

economic aspects

Trong Teacher’s version, giáo viên đã áp dụng quy tắc “Given-new principle” để “connect old

ideas to new ideas” thông qua việc sử dụng synonyms (từ đồng nghĩa), pronouns (đại từ) Ngoài

ra có thể sử dụng demonstrative adjectives/pronouns (tính từ/đại từ chỉ định), such hoặc

transition words/phrases (từ/cụm từ chuyển tiếp)

TRANSITION WORDS

Addition Emphasis Order Comparison

and

also

as well as

in addition to

not only but also

even especially particularly

in particular more importantly

first(ly) final(ly) following previously after/before

like unlike similarly

in like manner

in the same way

Contrast Illustration Cause & effect Summary

but

however

in spite of

in contrast

on the other hand

like such as

to explain for instance for example

so because therefore consequently

as a result

briefly

to conclude

in summary

in conclusion

to summarize