How to write an essay and to build a complex sentence for IELTS?

 

An essay is a short piece of writing that discusses, describes or analyzes one topic. It can discuss a subject directly or indirectly, seriously or humorously. It can describe personal opinions, or just report information.

The overall structure of a five paragraph essay should look something like this:

Introduction Paragraph

• An attention-grabbing "hook"

• A thesis statement

• A preview of the three subtopics you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

First Body Paragraph

• Topic sentence which states the first subtopic and opens with a transition

• Supporting details or examples

• An explanation of how this example proves your thesis

Second Body Paragraph

• Topic sentence which states the second subtopic and opens with a transition

• Supporting details or examples

• An explanation of how this example proves your thesis

Third Body Paragraph

• Topic sentence which states the third subtopic and opens with a transition

• Supporting details or examples

• An explanation of how this example proves your thesis

Concluding Paragraph

• Concluding Transition, Reverse "hook," and restatement of thesis.

• Rephrasing main topic and subtopics. Final opinion!

• Global statement or call to action. Recommendation!

Opinion Essays/ The compare/contrast essay

The compare/contrast essay discusses the similarities and differences between two things, people, concepts, places, etc. The essay could be an unbiased discussion, or an attempt to convince the reader of the benefits of one thing, person, or concept. It could also be written simply to entertain the reader, or to arrive at an insight into human nature. The essay could discuss both similarities and differences, or it could just focus on one or the other. A comparison essay usually discusses the similarities between two things, while the contrast essay discusses the differences.

Will include either one of the following phrases:

• Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• Discuss both views and give your opinion.

• Is it a positive or negative development?

• Do the advantages of the trend outweigh the disadvantages?

• Could this have more positive or negative effects?

• Is this a positive development?

• What is your opinion on this issue?

First, what are the types of Task 2 essays?

 

1. Agree or Disagree

 

Ex. Some people think that scientists experimenting with animals in a laboratory is the only way we can guarantee new products will be safe for human use. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

 

2. Advantages/Benefits outweigh Disadvantages/Drawbacks

 

Ex. In some countries, governments are encouraging industries and businesses to move to regional areas outside the big cities. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

 

3. Discuss two views plus your opinion

 

Ex. Some people say children no longer need to develop handwriting skills. Others believe that handwriting is still important. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

 

4. Discuss two views only (no opinion)

 

Ex. Many people believe that an effective public transport system is a key component of a modern city. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of public transport.

 

5. Causes/Problem and Solution

 

Ex. Crime rates tend to be higher in cities than in smaller towns. Explain some possible reasons for this problem and suggest some solutions.

 

6. Two questions/ two-part questions

 

Ex. To some people studying the past has little value in the modern world.  Why do you think it is important to do so? What will be the effect if children are not taught history?

 

7. Opinion

 

Ex. Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than other experiences we may have in life. Which do you consider to be the major influence?

 

How to approach the essay?

 

The most important thing you must do first when you approach the essay for Task 2 is to read the question carefully and to understand what the question is asking you to write about.

 

Yes, that’s obvious, but I’ve seen countless essays where the students have worked so hard on brainstorming, organizing and supporting their ideas only to later realize that they didn’t answer the question AT ALL.

 

So, get it right from the beginning. Make sure you:

1.Read the question carefully. Reread it if you have to.

2.Underline key words. These words will be about the topic and issue – the focus of your essay.

3.Identify what the call-to-action part of the question is. Usually, the Task consists of 2 parts: the first is a claim about an issue and the second is the call-to-action question – asking you to do something specific in your essay. Call-to-action questions include: agree/disagree; cause/effect; problem/solution; advantages/disadvantages; discussion; etc.

 

Let’s look at an example.

 

Task Question:

 

It is inevitable that as technology develops traditional cultures must be lost. Technology and tradition are incompatible – you cannot have both together.

 

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

 

Your steps:

 

1) Read carefully, then reread if you have to.

 

2) Underline key topic words:

 

Technology, traditional cultures, incompatible, lost

 

What does the statement say?  That technology and traditional cutures cannot coexist at all. The more technologically advanced our society becomes, our traditions will disappear.

 

3) What are you supposed to write about in your essay? This is what the call-to-action question tells you: “To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?”

Do you agree or disagree with the notion that technology and traditional cultures can’t coexist? How far? Completely? Somewhat?

Your essay will be structured on what your answer is here. Once you’ve decided on your answer (which you should do quickly), you should then begin to organize your ideas.

 

Six fundamental grammatical basics to know and practice, from A to F:

 

A. Subordinate Conjunctions

 

1. Subordinate conjunctions are words or phrases that connect a dependent clause or adjective or adverbial phrase to an independent clause. The dependent clauses provide context and description for the independent clause; in short, it adds information that isn't the direct focus of the sentence but is important in adding time, place, or reasons to the sentence.

 

2. What subordinate conjunctions do so well is to connect information. Instead of having two short independent clauses that make for a choppy, difficult to read style, subordinate conjunctions allow you to connect sentences, to show relationships, to make your writing flow.

 

3. As you will notice, when the subordinate conjunction comes at the beginning of a sentence, it nearly always means that a comma will follow soon, usually after the end of that clause..

 

 

4. In the following examples, the subordinate conjunctions are italicized.

 

Ex. 1: After Josie studied the lab reports, she determined that Glen would need further treatment.

 

Explanation:  The After clause explains the time frame for Josie's decision that Glen needed further treatment. It gives readers the information that they need to understand how Josie determined Glen's need. Notice how the above sentence sounds so much better than if the sentence had been written with two independent clauses:

 

Josie studied the lab reports.

 

She determined that Glen would need further treatment.

 

Using a subordinate conjunction to combine the sentences not only makes the style better, but it also tells us that the decision was made after Josie had studied the reports. We can feel better that the decision is based on Josie's previous work and Glen's treatment is not unfounded!

 

Ex. 2: Because the war is being fought in the Middle East, oil prices will continue to rise.

 

Explanation: The Because clause provides a reason for the rise in oil prices, the information the writer is stressing in that sentence. Since that clause comes before the main clause, it is followed by a comma. If the clause were to come at the end of the sentence, as in

 

Oil prices will continue to rise because the war is being fought in the Middle East.

 

no comma is required.

 

 

Ex. 3: Whenever a country goes to war, certain freedoms in that country may be compromised.

 

Explanation: The main point in the above sentence is that freedoms may be lost; the dependent point, expressed in the whenever clause, gives explanation to the main point by describing when freedoms may be lost. Again notice the comma following the opening dependent clause.

 

 

Ex. 4: The candidate, who ran a clean race, was elected by a wide majority.

 

Explanation: The dependent clause here comes in the middle of the sentence and is used to clarify why the candidate won. Because this who clause can be removed from the sentence without changing the main point, commas are used to separate it from the main clause. Such an unnecessary clause is called a non-restrictive clause since it doesn't restrict the meaning of the sentence.

 

 

Ex. 5: Any voters who have registered can vote.

 

Explanation: In this example, the who clause is necessary to the meaning of the main clause since the meaning of the sentence is that only registered voters can vote. Without who have registered the sentence would have an entirely different meaning. As a result of the necessary clause, there are no commas. Such a clause is called a restrictive clause since it restricts the meaning of the sentence.

 

 

B. The Main Clause

 

 Recognize a main clause when you see one.

A main clause, sometimes called an independent clause, must contain a subject and a verb as well as express a complete thought. Look at the examples below:

 

Diane kicked the soda machine.

 

Diane = the subject; kicked = the verb.

 

A giant spider has made its home behind the shampoo bottle in Neil's bathroom.

 

Spider = the subject; has made = the verb.

 

Sima and Michele are skipping their chemistry class to sit by the lake and watch the sun sparkle on the water.

 

Sima, Michele = the subjects; are skipping = the verb.

 Remember this important point:

You must have at least one main clause in every sentence. A main clause is the essential component. Without a main clause, a group of words is a fragment, a major error in writing.

 

A sentence can contain any number of other grammatical units, such as participle phrases, prepositional phrases, subordinate clauses, appositives, etc. It must, however, contain at least one main clause. Take a look at the example below:

 

While dissecting a cow heart in her anatomy and physiology class, Shenicka realized that a cheeseburger, her favorite lunch, was no longer appetizing.

 

While dissecting a cow heart = participle phrase.

 

In her anatomy and physiology class = prepositional phrase.

 

Shenicka realized = the essential main clause.

 

That a cheeseburger was no longer appetizing = subordinate clause.

 

Her favorite lunch = appositive.

 

 

C. Subordinate clause

 

When you place a subordinate conjunction in front of a subject and verb, you will no longer have a complete thought. The group of words becomes a subordinate clause, like these examples:

 

When Diane kicked the soda machine ...

 

When Diane kicked it, what happened? Did the soda machine cough up her drink? Did the soda machine fall on top of poor Diane, crushing her underneath? Did quarters start shooting out of the coin return slot? Because you no longer have a complete thought, you no longer have a main clause.

 

Because a giant spider has made its home behind the shampoo bottle in Neil's bathroom ...

 

Because the giant spider lives there now, what has happened? Did Neil buy a can of insecticide? Does Neil now refuse to bathe? Is the spider starving because there are not enough insects for her to eat? The word because, a subordinate conjunction, leaves the idea unfinished, so you no longer have a main clause.

 

Even though Sima and Michele are skipping their chemistry class to sit by the lake and watch the sun sparkle on the water ...

 

Even though Sima and Michele are skipping their chemistry class, what else are they doing? Are they also studying their notes? Are they contemplating how the water in the lake is composed of hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Are they gossiping about their teacher? The addition of even though makes a subordinate clause.

 

 

D.The Participle Phrase

 

 Recognize a participle phrase when you see one.

A participle phrase will begin with a present or past participle. If the participle is present, it will dependably end in ing. Likewise, a regular past participle will end in a consistent ed. Irregular past participles, unfortunately, conclude in all kinds of ways [although this list will help].

 

Since all phrases require two or more words, a participle phrase will often include objects and/or modifiers that complete the thought. Here are some examples:

 

Crunching caramel corn for the entire movie

 

Washed with soap and water

 

Stuck in the back of the closet behind the obsolete computer

 

Participle phrases always function as adjectives, adding description to the sentence. Read these examples:

 

The horse trotting up to the fence hopes that you have an apple or carrot.

 

Trotting up to the fence modifies the noun horse.

 

The water drained slowly in the pipe clogged with dog hair.

 

Clogged with dog hair modifies the noun pipe.

 

Eaten by mosquitoes, we wished that we had made hotel, not campsite, reservations.

 

Eaten by mosquitoes modifies the pronoun we.

 Don't mistake a present participle phrase for a gerund phrase.

Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they both begin with an ing word. The difference is the function that they provide in the sentence. A gerund phrase will always behave as a noun while a present participle phrase will act as an adjective. Check out these examples:

 

Walking on the beach, Delores dodged jellyfish that had washed ashore.

 

Walking on the beach = present participle phrase describing the noun Delores.

 

Walking on the beach is painful if jellyfish have washed ashore.

 

Walking on the beach = gerund phrase, the subject of the verb is.

 

Waking to the buzz of the alarm clock, Freddie cursed the arrival of another Monday.

 

Waking to the buzz of the alarm clock = present participle phrase describing the noun Freddie.

 

Freddie hates waking to the buzz of the alarm clock.

 

Waking to the buzz of the alarm clock = gerund phrase, the direct object of the verb hates.

 

After a long day at school and work, LaShae found her roommate Ben eating the last of the leftover pizza.

 

Eating the last of the leftover pizza = present participle phrase describing the noun Ben.

 

Ben's rudest habit is eating the last of the leftover pizza.

 

Eating the last of the leftover pizza = gerund phrase, the subject complement of the linking verb is.

 Punctuate a participle phrase correctly.

When a participle phrase introduces a main clause, separate the two sentence components with a comma. The pattern looks like this:

 

participle phrase + , + main clause.

 

Read this example:

 

Glazed with barbecue sauce, the rack of ribs lay nestled next to a pile of sweet coleslaw.

 

When a participle phrase concludes a main clause and is describing the word right in front of it, you need no punctuation to connect the two sentence parts. The pattern looks like this:

 

main clause + Ø + participle phrase.

 

Check out this example:

 

Mariah risked petting the pit bull wagging its stub tail.

 

But when a participle phrase concludes a main clause and modifies a word farther up in the sentence, you will need a comma. The pattern looks like this:

 

main clause + , + participle phrase.

 

Check out this example:

 

Cooper enjoyed dinner at Audrey's house, agreeing to a large slice of cherry pie even though he was full to the point of bursting.

 Don't misplace or dangle your participle phrases.

Participle phrases are the most common modifier to misplace or dangle. In clear, logical sentences, you will find modifiers right next to the words they describe.

 

Shouting with happiness, William celebrated his chance to interview at Sun Trust.

 

Notice that the participle phrase sits right in front of William, the one doing the shouting.

 

If too much distance separates a modifier and its target, the modifier is misplaced.

 

Draped neatly on a hanger, William borrowed Grandpa's old suit to wear to the interview.

 

The suit, not William, is on the hanger! The modifier must come closer to the word it is meant to describe:

 

For the interview, William borrowed Grandpa's old suit, which was draped neatly on a hanger.

 

If the sentence fails to include a target, the modifier is dangling.

 

Straightening his tie and smoothing his hair, the appointment time for the interview had finally arrived.

 

We assume William is about to interview, but where is he in the sentence? We need a target for the participle phrase straightening his tie and smoothing his hair.

 

Straightening his tie and smoothing his hair, William was relieved that the appointment time for the interview had finally arrived.

 

 

 

 

E- The Prepositional Phrase

 

 

 

 Recognize a prepositional phrase when you see one.

At the minimum, a prepositional phrase will begin with a preposition and end with a noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause, the "object" of the preposition.

 

The object of the preposition will often have one or more modifiers to describe it. These are the patterns for a prepositional phrase:

 

preposition + noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause

 

preposition + modifier(s) + noun, pronoun, gerund, or clause

 

Here are some examples of the most basic prepositional phrase:

 

At home

 

At = preposition; home = noun.

 

In time

 

In = preposition; time = noun.

 

From Richie

 

From = preposition; Richie = noun.

 

With me

 

With = preposition; me = pronoun.

 

By singing

 

By = preposition; singing = gerund.

 

About what we need

 

About = preposition; what we need = noun clause.

 

Most prepositional phrases are longer, like these:

 

From my grandmother

 

From = preposition; my = modifier; grandmother = noun.

 

Under the warm blanket

 

Under = preposition; the, warm = modifiers; blanket = noun.

 

In the weedy, overgrown garden

 

In = preposition; the, weedy, overgrown = modifiers; garden = noun.

 

Along the busy, six-lane highway

 

Along = preposition; the, busy, six-lane = modifiers; highway = noun.

 

Without excessively worrying

 

Without = preposition; excessively = modifier; worrying = gerund.

 Understand what prepositional phrases do in a sentence.

A prepositional phrase will function as an adjective or adverb. As an adjective, the prepositional phrase will answer the question Which one?

 

Read these examples:

 

The book on the bathroom floor is swollen from shower steam.

 

Which book? The one on the bathroom floor!

 

The sweet potatoes in the vegetable bin are green with mold.

 

Which sweet potatoes? The ones forgotten in the vegetable bin!

 

The note from Beverly confessed that she had eaten the leftover pizza.

 

Which note? The one from Beverly!

 

As an adverb, a prepositional phrase will answer questions such as How? When? or Where?

 

Freddy is stiff from yesterday's long football practice.

 

How did Freddy get stiff? From yesterday's long football practice!

 

Before class, Josh begged his friends for a pencil.

 

When did Josh do his begging? Before class!

 

Feeling brave, we tried the Dragon Breath Burritos at Tito's Taco Palace.

 

Where did we eat the spicy food? At Tito's Taco Palace!

 Remember that a prepositional phrase will never contain the subject of a sentence.

Sometimes a noun within the prepositional phrase seems the logical subject of a verb. Don't fall for that trick! You will never find a subject in a prepositional phrase. Look at this example:

 

Neither of these cookbooks contains the recipe for Manhattan-style squid eyeball stew.

 

Cookbooks do indeed contain recipes. In this sentence, however, cookbooks is part of the prepositional phrase of these cookbooks. Neither—whatever a neither is—is the subject for the verb contains.

 

Neither is singular, so you need the singular form of the verb, contains. If you incorrectly identified cookbooks as the subject, you might write contain, the plural form, and thus commit a subject-verb agreement error.

 

Some prepositions—such as along with and in addition to—indicate "more to come." They will make you think that you have a plural subject when in fact you don't. Don't fall for that trick either! Read this example:

 

Tommy, along with the other students, breathed a sigh of relief when Mrs. Markham announced that she was postponing the due date for the research essay.

 

Logically, more than one student is happy with the news. But Tommy is the only subject of the verb breathed. His classmates count in the real world, but in the sentence, they don't matter, locked as they are in the prepositional phrase.

 

 

 

 

F. The Appositive

 

 

 

 Recognize an appositive when you see one.

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. The appositive can be a short or long combination of words. Look at these examples:

 

The insect, a cockroach, is crawling across the kitchen table.

 

The insect, a large cockroach, is crawling across the kitchen table.

 

The insect, a large cockroach with hairy legs, is crawling across the kitchen table.

 

The insect, a large, hairy-legged cockroach that has spied my bowl of oatmeal, is crawling across the kitchen table.

 

Here are more examples:

 

During the dinner conversation, Clifford, the messiest eater at the table, spewed mashed potatoes like an erupting volcano.

 

My 286 computer, a modern-day dinosaur, chews floppy disks as noisily as my brother does peanut brittle.

 

Genette's bedroom desk, the biggest disaster area in the house, is a collection of overdue library books, dirty plates, computer components, old mail, cat hair, and empty potato chip bags.

 

Reliable, Diane's eleven-year-old beagle, chews holes in the living room carpeting as if he were still a puppy.

 Punctuate the appositive correctly.

The important point to remember is that a nonessential appositive is always separated from the rest of the sentence with comma(s).

 

When the appositive begins the sentence, it looks like this:

 

A hot-tempered tennis player, Robbie charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man's skull with a racket.

 

When the appositive interrupts the sentence, it looks like this:

 

Robbie, a hot-tempered tennis player, charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man's skull with a racket.

 

And when the appositive ends the sentence, it looks like this:

 

Upset by the bad call, the crowd cheered Robbie, a hot-tempered tennis player who charged the umpire and tried to crack the poor man's skull with a racket.