Simon雅思写作网课笔记——大作文篇

Lesson 1. Introduction

• Four scoring criteria
  1. Task response
  2. Coherence and cohesion
  3. Vocabulary
  4. Grammar
• Breaks the task into parts
  1. 250 words
  2. 4 paragraphs
  3. 13 sentences
• Structure
  • Introduction - 2 sentences
  • 2 main paragraphs - 5 sentences each
  • Conclusion - 1 sentence
• Timing (40 minutes)
  • Planning: 10 minutes
  • Introduction: 5 minutes
  • Main body: 20 minutes
  • Conclusion: 5 minutes

Lesson 2. 开头段

• Method: 2 sentences
  • introduce the topic
  • give a general answer
  • 转述题目+阐述观念
• 4 type of question
  1. Discussion
     
  2. Opinion
     
     3种观念的例句：
     • Agree: I completely agree that this kind of scheme would be a good idea.
     • Disagree: In my opinion, it would be wrong to force teenagers to do any kind of unsalaried work.
     • Balance: While I disagree with the idea of making such programmes compulsory, I do believe that voluntary community service could benefit young people.
  3. Problem and solution
     
  4. Two-part question
     
     一句话中，用while连接两个问题

Lesson 3. 主体段

• 2 types:
  • Firstly, Secondly, Finally (并列式)
    • more than 1 idea
  • Idea, Explain, Example (递进式)
    • one idea, one reason
• Type 1: Firstly, Secondly, Finally
  • Main body
    
  • Summary:
    1. Topic sentence
    2. Firstly(e. explain more, or add example)
    3. Secondly
    4. Finally
  • Remember:
    • Linking words do not help your ‘vocabulary’ score. (连词用简单点没事)
    • Examiner wants to see the topic words.
      
• Type 2: Idea, Explain, Example
  • Main body
    
  • Try to write
    • Idea
    • Explain (2 or 3 sentences)
    • Example
  • Topic vocabulary
    

Lesson 4. 结尾段

• Conclusion sentences
  • One sentence
  • No new information
  • Paraphrasing to show variety
• 4 types
  • Discussion(+ opinion)
    题目：
    
    文章：
    
    • 开头就用In conclusion就行
    • 其他部分纯改写
  • Opinion
    题目
    
    文章
    
  • Problem & Solution
    题目
    
    文章
    
  • 2-part question
    题目
    
    文章
    

Lesson 5. 列提纲

• 题目：
  

  1. Read and understand the question

     • highlight / underline key parts

  2. Plan your essay structure (4 paragraphs, 3-4 minutes)

     • Introduction: study in groups or alone, sometimes better alone, usually better in a group
     • Benefits of studying alone
     • Benefits of group study (my view)
     • Conclusion: both have benefits, but I prefer group

  3. Plan ideas for the two main paragraphs (6 minutes)

     • brainstorm, note down any ideas you have
     • develop ideas in detail
     • keep asking yourself ‘why?’
     • think of examples to support your ideas
     • finally, try to group related ideas (number them)

     

Lesson 6. Opinion Essay

• Do YOU agree or disagree

• You CAN use “I” or “my”.

• An example:
  The money spent by governments on space programmes would be spent on vital public services such as shcools and hospitals.
  To what extent do you agree or disagree?

  1. Read and understand the question
     • highlight/underline key parts
  2. Plan your essay structure (4 paragraphs)
     1. Introduction: government spending
        agree - public services instead of space projects
     2. explain why ‘space’ spending should be stopped
     3. explain why public service spending is better
     4. Conclusion: spend on services that benefit us all
  3. Plan ideas for the two main paragraphs (6 minutes)
     

• 完整例文
  The money spent by governments on space programmes would be spent on vital public services such as shcools and hospitals.
  To what extent do you agree or disagree?
    Governments in some countries spend large amounts of money on space exploration programmes. I completely agree with the idea that these are a waste of money, and that the funds should be allocated to public services
    There are several reasons why space programmes should be abandoned. Firstly, it is extremely expensive to train scientists and other staff involved with space missions, and facilities and equipment also come at a huge cost to the government. Secondly, these programmes do not benefit normal people in our daily lives; they are simply vanity projects for politicians. Finally, many missions to space fail completely, and the smallest technological error can cost astronauts their lives. The Challenger space shuttle disaster showed us that space travel is extremely dangerous, and in my opinion it is not worth the risk.
    I believe that the money from space programmes should go to vital public services instead. It is much cheaper to train doctors, teachers, police and other public service workers than it is to train astronauts or the scientists and engineers who work on space exploration projects. Furthermore, public servants do jobs that have a positive impact on every member of society. For example, we all use schools, hospitals and roads, and we all need the security that police provide. If governments reallocated the money spent on space travel and research, many thousands of people could be lifted out of poverty or given a better quality of life.
    In conclusion, my view is that governments should spend money on services that benefit all members of society, and it is wrong to waste resources on projects that do not improve our everyday lives.
   

• Vocabulary:

  • space programmes, exploration, missions, projects, travel, research
  • funds should be allocated
  • should be abandoned
  • facilities and equipment come at a huge cost
  • vanity projects for politicians 政客的面子工程
  • can cost astronauts their lives
  • space shuttle disaster
  • public servants
  • a positive impact on every member of society
  • if governments reallocated
  • could be lifted out of poverty
  • given a better quality of life

Lesson 7. Discussion Essay

• An example:
  Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.
  Discuss both these views and give your own opinion?

  1. Read and understand the question
     • highlight/underline key parts
  2. Plan your essay structure (4 paragraphs)
     1. Introduction: competition or co-operation
        benefits of both, co-operation more important
     2. Why encourage competition
     3. Why teach co-operation (my view)
     4. Conclusion: accept both views co-operation better
  3. Plan ideas for the two main paragraphs (6 minutes)
     注意这里并非独立的观点集合，而是顺序的。例如：先讲好处，再讲步入社会的优势
     

• 完整例文
  Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.
  Discuss both these views and give your own opinion?
    People have different views about whether children should be taught to be competitive or co-opertive. While a spirit of competition can sometimes be useful in life, I believe that the ability to co-operate is more important.
    On the one hand, competition can be a great source of motivation for children. When teachers use games or prizes to introduce an element of competitiveness into lessons, it can encourage children to work harder to outdo the other pupils in the class. This kind of healthy rivalry may help to build children’s self confidence, while pushing them to work independently and progress more quickly. When these children leave school, their confidence and determination will help them in competitive situations such as job interviews. It can therefore be argued that competition should be encouraged in order to prepare children for adult life.
    On the other hand, it is perhaps even more important to prepare children for the many aspects of adults life that require co-operation. In the workplace, adults are expected to work in teams, follow instructions given by their superiors, or supervise and support the more junior members of staff. Team collaboration skills are much more useful than a competitive determination to win. This is the attitude that I believe schools should foster in young people. Instead of promoting the idea that people are either winners or losers, teachers could show children that they gain more from working together.
    In conclusion, I can understand why people might want to encourage competitiveness in children, but it seems to me that a co-operative attitude is much more desirable in adult life.
   

• Vocabulary

  • competition / co-operation, competitive, co-operative, co-operate, competitiveness
  • a spirit of competition
  • a source of motivation
  • introduce an element of competitiveness
  • outdo other pupils, healthy rivalry(良性竞争)
  • build self confidence, determination
  • aspects of adult life
  • superiors, junior members of staff
  • team collaboration skills
  • attitude that schools should foster
  • promoting the idea
  • a co-operative attitude is more desirable

Lesson 8. Problem and Solution Essay

• An example:
  In many contries schools have severe problems with student behavior.
  What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?

  1. Read and understand the question
     • highlight/underline key parts
  2. Plan your essay structure (4 paragraphs)
     1. Introduction: student behavior in schools
        variety of reasons, steps can be taken to tackle
     2. Causes of bad student behavior
     3. My suggested solutions
     4. Conclusion: summarise the problem and steps
  3. Plan ideas for the two main paragraphs (6 minutes)
     这里和前一篇不一样，分成了三个要责怪的人群，所以用并列式。解决方法和问题对应（感觉这种写法更符合中式教育的逻辑）
     

• 完整例文
  In many contries schools have severe problems with student behavior.
  What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?
    It is true that the behavior of school pupils in some parts of world has been getting worse in recent years. There are a variety of possible reasons for this, but steps can definitely be taken to tackle the problem.
    In my opinion, three main factors are to blame for the way young people behave at school nowadays. Firstly, modern parents tend to be too lenient or permissive. Many children become accustomed to getting whatever they want, and they find it difficult to accept the demands of teachers or the limits imposed on them by school rules. Secondly, if teachers cannot control their students, there must be an issue with the quality of classroom management training or support within schools. Finally, children are influenced by the behavior of celebrities, many of whom set the example that success can be achieved without finishing school.
    Student behavior can be certainly be improved. I believe that the change must start with parents, who need to be persuaded that it is important to set firm rules for their children. When children misbehave or break the rules, parents should use reasonable punishments to demonstrate that actions have consequences. Also, schools could play an important role in training both teachers and parents to use effective disciplinary techniques, and in improving the communication between both groups. At the same time, famous people, such as musicians and football players, need to understand the responsibility that they have to act as role models to children.
    In conclusion, schools will continue to face discipline problems unless parents, teachers and public figures set clear rules and demonstrate the right behavior
   

• Vocabulary

  • steps can be taken to tackle the problem
  • three main factors are to blame
  • parents tend to be too lenient or permissive
  • children become accustomed to
  • limits imposed on them
  • quality of classroom management
  • celebrities, famous people, public figures
  • set an example
  • set firm rules, reasonable punishments
  • play an important role in
  • effective disciplinary techniques
  • responsibility to act as role models
  • face discipline problems

Lesson 8. 2-Part Question Essay

• An example:
  News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think these decisions? Do we become used to bad news, and would it be better if more good news was reported?

  1. Read and understand the question
     • highlight/underline key parts
  2. Plan your essay structure (4 paragraphs)
     1. Introduction: decisions about news stories
        variety of factors, yes too much bad news.
     2. Factors that influence news editors
     3. Too much bad news, should report more good
     4. Conclusion: difficult news choices, more positive
  3. Plan ideas for the two main paragraphs (6 minutes)
     见到“factors”，立刻想到分成三点
     

• 完整例文
  News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think these decisions? Do we become used to bad news, and would it be better if more good news was reported?
    It is true that editors have to make difficult decisions about news stories they broadcast or publish, and their choices are no doubt influenced by a variety of factors. In my opinion, we are exposed to too much bad news, and I would welcome a greater emphasis on good news.
    Editors face a range of considerations when deciding what news stories to focus on. Firstly, I imagine that they have to consider whether viewers or readers will be interested enough to choose their television channel or their newspaper over competing providers. Secondly, news editors have a responsibility to inform the public about important events and issues, and they should therefore prioritise stories that are in the public interest. Finally, editors are probably under some pressure from the owners who employ them. For example, a newspaper owner might have particular political views that he or she wants to promote.
    It seems to me that people do become accustomed to negative news. We are exposed on a daily basis to stories about war crime, natural disasters and tragic human suffering around the world. I believe such repeated exposure gradually desensitizes people and we become more cynical about the world and more sceptical that we can do anything to change it. I would prefer to see more positive news stories, such as report of the work of medical staff after a natural disaster, or the kindness of volunteers who help in their communities. This kind of news might inspire us all to lead better lives.
    In conclusion, it must be extremly difficult for editors to choose which news stories to present, but I would like to see a more positive approach to this vital public service.
   

• Vocabulary:

  • expose to bad news
  • welcome a greater emphasis on good news
  • editors face a range of considerations
  • choose … over …
  • prioritize stories that are in the public interests
  • under some pressure from the owners
  • promote particular political views
  • become accustomed to negative news
  • natural disasters and tragic human suffering
  • exposure gradully desensitizes people
  • cynical and sceptical
  • inspire us all to lead better lives
  • a more positive approach
  • vital public service

Lesson 9. Extra help for “Agree or disagree?” questions

• Disagree:
  Some people believe that hobbies need to be difficult to be enjoyable.
  To what extent do you agree or disagree?

  • Some hobbies are relatively easy, while others present more of a challenge. Personally, I believe that both types of hobbies can be fun, and I therefore disagree with the statement that hobbies need to be difficult in order to be enjoyable.
  • explain why easy hobbies can be enjoyable
  • explain why difficult hobbies can be fun.
  • Conclusion: disagree that difficult hobbies are better.

• Partly agree:
  Many people say that we now live in ‘consumer societies’ when money and possessions are given too much importance.
  To what extent do you agree or disagree?

  • It is true that many people criticise modern society because it seems to be too materialistic. I agree with this statement to some extent, but I do not think that it is the case that everyone is a victim of consumer culture.
  • I believe many people do focus too much on money
  • However, many others are not money oriented.
  • Conclusion: partly agree

• In the last century, the first man who walk on the moon, said:”It was a giant leap of mankind”. However some people thinks it has a 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 this is true in practical terms, I believe that the psychological impact of this great achivement should not be underestimated.
  • no benefit in pratical terms (standard of living, health)
  • but it was an inspiring achievement
  • Conclusion: partly agree