STRUCTRURE OF AN ESSAY

Every essay should have the exact structure:

+ Introduction paragraph (1 paragraph in 2 or three sentences)
+ Body paragraphs (2 or three paragraphs; each in 5 or 6 sentences)
+ Conclusion paragraph (1 paragraph in 2 or three sentences)
It looks simple. However, the structure and the paragraphing of your essay are very
important because your grade is effected by them. Remember that practice and hard work
make perfect.
PARAGRAPHING STYLES
In writing essays, there are 2 possible paragraphing styles, as you see below. In style
A, we start writing from the beginning of the line, and we leave one complete line blank
and
empty between the paragraphs. In style B, we do not start from the beginning of the line
and instead we indent, we leave some space, at the beginning of the line, but then we do
not leave any empty or blank lines between the paragraphs. There is no rule to this, and it
is a matter of personal preference. It does not matter what style you choose, but remember
not to write a mix of these two styles. Stick to the one you are more comfortable with.

Style A Style B
Introduction ........ <==> Introduction .........
………………… …………………………
 <==> Body 1 .................
Body 1 ………… …………………………
………………… …………………………
………………… <==> Body 2 .................
 …………………………
Body 2 ………… …………………………
………………… <==> Body 3 .................
………………… …………………………
 …………………………
Body 3 ………… <==> Conclusion ...........
………………… …………………………
…………………

Conclusion …….
…………………
 Note: It may not be necessary to have “Body 3” in your essay.
SAMPLE FOR TASK 2 – TEST 1 (Không thi)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Read the following topic.
Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every
course.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Now, write an essay in about 40 minutes. Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in term of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.
Style A
In my opinion, men and women should have the same educational opportunities. However,
I totally disagree with the idea of admitting equal proportions of each gender in every
university major.

Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply unrealistic.
Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution receives.
If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it would
need enough applicants of each gender. In reality, many courses are more popular with one
gender than the other, and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions. For
example, nursing courses tend to attract more female applicants, and it would be difficult to
fill these courses if fifty percent of the places needed to go to males.

Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be unfair to
base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to select the
best candidates for each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both men and
women have the same opportunities, and applicants know that they will be successful if
they work hard to achieve good grades at school. If a female student is the best candidate
for a place on a course, it would be wrong to reject her in favor of a male student with lower
grades or fewer qualifications.

In conclusion, the selection of university students should be based on merit, and it would be
both impractical and unfair to change to a selection procedure based on sex.
Style B

In my opinion, men and women should have the same educational opportunities.
However, I totally disagree with the idea of admitting equal proportions of each gender in
every university major.
Having the same number of men and women on all degree courses is simply
unrealistic. Student numbers on any course depend on the applications that the institution
receives. If a university decided to fill courses with equal numbers of males and females, it
would need enough applicants of each gender. In reality, many courses are more popular
with one gender than the other, and it would not be practical to aim for equal proportions.
For example, nursing courses tend to attract more female applicants, and it would be
difficult to fill these courses if fifty percent of the places needed to go to males.
Apart from the practical concerns expressed above, I also believe that it would be
unfair to base admission to university courses on gender. Universities should continue to
select the best candidates for each course according to their qualifications. In this way, both
men and women have the same opportunities, and applicants know that they will be
successful if they work hard to achieve good grades at school. If a female student is the best
candidate for a place on a course, it would be wrong to reject her in favor of a male student
with lower grades or fewer qualifications.
In conclusion/In summary/In brief/ In a nutshell/To sum up, the selection of
university students should be based on merit, and it would be both impractical and unfair to
change to a selection procedure based on sex.
 TASK 2 – TEST 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following topic.
Many children these days have an unhealthy lifestyle. Both schools and parents are
responsible for solving this problem.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Now, write an essay in about 40 minutes. Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in term of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Introduction 1
Nowadays, children have many more opportunities to lead a fit life than in the past
because generally they live in hygienic surroundings and have plenty to eat. However,
many of them decide on an unhealthy lifestyle. It is claimed for the responsibility of both
education institutes and parents towards this problem. I half agree with this idea because
there are several other factors.

Main ideas for Body Paragraphs

Body 1
On the one hand,
- Parents
+ teach and talk to their children more when at home
+ encourage them to do more exercise, play with their friends or help do housework
+ advise them for and feed with healthy diet
+ limit the time that children spend watching TV, playing games, lying in bed for
hours + help them avoid unsuitable activities and unhealthy food
+ take them out for shopping or travelling for new things and real-life experience
- Schools
+ include regular exercises in student's timetable
+ provide children with a wide range of healthy food
+ teach them responsible eating habits
+ teach them how to distinguish the good from the bad.

Body 2
On the other hand,
- Governments and health authorities
+ launch programs about healthy eating and appropriate activities for children
+ give courses to new parents on how to bring up their children.
- The children themselves
+ be responsible for their life styles

Conclusion
In summary, while I agree that the responsibility for bringing up children with a
good healthy lifestyle lies in those who are in regular contact with them, in other words,
their parents and teachers, I believe that the authorities and the children themselves also
take a very important role.
 TASK 2 – TEST 3 (không thi)
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Read the following topic.

In order to solve traffic problems in major cities in Vietnam, the government should
strictly limit roadway encroachment and improve transport infrastructure.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Now, write an essay in about 40 minutes. Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in term of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Introduction 1
Traffic congestion in many cities in Vietnam is severe. Many people suggest that
roadway encroachment should be harshly limited and that transportation systems should be
enhanced. => I half agree with the opinion. = (While this is a good idea, I think there are
other better solutions to traffic issues.)

Main ideas for Body Paragraphs

Body 1
On the one hand,
- Roadway encroachment
+ makes city streets narrower, contributing to causing traffic jams and accidents
- Transport infrastructure improvement
+ make city streets more spacious and safer
+ reduce traffic problems
Body 2
On the other hand, there are many other ways to better the situations.
- tax private vehicle owners heavily => reduce the number of private cars
- invest more in public transportation means and encourage people to use them
- raise awareness and responsibility of traffic participants

Conclusion
In a nutshell, I partly agree with the suggestion to seriously limit roadway
encroachment and improve transport infrastructure as there are various methods for traffic
solution in our nation’s big cities.
 TASK 2 – TEST 4

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Read the following topic.

Smoking should be banned in public places.

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

Now, write an essay in about 40 minutes. Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in term of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Introduction 1
Many people suggest that smoking should not be allowed in public areas. I fully
agree with this suggestion because smoking harms not only the smokers but also the people
nearby. Also, smokers spend a considerable amount of money on cigarettes as well as show
unrespect to people nearby when smoking.

Main ideas for Body Paragraphs

Body 1
- Public health
+ health dangers to smokers and non-smokers.
+ result in other diseases
+ affect younger generations
Body 2
- Financial and social influence
+ reduce expenditures / waste of money
+ show respect and politeness to people nearby
+ smoke in smoking areas

Conclusion
All in all, smoking brings about more harms than benefits. Consequently, it should
be prohibited in common places.
 TASK 2 – TEST 5

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Read the following topic.

Some people think that the only purpose of working hard is to earn money.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Now, write an essay in about 40 minutes. Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge to support your answer.
You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in term of Task
Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Introduction 1
It is thought that people work hard only for money. I somewhat agree with this
statement because in reality people work hard for many other things.

Main ideas for Body Paragraphs

Body 1
On the one hand,
- People work hard to earn money
+ pay for their food, clothes and shelters
+ help their families
+ save for their future
Body 2
On the other hand, there are many other reasons for which people work hard.
+ to get more practical experience
+ to get promoted
+ to become famous
+ to prove themselves/their usefulness/talents

Conclusion
In short, people work hard not only for money but also for many other purposes as
mentioned above.