Writing Task 2

Discuss both views

 Writing
• Last week, we looked at essays in which you
have to give your opinion.
• We said that you should try to strongly agree
or disagree – not be in the middle!
• This week, you must be in the middle…
• …because you have to Discuss Both Views
 Writing
• Look at this Task 2 prompt:
Many children these days have an unhealthy lifestyle. Some people
think schools are responsible for solving this problem, and others
believe it is the parents’ responsibility and parents are equally
responsible for solving this problem.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

• What is the first ‘point of view’?

• What is the second ‘point of view’?
 Writing
Many children these days have an unhealthy lifestyle. Some people
think schools are responsible for solving this problem, and others
believe it is the parents’ responsibility and parents are equally
responsible for solving this problem.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The first point of view: Schools are responsible for children’s health.
Second point of view: Parents are responsible for children’s health.
 Writing
• Before we continue, think about these questions for the first point
of view: Some people think schools are responsible for solving
this problem

• Do schools in Vietnam teach children about health?

• What do they teach?
• What are the benefits of schools teaching children about health?
• What, if any, are the drawbacks?
• Why should schools teach children about health instead of
parents?
• What should they teach them?
 Writing
• Now think a bit about the other side of the argument: it is the
parents’ responsibility and parents are equally responsible for
solving this problem.

• Do parents in Vietnam teach children about health?

• What do they teach?
• What are the benefits of parents teaching children about health?
• What, if any, are the drawbacks?
• Why should parents teach children about health instead of
schools?
• What should they teach them?
 Writing
Structure
• Introduction (what do you need to put into your
introduction?)
– General statement (paraphrase the prompt)
– Contrast statement (you absolutely must put one of
these in to show the two different points of view)
– Thesis statement (You must tell the examiner that
you will talk about both sides – now is not the time
for an opinion! That comes later!)
 Writing
Structure
• Main Body 1 (What do you need to put in this
paragraph?)
– Topic sentence (You must tell the examiner which
side of the debate you will start with (you should
start with the first one in the introduction))
– Idea #1
• Explanations/reasons/examples
– Idea #2
• Explanations/reasons/examples
 Writing
Structure
• Main Body (What do you need to put in this
paragraph?)
– Topic sentence (Let your examiner know that you
are now talking about the other side of the
argument.)
– Idea #1
• Explanations/reasons/examples
– Idea #2
• Explanations/reasons/examples
 Writing
Structure
• Conclusion(What do you need to put in this
paragraph?)
– Concluding sentence
– Opinion sentence:
• REMINDER: The question is asking for your overall
opinion. If you don’t give an opinion then you risk losing
your Band 6 for Task Response.
– Conditional
 Writing
• Have a look at the model answer, and answer
the questions on the model answer analysis
handout.
 Writing
1. The overall topic of the essay is HEALTH.
2. The specific topic is ‘WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT HEALTH?’
3. The question type is ‘Discuss Both Views’.
 Writing
In modern times, the issue of child health has become a
matter for discussion. It is often said that children should be
taught how to live a healthy lifestyle by their teachers whereas
others believe it is the task of parents. This essay will examine
both sides of the argument and provide an overall opinion.

4. The first point of view is that children should be taught by

their teachers.
5. The second is that it is the task of the parents.
6. The writer makes it clear that she is going to examine both
sides of the argument and give an opinion.
 Writing
From an overall perspective, there are a number of reasons why people believe
teaching about health is the responsibility of educators. Perhaps the main reason
is that teachers may have more knowledge on issues of health than parents
because they have been trained and have university degrees on the subject. For
example, children can be taught by a specialist in nutrition who can give them
more detail than their parents can. As a result, students will gain factual
knowledge about diet and exercise and will be able to act upon it accordingly.

6. The topic of the first paragraph is that teachers should be responsible.

7. The main idea is that teachers have more specialised knowledge than parents.
8. Because:
a) They have university degrees and training
b) Students can gain factual knowledge from experts in nutrition
 Writing
Despite this argument, some individuals feel that parents should take the lead
when educating children about their health. The main argument for this is that
teachers have responsibility to teach the curriculum rather than healthy lifestyles.
While children will learn about nutrition in biology classes, it is only a small part of
science, and it is a teacher’s duty to teach more than one subject. Therefore, only a
small amount of time can be spent on teaching children about clean living because
if it takes precedent, it will negatively affect other subjects.

9. The topic of the second main body paragraph is that parents should be
responsible.
10. The main idea is that teachers are too busy teaching other subjects.
11. Because:
a) a teacher is responsible for teaching many different things
b) Other subject may be affected if too much time is spent
on health.
 Writing
In conclusion, the issue of children’s health has
become a complex issue with no easy solutions. In
my opinion, both teachers and parents should work
together to help their children learn the importance
of a healthy diet and regular exercise. If they work
in tandem, children will learn to lead healthier lives.

12. The writer concludes that schools and parents

should work together.
 Writing
• YOUR TURN…

Some people feel that the national healthcare budget

should be spent on hospitals and treating patients, but
others feel that this money would be better spent on
preventative measures such as health education.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Use the following slides and the writing handout to plan

your essay.
 Writing
• The first point of view:
– Some people feel that the national healthcare budget should
be spent on hospitals and treating patients
• Where does the national healthcare budget come from?
• How much do you think it is in Vietnam?
• How can that money be spent improving hospitals?
• How can that money be spent on treating patients?
• What are the benefits of spending money in this way?
• What are the negatives? Where else could that money
go?
 Writing
• The second point of view:
– others feel that this money would be better spent on
preventative measures such as health education
• What are some of the biggest health problems in
Vietnam? Where do they come from?
• How can the government ‘educate’ people about the
importance of health?
• What can they teach people (e.g. stop driving through red
lights!!)?
• How will spending money on health protection today
benefit the future generations?
 Writing
Spend money on healthcare Spend money on preventative measures
 Writing
• Now write a 250 word essay discussing both
views and giving your opinion.
 Writing
• When you have finished, use the second page
of the handout to analyse your own writing.
• Email your response to your teacher.