Transforming Essays: Band 6 to Band 8

Overview

• The lesson focuses on improving essays from a Band 6 to a Band 8.
• Understanding common pitfalls in Band 6 essays is crucial for making improvements.
• The presentation will analyze each sentence and suggest improvements.

Identifying Problems in Band 6 Essays

Background Statement Issues

• Example Sentence: "Nowadays digital phones are a hot topic in modern life."
  • Problems:
    • Memorized sentences lead to spelling mistakes (e.g., "nowadays").
    • Background statements are unnecessary and can waste time.
• Strategic Point:
  • Avoid unnecessary content to stay within word limit and effectively manage time.

Lexical Resource Concerns

• Memorization may result in a lack of understanding and incorrect usage of vocabulary.
• Examiners can easily identify memorized sentences and may discount them, impacting scores.

Lack of Strong Position in Introductions

• Example: "While there are benefits, this essay disagrees and believes there are many drawbacks."
  • Issues:
    • Students should take a clear position in their introduction.
    • Failing to do so reflects a lack of clarity and coherence.

Improving Task Response

Clear Stance Required

• Respond directly to the essay question with a clear position.
• Example: Instead of discussing both pros and cons, clearly state which side you support.

Coherence and Cohesion

• Ensure that the introduction aligns with the main body paragraphs.
• Use clear topic sentences and logically link ideas throughout the essay.

Revising Main Body Paragraphs

Example Analysis

• Original example discussing why children use devices (entertainment):
  • Good cohesion but could use more authoritative examples instead of personal anecdotes.
• Suggestion: Use general statistics or broader trends instead of personal references.

Task Response Evaluation

• Assess how well each main body paragraph addresses the essay prompt.
• Ensure clarity and relevance in examples provided.

Conclusion Strategies

• Conclusions should reiterate the main points and clearly state the author's position.
• Avoid vague statements and summarize findings succinctly.

Lexical Resource & Grammatical Accuracy

• Band 8 essays use vocabulary precisely and without errors.
• Band 6 essays often contain spelling and grammatical errors that impede clarity.
• Focus on the correct usage of vocabulary and avoid inserting complex words incorrectly.

Final Thoughts

• Make small, strategic changes to improve essay quality.
• Aim for clarity and directness in writing.
• The average score for IELTS Writing Task 2 is 5.5; improvements can elevate scores significantly.