A good way to write main body paragraphs is this:
Start with an idea; Explain it in detail; Give an example
Here's an example of how I 'build' a paragraph using the above method:
A sense of competition is necessary for success in life, and should therefore be encouraged. Competition motivates children to get good grades at school or become better at sports, while adults compete to climb the career ladder. In a job interview, for example, candidates compete to show that they are the most qualified, hard-working and competent person for the post.
Note:
What's the topic of the paragraph above? What do you think the question was?
Should a sense of competition be encouraged among children, to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Posted by: alice | May 18, 2011 at 10:25
competition plays a major role in todays day to day life,some believe that it helps to take them to the top rungs,whereas others think that it has negative impact on children.Discuss?
Posted by: shwetha | May 18, 2011 at 10:52
Should competition be encourage in any stage of life,to what extent do you agree or disagree?
Posted by: Maya | May 18, 2011 at 12:55
Hi Alice, Shwetha and Maya.
Yes, all of your suggestions are good. Keep up the hard work!
Posted by: Simon | May 18, 2011 at 17:56
Nowadays competition is prevalent aroud the world plays an positive role in people's lives. Do you think how the competitive concept can influence the public. Discuss and give your own opinion.
Posted by: Max | May 18, 2011 at 17:57
Nowadays competition is prevalent aroud the world and playing an positive role in people's lives. Do you think how the competitive concept influence the public. Discuss and give your own opinion.
Posted by: Max | May 18, 2011 at 17:58
hi Simon，thanks for your website that I've leant a lot from. And could you pls recommend a writing book for ielts so that i can study in a systematic way?
Posted by: Will | May 19, 2011 at 04:47
how people are affected by the sense of competition? discuss
Posted by: deepika gunasekara kankanamge | May 19, 2011 at 16:52
Hi,
This is a very informative writing since it shows the good way to write main body paragraphs. You have to write down each of your supporting points for the main idea. TheIELTSSolution.com
Thank you.
Posted by: TheIELTSSolution | May 20, 2011 at 04:23
Max and Deepika:
Yes, it could be a question about the influence or effect of competition.
...
Hi Will,
I'm afraid I never found the perfect book - that's one of the reasons I started to write my own lessons. I'm working on something more systematic at the moment - I'll let you know when it's ready.
...
Glad you liked the lesson IELTSSolution.
Posted by: Simon | May 20, 2011 at 07:37
being competitive is a prerequisite for surviving in a technologically innovative and globalized society.however there are some detrimental effect on this issue too.
competitiveness has emerged so many beneficial outcomes apparent substiantially when it comes to a personal goal setting.Nevertheless even social hiarachy and social mobility are the developments of competence.This can hugely affect when people are reaching decisions on higher education and great job opportunities which can show off material wealth and self esteem.a good illustration of this getting good social standards by means of competition anyone can access state of art belongings such as smart phones, tablet computers.
on the other hand , it is undeniable that by giving priority to competence it has created unwanted social phenomena such as youth unrest, crime , youth delinquency and drug abuse as a result of failure to high competitiveness .A good illustration of this frustration made by daily needs and hopes under this much of competence there has been reported crimes in unacceptable manner.Recent sophisticated police operations has revealed this in a good way.
to sum up there are convincing arguments on this issue for both aspects which can address with proper approach.
Posted by: deepika gunasekara kankanamge | May 20, 2011 at 13:48
Hi Deepika,
Some good ideas. You just need to get someone to check your work and highlight the mistakes.
Posted by: Simon | May 23, 2011 at 14:40
hi simon every time you make me more courageous
Posted by: deepika gunasekara kankanamge | May 23, 2011 at 14:57
hi simon,
just have few things to ask.
for the task 2 questions like 'Discuss both views and give you own opinion, and 'to what extent do you agree or this agree' ,, i should better not use words like 'I, you, we, us, yours'to express my opinion??
i was using those one or two times to express my idea more clearly but my ielts teacher told me to not use it and i am really confused..
thanks,
Posted by: jay | May 24, 2011 at 10:38
Hi Jay,
Have a look at this lesson:
http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2010/09/ielts-advice-using-i.html
Posted by: Simon | May 25, 2011 at 11:34
competition helps us to find ourselves better compair whit anothers.
Posted by: vahid | July 10, 2011 at 08:54
Hi Simon,
Regarding the following types of IELTS topic:
Different people show different views on whether to encourage children to be competitive or help child cultivate a sense of cooperation, and then dicuss both views and give your own opinion.
Should I hold either of the two opinions, or is it more deriable to hold a view such as it depends on the situation which means both cooperation and competition are equally important for children, and we should teach them both?
I have been feeling confused about organizing this kinds of writing task, becuase Paul seems to suggest that you'd better take either A side or B side.
If I take neither of the above views, how should I organize my essay?
Thanks for your help.
Warm regards,
Summer
Posted by: Summer | August 16, 2011 at 02:34
Hi Summer,
It's your choice. You can either choose to favour one of the views, or you can say that both are valid depending on the situation.
Usually I find it easier to favour one of the views, but it's perfectly acceptable to say that it depends on the situation.
Posted by: Simon | August 16, 2011 at 15:47
Hi Simon,
Thanks for your advice and for updating your blog which really helps me a lot.
Posted by: Summer | August 16, 2011 at 23:34
Should a sense of competition be encouraged a person life. to what extend you agree or disagree with this statement
Posted by: Shila | November 23, 2011 at 06:58
Hi Shila,
I wrote a paragraph about that question in this lesson:
http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2011/05/ielts-writing-task-2-idea-explain-example.html
Posted by: Simon | November 23, 2011 at 17:24
Thanks a lot for your help
Posted by: fysisoft | December 25, 2012 at 07:57
hi simon or to all
can anybody tell me the meaning of "and should therefore be encouraged. " this sentence ...
Posted by: Ranbir | July 24, 2013 at 15:11
hi simon i need your help.
i got my ielts result today and i came to know that i did't achieved my required score
i got 7 in speaking which is ok.
i got less in every module except for the speaking. i have all the required structure in my essay i don't know what happened there every time i practice at home i got higher score in reading n listening. i need 7 in each except for the listening i need 7.5 in that. plz help
Posted by: anu | July 24, 2013 at 21:15
i had very good introduction and supporting points with explanations and examples with conclusion at the end and even at the end of each body paragraph. plz help me where i was wrong and how to improve..thanks
Posted by: anu | July 24, 2013 at 21:21
hi dear simon this is my first time visiting this site .i am a student of medicin living in kabul city afghanistan .i addmitid myself for the 29th aug 2013 ielts exam in kabul and this is my first ielts exam .The question that i have in my mind is that how will be the exam for the candidates who live in a contry like afghanistan where students do not have much facilities to learn good english ,questions will be easy or the same like in canada,aus etc and i need your sugestion how to pass the ielts exam i need 6.5 over all bond to apply for forther studeis in a foriegn contry .thanks
Posted by: wais | July 25, 2013 at 07:55
hi simon i need your helpe
i have a ielts test in September and i want to have a estimate of my writing skill may i sent you my essay? I need a skilled person mend my writing and remake me my fault.
Posted by: nehzat | July 31, 2013 at 07:50
some people think that competition is necessary to make life success, while other believe its not worth to success life.
do you agree or disagree?
Posted by: sejal patel | September 06, 2013 at 12:35
As more youngster developing competitive attitude, some people fear competitive attitude will leads to destruction of moral values.
To what extent do you agree and disagree with the statement.
Posted by: Vivek | October 01, 2013 at 17:26
Hi simon,
i found it very useful visiting this page everyday, reading through the examples and tips you have put here is very helpful, i can see now where i have been going wrong in my writing part of the ielts.
Thnak you once again.
Posted by: Marijose callender | October 17, 2013 at 22:42
hello simon
i`m zakria usmani from pakistan . i have one question from you please guide me how to get plan for ielts essay i can`t getting idea`s about the topic please tell me some practice which help me to getting idea`s about the topic......
Regards
zakria usmani
Posted by: zakria usmani | January 17, 2014 at 15:17
hi, simmon
im jabi jacob from kerala,i have difficulties in writing essays,i didnt geting ideas of related topics,plz tell ur suggestion how to practice which help to getting more ideas
Posted by: jabi jacob | February 12, 2014 at 13:53