Writing Body Paragraphs for the IELTS Writing Task Two

A paragraph consists of a group of sentences revolving around one or two controlling ideas.

For the writing task two essays, you write four paragraphs. The second and third ones are called body paragraphs; they represent the core argument of your essay. There are four different types for writing task two, and these are opinion essays, discussion essays, discussion-opinion essays, and two-part question essays. What you include in each body paragraph differs based on the question type. For more on this, check out the question types. 

In general, for any question that asks for “advantages“, “disadvantages“, and “reasons“, meaning asking in plural form, you need to write a double-idea body paragraph. On the other hand, if a question asks in singular form, then you need to write a single-idea paragraph. We will explore the two of them in the following lines. 

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

Why is this the case? 

Smartphone developers exquisitely create applications that are engaging. They compete over an individual’s attention to make money out of the ads displayed to users. They build algorithms that automate the process of understanding user’s interests to keep showing them content that matches those interests. The victims of those techniques are the young generations who have never experienced life before smartphones. As a result, they continually keep scrolling down.

This is a two-part question, and the paragraph is a part of body paragraph one which answers the first question of “why is this the case?”. 

Let us analyze this portion of the model answer.

Any paragraph encompasses three main parts. 

1. A Topic Sentence

Smartphone developers exquisitely create applications that are engaging.

It is defined as the first sentence of a paragraph that should neither be too general nor too specific. And, of course, it should be a full sentence. Look at the examples below as variations of the same topic sentence mentioned earlier, but not so well-designed.

Smartphones are important. >> too general

A smartphone developer works every single day to create algorithms that are addictive to young adults which creates complex problems. >> too detailed

Smartphone influence on young individuals >> incomplete sentence (It is what is called a fragment.) 

A topic sentence should include the general topic along with the controlling idea(s) of the paragraph. 

Let us examine more examples. The question below is a discussion question.

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?

Body paragraph one’s topic sentence

To start with, child-rearing experts have explicitly concluded after years of scrutiny that continuous support from parents to their offspring has a positive impact on their future success. 

The main controlling idea for body paragraph one is the possible future success of children as a result of their parents’ support.

Body paragraph two’s topic sentence

On the other hand, there are two main downsides to this approach.

This topic sentence of body paragraph two, plainly and simply, introduces that there are two controlling ideas to this part of the essay because the question is asking for the disadvantages. In this specific case, it is preferable to write a double-idea body paragraph. 

     2. Supporting Sentences

It isn’t acceptable in the IELTS writing task two to list ideas without developing them. Many candidates lose marks because of this way of thinking. You can support your answer by extending your argument and developing it. But, always, be careful not to go off-topic. Presenting new ideas while extending your ideas will make you lose marks in the coherence and cohesion criterion of the IELTS writing task two band descriptors. 

Check out the examples below on how you can extend your ideas while writing.

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message? 

This is the second body paragraph of this question.

To start with, child-rearing experts have explicitly concluded after years of scrutiny that continuous support from parents to their offspring has a positive impact on their future success. The implied message that children can achieve all that they desire with persistence and hard work has resulted in many individuals successfully pursuing unpaved paths and overcoming life’s inescapable hurdles. After all, those who believe they can are the ones who are capable of achieving something great. This is crystal clear in the contradistinction of those who have the required skills and abilities but with low self-esteem; they end up achieving little if anything at all because they were never taught to have faith in their capabilities. 

There is another technique for supporting your ideas, and this is providing examples.

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

This is the second portion of the body paragraph one that discusses the reasons behind children spending hours on smartphones.

Additionally, there is always the fear of missing out. This fear stems from having the social need to belong to a group of people. For example, a teenage student at a high school may need to follow up with the latest news and rumors that run in their school, so they can keep up with their social life. Thus, preadolescents are the ones who pay the utmost price for this advancement. 

     3. A Concluding Sentence

This sentence indicates the end of your paragraph and helps to smoothly move to the next one. You can just paraphrase the topic sentence, conclude your ideas, or present the consequences of the mentioned ideas. It should never include brand-new ideas.

You start with a word to refer to the end of the paragraph such as thus, therefore, and hence. Don’t use phrases such as in conclusion or to conclude because they refer to the end of the whole essay. 

Check out the example below.

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

This is the second portion of the body paragraph one that discusses the reasons behind children spending hours on smartphones.

Additionally, there is always the fear of missing out. This fear stems from having the social need to belong to a group of people. For example, a teenage student at a high school may need to follow up with the latest news and rumors that run in their school, so they can keep up with their social life. Thus, preadolescents are the ones who pay the utmost price for this advancement. 

Many people may argue that you don’t need to write a concluding sentence by the end of each paragraph as long as you are writing an essay. However, I would say that you don’t have to always write it, but it is better to do so. It helps with the flow of your entire writing.