IELTS Discussion Essay Tutorials, Strategies, Videos, Sample answers, Tips

IELTS Discussion essay refers to the essay with a prompt

“Discuss both views and give your opinion”

Structure of this essay differs from the opinion essay, as well as the strategy.

DISCUSSION ESSAY TUTORIAL

I have picked up a quite abstract topic from the recent IELTS Questions:-

Many countries consider 18 year olds to be adults, while othe countries don’t. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

STEP 1 : MAKING A MINDMAP (5-7 MINUTES)

STEP 2: WRITING A DISCUSSION ESSAY

Here, I have illustrated each sentence in discussion essay in tabular form, so that you can easily follow this example and practice your essay writing before your actual exam.

Part of essay

Sentence

Grammar & vocabulary

INTRODUCTION

Paraphrase of the question statement

Eighteen year olds are considered to be adults by few nations, whereas others disagree with this notion.

Active voice, Compound sentence (A/Compound)

Thesis Statement

However, I believe that people of this age group are well mature and have fully functional decision making ability, to be deemed as adults, so this idea is completely acceptable.

Active voice, Complex sentence (A/Complex)

Outline statement

This essay discusses the reasons behind both these ideas and elucidate my opinion that why 18 year olds should be regarded as adults.

A/Compound

BODY PARAGRAPH-1

Topic Sentence (Overarching statement)

On one hand, many countries look upon these adolescents as mature adults and I agree.

A/Compound

First supporting argument with explanation

Simply put, teenagers, at this age, had already interacted enough with the world during their study years and thus, on the basis of their experience, are able to differentiate between right and wrong.

A/Complex

  Second supporting argument with explanation

Another reason is the development of the ability to take independent decisions for their own life.

A/simple

Example

For instance, teenagers at this point of time, choose the field of their further education themselves, proving their capability in independent decision making process.

A/Complex

Summary statement

Hence, on these grounds, adult status is awarded to 18 year olds by some countries.

Passive/Simple

BODY PARAGRAPH-2

Overarching statement

On the other hand, few nations are reluctant to offer the adults’ rights to teenagers.

Argument

According to them, the maturity level and radical thinking process of adolescents is not developed enough, that leads to taking life decisions hastily.

A/Compound

Explanation

In other words, life changing decisions such as marriage, investing money, addictions etc. can’t be wisely taken at this tender age when rational thinking is overcome by sentiments and impulse of the moment.

P/Compound

Summary statement

Therefore, few nations are of the view that, at such a younger age, rights of mature person should not be awarded to the youngsters.

P/Compound

CONCLUSION

Concluding phrase

In conclusion / To conclude,

Paraphrase of the thesis statement

Although some countries may not regard 18 year olds as adults due to their immature thought process, I believe their experience and independent decision making ability makes them suitable for the consideration as an adult.

A/Compound

A= Active voice sentence

P= Passive voice sentence

This table also details the types of sentences I have used to frame my essay. This is the kind of grammatical range that we require to achieve band 7 or more in your exam.

STEP 3: CHECK YOUR ESSAY (4-5 MIN)

This is the most important part of your essay, which will decide your band. Check for repeated vocabulary, errors in grammar, paragraphing, and especially the task response (that all your paragraphs answer the question fully)

Tips:

  1. Always try to find and use synonyms in discussion essay because you have more material/ideas to write here than the opinion essay.

  2. Keep a check on your word limit here

  3. Try to mention all the synonyms that you can think of, in the plan itself.

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