1) Opinion (Agree or Disagree)
How to spot
- To what extent do you agree or disagree
- Do you agree or disagree
- Is this a positive or negative development
Thesis choices
- Full agree
- Full disagree
- Partial agree (two reasons one side, one concession)
Paragraph plan
- Intro: paraphrase + clear position
- Body 1: reason 1 with example
- Body 2: reason 2 with example
- Optional small rebuttal if partial
- Conclusion: restate stance and key reasons
Sentence frames
- I agree that X because…
- This is largely beneficial since…
- Although some argue Y, the stronger view is…
2) Discussion (Discuss both views and give your opinion)
How to spot
- Discuss both views and give your own opinion
- Consider the arguments for and against
Thesis options
- Balanced stance with preference
- Clear preference after presenting both
Paragraph plan
- Intro: topic + brief mention of both sides + stance
- Body 1: View A fairly explained with example
- Body 2: View B fairly explained with example
- Body 3 (optional if needed): why your stance is stronger
- Conclusion: weigh and restate preference
Sentence frames
- Supporters of A claim…
- By contrast, advocates of B argue…
- On balance, I favor…
3) Problem-Solution
How to spot
- What are the problems and how can they be solved
- Causes and solutions
Thesis types
- Problem 1 + Solution 1; Problem 2 + Solution 2
- Causes focus then policy and individual fixes
Paragraph plan
- Intro: paraphrase + scope
- Body 1: problem or cause with evidence
- Body 2: concrete solutions with mechanism
- Conclusion: priority action and expected result
Sentence frames
- A key problem is… leading to…
- Governments can… by… which would…
- Individuals may… so that…
4) Advantage-Disadvantage
How to spot
- Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
- What are the advantages and disadvantages
Thesis choices
- Advantages outweigh
- Disadvantages outweigh
- Roughly balanced with a tilt
Paragraph plan
- Intro: topic + stance on outweigh
- Body 1: advantages with examples and impact
- Body 2: disadvantages with examples and limits
- Conclusion: compare strength and restate stance
Sentence frames
- The main benefit is… which results in…
- A significant drawback is… because…
- Overall, the gains outweigh the costs since…
High value linking and coherence
- Addition: moreover, in addition, furthermore
- Contrast: however, while, whereas
- Result: therefore, consequently, as a result
- Stance: I contend, I maintain, this essay argues
- Balance: although, despite, even though
Mini thesis samples
- Opinion: I mostly agree that remote work boosts productivity because it reduces commute time and enables flexible focus blocks.
- Discussion: While some believe museums should be free to widen access, others argue fees fund conservation; on balance, limited fees with discounts are preferable.
- Problem-Solution: Urban congestion stems from cheap parking and infrequent buses; pricing reforms and high frequency routes can cut car use.
- Adv-Disadv: Online courses expand access but risk low completion; overall the advantages outweigh if support systems are added.
Evidence and example rules
- Use one precise example per body paragraph.
- Prefer mechanism over story: show how the solution works.
- Keep statistics approximate unless the prompt provides data.
Timing plan (40 minutes)
- 5 min: analyze question, pick structure, brainstorm 2 points
- 28 to 30 min: write intro, 2 bodies, short conclusion
- 5 to 7 min: edit for task response, cohesion, vocab variety, grammar
Common traps and quick fixes
- Mixing types: treating discussion as problem-solution.
- Fix: underline command words before planning.
- No clear stance in opinion or outweigh tasks.
- Fix: state position in intro and conclusion.
- List without explanation.
- Fix: add why and result to every point.
- Overlong intro.
- Fix: limit to 2 to 3 sentences.
Paragraph blueprints
Intro (all types)
- One sentence paraphrase
- One sentence thesis answering the exact task
Body (POWER formula)
- Point
- One-line explanation
- Evidence or example
- Effect or result
- Re-link to task
Conclusion
- No new ideas
- One sentence summary of stance and reasons
Vocabulary boosters by type
- Opinion: beneficial, detrimental, prudent, viable
- Discussion: proponents, critics, perspective, trade-off
- Problem-Solution: root cause, mitigate, implement, enforce
- Adv-Disadv: outweigh, preponderance, drawback, upside
10 minute drill routine
- Minute 1: identify the type from 3 sample prompts.
- Minutes 2 to 3: write a one-sentence thesis for each.
- Minutes 4 to 7: draft two topic sentences with a mechanism for one prompt.
- Minutes 8 to 10: craft a 2 line conclusion and check for clear stance.
Quick checklist before you submit
- Did I answer the exact task with a clear thesis
- Does my structure match the type
- Does each body have one main idea plus mechanism and result
- Are linkers varied and accurate
- Are grammar and word choice controlled
Build your unique study system
- Create a one-page sheet with four mini templates and two model topic sentences per type.
- Keep a bank of mechanisms: how policies, incentives, or technology produce outcomes.
- After each essay, label it by type, note one strength, one fix, and rewrite the thesis stronger.
Final advice
Identify the type, commit to a stance or plan, and write mechanism-led paragraphs that prove your thesis. With a small set of reliable templates and daily micro drills, Task 2 becomes faster, clearer, and more score secure.