When writing essays for TOEFL and IELTS, a strong structure is key. Your essay should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, many test-takers struggle with writing strong supporting sentences in the body paragraphs.
It is crucial to know how to provide reasons and examples to back up your opinion. To help with this, we will introduce eight key points to consider when constructing your supporting arguments. In this article, we will cover the first four points, with the remaining four discussed in the second part.
1. Education
The first factor to consider is whether something is educationally beneficial or not. Does the activity or tool contribute to personal growth and future success? Does it help people gain new knowledge?
For example, let's analyze the topic: Should children go camping more often?
Camping promotes the acquisition of practical life skills. Setting up tents, building campfires, cooking outdoors, and navigating using maps or the stars are activities that require problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.
This argument suggests that camping helps children develop useful life skills such as problem-solving and teamwork through various activities like setting up tents and reading maps.
2. Health
The second factor is whether the activity is beneficial or harmful to health. It is also useful to consider psychological well-being.
Looking at the same camping example:
Another compelling reason for children to go camping is the positive impact on their physical health and well-being. Camping involves a range of physical activities such as hiking, swimming, fishing, and climbing, which promote cardiovascular health, muscle development, and overall fitness.
Here, the argument highlights how physical activities during camping improve cardiovascular health, muscle development, and general fitness.
3. Environment
Another key aspect to consider is whether something is environmentally friendly or harmful. Environmental issues are common topics in writing tests, so it is essential to think about them.
For example, let's look at the topic: Should people be more careful about using electricity?
The majority of the world’s electricity is generated from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. The combustion of these fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
This argument explains how electricity production contributes to climate change through the burning of fossil fuels, releasing harmful greenhouse gases.
4. Safety
The fourth important factor to consider is safety. Let’s return to the camping example, but from a different angle:
One of the primary safety concerns is the potential for accidents and injuries. Children are naturally curious and may not always recognize dangers, leading to falls, cuts, or other injuries. Additionally, activities like swimming or hiking carry inherent risks that require supervision and proper safety measures.
This perspective focuses on the risks associated with camping, such as injuries or accidents, and emphasizes the need for proper supervision and precautions.
Conclusion
As you can see, even within the same topic, changing perspectives can lead to different points of consideration. When writing body paragraphs, having a broad range of ideas allows for deeper analysis from various viewpoints.
In the next article, we will cover the remaining four key points to help you further enhance your essay writing skills. Stay tuned!
Author: Manami Palmini 
Past Support Experience
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