Timed Writing Exam Preparation

When? Week 7

How long? 1 hour

What? Task 1 report (bar chart or line graph, 20 minutes, 150 words) and Task 2 advantages & disadvantages essay, 40 minutes, 250 words)

Do children always behave well?

How can we stop children from doing bad things?

How can we encourage children to be good?

Smacking is a common way to control children’s behaviour.Describe the advantages and disadvantages of smacking children.

Choose words from the sentences to match the meanings.

The issue of how to best discipline children is an important and complex one. To control someone’s behaviour = to _____________________ someone (v)

Not simple = ____________________________ (adj)

It can be a useful disciplinary technique. A describing word for controlling behaviour = ___________________ (adj)

A special way of doing something = a ____________________________ (n)

discipline

complex

disciplinary

technique

Children who have been physically punished may commit violent crimes in the future.

Using part of the body = ______________________ (adv)

To do something bad that happens to someone because they have broken a

rule or law = to ___________________ someone (v)

 A describing word for fighting or hurting somebody = _______________ (adj)

punish

physically

violent

1) Smacking is a popular way to discipline children, but

it has its good points and its bad points.

2) Disciplining children is an important topic of

discussion in society at present. Many people say that

smacking is bad, but most people think it can be a good

thing. Let’s look at both sides of this coin carefully.

No general statement to introduce the topic. Very simple vocabulary

General statement to introduce the topic is good. Very simple vocabulary and informal vocabulary (too friendly!)

3) The issue of how to best discipline children is an important and complex one. One form of discipline that is widely used is smacking. It can be a useful disciplinary technique, but it may also cause problems. The following essay will discuss the pros and cons of smacking.

4) There are many different ways of disciplining children,

such talking with the child, sending the child to their room or

using physical punishment like smacking. Smacking is often

seen as a quick and useful form of discipline, but there may

be some disadvantages. In this essay I will examine the

positive and negative effects of smacking.

Number 3 is the best introduction. It is beautiful!

This one is good if we remove the list of examples (from “such as … punishment like smacking.”)

On one hand, smacking has some important

benefits. Firstly, it gives children who are putting

themselves in danger a clear message that their actions

are wrong. For example, if a small child is reaching

towards a hot barbecue, a smack on the hand tells the

child to stop. The other main advantage of smacking is

that it doesn’t take much time. This is important

because parents these days are very busy and do not

always have enough time to sit down and explain

everything clearly to their children, so smacking helps

parents to control their children quickly.

(1)_________________, smacking may also have some negative effects. The main one is that it teaches children that they can use physical force to get what they want. (2) _____________ , if they want their classmate’s lunch, they might hit them and take it. (3)________________, when those children grow up, they may be more likely to commit violent crimes and use physical force to punish their own children. (4)____________, children who have been smacked may not understand why (5) _________ smacking does not explain anything. (6)___________, they may become unhappy and decide to do what they want to anyway.

On the other hand

As a result

In additionbecause

Because of this

For instance

In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to smacking. It immediately shows children that they have done something wrong and it is quick, (7)__________ it may teach children to use violence to solve their problems or make them unhappy. (8) __________, I believe that all parents should consider these issues carefully when they need to discipline their children.

but

Therefore

The issue of how to best discipline children is an important and complex one. One form of discipline that is widely used is smacking. It can be a useful disciplinary technique, but it may also cause problems. The following essay will discuss the pros and cons of smacking.

General background

Essay topic

Thesis statement

On one hand, smacking has some important benefits. Firstly, it gives children who are putting themselves in danger a clear message that their actions are wrong. For example, if a small child is reaching towards a hot barbecue, a smack on the hand tells the child to stop. The other main advantage of smacking is that it doesn’t take much time. This is important because parents these days are very busy and do not always have enough time to sit down and explain everything clearly to their children, so smacking helps parents to control their children quickly.

Topic sentence for advantages paragraph

1st main advantage, example, result

2nd main advantage, explaining, result

On the other hand, smacking may also have some negative effects. The main one is that it teaches children that they can use physical force to get what they want. For instance, if they want their classmate’s lunch, they might hit them and take it. Because of this, when those children grow up, they may be more likely to commit violent crimes and use physical force to punish their own children. In addition, children who have been smacked may not understand why because smacking does not explain anything. As a result, they may become unhappy and decide to do what they want anyway.

Topic sentence for disadvantages paragraph

1st main disadvantage, example, result

2nd main disadvantage, explaining, result

In conclusion, there are advantages and disadvantages to smacking. It immediately shows children that they have done something wrong and it is quick, but it may teach children to use violence to solve their problems or make them unhappy. Therefore, I believe that all parents should consider these issues carefully when they need to discipline their children.

Thesis statement again in different words

Summary of advantages

Summary of disadvantages

Opinion/Advice/Suggestion