Using animals to test the safety of drugs used for medical reasons or to test the safety of cosmetics is never acceptable. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Understand the question
Use the following four brainstorming questions to analyse the exam question.
1. Are there any background facts? Essay questions may include some background, factual information about a topic. If so, it's always in the first one or two sentences. The sample question, however, doesn't have any background facts.
2. Are there any opinions? Essay questions often have the opinions of some people on a social issue or problem. If present, the opinions always follow background facts that may also be given. Our sample question includes an opinion about animal testing: "Using animals to test the safety of drugs used for medical reasons or to test the safety of cosmetics is never acceptable."
3. What's the task? A "task" is a piece of work or a job to be done. In Ielts, the task that you have to do is given either as a question to be answered or as an instruction to be followed. You'll find the task right at the end of the essay question. Each of the three Ielts essay types states the task differently.
The first Ielts essay type usually includes some people's opinion about a social issue or problem. The task that follows is often worded like, "To what extent do you agree?" or "What is your opinion?" I call essays with a task like this a Type 1 essay (discuss one opinion or view on an issue). The sample essay question is Type 1, as the task asks you to give your opinion about one viewpoint - that animal testing is never acceptable.
In the next essay type, you're given two opposing views (in two separate essays) on a matter. The task may be an instruction like "Discuss both these views." The two essays are Type 2 essays (discuss opposing opinions or views on an issue).
With the third essay type (Type 3 - discuss a social problem or issue), you're asked a question on a social problem. You may also be asked to suggest solutions.
4. What are the focus questions? You can't write a totally relevant and complete answer unless you know the focus of an essay question, that is, its main or central point.
With Type 1 essays, make the focus question by turning the opinion into a question. Omit words like "To what extent do you agree with ..." Use simpler words to facilitate understanding, but never change the meaning. The focus question for the sample is: "Is using animals to test the safety of drugs/cosmetics ever acceptable?"
Develop ideas
An easy way to find ideas and examples for your essay is to quickly answer several brainstorming questions.
First, think about the words used in the essay question. Do you understand exactly what each term means? The sample question doesn't have any terms that make it difficult to understand what the question-writer means.
Now, think about the focus question. To consider the merits of the view that animal testing is never acceptable, you need to return to the basics. Why do we have testing? Thinking about this is an important part of properly analysing the merits of the belief that animal testing is "never acceptable". Therefore, my first brainstorming question is: "Why are tests conducted?"
Another approach is to consider why someone would have a particular view. If you can see a problem from another person's position, you're better able to present arguments in support of their view.
On the other hand, understanding their position might also allow you to identify reasons why their view is unacceptable. Here, then, is my second brainstorming question: "Why is using animals 'never acceptable'?"
You can also consider the implications of an opinion in order to identify its weaknesses or strengths. My final two brainstorming questions are therefore: "What would happen if we stopped testing?" and "What are the alternatives to animal testing?"
Organise ideas
After quickly answering the brainstorming questions, ask yourself the focus question again. Then, look at your answers to the brainstorming questions to decide what your broad answer to the focus question is. For the sample essay, your broad answer could be something like "Using animals in medical experiments is essential".
The broad answer will become your "position" (the main idea) in the essay. Make it the introduction's last sentence if you decide to use a thesis-led essay structure (which is what I recommend for the sample question). However, if you choose an argument-led essay structure, it will be given for the first time in your essay's closing paragraph.
In the next planning step, skim through the answers to your brainstorming questions to select the ideas and examples you can use to "prove" your position. You may need to do more work on the original brainstorming answers to develop the details of some ideas or examples.
Finally, prepare a brief outline of the main ideas and examples for each paragraph. Now, write the essay.
Write to me at david.park@idp.com if you need any help preparing for Ielts. I'd be happy to answer your questions.
David Park designs and teaches Ielts courses, and is involved with Ielts testing at IDP. To register for Ielts, contact http://www.idp.com/thailand . Ielts is owned by Cambridge Esol, the British Council and IDP: Ielts Australia.
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