Writing

1. SPEAKING Discuss the questions in pairs. Give reasons for your opinions.

(Thảo luận các câu hỏi theo cặp. Đưa ra lý do cho ý kiến ​​​​của bạn)

1. Do you think most teenagers have a healthy lifestyle?

2. Do you have a healthy lifestyle? Why? / Why not?

Answer:

1. Do you think most teenagers have a healthy lifestyle?

• Personally, I don't think most teenagers have a healthy lifestyle. Many teenagers tend to prioritize their social life, spending time on their phones or hanging out with friends instead of exercising or eating a balanced diet. Additionally, unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking are prevalent among teenagers.

2. Do you have a healthy lifestyle? Why? / Why not?

• I would say that I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle as much as possible. I exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and prioritize getting enough sleep. However, I do have my moments of indulgence, like eating junk food or skipping a workout. Overall, I believe that a healthy lifestyle is important for both physical and mental wellbeing, and I try to make choices that support that.

2. Read the task below. What two different elements does the task contain?

(Đọc nhiệm vụ dưới đây. Nhiệm vụ chứa hai yếu tố khác nhau nào?)

Many people agree that teenagers don’t get enough exercise. Write an essay in which you give your own view of the problem and propose ways of solving it.

Answer:

The task contains two different elements:

1. Writing an essay expressing your own view of the problem of teenagers not getting enough exercise

2. Proposing ways to solve this problem.

3. Read the essay. What is the writer's opinion about the problem? How many solutions does she propose?

(Đọc bài luận. Ý kiến ​​​​của nhà văn về vấn đề là gì? Cô ấy đề xuất bao nhiêu giải pháp?)

Most people agree that the lack of exercise in teenagers’ lives is a serious problem. But what are the causes of this problem and what can we do to address them?

I strongly believe that today’s teenagers spend too much time playing on electronic gadgets. They hardly ever do outdoor activities and this is why many of them do not get enough exercise. What is more, many teenagers are overweight and this makes them less willing to do exercise.

In order to tackle this problem, a number of measures are necessary. In my view, it is unrealistic to limit the amount of time teenagers spend on gadgets. What I propose instead is that we make sure school canteens only serve healthy food. Furthermore, I would strongly recommend that we give all teenagers free membership of their local sports facilities.

To conclude, lack of exercise can cause long-term health problems, so it is vital that we act now. It seems to me that the measures I propose will begin to remedy the situation.

Answer:

The writer's opinion is that the lack of exercise in teenagers' lives is a serious problem, and the cause is their excessive use of electronic gadgets and being overweight. The writer proposes two solutions to address this problem: improving the quality of school canteen food and providing free membership to local sports facilities for teenagers.

4. Read the Writing Strategy. Does the writer follow all of the advice? Give examples.

(Đọc Chiến lược viết. Người viết có làm theo tất cả các lời khuyên không? Cho ví dụ)

Writing Strategy

1. Divide your essay into an introduction, main body and conclusion.

2. If the task has more than one element, deal with the min different paragraphs within the main body.

3. Use formal language.

4. Support opinions with evidence or examples.

Answer:

The writer follows most of the advice in the Writing Strategy.

1. The writer divides the essay into an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

2. The writer deals with two different elements of the task in separate paragraphs within the main body.

3. The writer uses formal language throughout the essay.

4. The writer supports their opinion with evidence by stating that many teenagers are overweight and this makes them less willing to do exercise. Additionally, the writer proposes solutions to the problem and provides reasons for why they believe these solutions will work. However, the writer could have provided more specific examples to support their ideas, such as statistics on the number of overweight teenagers or success stories of schools that have implemented healthy food options.

5. KEY PHRASES Complete the useful phrases with the words below and find them in the text in exercise 3.

(Hoàn thành các cụm từ hữu ích với các từ dưới đây và tìm chúng trong văn bản ở bài tập 3)

common conclusion view opinion propose said see seems solution sum What widely would

1. Introducing your opinions

In my (1) ____________ / (2) ____________

I (strongly) believe that

It’s (3) ____________ to me that

As I (4) ____________ it,

2. Introducing other people’s opinions

It is a (5) ____________ held view that

It is often (6) ____________that

It is a (7) ____________ belief that

3. Making an addition point

(8) ____________ is more, Moreover, Furthermore,

4. Introducing proposals and solutions

One (9) ____________ might be to

What I (10) ____________ (instead) is that

I (11) ____________ strongly recommend that

5. Concluding

To (12) ____________ up

In (13) ____________,

To conclude,

Answer:

1. Introducing your opinions

In my (1) view / (2) opinion

I (strongly) believe that

It’s (3) clear to me that

As I (4) see it,

2. Introducing other people’s opinions

It is a (5) widely held view that

It is often (6) said that

It is a (7) common belief that

3. Making an addition point

(8) Furthermore, Moreover, Furthermore,

4. Introducing proposals and solutions

One (9) solution might be to

What I (10) propose (instead) is that

I (11) strongly recommend that

5. Concluding

To (12) sum up,

In (13) conclusion,

To conclude,

6. SPEAKING Work in pairs. Read the task below and discuss questions 1—3. Write notes.

(Làm việc theo cặp. Đọc nhiệm vụ dưới đây và thảo luận câu hỏi 1-3. Viết ghi chú)

Some people believe that doing sport at school is a distraction from more important work. Write an essay in which you give your own opinion about this issue and propose ways for students to do more sport at school without causing problems for their studies.

1. Which sports do you do at school? How often?

2. Are there other subjects that are more important than sport? Which ones? Why?

3. How could more sport be added to the school timetable without affecting other subjects?

Answer:

1. Which sports do you do at school? How often?

• I mostly participate in team sports like football, basketball, and volleyball at school. However, the frequency depends on the season and availability of coaches. For example, during the football season, we have practice and games almost every day, but during the offseason, we only practice once or twice a week.

2. Are there other subjects that are more important than sport? Which ones? Why?

• In my opinion, all subjects are equally important in school, and it's not fair to prioritize one over the other. However, some subjects like mathematics, science, and language arts are considered more important for academic success and future career opportunities.

3. How could more sport be added to the school timetable without affecting other subjects?

• One way to add more sport to the school timetable without affecting other subjects is by incorporating physical activities during class breaks. For example, teachers can lead short 5-10 minute stretching exercises or encourage students to take a quick walk around the school. Additionally, schools can consider offering optional after-school sports programs that won't interfere with regular class schedules. Another option is to have a rotating schedule where each class has a designated physical education period once or twice a week, ensuring that each student gets a fair opportunity to participate in sports.

7. Using your notes from exercise 6, write a paragraph plan for your essay. Use the essay in exercise 3 as a model and follow the advice in the Writing Strategy.

(Sử dụng ghi chú của bạn từ bài tập 6, viết một kế hoạch đoạn văn cho bài luận của bạn. Sử dụng bài luận trong bài tập 3 làm mẫu và làm theo lời khuyên trong Chiến lược viết)

Answer:

Introduction:

• General statement: School is not just about academic subjects, but also about physical fitness and personal development.

• Briefly mention the topic of the essay: the idea that doing sports at school is a distraction from more important work.

• Thesis statement: I believe that sports are an integral part of education and should be encouraged alongside academic subjects.

Body paragraph 1:

• Topic sentence: Sports have many benefits beyond physical fitness.

• Supporting evidence: Research shows that sports can improve mental health, teamwork, and leadership skills.

• Explanation: By participating in sports, students learn important life skills that can help them in their personal and professional lives.

Body paragraph 2:

• Topic sentence: Academic subjects are not more important than sports.

• Supporting evidence: All subjects have value in education and should be given equal importance.

• Explanation: By prioritizing academic subjects over sports, we risk neglecting the holistic development of students and limiting their potential for success.

Body paragraph 3:

• Topic sentence: Ways to add more sports to the school timetable without affecting other subjects.

• Supporting evidence: Incorporating physical activities during class breaks, offering after-school sports programs, and rotating schedules for physical education periods.

• Explanation: These options provide opportunities for students to participate in sports without disrupting their academic schedules, allowing for a balanced and healthy educational experience.

Conclusion:

• Restate thesis statement: Sports are an important part of education that should be encouraged alongside academic subjects.

• Recap supporting points from body paragraphs.

• Final thoughts: Encouraging sports at school not only promotes physical fitness but also fosters personal growth and development.

8. Write your essay (150-180 words). Follow your paragraph plan from exercise 7 and the advice in the Writing Strategy. Use phrases from exercise 5.

(Viết bài luận của bạn (150-180 từ). Làm theo kế hoạch đoạn văn của bạn từ bài tập 7 và lời khuyên trong Chiến lược viết. Sử dụng các cụm từ từ bài tập 5)

Answer:

School is not just about academic subjects, but also about physical fitness and personal development. Some people argue that doing sports at school is a distraction from more important work. However, I believe that sports are an integral part of education and should be encouraged alongside academic subjects. Sports have many benefits beyond physical fitness, including mental health, teamwork, and leadership skills. By participating in sports, students learn important life skills that can help them in their personal and professional lives.

Academic subjects are not more important than sports. All subjects have value in education and should be given equal importance. By prioritizing academic subjects over sports, we risk neglecting the holistic development of students and limiting their potential for success. Therefore, it is crucial to find ways to add more sports to the school timetable without affecting other subjects.

Incorporating physical activities during class breaks, offering after-school sports programs, and rotating schedules for physical education periods are some options that provide opportunities for students to participate in sports without disrupting their academic schedules. These options allow for a balanced and healthy educational experience.

Encouraging sports at school not only promotes physical fitness but also fosters personal growth and development. By providing opportunities for students to participate in sports, we can help them develop valuable life skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.