Here is the revised list of methods for developing main ideas in IELTS Academic essays:
1. Explanation
- Purpose: Clarifying the meaning or significance of your main idea.
- Example: If the main idea is that “Technology has changed the way we communicate,” you might explain how advancements like social media platforms and instant messaging have made communication faster and more accessible.
2. Explaining more specifically
Purpose: Further clarifying the meaning or significance of your main idea.
- Example: If the explanation is that “social media platforms and instant messaging have made communication faster and more accessible” you might explain how we can “communicate in real time on any of our devices”
3. Examples
- Purpose: Providing specific instances that illustrate your main idea.
- Example: To support the idea that “Exercise is essential for maintaining health,” you could provide examples such as regular jogging, yoga, or strength training to show how different types of exercise contribute to overall well-being.
4. Give Ideas from the Mass Media
- Purpose: Mentioning widely discussed or published ideas in news, documentaries, or popular media to support your point.
- Example: If discussing the effects of climate change, you could refer to documentaries that highlight the rising sea levels or reports from major news outlets discussing extreme weather patterns.
5. Comparison and Contrast
- Purpose: Highlighting differences or similarities to make your point clearer.
- Example: When discussing “The impact of online learning versus traditional classroom learning,” you might compare the flexibility of online courses with the structured environment of in-person classes.
6. Cause and Effect/ chain logic A leads to B which leads to C
- Purpose: Demonstrating how one event leads to another.
- Example: If your essay argues that “Pollution is a leading cause of global warming,” you could discuss how emissions from factories lead to increased greenhouse gases, which then trap heat in the atmosphere.
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7 . Analogy
- Purpose: Comparing the main idea to something else to highlight its characteristics.
- Example: If discussing the need for balance in life, you might use the analogy of a tightrope walker needing balance to stay upright, just as people need balance to maintain mental and physical health.
Read some model essays to see some of these ideas in action:
https://www.ieltsanswers.com/ielts-writing-model-answers-band-9.html
