Let’s answer a common question.
Someone recently asked me the following:
“Can we get a higher score in writing if write in a one-sided based approach? As far as I know, a good essay should address all parts of the topic but I was confused a bit when I read some essays of Liz where she chose only one side for the whole essay, which I didn't see in your case.”
The answer to this question is a bit unclear. Some examiners say that the highest possible scores in TR are reserved for essays that can acknowledge multiple sides of an argument. Other examiners say that you can get a 9 using a strong-opinion one-sided structure. I think the most accurate answer is that it would depend on the examiner.
All that being said, I really believe the best way to write is to communicate your own true opinion as clearly as possible in around 250-300 words. If the question is pretty simple and only has one obvious answer in your mind, I think you’ll have the best chance of getting a high score by taking a strong opinion single-sided approach. If you are hunting a 9 for TR and the issue being discussed is clearly not black and white, I think explaining your position with more nuance is in order. This may mean agreeing in some contexts, but disagreeing in others, or taking a ‘in some cases x’ ‘in most cases y’ type approach.
The danger of using a two-sided approach to standard opinion essays is that people are often too balanced and don’t come to a clear position, or come to a position when there were equal arguments on both sides. For this reason, most teachers recommend only taking a strong opinion approach.
Someone recently asked me the following:
“Can we get a higher score in writing if write in a one-sided based approach? As far as I know, a good essay should address all parts of the topic but I was confused a bit when I read some essays of Liz where she chose only one side for the whole essay, which I didn't see in your case.”
The answer to this question is a bit unclear. Some examiners say that the highest possible scores in TR are reserved for essays that can acknowledge multiple sides of an argument. Other examiners say that you can get a 9 using a strong-opinion one-sided structure. I think the most accurate answer is that it would depend on the examiner.
All that being said, I really believe the best way to write is to communicate your own true opinion as clearly as possible in around 250-300 words. If the question is pretty simple and only has one obvious answer in your mind, I think you’ll have the best chance of getting a high score by taking a strong opinion single-sided approach. If you are hunting a 9 for TR and the issue being discussed is clearly not black and white, I think explaining your position with more nuance is in order. This may mean agreeing in some contexts, but disagreeing in others, or taking a ‘in some cases x’ ‘in most cases y’ type approach.
The danger of using a two-sided approach to standard opinion essays is that people are often too balanced and don’t come to a clear position, or come to a position when there were equal arguments on both sides. For this reason, most teachers recommend only taking a strong opinion approach.