IELTS Writing Task 2: Techniques for Crafting the Introduction—"Balanced Perspective" and "Bold Opening"

In IELTS writing, the introduction plays a pivotal role, setting the tone for the entire essay and influencing the examiner's first impression. Today, we’ll explore two valuable techniques: the "Balanced Perspective" and the "Bold Opening." These approaches, while distinct in style and application, can strengthen the structure of your essay and enrich your language, helping you stand out in the writing test.

1. The "Balanced Perspective" Approach

Let’s begin by understanding the "Balanced Perspective" technique. This method is commonly used in questions that ask you to discuss both sides of an issue, known as DG-type questions (Discuss Both Views and Give Your Opinion). In such tasks, you are required to analyse two opposing viewpoints and then offer your own opinion. The introduction’s job is to introduce these two perspectives, laying the foundation for the rest of your essay where you’ll explain your stance.

The key to the "Balanced Perspective" method lies in its ability to present both sides impartially, without appearing biased or vague. By integrating both views into one cohesive sentence, this technique gives your introduction a sense of neutrality and balance, providing a comprehensive overview of the debate at hand.

Take the following task prompt as an example:  

"It is known to all that technological and scientific advances have made great changes to the range and quality of our food. Some people regard this as an improvement, while others believe that these changes are harmful. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

Here, the focus is on how scientific progress has influenced the variety and quality of our food. One view is that these advances have enhanced food production, while the other argues they may pose health risks. This is a typical DG question with two sharply contrasting perspectives.

To apply the "Balanced Perspective" approach, we need to combine these two ideas into a single sentence. A useful way to achieve this is by using the word "while" to maintain balance and clarity.

Here’s a possible rewrite:  

"While some people think that science and technology have greatly improved the quality and variety of human food, others believe that altering food in unnatural ways may cause significant harm."

In this sentence, we’ve transformed the noun "improvement" into the verb "improved" and simplified the phrase "technological and scientific" into "science and technology" to enhance fluency. This version conveys the original meaning more naturally and elegantly.

By employing the "Balanced Perspective" technique, the introduction presents both viewpoints logically and sets the stage for a deeper analysis. The essay’s two contrasting opinions are seamlessly woven together, providing a clear, balanced framework.

Let’s examine another example:  

"Some people think that studying in a college or university is the best way for students to prepare for their future career, but others think that they should leave school as soon as possible to develop their career through work experience. Discuss both views and give your opinion."

This question explores whether higher education or work experience is better preparation for a career. One group believes that university offers the best preparation, while others argue that gaining practical experience earlier is more beneficial.

Once again, the "Balanced Perspective" technique can be applied to create a well-structured introduction. You could write:  

"While some people say that the best way to prepare students for their future careers is to send them to college or university, others feel that gaining sufficient work experience early on is likely the most effective way to achieve career success."

Here, we’ve used the word "while" to link the two viewpoints and varied the language slightly to keep it engaging, such as "send them to college or university" instead of "studying in a college or university" and "early on" in place of "as soon as possible."

By adopting this approach, your introduction not only introduces both perspectives clearly but also enhances the variety of language used, enriching the overall expression.

2. The "Bold Opening" Approach

Next, let’s consider the second technique—the "Bold Opening." As the name suggests, this type of introduction focuses on being striking and original, quickly grabbing the reader’s attention. It does this by introducing a new concept or background information relevant to the topic, setting up the essay’s main argument in a compelling way. Common approaches include using the absolute phrase, such as "with the advent of…," which can make your writing feel more logical and academic.

Take this example question:  

"Children can learn efficiently by watching television, so they should be encouraged to watch TV regularly both at home and in school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?"

This prompt raises the controversial issue of whether children should be encouraged to learn through television, both at home and in the classroom. It’s an AD-type question, asking you to express your level of agreement or disagreement and provide reasons for your stance.

When using the "Bold Opening" technique, you can introduce the topic within the context of the digital age to add depth to your argument. Here’s how you could start:  

"With the advent of the digital era, watching television has become the most popular leisure activity among children. Increasingly, television is also being used as a promising educational tool…"

In this introduction, we’ve opened with "with the advent of the digital era" to establish a broad, relevant context—the rise of digital technology. This not only sets the stage for the essay but also hints at the growing role of television in education, providing a logical basis for further discussion.

The "Bold Opening" technique is especially effective in topics where you want to introduce a fresh perspective or unique angle. By framing the issue within a broader context or using a striking opening, you immediately engage the reader and demonstrate a solid understanding of the topic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are multiple strategies for writing effective IELTS essay introductions, and the "Balanced Perspective" and "Bold Opening" techniques are two particularly useful approaches. The "Balanced Perspective" allows you to introduce opposing views in a fair and structured way, while the "Bold Opening" captures attention with an original or thought-provoking start.  

Whichever method you choose, the key is practice. Regularly building your vocabulary and familiarising yourself with sentence structures will enable you to apply these techniques with confidence in the exam. I hope today’s lesson has been helpful, and I look forward to seeing you next time!