Body Paragraphs 5: Giving examples

Giving Examples:

One of the ways you can extend and develop your main ideas in your IELTS writing task 2 body paragraphs is by giving examples.

Three good phrases to begin giving examples are:

• For example,

• For instance,

• As an example,

Most of the time, examples are used after you state a fact. They support the fact.

Statement of Fact: The actions of a company can have a large impact on the environment.

Supporting Example: For example, waste materials and gases from factories and plants can seriously damage the local ecosystem if they are not properly disposed of.

In this way, examples are used to extend and develop the ideas in your essays.

Examples of Scientific Research

Often test-takers feel that they need to make up specific examples of studies or research for their examples. This is not the case. The examples do not need to be specific, and it’s not necessary to make up fake research projects. You can give general examples concerning scientific research or studies using phrases such as:

• Recent research has shown that

• Scientists have demonstrated that

• Studies have shown that

• A recent study found that

• A recent study has shown that

• The majority of research points to

• In everyday life we can see that

• There is significant scientific research which shows that

Examples From Personal Life

Some IELTS questions, particularly in the IELTS General Training test, are about topics where examples from your personal life are relevant. The example below is taken from an IELTS essay concerning holidays:

Example: For example, on a recent trip I was lucky enough to snorkel above coral reefs full of tropical fish, and even saw several whales.

Exercise:

Choose the appropriate example (a - i) for each of the following statements:

1. Furthermore, a complete ban on mobile phone use would be unfair to those who use their phones responsibly and considerately.

2. It seems that we are born predisposed to have certain character traits, and this is demonstrated by the fact that people who have very similar childhood experiences are often very different.

3. People should get together with relatives more frequently and spend more quality time together.

4. Furthermore, having a dream helps us to maintain a positive mindset, which allows us to overcome greater challenges and obstacles.

5. If you work in a job where it isn’t necessary to interact with customers, appearance is not so crucial.

6. Clearly, growing up in a loving and supportive family has a very different impact on the development of a person’s personality than being neglected or growing up surrounded by violence.

7. Beach holidays can also be a great option for families, as small children are usually crazy about playing in the sand and water.

8. Outdoor activities usually involve movement and physical exercise. Such activity increases children’s strength and fitness, and helps them to develop healthy, strong, and resilient bodies.

9. To begin with, the use of mobile phones in public places can be disruptive to those around them.

a. A recent study found that children who spend 1 hour outdoors each day are far more resistant to flu and colds than more sedentary children.

b. For instance, they could organise a weekly meal together, or a regular family day out.

c. For example, a computer programmer who works remotely, doesn’t have any pressing need to be clean-shaven or have a clean-cut look.

d. As an example, many great entrepreneurs were able to deal with repeated business failures because they stayed focused on their dreams.

e. For example, one sibling may become a successful and productive member of society, while another becomes antisocial and criminal.

f. Experiences, especially during the early years of childhood, are believed by modern psychologists to be key to determining fundamental aspects of personality such as how generous or selfish, how self-confident or insecure, or how generous or callous a person becomes.

g. As an example, someone who is sending a quick text message or checking their email quietly should not be penalised for the behaviour of others who are being loud and annoying.

h. For example, in a library, the sound of a ringing phone or the buzzing of notifications can be distracting and disturb those who are trying to concentrate on reading or studying.

i. For example, many of my most memorable childhood experiences were on the beach with my family.