Is Space Exploration a Waste of Money? — 08.03 & 05.09.2026

Task 2 Topic

Government funding for space exploration is often viewed as a waste of resources. It would be more beneficial to allocate this budget to addressing urgent issues on Earth.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
(Same idea, 05.09.2026: Some people think investing money in developing technology for space exploration is not justifiable. They believe there are other ways to spend money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?)

1Task analysis

Item	Detail
Essay type	Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)
Main topic	Whether money for space exploration should instead be spent on urgent problems on Earth
Keywords	government funding · space exploration · waste of resources · urgent issues on Earth
Task focus	Judge whether space exploration budgets are a waste and should go to problems on Earth
Required position	Say clearly how far you agree or disagree and keep the same position in every paragraph
Plain-English meaning	Is spending government money on space a waste? Would it be better to use it for problems like poverty and disease?
Hidden trap	Agreeing means space money is wasted; disagreeing means space research has value. Many space technologies (satellites, weather forecasts) already solve Earth problems — use this
Chosen stance	Disagree. Space programmes are not wasteful because satellite technology already helps tackle Earth's problems and space research drives innovation, though budgets should stay balanced
Main-idea plan	BP1 → satellites already help with disasters, farming and climate monitoring · BP2 → space research drives innovation, economic growth and inspires future scientists

2Idea generation

Body 1 — Practical benefits for life on Earth

Satellites help disaster warnings and climate monitoring ✓ strongest
Satellite data improves farming
Global communication and navigation dự phòng

Body 2 — Long-term knowledge and innovation

Space research produces innovations used in daily life ✓ strongest
The space industry creates skilled jobs
Inspires students to choose science careers dự phòng

✓ strongest = ý dùng trong bài mẫu · dự phòng = ý thay thế, không có trong bài mẫu.

3Skeleton

Introduction

General statement: Governments invest heavily in space
Paraphrased task: Rewrite: spending wasteful, tackle urgent problems
Thesis: Disagree — real benefits on Earth

Body 1: Satellites → disaster warnings, climate data, better farming

Body 2: Space research → innovation, skilled jobs, future scientists

Conclusion: Restate the opinion → summarise both reasons → final thought

4Plan & write your paragraphs

How to use: Read the main idea, tap the cue words to add them to the box, then write your own sentence. Your essay is built automatically at the bottom and saved in this browser.

Introduction(45–60 words)

0 words

Goal: Topic → rewrite the statement → give your opinion.

General statement

Main idea: Governments invest heavily in space

Starter: In recent decades, several … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Paraphrased task

Main idea: Rewrite: spending wasteful, tackle urgent problems

Starter: Some argue that this … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Thesis

Main idea: Disagree — real benefits on Earth

Starter: I disagree with this … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Body Paragraph 1 — Practical benefits for life on Earth(90–110 words)

0 words

Goal: Reason 1: explain it and give an example.

Topic sentence

Main idea: Space tech solves Earth problems

Starter: The main reason I … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 1

Main idea: Weather, climate data

Starter: Satellites provide accurate information … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Example

Main idea: Typhoon path shown early

Starter: For example, satellite images … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 2

Main idea: Satellite data for farming

Starter: Farmers also use satellite … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Link

Main idea: Cuts would hurt

Starter: Therefore, cutting space budgets … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Body Paragraph 2 — Long-term knowledge and innovation(90–110 words)

0 words

Goal: Reason 2: explain it and give an example.

Topic sentence

Main idea: Drives innovation

Starter: In addition, space exploration … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 1

Main idea: Space tech in daily products

Starter: Many technologies developed for … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Example

Main idea: Smartphone cameras

Starter: For instance, the tiny … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 2

Main idea: Skilled jobs, inspiration

Starter: The space industry also … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Link

Main idea: Long-term investment

Starter: As a result, money … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Conclusion(35–50 words)

0 words

Goal: Repeat your opinion, sum up both reasons, final thought. No new ideas!

Restated thesis

Main idea: Disagree

Starter: In conclusion, I disagree … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Summary

Main idea: Satellites help + innovation, jobs

Starter: Satellite technology helps us … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Final thought

Main idea: Keep budgets balanced

Starter: However, this spending should … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

📝 My essay

✓ saved

5Language bank (Band 5.5-6.5)

Mỗi đoạn có bảng collocation riêng. ✓ = có trong bài mẫu · + = cụm mở rộng để học viên tự dùng. 5.5 = nền tảng · 6.5 = nâng band.

Introduction

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
in recent decades	prep phrase	trong những thập kỷ gần đây	5.5	✓
billions of dollars	noun phrase	hàng tỷ đô la	5.5	✓
missions to other planets	noun phrase	các sứ mệnh đến hành tinh khác	6.5	✓
this spending is wasteful	clause	khoản chi này lãng phí	6.5	✓
urgent problems	adj + noun	các vấn đề cấp bách	5.5	✓
significant benefits	adj + noun	lợi ích đáng kể	6.5	✓

Body Paragraph 1 — Practical benefits for life on Earth

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
space technology	noun + noun	công nghệ vũ trụ	5.5	✓
accurate information	adj + noun	thông tin chính xác	5.5	✓
natural disasters	adj + noun	thiên tai	5.5	✓
track environmental change	verb + noun	theo dõi biến đổi môi trường	6.5	✓
satellite images	noun + noun	ảnh vệ tinh	5.5	✓
several days in advance	prep phrase	trước vài ngày	6.5	✓
dangerous coastal areas	noun phrase	vùng ven biển nguy hiểm	5.5	✓
satellite data	noun + noun	dữ liệu vệ tinh	5.5	✓
cutting space budgets	verb + noun	cắt giảm ngân sách vũ trụ	6.5	✓

Body Paragraph 2 — Long-term knowledge and innovation

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
drives scientific progress	verb + noun	thúc đẩy tiến bộ khoa học	6.5	✓
society as a whole	noun phrase	toàn xã hội	6.5	✓
space missions	noun + noun	sứ mệnh không gian	5.5	✓
lightweight materials	adj + noun	vật liệu nhẹ	5.5	✓
advanced medical sensors	noun phrase	cảm biến y tế tiên tiến	6.5	✓
everyday products	adj + noun	sản phẩm hằng ngày	5.5	✓
highly skilled jobs	noun phrase	việc làm tay nghề cao	6.5	✓
science and engineering	noun phrase	khoa học và kỹ thuật	5.5	✓
a long-term investment	adj + noun	khoản đầu tư dài hạn	5.5	✓

Conclusion

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
In conclusion	linker	tóm lại	5.5	✓
government funding	noun + noun	tài trợ của chính phủ	5.5	✓
a waste of resources	noun phrase	sự lãng phí nguồn lực	5.5	✓
deal with disasters	verb phrase	đối phó thiên tai	6.5	✓
social needs	adj + noun	nhu cầu xã hội	6.5	✓

Useful structures

Although + clause, + main clause (concession)
Noun, which + verb …, + main verb (non-defining relative clause)
If + present, + will / can + verb (conditional for results)
This means that + clause (explaining a consequence)
… be + past participle (passive voice for processes and policies)

6Self-check before you submit

Task Response: Clear position (Disagree) in the thesis, kept in both body paragraphs and restated in the conclusion; every reason is explained and supported by a realistic exampleCoherence & Cohesion: One reason per body paragraph, both supporting the same position; linkers In conclusion, In addition, For example, For instance, As a result, Therefore, However, becauseLexical Resource: Topic collocations from the Language bank; paraphrase the key words of the question (government funding, space exploration, waste of resources)Grammar: Mix simple and complex sentences (although, which, if, passive); check articles and verb formsFit for band: Realistic examples, no invented statistics, about 270–300 words in total

7🔒 Model Essay (Band 6.5)

Hãy viết bài của em trước. Khi đủ 250 từ, ô mật khẩu sẽ mở — xin mật khẩu từ giáo viên để xem bài mẫu và so sánh.