Film or Written Documents: Learning How People Live — 10.09.2026

Task 2 Topic

To learn the way people around the world live, it is better to look at film and video records than written documents.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

1Task analysis

Item	Detail
Essay type	Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)
Main topic	Whether films and videos are better than written texts for learning about other people's ways of life
Keywords	the way people around the world live · film and video records · written documents · better
Task focus	Compare film and video with written documents as ways to learn how people live in other cultures
Required position	Say clearly how far you agree or disagree and keep the same position in every paragraph
Plain-English meaning	If we want to understand how people in other countries live, should we watch videos rather than read books and articles?
Hidden trap	This is a comparison (better … than). A strong answer gives clear criteria — vividness and accessibility vs depth, history and explanation
Chosen stance	Partly agree. Film and video make other ways of life vivid and accessible, but written documents provide deeper explanation and historical context, so the two complement each other
Main-idea plan	BP1 → film and video are vivid, realistic and accessible to everyone · BP2 → written documents give depth, context and historical records that video lacks

2Idea generation

Body 1 — The visual power of film and video

Video is vivid and shows real behaviour ✓ strongest
Accessible to people who cannot read the language
Sound, music and body language dự phòng

Body 2 — The depth of written documents

Writing explains history, beliefs and reasons ✓ strongest
Written records cover periods before film
Video can be edited or staged dự phòng

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

3Skeleton

Introduction

General statement: More ways to learn about other countries
Paraphrased task: Rewrite: video more useful than written documents
Thesis: Partly agree — each has strengths

Body 1: Vivid, realistic, accessible to all

Body 2: Depth, context, history before film; video may be staged

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: More ways to learn about other countries

Starter: With the growth of … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Paraphrased task

Main idea: Rewrite: video more useful than written documents

Starter: Some argue that films … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Thesis

Main idea: Partly agree — each has strengths

Starter: I partly agree, as … ·

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Body Paragraph 1 — The visual power of film and video(90–110 words)

0 words

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

Topic sentence

Main idea: Vivid and realistic

Starter: On the one hand … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 1

Main idea: Observe and hear

Starter: Viewers can observe how … ·

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Example

Main idea: Mongolian nomads

Starter: For example, a documentary … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 2

Main idea: Accessible to all

Starter: Videos are also accessible … ·

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Link

Main idea: Powerful introduction

Starter: Therefore, video is a … ·

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Body Paragraph 2 — The depth of written documents(90–110 words)

0 words

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

Topic sentence

Main idea: Depth and context

Starter: On the other hand … ·

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Explanation 1

Main idea: Explain history and values

Starter: Books, academic articles and … ·

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Example

Main idea: Japanese festival

Starter: For instance, a video … ·

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Explanation 2

Main idea: Records before cameras

Starter: Moreover, written records describe … ·

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Link

Main idea: Reading essential

Starter: As a result, reading … ·

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Conclusion(35–50 words)

0 words

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

Restated thesis

Main idea: Partly agree

Starter: In conclusion, I partly … ·

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Summary

Main idea: Vivid vs depth

Starter: Video makes other lifestyles … ·

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Final thought

Main idea: Most effective together

Starter: The two are most … ·

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📝 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
online platforms	adj + noun	nền tảng trực tuyến	5.5	✓
more ways than ever	noun phrase	nhiều cách hơn bao giờ hết	6.5	✓
video footage	noun + noun	đoạn phim tư liệu	6.5	✓
written documents	adj + noun	tài liệu viết	5.5	✓
its own strengths	noun phrase	thế mạnh riêng	5.5	✓

Body Paragraph 1 — The visual power of film and video

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
a vivid and realistic way	noun phrase	cách sống động và chân thực	6.5	✓
tone of voice	noun phrase	giọng điệu	5.5	✓
much more memorable	adv + adj	dễ nhớ hơn nhiều	5.5	✓
a documentary about	noun phrase	phim tài liệu về	5.5	✓
nomadic families	adj + noun	các gia đình du mục	6.5	✓
look after their animals	verb phrase	chăm sóc gia súc	5.5	✓
accessible to people	adv + adj	dễ tiếp cận với mọi người	5.5	✓
a powerful tool	adj + noun	công cụ mạnh mẽ	6.5	✓
a wide audience	adj + noun	lượng khán giả rộng	5.5	✓

Body Paragraph 2 — The depth of written documents

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
a level of depth and context	noun phrase	mức độ sâu và bối cảnh	6.5	✓
academic articles	adj + noun	bài báo học thuật	5.5	✓
personal diaries	adj + noun	nhật ký cá nhân	5.5	✓
values and beliefs	noun phrase	giá trị và niềm tin	5.5	✓
a traditional festival	adj + noun	lễ hội truyền thống	5.5	✓
a well-researched book	noun phrase	cuốn sách được nghiên cứu kỹ	6.5	✓
religious origins	adj + noun	nguồn gốc tôn giáo	6.5	✓
changed over time	verb phrase	thay đổi theo thời gian	5.5	✓
a deeper understanding	adj + noun	hiểu biết sâu sắc hơn	6.5	✓

Conclusion

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
In conclusion	linker	tóm lại	5.5	✓
other lifestyles	adj + noun	lối sống khác	5.5	✓
written sources	adj + noun	nguồn tư liệu viết	6.5	✓
historical context	adj + noun	bối cảnh lịch sử	6.5	✓
most effective	adv + adj	hiệu quả nhất	5.5	✓

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 (Partly agree) 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, Moreover, For example, For instance, As a result, Therefore, whileLexical Resource: Topic collocations from the Language bank; paraphrase the key words of the question (the way people around the world live, film and video records, written documents)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.