Level: CEFR B2–B2+ | Question Type: Discussion Essay | Discuss Both Views and Give Your Own Opinion
1. IELTS Writing Task 2 — Question（题目）
Some people believe that children should learn how to manage money at school, while others think this is something that parents should teach at home.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
2. Sample Essay（参考范文）
Paragraph 1 — Introduction（引言段）
Some people argue that schools should teach children how to manage money, while others believe that this responsibility belongs to parents. In my opinion, both schools and parents have important roles to play, but schools should provide basic financial education to ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn these skills.
Paragraph 2 — Body Paragraph 1（主体段一）
Those who believe that parents should teach children about money argue that financial habits are best developed through everyday experiences. Parents can show their children how to make sensible spending decisions, save money and avoid unnecessary purchases. For example, when shopping together, parents can explain why they choose certain products or compare prices before buying something. Children can also learn to manage their pocket money by deciding how much to spend and how much to save. Since parents understand their children’s needs and spending habits, they can provide advice that is suitable for their age and situation. Therefore, learning about money at home can be both practical and personal.
Paragraph 3 — Body Paragraph 2（主体段二）
On the other hand, schools can provide financial education in a more organised and consistent way. Not all parents have the time or knowledge to teach their children about money effectively. As a result, some students may reach adulthood without understanding basic financial concepts such as budgeting, saving or borrowing. Schools can address this problem by including simple financial lessons in their regular curriculum. For instance, students could learn how to create a monthly budget or understand the risks of borrowing money. These lessons would help ensure that every student receives essential financial knowledge, regardless of their family background. For this reason, I believe schools should take responsibility for providing basic financial education, while parents reinforce these lessons at home.
Paragraph 4 — Conclusion（结论段）
In conclusion, parents can teach children valuable financial habits through daily activities, while schools can provide structured financial education to all students. I believe both approaches are important, but schools should take the lead in teaching the basic principles of money management.
Word Count: 334 words（全文约334词）
3. Essay Structure（文章结构）
| Paragraph 段落 | Main Idea 主要内容 |
| Introduction 引言段 | Introduce both views and give your own opinion. 介绍双方观点，并明确表达自己的立场。 |
| Body Paragraph 1 主体段一 | Explain why some people believe parents should teach children about money. 解释为什么一些人认为理财知识应该由父母教授。 |
| Body Paragraph 2 主体段二 | Explain why others believe schools should provide financial education, and support your own opinion. 解释为什么另一些人认为学校应该提供理财教育，并支持自己的立场。 |
| Conclusion 结论段 | Summarise both views and restate your opinion. 总结双方观点，并重申自己的立场。 |
4. Useful Writing Expressions（实用写作表达）
| Some people argue that… | 一些人认为…… |
| while others believe that… | 而另一些人认为…… |
| In my opinion, … | 在我看来…… |
| have an important role to play | 发挥重要作用 |
| Those who believe that… argue that… | 持有……观点的人认为…… |
| make sensible decisions | 作出明智的决定 |
| be suitable for someone | 适合某人 |
| On the other hand, … | 另一方面…… |
| As a result, … | 因此…… |
| address this problem | 解决这一问题 |
| regardless of something | 不论…… |
| take responsibility for something | 承担某事的责任 |
5. What Students Should Learn（学习重点）
A Discussion Essay requires students to explain both sides of an argument and give their own opinion. Unlike an Agree or Disagree essay, students must discuss both views, even if they strongly support only one of them.
This essay follows a four-paragraph structure. The introduction presents both views and states the writer’s opinion. The first body paragraph explains why parents may be better suited to teaching children about money. The second body paragraph explains the benefits of financial education at school and supports the writer’s position. The conclusion summarises both views and restates the opinion.
Discussion Essay 要求学生讨论某个问题的双方观点，并给出自己的看法。与 Agree or Disagree 类型不同，即使学生非常支持其中一方，也必须对双方观点进行合理讨论。
这篇范文采用四段式结构。引言段介绍双方观点，并明确作者的立场。第一个主体段解释为什么父母适合教授儿童理财知识。第二个主体段讨论学校开展理财教育的优势，并支持作者的立场。结论段总结双方观点，再次明确自己的意见。
Teaching Focus： Students should understand that discussing both views does not mean they must agree with both views equally. They can support one side more strongly, provided that both perspectives are explained fairly and their own opinion remains clear.
教学重点： 讨论双方观点并不意味着必须同等支持双方。学生完全可以更赞同其中一方，但需要合理解释两种观点，同时保持自己的立场清晰。
Important Difference（重要区别）：
Opinion Essay: Do you agree or disagree? 学生需要说明自己是否同意题目中的观点。
Discussion Essay: What do both sides believe, and what is your opinion? 学生需要解释双方为什么持有不同观点，并明确说明自己更支持哪种立场，或者提出有充分理由的综合立场。