Step 1: Identify the Part 2 question requirements
The question asks you to describe a time when you encouraged someone to do something they didn’t want to do. You need to cover:
- Who the person is
- What you encouraged them to do
- How they reacted
- Why you encouraged them
Step 2: Strategies for a better answer
- Expand your answer with more details or extra stories: Give background about your relationship, the situation, and the outcome.
- Coherence is important: Make sure each part flows logically to the next.
- Paraphrasing: Use different ways to express “encourage” and “didn’t want to do.”
- Referring: Refer back to previous points to show connection.
- Signposting: Use linking words like “firstly,” “after that,” “as a result,” etc.
- Vocabulary needs to be appropriate and varied: Use words like “persuade,” “convince,” “reluctant,” “hesitant,” “eventually,” etc.
- Using synonyms or substitution: Alternate between “my friend,” “she,” “her,” etc.
- Demonstrating a range of grammar is key: Use complex sentences, conditionals, and reported speech.
- Whole Model Answer MUST be more than 300 words: Add details, feelings, and reflections.
Topic:Encouraging a friend to join a public speaking competition
Who he or she is
I’d like to talk about a time when I encouraged my close friend, Emily, to participate in a public speaking competition at our university. Emily and I have been friends since high school, and I know her quite well. She’s always been a very intelligent and thoughtful person, but she tends to be rather shy, especially when it comes to speaking in front of large groups. Despite her reluctance, I’ve always believed she has a lot of potential and could really shine if she gave herself a chance.
What you encouraged him/her to do
The event in question was a university-wide public speaking contest that was being organized by the student council. I had already signed up, but when I saw the announcement, I immediately thought of Emily because she has a unique perspective on many social issues and is very articulate in one-on-one conversations. I encouraged her to sign up for the competition, even though she was extremely hesitant at first. She kept saying that she would probably freeze on stage or forget her words, but I tried to reassure her by reminding her of all the times she had spoken confidently in smaller groups.
How he/she reacted
Initially, Emily was quite resistant to the idea. She told me she felt anxious just thinking about standing in front of an audience. However, after several conversations and a lot of gentle persuasion, she finally agreed to give it a try, mainly because she trusted my judgment and didn’t want to let me down. During the preparation period, she was still nervous, but I helped her practice her speech and gave her feedback. On the day of the competition, she was visibly nervous, but she managed to deliver her speech without any major problems. In fact, she received a lot of positive feedback from both the judges and the audience, which really boosted her confidence.
Why you encouraged him/her to do it
The main reason I encouraged Emily to participate was that I wanted her to overcome her fear of public speaking. I knew that if she could face this challenge, it would help her grow as a person and open up new opportunities for her in the future. I also felt that her ideas deserved to be heard by a wider audience. Looking back, I’m really glad I pushed her to step out of her comfort zone, because not only did she gain more confidence, but our friendship also became stronger as a result of this experience.