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Academic Essay Upgrade: Stronger Vocabulary and Grammar

A complete B2 classroom lesson adapted from the EnglishDrills EIKEN writing toolkit, with a broader academic-writing focus for international learners.

B255–60 minutesAcademic writingPrintable
Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you think today’s lesson will be about? Write two ideas and compare them with a partner. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.
Teacher Answers
1 Lesson Goals
Academic Essay Upgrade: Stronger Vocabulary and Grammar

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • understand the main ideas and key details in Academic Essay Upgrade: Stronger Vocabulary and Grammar.
  • learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
  • use the lesson language in speaking or writing.
Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.
2 Reading
Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you think today’s lesson will be about? Write two ideas and compare them with a partner.

Strong academic writing is not created by using the longest words possible. It comes from clear ideas, logical organisation and language that shows relationships between ideas. A writer can improve a simple paragraph by adding a precise reason, a relevant example and a connector that makes the logic easy to follow.

Compare these sentences: Public transport is good. It helps cities. A stronger version is: Reliable public transport can significantly reduce traffic congestion because it gives commuters a practical alternative to driving. The second sentence is more precise and explains the relationship between the ideas.

Writers can also vary sentence patterns. Although introduces contrast, as a result shows a consequence, and not only … but also … links two related benefits. These structures are useful only when they make the meaning clearer. The aim is not to sound complicated; the aim is to communicate an argument accurately and confidently.
3 Vocabulary

Match or explain these words from the lesson.

  • precise — exact and specific
  • significant — important or noticeable
  • contribute — help to cause or create something
  • beneficial — helpful or producing a good result
  • consequence — a result of an action or situation
4 Check Your Understanding
1. What three things help make academic writing strong?
2. Why is the stronger public-transport sentence better?
3. What does “although” usually introduce?
4. What relationship does “as a result” show?
5. What is the main aim of using advanced structures?
5 Language Focus

Follow the instruction in each item to improve the sentence.

1. Join the ideas with although: Studying abroad can be expensive. It can be very valuable.
2. Rewrite using not only … but also …: Exercise improves physical health. Exercise can improve mood.
3. Add a suitable result connector: The city added more bus lanes. , journey times became more reliable.
4. Upgrade one word: “This change is very good for students.”
5. Write one sentence using in addition.
6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher twice and answer.

1. What topic does Maya choose for her paragraph?
2. How many reasons does she plan?
3. Which word does she replace with “beneficial”?
4. Which connector does she add to show a result?

Speak

  • Which makes writing stronger: difficult words or clear, precise ideas? Explain.
  • What academic connectors do you use confidently?
  • Choose a school or community issue and give one reason plus one example.
Academic Essay Upgrade: Stronger Vocabulary and Grammar — Continued
7 Use Your English

Something New

“Sentence Upgrade Relay”: In pairs, start with a simple sentence such as “Public transport is good.” Add one improvement at a time: a stronger adjective, a reason, an example, then a connector. Compare the final versions.

Write

Write 120–150 words answering: Should schools include more practical learning outside the classroom? Give a clear opinion, two reasons, examples and at least three useful academic connectors.

8 Puzzle or Game
60-Second Word Race

In one minute, write as many English words as you can that connect with Academic Essay Upgrade: Stronger Vocabulary and Grammar. Compare your list with a partner.

Circle three words you think are especially useful.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

  • I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
  • I can use at least three new words correctly.
  • I can complete the language task.
  • I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do
Final challenge: Academic Essay Upgrade: Stronger Vocabulary and Grammar

Plan: Note your strongest idea, 3 useful words or phrases, and one supporting detail from the lesson.

Respond: Write a short paragraph of 6–8 sentences, or prepare a 45-second spoken response, showing what you learned.

Reflect: Underline the part of your response that best shows your progress.

Continue building academic writing skills with these free English Drills lessons: