Understand
About this text typeWhat is reason writing (integrated)?
A reason paragraph about stages of life explains why a particular period of a person’s life is important or challenging. In an integrated task, you use ideas from both a reading and a listening to support your reasons.
Purpose. to explain and justify why a stage of life is significant, using evidence from two sources.
Key features
- State your opinion about the stage of life in the topic sentence: I think / I believe / In my opinion,
- Give 2–3 reasons from your notes. Each reason should be followed by an example.
- Use time expressions to talk about change: used to, tend to, as people get older.
- Combine ideas from the reading and the listening — in your own words.
- End with a personal reflection or a broader comment about life.
Remember — your paragraph has three parts
- Topic sentence. Name the stage and state your opinion. Use I think / I believe / In my opinion,
- Body sentences. Give 2–3 reasons from your notes. Use First of all, / Secondly, / For example, / As a result,
- Concluding sentence. Give a final personal comment. Use To sum up, / In conclusion, / Overall,
Study
Grammar & vocabularyVocabulary bank
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| childhood | the period of life when you are a child | Childhood is a time for play, discovery, and learning. |
| teenager | a person between 13 and 19 years old | Teenagers often develop strong opinions and values. |
| adulthood | the period when you are a fully grown adult | Adulthood brings greater independence and responsibilities. |
| responsibility | a duty that you must carry out | Having a job means taking on important responsibilities. |
| independence | the ability to live and think without depending on others | University teaches young people real independence. |
| experience | knowledge or skill gained by doing and living | Life experience helps us make better, wiser decisions. |
| develop | to grow and become more advanced or mature | Children develop language skills at an incredible speed. |
| shape | to influence the way something grows or becomes | Early childhood experiences shape who we become as adults. |
Grammar used to / tend to / When I was…
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| used to + verb — a past habit or state | I used to play outside all day long when I was a child. |
| tend to + verb — a general pattern | Teenagers tend to spend a lot of time with their friends. |
| When I was + age or stage, … | When I was a child, I used to read stories every single night. |
| As people get older, … | As people get older, they tend to appreciate family more. |
Useful linking words Notice the example sentences — they show you exactly how to use each word.
| Linking word | When to use it | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| First of all, / To begin with, | To introduce the first reason | First of all, childhood is when we develop our basic skills. |
| Secondly, / In addition, | To add a second reason | Secondly, teenage years are when we form our own identity. |
| For example, / For instance, | To support your point with an example | For example, many teenagers discover a talent for music or sport. |
| As a result, / This means that | To show the consequence of something | As a result, early experiences shape the adults we become. |
| To sum up, / In conclusion, | To end with a final comment | To sum up, every stage of life is important in its own way. |
Extra practice · Part A Choose the correct word or phrase from the box. There are six options but only four gaps — two are extra.
Part B · Write your own Complete these sentences using your own ideas about stages of life.
Analyse
Sample paragraphThis is an integrated writing task. First read the text and listen to the talk, and take notes. Then study the sample paragraph to see how the notes are used.
Read Underline the most important ideas.
ReadingThe Importance of Childhood
Childhood is one of the most important stages of life. It is the time when children develop the basic skills they will need for the rest of their lives. For example, children learn to speak, read, write, and work with numbers during their early years. They also develop social skills by playing with other children and learning how to make and keep friends. In addition, childhood is when values and habits are formed. Children who grow up in a loving and supportive environment tend to become confident and kind adults. Finally, the experiences children have — both good and difficult — shape their personality and the way they see the world for the rest of their lives. This is why it is so vital to give children a happy, safe, and nurturing childhood.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningGrowing Up: The Teenage Years
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Take notes as you listen.
Take notes One box for each source.
Why is this stage important?
What do people learn or develop?
What shapes the person they become?
Study the sample paragraph
Read the paragraph, then use the panel beside it to see how it is built. Click any row to light up that sentence.
The Most Important Stage of Life
In my opinion, both childhood and the teenage years are extremely important stages of life, but for very different reasons. During childhood, people develop the fundamental skills they will use throughout their lives. As the reading explains, children learn to read, write, communicate, and work with others, and they also begin to form their values and habits. A child who grows up in a safe and supportive environment tends to become a more confident and well-adjusted adult. However, the teenage years are equally significant, as the listening transcript makes clear. During this period, young people begin to think independently, question the world around them, and develop their own identity and values. For example, many teenagers discover their talents and passions — in sport, art, or music — that shape their future career choices. Although adolescence can be challenging — with academic pressure and peer expectations — it is also a time of tremendous personal growth. To sum up, I believe that childhood builds the foundation and adolescence completes the construction — both stages are essential to becoming a healthy, independent, and self-aware adult.
Discussion Talk to your partner.
- What information does the writer take from the reading text? What comes from the listening?
- Which stage do you think is the most important — childhood or adolescence? Give one reason.
- Find an example of used to or tend to in the sample. Could you add one more sentence using these structures?
Practise
Controlled exercisesExercise 1 Complete each sentence with used to, tend to, or When I was.
Exercise 2 Which of these are good topic sentences, and which are weak?
Exercise 2 · Now fix the weak ones Rewrite the two weak topic sentences so that they state a clear opinion.
Write
Your own paragraphThis is an integrated writing task. Read, listen and take notes first — then plan and write.
Read Take notes as you read.
ReadingBecoming an Adult
For many people, early adulthood is the stage of life when everything finally becomes real. It usually begins at the end of formal education, when young people leave school or university and start to make their own decisions. Suddenly they have to choose a career, manage their own money and often live away from their family for the first time. These are difficult responsibilities, but they are also the ones that turn a young person into an independent adult. Work plays a central role at this stage. A first job teaches lessons that no classroom can teach: how to solve problems under pressure, how to work with people of very different ages and backgrounds, and how to accept criticism and learn from it. Early adulthood is also the time when many people build the friendships and relationships that will support them for the rest of their lives. Of course, this period can be stressful. Young adults often worry about money, about making the wrong choice and about disappointing the people around them. Even so, most of them later describe these years as the time when they discovered what kind of person they really wanted to be.
Listen Twice — take notes as you go.
ListeningWhy Later Life Matters
Audio file not found — check that the audio folder sits next to this page.
Play it twice. Take notes as you listen.
Take notes One box for each source.
What happens at this stage?
What skills, knowledge or qualities are gained?
What are the difficulties at this stage?
Why does this stage matter?
Plan and write
Which stage of life do you think is the most important? Use your notes from the reading and the listening to write a paragraph of at least 130 words.
One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.
My plan Notes first — then write.
Self-check Tick each box when you are sure.
0 of 5 checked.
My paragraph
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your paragraph before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Vocabulary review — Units 5 & 6
Covers both unitsPart A · Sentence completion Complete each sentence with a word from the box. Change the form of the word if necessary.
Part B · Word formation table Fill in the missing word form in each row.