IETLS Writing Task 2 Sample: Scientists and the news media are presenting ever more evidence of climate change. Governments cannot be expected to solve this problem. It is the responsibility of individuals to change their lifestyle to prevent further damage. What are your views?

Recently scientists worried about climate change have urged governments to introduce measures to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are seen as its main cause. Simultaneously, politicians and environmentalists have urged individuals to make changes to their lifestyle. I shall argue that governments and individuals should take join responsibility for this problem.

         Firstly, industry accounts for a large proportion of the greenhouse gas emissions, and this can only be controlled by government action. Measures could be taken to discourage pollution, such as limiting or taxing the use of fossil fuels. Alternatively, subsidies could be offered to industries to clean up their production processes. If these ideas were adopted, I believe that businesses would regard pollution as a financial issue.

         Secondly, only discussion between governments can ensure that solutions are successful. The Kyoto agreement, for example, tried to reach global agreement on how to address the problem. Without such co-operating, it seems to me that efforts to reduce fuel consumption are unlikely to be effective.

         However, national and international policies will only succeed if individuals also change their lifestyle. For example, people could think more carefully about how they use energy in their homes. By using less electricity, installing energy-efficient light bulbs and electrical appliances, or investing in solar panels, individuals can make a real difference.
 
         In addition, I think individual attitudes to transport need to change. Instead of making short tips by car, people could choose to walk, cycle, or take a bus. Since cars are a major source of the problem, changing our behavior in this area would have a major impact.

        In conclusion, I would maintain that only a combination of international agreement, national policies, and changes in individual behavior will succeed in preventing further damage to the environment.

                                                                                                                            (291 words)

IELTS Writing Sample: Some people believe that media should be allowed to publish information about the private lives of famous people. Others say that everybody has a right to privacy and this practice must be controlled or even stopped. Discuss both views.

We are living in a celebrity obsessed world where everything that famous people do or say makes headlines. If media publishes stories about the private lives of the rich and the famous, that is because there is an audience for them. People want to know what celebrities do, say, wear, eat and drink. Media merely satisfies this need because it makes sound business sense for them.

Public personalities also have a private life that they want to shield from others. Just because they are famous, the media doesn’t have the right to publish all sorts of personal information about them. It has now become fashionable to publish photos and stories that are demeaning to famous people. This trend must be condemned. Everybody has flaws; however, when a celebrity exhibits them it becomes news. People get some weird pleasure from knowing that these famous men and women that they admire are not perfect.

On the flip side, there is a symbiotic relationship between celebrities and the media. One depends on the other for their existence. Celebrities need media exposure to remain celebrities. They are desperate to stay in the news. They need media attention to build their career. They become conscious of their right to privacy only after they have established themselves in the industry. At that stage, however, they can’t expect the media, which fuelled their growth, to stop writing about them.

To conclude, as long as people want to know about the private lives of famous personalities, media will oblige them with photos and stories. However, I believe that public personalities also have a right to privacy. Although I wouldn’t say that media should stop writing about famous people, I do believe that they should draw a line. Media must resist the temptation to publish stories that can destroy lives and careers.

                                                                                                           (303 words)

IELTS Writing Task 2: Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?

Some people regard video games as harmless fun, or even as a useful educational tool. Others, however, believe that videos games are having an adverse effect on the people who play them. In your opinion, do the drawbacks of video games outweigh the benefits?

Outline

Opening:

- Paraphrase: video games have adverse effect -> video games detrimental to people's development

- Despite threats are real -> there are benefits

Body:

Playing video games has many drawbacks

- look at screen longer => reduced eyesight

   -> many game players wear glasses

- playing too much video games => addiction

   -> less time for studying

- video games promote aggression

   -> contents filled with violence and nudity

Cannot eliminate video games altogether

- many games are designed for education

   -> children develop thinking skill by solving puzzles on games

- animations on games improve creativity

   -> teachers are using games to make lessons more fun

Conclusion:

- Video games have drawbacks, but can be turned into an educational tool

Video games are often portrayed on the media as being detrimental to personal development, especially that of a child. However, while the threats they pose are definite, I believe video games offer a number of benefits if they are consumed responsibly.

On the one hand, the drawbacks of video games are manifold. Studies have proven that prolonged exposure to a digital screen, which is an indispensible component of any gaming consoles, could lead to reduced eyesight. It is quite common to attend a video game convention and spot flocks of prescription-glasses-wearing game enthusiasts. In addition to the negative impacts on health, video games can often lead to addiction. This takes away a large portion of time in one's daily routine, which could have otherwise been spent on studying or working. To add to this, many video games nowadays promote aggression and behavioral disorders, particularly in teenagers and young adults. This is largely because their content is usually overloaded with displays of violence and nudity, neither of which is likely to communicate an image of an exemplary citizen.

Be that as it may, the above disadvantages do not necessarily call for complete elimination of video games. A lot of games these days are actually designed with a keen focus on education. When playing these games, children can develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills by solving quizzes and puzzles. Equipped with fun animations and captivating storytelling, video games also foster people's creativity and appreciation of arts. Teachers around the world have already taken advantage of this characteristic to inject a bit of fun into the classroom and help students to be more excited about learning.

In conclusion, while I don't refute the harms of excessive video game playing, I believe they can be turned into a powerful educational tool if used in moderation.

Word count: 303

Written by IELTS Fighters

Good vocabulary

- manifold: there are many

- indispensible: cannot be without

- to be overloaded with: to have too much of something

- keen focus on: concentrate on

- captivating: attractive

- foster ...: to encourage and help somebody improve a skill/ quality

IELTS Writing Task 2: Leaders and directors in an organization are normally older people. Some people think younger leaders would be better. Do you agree or disagree?

Outline

Opening:

- Paraphrase: leaders are normally older = management comprised of older people

- some think young guns are better -> disagree for reasons below

Body:

Older people are superior for some qualifications

- work in an industry for a long time -> more seasoned

  -> experiences -> decision making

  -> Microsoft's success <- Bill Gates' experiences

- older people have better judgment

  -> life experiences provide people with discernment

Same arguments -> young people should not be leaders

- young people too proud of academic success

  -> not able to realize their lack of experiences

- young people imprudent in making decisions

  -> few young people can make careful considerations

Conclusion:

- Confirm: older people lead better

It is not uncommon in today's world for the management of an organization to be comprised of mostly older people. While some people argue that young guns are better suited to assume these positions, I completely disagree with this thinking, for the reasons provided below.

Older people invariably make superior leaders due to several of their qualifications. First of all, a person who has worked in an industry for a long period of time is naturally more seasoned about that particular industry. Notwithstanding the importance of academic qualifications, when it comes to making managerial decisions, experience always serves as a better guideline. Bill Gates and his tech behemoth perfectly exemplify this principle. While it is irrefutable that Mr. Gates' credentials are impeccable, it is his tried and true experiences in the computer industry to which Microsoft's success should be attributed. Another reason why senior members should be leaders instead of young ones lies in the former's better judgment. Expertise is not the sole parameter that guides a leader's decisions, but it's largely life experiences that provide him with discernment when he is met with options.

It is for the very arguments provided above that the younger generation ought to be spared from top posts in an organization. A number of young people nowadays take too much pride in their academic success. This shortsighted thinking has made them fail to realize that their lack of experiences would do more harm to the organization than good. These young ones are also often quite imprudent in their decision making, which disqualifies them from the job of a leader. Good leadership is often rooted in the ability to make careful considerations, which is a rarity among younger people.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that older people provide infinitely superior leadership to that which younger ones can offer.

Written by IELTS Fighters (303 words)

Good vocabulary

- assume a position: to take on a position

- invariably: always

- seasoned: experienced

- behemoth: a very large company

- impeccable: perfect (degrees/skills)

- discernment: wisdom/ good understanding

- fail to do something: cannot do something

- imprudent: quick to do something without much thinking

- to be rooted in: to come from

- a rarity: a rare thing