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IELTS Task 2 Writing

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Some people believe that people who read books can develop more imagination and language skills than those who prefer to watch TV. To what degree do you support this opinion?

Write at least 250 words.

Certain individuals ascertain that avid readers can improve their creative thinking and linguistic aptitude more than those who opt for television. To what extent are you in favor of this position?

TOPIC = Developing imagination and language skills

Controlling ideas = whether or not reading books is advantageous over watching TV for developing imagination and language.

What is developing imagination?

The ability to accurately visualize situations, to visualize content from various perspectives, To create visual images in detail quickly.

What is developing language skills?

To learn more vocabulary and grammar. The ability to use language more dynamically with reading, listening, writing, speaking. To express ideas in many different ways, to paraphrase. To know and use the best language for an intended audience.

What are the main differences between acquiring information through reading vs. television?

(reading is ) active vs (television is ) passive

Thesis Statement (It is the position (argument) of the author (you) which clearly shows the reader the content and structure of the essay – it is the last sentence or two of your introductory paragraph):

It took me a week to read the book “The Da Vinci Code” but only two hours to watch the film.

I am strongly in favor of the idea that reading books develop both more creativity and language than watching television because it is active and comprehensive.

Introductory Paragraph

(Hook, about 8 to 12 word – a simple worldly fact that catches the reader and introduces the topic).

The development of language and imagination is achieved daily through various interactions. (Background). The ability to learn broad vocabulary and grammar for clear communication, as well as to visualize and manipulate information in the mind’s eye, are some of the most advanced human abilities. For the past several centuries most people in society improved their creativity and linguistics skills through literature; however, in recent decades, there has been a major shift to television. (thesis) Nevertheless, I am strongly in favor of the idea that reading books develop both more creativity and language than watching television because reading is active and comprehensive.

BODY (Reading is Active, TV is passive, – topic sentence)

While reading, people put in the effort to interpret and visualize the text thereby deeply engaging the content which is in stark contrast to television where the content is passively absorbed through video and audio with little energy required. (Explanation – think quantitative language, should give the why to the topic sentence) When readers become entwined in a novel, they are challenged to picture the characters, setting, and events of the story while understanding and interpreting a broad array of lexical knowledge presented by the author, and this greatly develops both imagination and linguistic aptitude. (Example – use a real-life example, first-person voice is okay here, an example that can be used in body 2 also – Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Romeo, and Juliette, War and Peace, Godfather, Sherlock Holmes, Pride Prejudice) Although I saw the Harry Potter movies and found them entertaining, I felt that having read the books I was much more involved in the story and imagined much more detailed characters and creatures as well as learned far more unique British English expressions and vocabulary.

HW. Body 2 + Conclusion

Is it a good introductory paragraph?

A good introductory paragraph should clearly answer the questions for the reader:

What are you discussing?

Why are you discussing it?

What is your position and direction?