IELTS Writing Task 2 – Information in Media

Here are the writing task 2 questions that we covered in the past. Remember to practice your speaking by clicking, “Student Partner Speaking” in your My Student Account at https://www.aehelp.com/buy/ (Use code A8TW9 to get a 10% discount when you join the Premium Package).

IELTS Task 2 Writing

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

People often believe the information in the media, such as news broadcasts and newspaper articles without question. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this and give your own opinion?

Write at least 250 words.

Before you begin to write, paraphrase the question.

This way you are more certain that you understand the question AND it helps to stay focused on the question when writing.

Individuals frequently accept the information given in mass media, on TV, and in publishing as the objective truth and do not question its reliability. What are the pros and cons of this attitude and state your own thoughts on this?

Identify the topic and controlling ideas:

Topic – Trust in the media/reliability of media

Controlling Idea – the good and the bad of trusting media without question (including my opinion)

What is trust in media information?
Accepting that the information shown in media is exactly as it happened and is the factual truth. It is empirical.

Why do people hold mass media to be the truth?
Because it is observed with our eyes (empirical). It is presented by experts (authority). The same information is given by several sources (everyone says it’s true)

How can people see that individuals trust the media without question?
People share the information they get from the media with others and act according to its “truth”.

What are the advantages of believing in the media?
Helps us plan better and optimize our experiences

[ In order to think of good ideas for task 2 essays, think up/down as well as down/up ***When you are thinking of specific -> general, always aim to come up with a ‘simple’ example, weather forecast vs. COVID-19 ]

What are the negatives of believing in the media?

Can be a waste of time and energy. It can manipulate people to suffer the loss of time, health, and finances.

What is your opinion about believing in the media?

Always apply logical critical thinking to information that you hear.

THESIS: The advantages of relying on mass media as the factual truth is that people can better plan to optimize their experiences. However, the negatives are that they can be manipulated into losing their time, money, and finances. I think that people should always apply critical thinking to news they hear in the media, especially when making important life decisions.

INTRODUCTION
Mass media influences billions of people’s lives daily. Whether through television, the internet, or literature, citizens stay informed and up to date on the news and make decisions based on what they see, hear, and read. The advantages of relying on mass media as the factual truth are that people can better plan to optimize their experiences. However, the negatives are that they can be manipulated into losing their time, money, and finances. I think that people should always apply critical thinking to news they hear in the media, especially when making important life decisions.

BODY 1 (Topic sentence = adv. of blindly relying on media info) Accurate media information helps people to make necessary arrangements in their day-to-day lives and enhance their productivity and well being. (Explanation) Individuals make an average of 50 important decisions daily like what to wear, eat, or where to invest their money and this is often guided by the weather forecast, food blog, or business journal that they follow. (example) I usually start my day by looking at the weather forecast so I know what to wear and avoid catching a cold, and this seems accurate most of the time. (Conclusive sentence) This is clearly a benefit of believing in the news.

BODY 2 (Topic sentence = The neg. of blindly following media)
One of the major drawbacks of blindly following information in mass media is that people can be misled by false news which serves ulterior motives (propaganda) (hidden reasons) thereby causing harm to the viewers. (explanation) + (example)

BODY 3 (Our opinion – believing in the news after critical analysis, especially when making important decisions)

Here are the writing task 2 questions that we covered in the past. Remember to practice your speaking by clicking, “Student Partner Speaking” in your My Student Account at https://www.aehelp.com/buy/ (Use code A8TW9 to get a 10% discount when you join the Premium Package).

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