IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write at least 250 words.
Some people believe that children that commit crimes should be punished Others think the parents should be punished instead
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Sample Answer:
In recent years, the issue of whether or not children who have committed a crime should be punished has been hotly debated. On one hand, some believe that children should be held accountable for their actions and penalised accordingly. On the other hand, there are those who argue that the parents should be held responsible. In this essay, I will examine both views and express my own opinion.
Those who argue that children should be held accountable for their misdeeds maintain that it is wrong to allow children to get away with breaking the law. They contend that all citizens, regardless of age, should understand that there are consequences for criminal activities, and that punishing children who have committed a crime will help to discourage similar behaviour in the future. Moreover, these individuals believe that as children are members of society, they should be expected to abide by the same laws as adults and should be held to the same standards.
The opposing perspective argues that it is the parents’ responsibility to provide proper guidance and supervision for their children, and that they should be punished for failing in this regard. They argue that if the parents had been doing their job and training their children in proper behaviour, then it is unlikely that the child would have committed the crime in the first place. Furthermore, they believe that by punishing the parents, it will serve as a deterrent to other parents and they will be more vigilant in making sure their children do not break the law.
In my view, I believe that both the child and the parents should be held accountable for criminal acts. The child should be penalised for their actions, as this will teach them that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. At the same time, the parents should also be punished for their negligence in monitoring their children and providing a suitable environment for them. This will ensure that all adults take responsibility for the actions of their children and will help to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
In conclusion, while some people argue that children should be punished for their crimes and others believe that the parents should be held responsible, I believe that both should be held accountable. By punishing both the child and the parents, it will ensure that all citizens understand that criminal activities will not be tolerated and will discourage such behaviour in the future.