IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Many people believe that media coverage of celebrities is having a negative effect on children.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and give any relevant example or experience you might have to support your answer.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Todays, more than ever, our children grow up in a world saturated with the mass media. Most frequently, the media depict a world of celebrities in which unhealthy behaviours such as drug addiction, smoking and drinking heavily, and illicit sex affairs are exalted. Moreover, celebrities are everywhere in the mass media and used to sell almost every product out there. Certainly there are some role models for youngsters among today’s celebrities to emulate; there are also many who provide a decidedly negative influence. Teens who try to follow these celebrities may fall victim to several negative matters.
To begin with, celebrities, generally, can earn much of money and public know who they are. For instance, you are famous cricket player, what makes up you to be renowned? It is your hard work, your perseverance, and your effort. Celebrities manifest their abilities to shine in our life. By having a role model in their lives, teens, thus, can sketch their path and follow their model to success in life. Moreover, celebrities are always the stimulating character for children. It is not so hard to collect celebrities’ information, no matter their images, their activities or their personal life have been circulated in the media. Youngsters can learn from their favourite celebrities’ experience that the way they deal with life under any situation.
However, most of the children have access to several media, and are susceptible to what they view. They are ductile to different messages in the media due to their brains are still developing. It seems that those who spend more time on media are more likely to interpret the real world in ways that echo the recurrent messages in the media. It appears like every day there are more and more glamorous exposures on the media of illicit activities of celebrities. Children see their favourite celebrities doing drugs or drinking alcohol, and partying, they think they should too. This conveys the message in order to be cool or to have fun you have to need these substances. At this point, I want to share my own experience that is I was started smoking with the influence of Al Pacino watching his movie Scarface. It is seemed like normal to me. So, this is how children may begin to think that it is not a big deal, and this can induce serious problems leading to and including alcohol or drug addiction and even several risk- taking behaviours.
After analyzing the both points of view, in my opinion, I lean on the fact that media coverage of celebrities is capable enough of making children in negative side. In this instance, as parents or mentors, we have to be aware of what we allow our children to see and listen to. In addition, the media ought to play positive role to build a sensible nation, because today’s child is tomorrow’s citizen. Furthermore, celebrities need to change their bad habits and should realize that they need to be more concerned with themselves, particularly with their portrayal in the media.