IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.
When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
You should write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Traditional skills and way of life are being fading away with the phenomenal development of technology. Some people consider the conventional competencies and lifestyle as worthless, therefore, it does not need to be preserved. In my opinion, I completely disagree with the idea that they fail to take into account how the extinction of the skills and way of life cause the disastrous affects in terms of knowledge and wisdom for the present and future generations.
Traditional skills and ways of life is very handy in order to grapple with natural calamity is the harsh reality in the current era. For example, indigenous people acquire immense skills, and knowledge and wisdom of their environments, based on centuries of living intimate to nature. Remaining close to nature, they have a comprehensive knowledge of properties of plants and animals, the complex rules of ecosystems, and the techniques for utilizing and managing them in a eco-friendly way. So, modern solution and technology could be invented from the tradition skills and way of life practiced by indigenous people.
Likewise, the traditional way of life can save the planet from environmental pollution. Every day, modern lifestyle is deteriorating environment by exploiting the natural resources. Modern man cannot form intimate relationship with nature. In contrast, indigenous people are the priest of nature. They conceive of nature as a living personality; according their belief, a divine spirit pervades all the objects of nature. That is why, they never want to harm or exploit the nature for quenching the lust for life. Apart from that, indigenous people have attained immense knowledge of herbs. For centuries, indigenous people have been using herbs to heal their body. For example, Native Americans have been using an important herb named Sage that heals multiple problems of kidneys, lungs, stomach, skin, liver, and many more. Therefore, many sophisticated medicines could be invented with the help of indigenous people’s knowledge of herbs.
From what has been discussed above, it could be argued that traditional skills and way of life are precious resource for mankind rather than worthless. Therefore, we should preserve traditional skills and way of life as much as possible.
Idea Generation for this essay:
In agreement:
- When technological advancement takes places in a part of the world, the traditional skills and traditions often cease to exist as a result of this.
- Technological tools provide a quicker and more convenient way of doing a task and naturally people opt to take advantages of such technological tools.
- It is pointless in many cases to foster the traditional way of life and manual way of doing things when technological improvements could be embraced.
- Traditions not only lies on how a group of people earn their livelihood. It is much broader than that. So trying to preserve the old way of living life is somewhat whimsical while there are better ways of doing it.
- People used to live in the caves and with the advancement of knowledge and technology people moved to modern houses. Thus not adopting the technological advancement would be a foolish act for human.
- The modern technology and improvement in medicine have made it possible to treat many diseases that were fatal in the past. Would not we take advantages of such facilities instead of relying some primitive herbal treatment?
- Some traditions will never lost even if people adopt technology. For instance, China has become one of the most technologically advanced nation in the world and yet the ‘Martial Art’ that was originated 4000 years ago still remains as a part of their tradition.
Disagreement:
- Technology often kills the tradition and pride a nation has and we should try to preserve our most significant traditions no matter how dependent we become on technology.
- Technology has its own disadvantages and our complete dependency on technology might bring disaster in the upcoming future.
- Take distance learning as an example. With online learning methods, students can complete a degree or diploma courses staying at home. But the traditional teacher- student relationship should never be ceases. If we do so, we will regret someday. Technology can’t teach everything a teacher can and can’t replace the traditional class based learning!
- Technology can make things easier and quicker but it can never increase the personal bonding people have. Take email as an example, people still consider hand written letters more prominent as it gives the notion that people care.