WRITING Task 2 Topic List (Academic and GT Modules)
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
1. Some employers reward members of staff for their excellent contribution to the company by giving them extra money. This practice can act as an incentive for some but may also have a negative impact on others. How far do you agree or disagree with the statement?
2. It is generally believed that some people are born with certain talents, for instance, for sports or music, and others are not. However, it is sometimes claimed that any child can be taught to become a good sports person or musician? Discuss both the views and give your opinion.
3. Action movies with spectacular car chases are getting popularity these days. It is often said that such movies often lead to an incredible increase in accidents. Do you agree that these movies are responsible for bad driving? What can be done to encourage the young drivers to drive more safely?
4. Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment. Discuss both the views and give your opinion.
5. As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of wellbeing. What factors contribute to job satisfaction? How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers?
6. Some people believe that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful for an employer. What in your opinion should be the main function of a university?
7. Universities should accept equal numbers of male and female students in every subject. Do you agree or disagree?
8. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of any three of the following as media for communicating information. State which do you think is considered to be most effective: comics, books, radio, television, film, and theatre.
9. Creative artists should always be given freedom to express their own ideas (in words, pictures, music or film) in whichever way they wish. There should be no government restrictions on what they do. To what extent do you agree or disagree.
10. Technology is making communication easier in today’s world but at the expense of personal contact, as many people choose to work at home sitting in front of their computer screens. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?
11. Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or should they be re-educated and re-habilitated before they are reintroduced to the society. Do you agree or disagree?
12. Most countries offer two education systems from which parents can select the form of schooling which best suits their children. Compare and contrast the state-run and privately-owned schools in your country.
13. The percentage of overweight children in western societies has increased by almost 20% in the last ten years. Discuss the possible causes and effects of this disturbing trend and offer a solution.
14. Today, the media portrays young people as lazy and disrespectful. Do you think it is true? Are young people, today, worse than their elders? Or is it just a point of criticism on the youth?
- Some people think that governments should spend as much money as possible on developing or buying computer technology. Other people disagree and think that this money should be spent on more basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
- Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
17. The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. Discuss possible ways to encourage the use of public transport.
- Examination is the only criterion to judge students abilities. Institutions insist that without examination it is difficult to
judge a students proficiency in any field. Do you agree or disagree. Give reasons to support your answer.
19. Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
20. Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and should concentrate more on patients’ health, no matter how rich they are?
- Children should be introduced to computers at a very early age. Do you agree or disagree with it? Give reasons to support your answer.
22. Too much attention is paid to and too much money is spent on keeping pets. Some people say that this money should be spent on the people who are starving. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
23. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in a foreign country.
24. Today, the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
25. Some people believe that visitors to other countries should follow the local customs and behavior. Others disagree and think that the host country should welcome cultural differences. What do you think?
26. Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both the views and give your opinion.
27. Buying fashionable clothes is wasteful because people don’t need new clothes all the time. Clothing should be bought and used more wisely. Do you agree?
28. It seems that many countries today are becoming much more concerned with profit than with the happiness of their workers. How could companies take care of their workers in future?
29. Some people say that friends are more important than family in today’s world; others say that family is always more important. Write in support of any one of these two views.
- In the future, students may have the choice of studying at home by using technology such as computers or television or of studying at traditional schools. Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice.
- Popular events like the football world cup and other international sporting events are essential in easing international tensions and releasing patriotic emotions in the safe way. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion.
- Some people view ‘conflict’ between teenagers and parents as a necessary part of growth, while others view it something negative that must be avoided. What do you think?
- Although modern life has brought with it improvements in people’s standard of living, people are not generally happy with their lives. Do you agree or disagree?
- Most schools offer some type of physical education program to their students. Why is physical education important? Should physical education classes be compulsory or optional?
- More and more people are relying on the Internet as their major source of news and information. What advantages does the Internet have for the average person? What disadvantages could it have now or in the future?
- In the past, sporting champions used to be motivated primarily by the desire to win a match or to break world records. These days they are more likely to be motivated by the prize money and the opportunity to be famous. What message does this send to the young people and how does this attitude affect the sports themselves?
- ‘Failure is proof that the desire wasn’t strong enough’ Use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your argument with examples and relevant experience.
38. Has modern technology made life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler?
LAST UPDATED: 29 October,2010
SAMPLE ESSAYS
Spending on Art
Art is a basic human need. Governments have a responsibility to spend money on art for their citizens.Throughout the ages, man has tried to create beauty through painting, music, sculpture and other artistic expression. It seems to be a basic need of humans to surround themselves with art. However some people feel that government’s money spent on art is wasted, particularly when there are so many other demands on it. This essay will examine the conflict between those who say art is important and those who feel it is a waste of money.
It can be wrong for governments to spend large sums of money on art. Too often, governments spend unwisely. They spend money on art not because a picture is good or a museum is needed, but for political reasons. Cities end up with huge statues or empty expensive buildings that are used only by a few people or the elite. Another point is that the artworks are often chosen to represent social or political rather than artistic ideas. The city gets yet another statue of the leader or an ugly monument to national aspirations. A third point is that governments often respond to fashions, and tastes in art can change very rapidly. Without careful advice an expensive collection of worthless paintings or tasteless productions can be the result.
However, it would be wrong to say that governments should not spend any money at all on art. Painters, musicians, and composers cannot survive without financial support. Rich people or large companies do finance art, but then it is often inaccessible to ordinary people. Governments have a duty to make this art available to everyone. However, the most important reason why governments should support the arts is because an appreciation of art is one of the things that makes life worthwhile. Humans do not need just shelter and food. Creative people have always tried to look at things in a new way and to make the world a better place through painting, music, poetry, calligraphy, sculpture, dance, and numerous other forms of expression. While art may not make us immortal, it does make the world a richer place for future generations.
In conclusion, although people do need to be provided with the necessities of life, such as housing and medical care, governments also have a duty to provide their citizens with something more. They should make sure that they pass on beauty, ideas and expression to the next generation and make art available to all instead of being the possession of only the few. I firmly believe that spending money on art is a vital part of a government's responsibility, and I am confident that my country will be able to contribute its share to the richness of the world's art and creativity.
447 words
Security Cameras and Privacy
Does the individual have a right to privacy?Security cameras have become ubiquitous in many countries. Whereas before they appeared only in banks and at high-security areas, they are now entering public places such as malls, streets, stadiums and transport. Many people feel this affects their privacy. This essay will examine whether the advantages of these cameras outweigh their negative impact.
Surveillance cameras have several benefits. An obvious benefit is that the police can catch criminals in the act, thus reducing crime. This will make the streets safer for ordinary people. A more important point is that criminals, particularly young offenders or petty criminals will be deterred. They will not be tempted to carry out crimes, and thus society will be a lot safer. Cameras are also cost-effective and unobtrusive. Authorities do not need to spend large amounts of money on police.
However, security cameras are far from being a perfect solution. The biggest objection concerns privacy. Many people feel that they should be free to travel or move around a shop, mall, street or country without being photographed or recorded. They feel that being watched constantly is like being in a jail, and that ordinary people are losing their freedom because of these devices. Another point is that although the police say that only criminals have something to fear from the cameras, many people do not trust governments with too much information. Corrupt authorities could use information in the wrong way or twist it to victimize some groups. Thirdly, cameras and computers can make mistakes.
In conclusion, although there are definite advantages to using surveillance devices such as cameras, we need to balance the need for security with respect for the individual's privacy and freedom. If we do not trust the members of society, a situation like George Orwell's "1984" could be the result.
297 words
Animal Testing
Advantages of Animal Testing in Medical ResearchMedical research involving animals has dramatically improved the health of the human race. Without animal testing, the cure for polio would not exist and diabetics would suffer or die from their disease. Despite these benefits, some people believe that animals should be not be used for testing medical techniques and drugs. This essay will outline the advantages of animal testing.
Animal testing allows scientists to test and create new drugs. Animals such as monkeys or rabbits have similar physical processes to humans. This allows scientists to test the effects of certain drugs. If a drug produces adverse effects in animals it is probably unfit for human use.
Animal testing is cheap. There is a large supply of animals for medical research. Animals are easily bred, and maintained safely in controlled labs. The costs of testing in humans would be extremely high.
Many people argue that animal testing is cruel. In some cases this is true. However it would be much more cruel to test new drugs on people or children, or to let people die because there was not enough information about a drug. Furthermore, legislation in most countries sets standards for animal treatment, and laboratories have guidelines to prevent cruelty.
Opponents of animal research also say that information from animals does not apply to humans. They point to certain commercial drugs which have been withdrawn because of side-effects in humans While it is true that animal systems differ from human systems, there are enough similarities to apply information from animals to humans.
Animal rights campaigners claim that we don’t need new tests because we already have vast amounts of information. However, many new deadly infections appear every year and new treatments and drugs are needed to combat these deadly plagues.
Animal testing is needed in the world we live in. Our responsibility is to manage the animals in our care and balance their suffering against the good that comes from them.
321 words
Should rich countries help poorer ones?
Today, the world is becoming more and more closely linked. Trade has increased and the movement of people between countries is greater than ever before. However, billions of people still live in poverty, and in many places, the gap between rich and poor is widening. This essay will look at the arguments for and against helping poor countries.
There are many reasons for helping poor countries. First of all, there are humanitarian reasons. Like individuals who give to charity, many countries feel it is their religious, social, or moral duty to help people in other countries who are suffering from famine, drought, war, or disease. However, many rich countries also donate money for political or diplomatic reasons. They want to maintain a relationship of dependency with the recipient, or simply to influence the government and direction of the country. A further reason why many countries help poorer ones is for economic reasons. The donors may want to control the supply of commodities such as oil, water, or wheat. Alternatively, the richer country may want to ensure markets for their own products, whether these are planes, computers or shoes.
However, aid is not necessarily the best way to help a country. For one thing, billions of dollars of aid often goes missing, into corrupt governments or inefficient administration. A second point is that many foreign aid projects are unsuitable for the target country. Many agencies build huge dams or industrial projects that fail after a few years or that do not involve the local people. Furthermore, much aid returns to the donor. This can be in the form of expensive specialized equipment and experts from the donor country.
There are many other ways we can help poor countries. Opening up trade barriers, so that poor countries can sell their goods is one way. Another is to remove subsidies so that imported goods from poorer countries can compete fairly. A third method is to forgive debts. Many poor countries have huge interest repayments on old loans.
The needs of the poorer countries may seem obvious. However, although our humanity makes us want to help eliminate poverty and suffering, we must examine the real needs of poor countries and implement solutions that will benefit both them and us.
373 words
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