IELTS Essay: Good Citizens
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of good citizens, school, and individuals from the real exam.
IELTS Essay: Good Citizens
Some people think the main purpose of school is to turn children into good citizens and workers, rather than to benefit them as individuals.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many are of the opinion that the primary role of schools is to create good citizens, instead of simply working towards individual betterment. In my opinion, schools should aim to elevate the individual, not impose conformity.
Those is favor of this statement argue the value of a well-functioning society. As the world develops and there are advances in medicine, safety, working conditions, and so on it is easy to forget that this level of comfort requires sacrifices for the common good. Individuals must work at companies to stimulate the economy and the public must have a basic sense of community in order to live peaceably with one’s neighbors. School is where this education can begin. Teachers can explicitly and implicitly guide students to socially beneficial behaviors and educate them well enough to establish a viable future career.
However, I would argue that focusing on the individual will accomplish the goals detailed above but also be mentally healthier. Students who are taught to share, work well in teams, and develop their talents will contribute to society as a byproduct of pursuing their own seemingly selfish interests. Moreover, there may be times when the focus on society will come at the cost of the mental health of individuals. For instance, students who are taught to withhold their personal viewpoints in school, as is common in many authoritarian nations, may harbor resentment and not feel they can fully express themselves in a free environment. Psychological research has shown that the key to healthy growth is feeling safe to express oneself without fear of reprisals and repercussions.
In conclusion, although there is a valid argument in favor of social stability, schools should aim to produce healthy, industrious individuals. Naturally, these goals are not mutually exclusive and the overlap should be emphasized.
Analysis
1. Many are of the opinion that the primary role of schools is to create good citizens, instead of simply working towards individual betterment. 2. In my opinion, schools should aim to elevate the individual, not impose conformity.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those is favor of this statement argue the value of a well-functioning society. 2. As the world develops and there are advances in medicine, safety, working conditions, and so on it is easy to forget that this level of comfort requires sacrifices for the common good. 3. Individuals must work at companies to stimulate the economy and the public must have a basic sense of community in order to live peaceably with one’s neighbors. 4. School is where this education can begin. 5. Teachers can explicitly and implicitly guide students to socially beneficial behaviors and educate them well enough to establish a viable future career.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Vary long and short sentences.
1. However, I would argue that focusing on the individual will accomplish the goals detailed above but also be mentally healthier. 2. Students who are taught to share, work well in teams, and develop their talents will contribute to society as a byproduct of pursuing their own seemingly selfish interests. 3. Moreover, there may be times when the focus on society will come at the cost of the mental health of individuals. 4. For instance, students who are taught to withhold their personal viewpoints in school, as is common in many authoritarian nations, may harbor resentment and not feel they can fully express themselves in a free environment. 5. Psychological research has shown that the key to healthy growth is feeling safe to express oneself without fear of reprisals and repercussions.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
1. In conclusion, although there is a valid argument in favor of social stability, schools should aim to produce healthy, industrious individuals. 2. Naturally, these goals are not mutually exclusive and the overlap should be emphasized.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many are of the opinion that the primary role of schools is to create good citizens, instead of simply working towards individual betterment. In my opinion, schools should aim to elevate the individual, not impose conformity.
Those is favor of this statement argue the value of a well-functioning society. As the world develops and there are advances in medicine, safety, working conditions, and so on it is easy to forget that this level of comfort requires sacrifices for the common good. Individuals must work at companies to stimulate the economy and the public must have a basic sense of community in order to live peaceably with one’s neighbors. School is where this education can begin. Teachers can explicitly and implicitly guide students to socially beneficial behaviors and educate them well enough to establish a viable future career.
However, I would argue that focusing on the individual will accomplish the goals detailed above but also be mentally healthier. Students who are taught to share, work well in teams, and develop their talents will contribute to society as a byproduct of pursuing their own seemingly selfish interests. Moreover, there may be times when the focus on society will come at the cost of the mental health of individuals. For instance, students who are taught to withhold their personal viewpoints in school, as is common in many authoritarian nations, may harbor resentment and not feel they can fully express themselves in a free environment. Psychological research has shown that the key to healthy growth is feeling safe to express oneself without fear of reprisals and repercussions.
In conclusion, although there is a valid argument in favor of social stability, schools should aim to produce healthy, industrious individuals. Naturally, these goals are not mutually exclusive and the overlap should be emphasized.
Answers
Many are of the opinion that some think
primary role main responsibility
good citizens productive members of society
instead of rather than
working towards individual betterment making one’s own life better
aim goal
elevate raise
individual one person
impose conformity make everyone the same, fit in
Those is favor of this statement argue supporters say
value importance
well-functioning society healthy public
advances in developments in
medicine hospitals and doctors, etc.
working conditions labor and how safe it is to work
easy to forget many don’t remember
level of comfort how convenient it is
requires needs
sacrifices having to give up on
common good for the good of all
stimulate the economy help people make money
basic sense of community fundamental feeling of togetherness
in order to so that
peaceably in a peaceful way
explicitly overtly
implicitly guide not overtly show
socially beneficial behaviors good for all
establish create
viable future career good future profession
however yet
focusing emphasizing
accomplish finish
goals detailed above aims mentioned before
mentally healthier not stressed, feeling good
talents abilities
contribute add to
byproduct result of
pursuing following
seemingly selfish interests appears to be just for them
focus on care about
come at the cost of at the expense of
withhold keep back
personal viewpoints individual opinions
as is common in like where this happens a lot
authoritarian nations countries with strong governments
harbor resentment feel angry about
fully express say what you want
free environment open society
psychological research studies about the mind
key crucial part
feeling safe to don’t feel afraid to
express oneself say and do what you want
without fear of not concerned about
reprisals and repercussions consequences
valid argument good points
in favor of supporting
social stability no unrest in society
industrious productive
naturally of course
not mutually exclusive both can be achieved
overlap true for both, in common
emphasized focused on
Pronunciation
ˈmɛni ɑːr ɒv ði əˈpɪnjən ðæt
ˈpraɪməri rəʊl
gʊd ˈsɪtɪznz
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv
ˈwɜːkɪŋ təˈwɔːdz ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˈbɛtəmənt
eɪm
ˈɛlɪveɪt
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl
ɪmˈpəʊz kənˈfɔːmɪti
ðəʊz ɪz ˈfeɪvər ɒv ðɪs ˈsteɪtmənt ˈɑːgjuː
ˈvæljuː
wɛl-ˈfʌŋkʃənɪŋ səˈsaɪəti
ədˈvɑːnsɪz ɪn
ˈmɛdsɪn
ˈwɜːkɪŋ kənˈdɪʃənz
ˈiːzi tuː fəˈgɛt
ˈlɛvl ɒv ˈkʌmfət
rɪˈkwaɪəz
ˈsækrɪfaɪsɪz
ˈkɒmən gʊd
ˈstɪmjʊleɪt ði i(ː)ˈkɒnəmi
ˈbeɪsɪk sɛns ɒv kəˈmjuːnɪti
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː
ˈpiːsəbli
ɪksˈplɪsɪtli
ɪmˈplɪsɪtli gaɪd
ˈsəʊʃəli ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl bɪˈheɪvjəz
ɪsˈtæblɪʃ
ˈvaɪəbl ˈfjuːʧə kəˈrɪə
haʊˈɛvə
ˈfəʊkəsɪŋ
əˈkɒmplɪʃ
gəʊlz ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv
ˈmɛntəli ˈhɛlθɪə
ˈtælənts
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
ˈbaɪˌprɒdʌkt
pəˈsjuːɪŋ
ˈsiːmɪŋli ˈsɛlfɪʃ ˈɪntrɪsts
ˈfəʊkəs ɒn
kʌm æt ðə kɒst ɒv
wɪðˈhəʊld
ˈpɜːsnl ˈvjuːpɔɪnts
æz ɪz ˈkɒmən ɪn
ɔːˌθɒrɪˈteərɪən ˈneɪʃənz
ˈhɑːbə rɪˈzɛntmənt
ˈfʊli ɪksˈprɛs
friː ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl rɪˈsɜːʧ
kiː
ˈfiːlɪŋ seɪf tuː
ɪksˈprɛs wʌnˈsɛlf
wɪˈðaʊt fɪər ɒv
rɪˈpraɪzəlz ænd ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃənz
ˈvælɪd ˈɑːgjʊmənt
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˈsəʊʃəl stəˈbɪlɪti
ɪnˈdʌstrɪəs
ˈnæʧrəli
nɒt ˈmjuːtjʊəli ɪksˈkluːsɪv
ˌəʊvəˈlæp
ˈɛmfəsaɪzd
Vocabulary Practice
M__________________________t the p_____________e of schools is to create g________________s, i_____________f simply wo____________________________________t. In my opinion, schools should a___m to e_________e the i____________l, not i_____________y.
T_____________________________e the v_______e of a w____________________y. As the world develops and there are a________________________e, safety, w______________________s, and so on it is e_________________t that this l________________t r______________________s for the c__________________d. Individuals must work at companies to s________________y and the public must have a b_____________f c____________y i__________o live p________y with one’s neighbors. School is where this education can begin. Teachers can e___________y and i___________y g______e students to s______________________s and educate them well enough to e___________h a v___________________r.
H________r, I would argue that f_______g on the individual will a__________h the g________________e but also be m_________________r. Students who are taught to share, work well in teams, and develop their t_______s will c___________e to society as a b_____________t of p____________g their own s_________________________s. Moreover, there may be times when the f__________n society will c________________f the mental health of individuals. For instance, students who are taught to w____________d their p___________________s in school, a_________________n many a____________________s, may h_________________t and not feel they can f_______________s themselves in a f________________t. P____________________h has shown that the k___y to healthy growth is f______________________________f w_______________f r___________________________s.
In conclusion, although there is a v_________________t i________________f s___________________y, schools should aim to produce healthy, i_____________s individuals. N____________y, these goals are n____________________e and the o________p should be e_____________d.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/16/mindfulness-lessons-child-mental-health
Speaking Practice
School
- Did you like your school when you were a child?
- What did you learn about?
- Did you have a favorite teacher?
- Are there many rules in schools in your country?
Writing Practice
Some people believe the purpose of education should be helping the individual to become useful for society, while others believe it should help individuals to achieve their ambitions.
Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
