I tried some interesting ideas in this essay – in fact, they aren’t my ideas but they were reported by one of my students.
It’s a good challenge to try writing an essay with someone else’s idea – keeps things interesting!
Dave
IELTS Essay: Criminals Reoffending
Recent research suggests that the majority of criminals who are sent to prison commit crimes after they are released.
Why is this the case?
What can be done to solve this problem?
Historically, most people who were incarcerated commit crimes again after being released from prison. In my opinion, this is related to economics and psychology and the chief solutions are governmental.
The causes of high recidivism rates are identical to the original explanations for the crimes in question. The vast majority of criminal activity can be traced back to poverty. Individuals who are wealthy enough to afford a good standard of living rarely have a motive for crime. However, those who lack financial means to live a decent life are more likely to commit crimes and this is exacerbated for past criminals who struggle to apply successfully for work with a past offense on their permanent record. Moreover, there are psychological reasons that may also persist. Many criminals had difficult upbringings and do not have access to trained therapists who can help them work through their issues. These causes combined are the reason that prison often fails to rehabilitate inmates.
The ideal solutions should be enacted by the authorities. Firstly, governments must make consistent efforts to ensure released convicts can support themselves financially. This might involve small stipends to help prisoners adjust but the focus should be on education. An individual who has earned a high school or university degree or learned a skilled trade has little reason to commit crime after being set free. Secondly, governments could overhaul rehabilitation methodologies. Though society is becoming increasingly secular, there is research that suggests recidivism rates are considerably lower if a prisoner has faith in a religion. Concern for one’s immortal soul is a powerful incentive for ethical behavior.
In conclusion, many criminals reoffend due to economic and psychological reasons and governments must take decisive action to counter this pattern. Looking at successful models in other countries is also advisable.
Analysis
1. Historically, most people who were incarcerated commit crimes again after being released from prison. 2. In my opinion, this is related to economics and psychology and the chief solutions are governmental.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The causes of high recidivism rates are identical to the original explanations for the crimes in question. 2. The vast majority of criminal activity can be traced back to poverty. 3. Individuals who are wealthy enough to afford a good standard of living rarely have a motive for crime. 4. However, those who lack financial means to live a decent life are more likely to commit crimes and this is exacerbated for past criminals who struggle to apply successfully for work with a past offense on their permanent record. 5. Moreover, there are psychological reasons that may also persist. 6. Many criminals had difficult upbringings and do not have access to trained therapists who can help them work through their issues. 7. These causes combined are the reason that prison often fails to rehabilitate inmates.
- 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.
- Add more deatil.
- Include some long and complex sentences.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. The ideal solutions should be enacted by the authorities. 2. Firstly, governments must make consistent efforts to ensure released convicts can support themselves financially. 3. This might involve small stipends to help prisoners adjust but the focus should be on education. 4. An individual who has earned a high school or university degree or learned a skilled trade has little reason to commit crime after being set free. 5. Secondly, governments could overhaul rehabilitation methodologies. 6. Though society is becoming increasingly secular, there is research that suggests recidivism rates are considerably lower if a prisoner has faith in a religion. 7. Concern for one’s immortal soul is a powerful incentive for ethical behavior.
- 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.
- If you have a second idea, be sure it is also developed.
- And the ending is powerful.
1. In conclusion, many criminals reoffend due to economic and psychological reasons and governments must take decisive action to counter this pattern. 2. Looking at successful models in other countries is also advisable.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Historically, most people who were incarcerated commit crimes again after being released from prison. In my opinion, this is related to economics and psychology and the chief solutions are governmental.
The causes of high recidivism rates are identical to the original explanations for the crimes in question. The vast majority of criminal activity can be traced back to poverty. Individuals who are wealthy enough to afford a good standard of living rarely have a motive for crime. However, those who lack financial means to live a decent life are more likely to commit crimes and this is exacerbated for past criminals who struggle to apply successfully for work with a past offense on their permanent record. Moreover, there are psychological reasons that may also persist. Many criminals had difficult upbringings and do not have access to trained therapists who can help them work through their issues. These causes combined are the reason that prison often fails to rehabilitate inmates.
The ideal solutions should be enacted by the authorities. Firstly, governments must make consistent efforts to ensure released convicts can support themselves financially. This might involve small stipends to help prisoners adjust but the focus should be on education. An individual who has earned a high school or university degree or learned a skilled trade has little reason to commit crime after being set free. Secondly, governments could overhaul rehabilitation methodologies. Though society is becoming increasingly secular, there is research that suggests recidivism rates are considerably lower if a prisoner has faith in a religion. Concern for one’s immortal soul is a powerful incentive for ethical behavior.
In conclusion, many criminals reoffend due to economic and psychological reasons and governments must take decisive action to counter this pattern. Looking at successful models in other countries is also advisable.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
historically in the past
incarcerated in prison
commit crimes do a crime
released let out
prison jail
related concerning
economics finance
psychology study of the mind
chief solutions main remedies
governmental authorities
causes sources
high recidivism rates going back to prison a lot
identical the same
original explanations first causes
in question written about here
vast majority most of
criminal activity committing crimes
traced back goes back to
poverty being poor
wealthy enough having money
afford can buy
good standard of living nice living standards
rarely not often
motive incentive
lack financial means not enough money
live a decent life have a good life
exacerbated made worse
struggle fighting
apply successfully get the job
past offense crime committed before
permanent record always on your official documents
moreover furthermore
psychological reasons mental reasons
persist continue
difficult upbringings bad childhood
access get into
trained therapists psychologists
work through figure out
issues problems
combined put together
rehabilitate inmates make prisoners reform
ideal perfect
enacted by made into law
authorities people in charge
consistent efforts keep trying
ensure released convicts make sure people who get out of prison
support themselves financially be able to live on their own
small stipends a little bit of money
adjust adapt
focus concentrate
education schooling
earned made
skilled trade professional job
little reason not much cause
set free allowed out of jail
overhaul rehabilitation methodologies completely change the way prisoners are fixed
increasingly secular less religious
suggests shows
considerably lower much less
faith believing in god
religion Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.
concern care
immortal soul what lives after you die
incentive reasons
ethical behavior moral actions
take decisive action take steps
counter work against
pattern trend
successful models good examples
advisable recommended
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəli
ɪnˈkɑːsəreɪtɪd
kəˈmɪt kraɪmz
rɪˈliːst
ˈprɪzn
rɪˈleɪtɪd
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks
saɪˈkɒləʤi
ʧiːf səˈluːʃənz
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl
ˈkɔːzɪz
haɪ rɪˈsɪdɪvɪzm reɪts
aɪˈdɛntɪkəl
əˈrɪʤənl ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃənz
ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈkrɪmɪnl ækˈtɪvɪti
treɪst bæk
ˈpɒvəti
ˈwɛlθi ɪˈnʌf
əˈfɔːd
gʊd ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˈreəli
ˈməʊtɪv
læk faɪˈnænʃəl miːnz
lɪv ə ˈdiːsnt laɪf
ɛksˈæsə(ː)beɪtɪd
ˈstrʌgl
əˈplaɪ səkˈsɛsfʊli
pɑːst əˈfɛns
ˈpɜːmənənt ˈrɛkɔːd
mɔːˈrəʊvə
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈriːznz
pəˈsɪst
ˈdɪfɪkəlt ˈʌpˌbrɪŋɪŋz
ˈæksɛs
treɪnd ˈθɛrəpɪsts
wɜːk θruː
ˈɪʃuːz
kəmˈbaɪnd
ˌriːəˈbɪlɪteɪt ˈɪnmeɪts
aɪˈdɪəl
ɪˈnæktɪd baɪ
ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz
kənˈsɪstənt ˈɛfəts
ɪnˈʃʊə rɪˈliːst ˈkɒnvɪkts
səˈpɔːt ðəmˈsɛlvz faɪˈnænʃəli
smɔːl ˈstaɪpɛndz
əˈʤʌst
ˈfəʊkəs
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
ɜːnd
skɪld treɪd
ˈlɪtl ˈriːzn
sɛt friː
ˈəʊvəhɔːl ˌriːəˌbɪlɪˈteɪʃən ˌmɛθəˈdɒləʤiz
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈsɛkjʊlə
səˈʤɛsts
kənˈsɪdərəbli ˈləʊə
feɪθ
rɪˈlɪʤən
kənˈsɜːn
ɪˈmɔːtl səʊl
ɪnˈsɛntɪv
ˈɛθɪkəl bɪˈheɪvjə
teɪk dɪˈsaɪsɪv ˈækʃ(ə)n
ˈkaʊntə
ˈpætən
səkˈsɛsfʊl ˈmɒdlz
ədˈvaɪzəbl
Vocabulary Practice
H______________y, most people who were i________________d c____________________s again after being r____________d from p________n. In my opinion, this is r_________d to e_____________s and p_____________y and the c_________________s are g_________________l.
The c__________s of h_____________________s are i_____________l to the o_________________s for the crimes i________________n. The v______________y of c__________________y can be t____________k to p___________y. Individuals who are w______________h to a__________d a g_____________________________g r__________y have a m________e for crime. However, those who l_________________________s to l________________e are more likely to commit crimes and this is e______________d for past criminals who s___________e to a___________________y for work with a p________________e on their p__________________d. M____________r, there are p_______________________s that may also p__________t. Many criminals had d__________________________s and do not have a________s to t___________________s who can help them w_____________________h their i__________s. These causes c_____________d are the reason that prison often fails to r______________________s.
The i________l solutions should be e_______________y the a_____________s. Firstly, governments must make c_________________s to e________________________s can s________________________________y. This might involve s_________________s to help prisoners a__________t but the f________s should be on e____________n. An individual who has e_________d a high school or university degree or learned a s_____________e has l________________n to commit crime after being s__________e. Secondly, governments could o_____________________________________s. Though society is becoming i______________________r, there is research that s_____________s recidivism rates are c____________________r if a prisoner has f_______h in a r__________n. C_______n for one’s i___________________l is a powerful i______________e for e__________________r.
In conclusion, many criminals reoffend due to economic and psychological reasons and governments must t______________________n to c_________r this p________n. Looking at s_______________________s in other countries is also a____________e.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Crime
- Why do people commit crimes?
- How can criminals be rehabilitated?
- What is the purpose of punishment?
- Are punishment and revenge the same?
- Will crime become less common in the future?
Writing Practice
Watching TV shows and movies about crime is becoming more and more popular.
Why is this?
What effect does that have on society?
outstandingI find it very useful and informative.I am fond of such essays.
my thanks
You’re welcome, Azeddine!
Sir, can we use the phrase “moot point” in essay task 2 or is it informal?
It’s a little bit too informal, Samaira – great for speaking though!
Noted with thanks.
Hello sir, could you please provide sample answer for following topic? some experts on safety says that there should a test for riding cycles in public place. Do you Agree or disagree ?
Some people think that cyclists should pass the test to be allowed to ride on public roads. Is it a negative or positive development? It is one of the recent topics. Could you please provide a sample answer for this?
Hey Dave, I had read this same essay on another website. However, they gave it a band 5.5. Initially when I read it and now also I still feel the ideas are well presented in this essay. Is the marking system for writing subjective and can vary from one person to another? How much do you think most IELTS examiners would score this essay? I would have thought this essay should have been given an 8 (or above 7) band.
Thanks for the question – which website was that?
I know a lot of sites use automated software to do that and the grades are basically nonsense.
There is a subejctive element – but it should be very small and good examiners are basically going to give the same marks.
But… some examiners don’t do their best to be objective and that can make it more subjective than it should be.
So it’s more an issue of professionalism than subjectivity from my personal experience.
All my essays are band 9.
Thank you! The other website where I saw this essay is writing9.com.
Yeah, that site is unreliable in my experience because it is just a computer program marking them.
I asked them to take my essays down, but they didn’t as well…