This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of celebrities’ private lives from the real IELTS general training exam.
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IELTS Essay: Celebrities’ Private Lives
Some people feel that the private lives of celebrities should not be openly shared by the media.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Certain concerned parties today contend that celebrities’ private lives should not be publicized on social media. In my opinion, the general citizenry has the right to be aware of the lives of various public figures.
Some hold the opinion that each individual has an unalienable and basic right to privacy. If one’s idols are not engaging in illegal activity, there is no clear justification to publicize their personal lives to the public other than as a form of entertainment or gossip. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, it is common for the paparazzi to photograph them in public and report private details online. This is an invasion of privacy and may harm their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. The only injury in these cases is to the mental health of those being reported on in public forums with little cause.
On the one hand, celebrities have a social responsibility to set a good example for the general public. Modern media consumers, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are increasingly vulnerable to extreme views and the easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances and bad habits. For that reason, celebrities should regulate their personal behavior, including staying away from drug abuse, not espousing dangerous viewpoints, and focusing on socially beneficial actions. Social media can in this way serve as a “watchdog” for celebrities by reporting negative press, which will deter public figures from misbehaving.
In conclusion, I think celebrities should allow citizens to learn about their personal lives though social media, since fame is a privilege and they have a responsibility towards society at large. Citizens should only respect their privacy when it is a personal matter with little public relevance.
Analysis
1. Certain concerned parties today contend that celebrities’ private lives should not be publicized on social media. 2. In my opinion, the general citizenry has the right to be aware of the lives of various public figures.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Some hold the opinion that each individual has an unalienable and basic right to privacy. 2. If one’s idols are not engaging in illegal activity, there is no clear justification to publicize their personal lives to the public other than as a form of entertainment or gossip. 3. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, it is common for the paparazzi to photograph them in public and report private details online. 4. This is an invasion of privacy and may harm their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. 5. The only injury in these cases is to the mental health of those being reported on in public forums with little cause.
- 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.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. On the one hand, celebrities have a social responsibility to set a good example for the general public. 2. Modern media consumers, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are increasingly vulnerable to extreme views and the easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances and bad habits. 3. For that reason, celebrities should regulate their personal behavior, including staying away from drug abuse, not espousing dangerous viewpoints, and focusing on socially beneficial actions. 4. Social media can in this way serve as a “watchdog” for celebrities by reporting negative press, which will deter public figures from misbehaving.
- 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.
1. In conclusion, I think celebrities should allow citizens to learn about their personal lives though social media, since fame is a privilege and they have a responsibility towards society at large. 2. Citizens should only respect their privacy when it is a personal matter with little public relevance.
- 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.
Certain concerned parties today contend that celebrities’ private lives should not be publicized on social media. In my opinion, the general citizenry has the right to be aware of the lives of various public figures.
Some hold the opinion that each individual has an unalienable and basic right to privacy. If one’s idols are not engaging in illegal activity, there is no clear justification to publicize their personal lives to the public other than as a form of entertainment or gossip. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, it is common for the paparazzi to photograph them in public and report private details online. This is an invasion of privacy and may harm their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. The only injury in these cases is to the mental health of those being reported on in public forums with little cause.
On the one hand, celebrities have a social responsibility to set a good example for the general public. Modern media consumers, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are increasingly vulnerable to extreme views and the easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances and bad habits. For that reason, celebrities should regulate their personal behavior, including staying away from drug abuse, not espousing dangerous viewpoints, and focusing on socially beneficial actions. Social media can in this way serve as a “watchdog” for celebrities by reporting negative press, which will deter public figures from misbehaving.
In conclusion, I think celebrities should allow citizens to learn about their personal lives though social media, since fame is a privilege and they have a responsibility towards society at large. Citizens should only respect their privacy when it is a personal matter with little public relevance.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
Certain concerned parties today contend that some people now argue
private lives personal life
publicized on social media posted online
general citizenry people, society
right to be aware of basic ability to know about
public figures famous people
hold the opinion argue that
unalienable can’t be taken away
basic right to privacy fundamental privilege to not be in the public
engaging in illegal activity committing crimes
no clear justification no real reason for it
publicize make public
public other than as a form of known to all besides as a way to
gossip rumors
it is common for it happens a lot that
paparazzi people who photograph celebrities
in public in the world, not private
report private details online publish about personal life on the internet
invasion of privacy abuse of privacy rights
harm hurt
injury in these cases harm in these situations
mental health how you feel
reported on in public forums with little cause put online for no good reason
social responsibility duty to society
set a good example for the general public be role models
Modern media consumers people online today
increasingly vulnerable weaker and weaker
extreme views controversial opinions
easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances take on bad opinions quickly
bad habits bad behaviors
regulate their personal behavior control their actions
staying away from drug abuse not doing drugs
not espousing dangerous viewpoints not saying crazy things
focusing on socially beneficial actions working for the public good
in this way serve as therefore are
watchdog groups that watch society
reporting negative press publishing bad stories
deter public figures from misbehaving scare them from acting badly
allow citizens permit people
fame well-known
privilege right
have a responsibility towards society at large accountable for the good of all
respect their privacy care about their privacy rights
personal matter with little public relevance no public reason to consider it important
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈsɜːtᵊn kənˈsɜːnd ˈpɑːtiz təˈdeɪ kənˈtɛnd ðæt
ˈpraɪvət lɪvz
ˈpʌblɪsaɪzd ɒn ˈsəʊʃᵊl ˈmiːdiə
ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊl ˈsɪtɪznri
raɪt tuː biː əˈweər ɒv
ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪɡəz
həʊld ði əˈpɪnjən
ˌʌnˈeɪliənəbᵊl
ˈbeɪsɪk raɪt tuː ˈprɪvəsi
ɪnˈɡeɪʤɪŋ ɪn ɪˈliːɡᵊl ækˈtɪvəti
nəʊ klɪə ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃᵊn
ˈpʌblɪsaɪz
ˈpʌblɪk ˈʌðə ðæn æz ə fɔːm ɒv
ˈɡɒsɪp
ɪt ɪz ˈkɒmən fɔː
ˌpæpᵊˈrætsi
ɪn ˈpʌblɪk
rɪˈpɔːt ˈpraɪvət ˈdiːteɪlz ˈɒnˌlaɪn
ɪnˈveɪʒᵊn ɒv ˈprɪvəsi
hɑːm
ˈɪnʤᵊri ɪn ðiːz ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈmɛntᵊl hɛlθ
rɪˈpɔːtɪd ɒn ɪn ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɔːrəmz wɪð ˈlɪtᵊl kɔːz
ˈsəʊʃᵊl rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti
sɛt ə ɡʊd ɪɡˈzɑːmpᵊl fɔː ðə ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊl ˈpʌblɪk
ˈmɒdᵊn ˈmiːdiə kənˈsjuːməz
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈvʌlnᵊrəbᵊl
ɪkˈstriːm vjuːz
ˈiːzi ɒv əˈdɒpʃᵊn ɒv ˈθɔːtləs pəˈlɪtɪkᵊl ˈstɑːnsɪz
bæd ˈhæbɪts
ˈrɛɡjəleɪt ðeə ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl bɪˈheɪvjə
ˈsteɪɪŋ əˈweɪ frɒm drʌɡ əˈbjuːs
nɒt ɪsˈpaʊzɪŋ ˈdeɪnʤᵊrəs ˈvjuːpɔɪnts
ˈfəʊkəsɪŋ ɒn ˈsəʊʃᵊli ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃᵊl ˈækʃᵊnz
ɪn ðɪs weɪ sɜːv æz
ˈwɒʧdɒɡ
rɪˈpɔːtɪŋ ˈnɛɡətɪv prɛs
dɪˈtɜː ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪɡəz frɒm ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvɪŋ
əˈlaʊ ˈsɪtɪzᵊnz
feɪm
ˈprɪvɪlɪʤ
hæv ə rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti təˈwɔːdz səˈsaɪəti æt lɑːʤ
rɪˈspɛkt ðeə ˈprɪvəsi
ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈmætə wɪð ˈlɪtᵊl ˈpʌblɪk ˈrɛləvᵊns
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
C______________________________________________________t celebrities’ p_________s should not be p__________________________________________a. In my opinion, the g____________________y has the r__________________f the lives of various p________________s.
Some h____________n that each individual has an u___________e and b________________________y. If one’s idols are not e_________________________y, there is n_________________________n to p__________e their personal lives to the p____________________________________f entertainment or g________p. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, i___________________r the p___________i to photograph them i________c and r__________________________e. This is an i_____________________y and may h___m their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. The only i_____________________s is to the m_________________h of those being r____________________________________________e.
On the one hand, celebrities have a s_______________________y to s_______________________________________c. M_____________________s, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are i___________________________e to e____________s and the e_________________________________________s and b____________s. For that reason, celebrities should r___________________________________r, including s__________________________________________e, n_________________________________s, and f____________________________________s. Social media can i____________________s a “w__________g” for celebrities by r_____________________s, which will d____________________________________g.
In conclusion, I think celebrities should a_____________s to learn about their personal lives though social media, since f___e is a p______e and they h__________________________________________________________e. Citizens should only r________________________y when it is a p__________________________________________e.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztal4457dZU&pp=ygUQY2VsZWJyaXR5IGdvc3NpcA%3D%3D
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Celebrities
- Do you know any celebrities?
- Which celebrity do you know the most about?
- Are there are any celebrities you would like to meet?
- Who is the most famous person in your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:
Film stars and celebrities often share their views on public matters that have little to do with their profession.
Is this a positive or negative development?
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