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?

It is common for famous figures with large platforms to share their viewpoints on various topics. In my opinion, though there is potential for abuse, it is a positive overall as they can contribute diverse perspectives.

Critics of the publicity celebrities receive for their comments argue they are not always well informed. There are experts in every field, ranging from politics and science to sports and the arts and yet stars in the entertainment world possess outsized platforms. For instance, many actors, athletes, and singers have become part of the anti-vaccination movement. The views of health experts and epidemiologists are often subordinated to celebrity comments more likely to generate online traffic and ratings. However, this argument is undermined by research showing that professionals are notoriously poor at making predictions concerning their own area of expertise.

Moreover, celebrities in film and music engender diversity. The entertainment world, relative to other professional spheres, is made up of a wide variety of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Most actors move to Hollywood from a different part of the world and then later become stars. In the music industry, listeners actively seek out new voices, styles, nationalities, and personalities. These individuals can then provide the average person an insightful glimpse into another part of society. The most recent example of this would be the awareness raised related to environmental issues by various singers and actors when they accept awards.

In conclusion, although there is risk that celebrities will be uninformed on a topic, their opinions are still important as they are typically candid, authentic, and diverse. In this era of inclusivity, it is important to value all viewpoints.

Analysis

1. It is common for famous figures with large platforms to share their viewpoints on various topics. 2. In my opinion, though there is potential for abuse, it is a positive overall as they can contribute diverse perspectives.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Critics of the publicity celebrities receive for their comments argue they are not always well informed. 2. There are experts in every field, ranging from politics and science to sports and the arts and yet stars in the entertainment world possess outsized platforms. 3. For instance, many actors, athletes, and singers have become part of the anti-vaccination movement. 4. The views of health experts and epidemiologists are often subordinated to celebrity comments more likely to generate online traffic and ratings. 5. However, this argument is undermined by research showing that professionals are notoriously poor at making predictions concerning their own area of expertise.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  4. Keep developing it fully.
  5. I end here by switching to the other side – the side I agree with.

1. Moreover, celebrities in film and music engender diversity. 2. The entertainment world, relative to other professional spheres, is made up of a wide variety of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. 3. Most actors move to Hollywood from a different part of the world and then later become stars. 4. In the music industry, listeners actively seek out new voices, styles, nationalities, and personalities. 5. These individuals can then provide the average person an insightful glimpse into another part of society. 6. The most recent example of this would be the awareness raised related to environmental issues by various singers and actors when they accept awards.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Include specific details and examples.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  5. Develop the example fully.
  6. Vary long and short sentences.

1. In conclusion, although there is risk that celebrities will be uninformed on a topic, their opinions are still important as they are typically candid, authentic, and diverse. 2. In this era of inclusivity, it is important to value all viewpoints.

  1. Summarise your main ideas.
  2. 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.

It is common for famous figures with large platforms to share their viewpoints on various topics. In my opinion, though there is potential for abuse, it is a positive overall as they can contribute diverse perspectives.

Critics of the publicity celebrities receive for their comments argue they are not always well informed. There are experts in every field, ranging from politics and science to sports and the arts and yet stars in the entertainment world possess outsized platforms. For instance, many actors, athletes, and singers have become part of the anti-vaccination movement. The views of health experts and epidemiologists are often subordinated to celebrity comments more likely to generate online traffic and ratings. However, this argument is undermined by research showing that professionals are notoriously poor at making predictions concerning their own area of expertise.

Moreover, celebrities in film and music engender diversity. The entertainment world, relative to other professional spheres, is made up of a wide variety of ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Most actors move to Hollywood from a different part of the world and then later become stars. In the music industry, listeners actively seek out new voices, styles, nationalities, and personalities. These individuals can then provide the average person an insightful glimpse into another part of society. The most recent example of this would be the awareness raised related to environmental issues by various singers and actors when they accept awards.

In conclusion, although there is risk that celebrities will be uninformed on a topic, their opinions are still important as they are typically candid, authentic, and diverse. In this era of inclusivity, it is important to value all viewpoints.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

common pervasive

famous figures celebrities

large platforms big audiences

share tell others

viewpoints opinions

various topics different areas

potential possible

abuse being hurt

positive overall good generally

contribute diverse perspectives add in more opinions

critics people who are against

publicity celebrities coverage famous people get

comments what they say

argue point out

not always well informed not usually knowledgeable

experts professionals

field area

ranging from and to and including

stars famous people

entertainment world movies, music, etc.

outsized platforms too large audiences

anti-vaccination movement people against getting vaccinations

epidemiologists people who study infectious diseases

subordinated lower than

generate online traffic get more people to come to a website

ratings how many people are watching

undermined weakened

notoriously poor famously bad

predictions projections for the future

concerning relating to

area of expertise where they work

engender diversity create difference

relative to concerning

professional spheres jobs

wide variety of ethnicities many different groups of people from various countries

socioeconomic backgrounds rich and poor

actively seek out look for

nationalities country you are from

provide give

average person normal citizen

insightful glimpse meaningful look into

recent happened not that long ago

awareness raised help people know about

environmental issues problems related to climate change

various different kinds

accept awards get prizes

risk threat

uninformed don’t know much about

typically candid usually honest

authentic real

diverse varied

in this era of inclusivity today’s more open and accepting world

value importance

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈkɒmən 
ˈfeɪməs ˈfɪgəz 
lɑːʤ ˈplætfɔːmz 
ʃeə 
ˈvjuːpɔɪnts 
ˈveərɪəs ˈtɒpɪks
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl 
əˈbjuːs
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈəʊvərɔːl 
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t daɪˈvɜːs pəˈspɛktɪvz
ˈkrɪtɪks 
pʌbˈlɪsɪti sɪˈlɛbrɪtiz 
ˈkɒmɛnts 
ˈɑːgjuː 
nɒt ˈɔːlweɪz wɛl ɪnˈfɔːmd
ˈɛkspɜːts 
fiːld
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm … ænd … tuː … ænd 
stɑːz 
ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt wɜːld 
ˈaʊtsaɪzd ˈplætfɔːmz
ˈænti-ˌvæksɪˈneɪʃən ˈmuːvmənt
ˌɛpɪˌdiːmɪˈɒləʤɪsts 
səˈbɔːdɪneɪtɪd 
ˈʤɛnəreɪt ˈɒnˌlaɪn ˈtræfɪk 
ˈreɪtɪŋz
ˌʌndəˈmaɪnd 
nəʊˈtɔːrɪəsli pʊə 
prɪˈdɪkʃənz 
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ 
ˈeərɪə ɒv ˌɛkspɜːˈtiːz
ɪnˈʤɛndə daɪˈvɜːsɪti
ˈrɛlətɪv tuː 
prəˈfɛʃənl sfɪəz
waɪd vəˈraɪəti ɒv ɛθˈnɪsɪtiz 
ˌsəʊsɪəʊˌɛkəˈnɒmɪk ˈbækgraʊndz
ˈæktɪvli siːk aʊt 
ˌnæʃəˈnælɪtiz
prəˈvaɪd 
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn 
ˈɪnsaɪtf(ə)l glɪmps 
ˈriːsnt 
əˈweənəs reɪzd 
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈɪʃuːz 
ˈveərɪəs 
əkˈsɛpt əˈwɔːdz
rɪsk 
ˌʌnɪnˈfɔːmd 
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li ˈkændɪd
ɔːˈθɛntɪk 
daɪˈvɜːs
ɪn ðɪs ˈɪərə ɒv ɪnˈkluːsɪvɪtiː
ˈvæljuː 

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:

It is c________n for f________________s with l_________________s to s______e their v______________s on v______________s. In my opinion, though there is p____________l for a_____e, it is a p________________l as they can c___________________________s.

C______s of the p___________________s receive for their c___________s a______e they are n______________________d. There are e_______s in every f______d, r__________________m politics a__d science t__ sports a___d the arts and yet s____s in the e_______________d possess o_____________________s. For instance, many actors, athletes, and singers have become part of the a______________________________t. The views of health experts and e________________s are often s_______________d to celebrity comments more likely to g_________________________c and r___________s. However, this argument is u____________d by research showing that professionals are n__________________r at making p____________s c_________________g their own a________________e.

Moreover, celebrities in film and music e___________________y. The entertainment world, r___________o other p_____________________s, is made up of a w_______________________________s and s___________________________s. Most actors move to Hollywood from a different part of the world and then later become stars. In the music industry, listeners a___________________t new voices, styles, n_______________s, and personalities. These individuals can then p_________e the a________________n an i__________________________e into another part of society. The most r________t example of this would be the a__________________d related to e__________________________s by v_________s singers and actors when they a_______________s.

In conclusion, although there is r____k that celebrities will be u______________d on a topic, their opinions are still important as they are t____________y c_________d, a___________c, and d_________e. I_______________________y, it is important to v_____e all viewpoints.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.insider.com/celebrity-interviews-controversial-aged-poorly-2020-6

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Famous People

  1. Have you ever met a celebrity?
  2. What kinds of celebrities are you interested in?
  3. Are there any celebrities you would want to interview?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some people think that famous people can help international aid organizations to draw attention to important problems. Others believe that the celebrities can make the problems seem less important.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

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