IELTS Essay: Copying Famous People
Some young people like to copy the behaviour and clothes of famous people today.
Why might this be the case?
What problems can it cause?
It has become increasingly common for many younger individuals to imitate the fashion sense and general behavior of celebrities. In my opinion, this is because of the commercialization of celebrity lifestyles and can result in polarization in society.
Many younger people now can follow influencers in a way that was not possible in the past. This increased influence has been made possible by the growth of social media, whereby celebrities can post without a traditional media filter and keep their fans informed about their opinions, fashion choices, and lifestyle. Companies have exploited their pervasive media presence to sell their products and services. For instance, the Kardashians are famous for promoting various products and incorporating corporate interests seamlessly into their daily lives. The imitation of these influencers is therefore a direct consequence of a natural human attraction to the advice of successful, attractive individuals coupled with a global consumerist society.
The problems caused relate to divides in society. In past generations, citizens were more influenced by people in their general vicinity and less by individuals from other countries or in popular media. Today, there is a greater chance that within any given community there will be individuals attracted to sports stars, K-Pop idols, American movie stars, well-known entrepreneurs, and so on. Though this diversity has its benefits, it can also lead to fractures in the social fabric. For instance, a young person who struggles to make friends may be attracted to extremist views online. They may at some point become alienated from mainstream or traditional society if they find acceptance in racist, prejudiced or controversial groups, and imitate the famous individuals taking advantage of their vulnerabilities.
Analysis
1. It has become increasingly common for many younger individuals to imitate the fashion sense and general behavior of celebrities. 2. In my opinion, this is because of the commercialization of celebrity lifestyles and can result in polarization in society.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Many younger people now can follow influencers in a way that was not possible in the past. 2. This increased influence has been made possible by the growth of social media, whereby celebrities can post without a traditional media filter and keep their fans informed about their opinions, fashion choices, and lifestyle. 3. Companies have exploited their pervasive media presence to sell their products and services. 4. For instance, the Kardashians are famous for promoting various products and incorporating corporate interests seamlessly into their daily lives. 5. The imitation of these influencers is therefore a direct consequence of a natural human attraction to the advice of successful, attractive individuals coupled with a global consumerist society.
- 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.
- You might add a counterpoint here.
1. The problems caused relate to divides in society. 2. In past generations, citizens were more influenced by people in their general vicinity and less by individuals from other countries or in popular media. 3. Today, there is a greater chance that within any given community there will be individuals attracted to sports stars, K-Pop idols, American movie stars, well-known entrepreneurs, and so on. 4. Though this diversity has its benefits, it can also lead to fractures in the social fabric. 5. For instance, a young person who struggles to make friends may be attracted to extremist views online. 6. They may at some point become alienated from mainstream or traditional society if they find acceptance in racist, prejudiced or controversial groups, and imitate the famous individuals taking advantage of their vulnerabilities.
- 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.
- Continue your development.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
It has become increasingly common for many younger individuals to imitate the fashion sense and general behavior of celebrities. In my opinion, this is because of the commercialization of celebrity lifestyles and can result in polarization in society.
Many younger people now can follow influencers in a way that was not possible in the past. This increased influence has been made possible by the growth of social media, whereby celebrities can post without a traditional media filter and keep their fans informed about their opinions, fashion choices, and lifestyle. Companies have exploited their pervasive media presence to sell their products and services. For instance, the Kardashians are famous for promoting various products and incorporating corporate interests seamlessly into their daily lives. The imitation of these influencers is therefore a direct consequence of a natural human attraction to the advice of successful, attractive individuals coupled with a global consumerist society.
The problems caused relate to divides in society. In past generations, citizens were more influenced by people in their general vicinity and less by individuals from other countries or in popular media. Today, there is a greater chance that within any given community there will be individuals attracted to sports stars, K-Pop idols, American movie stars, well-known entrepreneurs, and so on. Though this diversity has its benefits, it can also lead to fractures in the social fabric. For instance, a young person who struggles to make friends may be attracted to extremist views online. They may at some point become alienated from mainstream or traditional society if they find acceptance in racist, prejudiced or controversial groups, and imitate the famous individuals taking advantage of their vulnerabilities.
Answers
It has become increasingly common for more and more people now do
imitate copy
fashion sense what clothes you wear
general behavior how people act overall
celebrities famous people
commercialization making money from selling things
celebrity lifestyles how famous people live
polarization taking extreme views or positions
follow influencers in a way that was not possible in the past learn about celebrities in a new way
has been made possible by can now happen because
growth of social media more people using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
post put up online
traditional media filter through newspapers, the news, etc.
keep their fans informed about let people who follow them now about
exploited taken advantage of
pervasive media presence all over the news, TV, etc.
sell their products and services promote or endorse products
Kardashians famous Americans on social media
famous for promoting various products well-known for endorsing companies
incorporating corporate interests seamlessly into their daily lives adding products into their lives without much effort
imitation copying
therefore thus
direct consequence natural result of
natural human attraction to the advice of successful normal human inclination to listen to famous people
attractive individuals coupled with good-looking people combined with
global consumerist society people buying things all around the world
relate to divides in society concern how society is fractured
In past generations before
citizens people, residents
general vicinity around where you are
in popular media on TV, online, websites
there is a greater chance that within any given community it is more likely in any neighborhood
K-Pop idols Korean singers
well-known entrepreneurs famous founders
and so on etc.
diversity different groups of people
fractures divisions
social fabric how society is held together
struggles attempts
attracted to extremist views online vulnerable to strong opinions on the internet
alienated feeling separate from
mainstream or traditional society normal society
acceptance feeling welcomed
racist against other races
prejudiced judging others based on their group, ethnicity
controversial unpopular opinions
imitate the famous individuals taking advantage of their vulnerabilities copy people who are exploiting their weaknesses
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɪt hæz bɪˈkʌm ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈkɒmən fɔː
ˈɪmɪteɪt
ˈfæʃən sɛns
ˈʤɛnərəl bɪˈheɪvjə
sɪˈlɛbrɪtiz.
kəˌmɜːʃəlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n
sɪˈlɛbrɪti ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz
ˌpəʊləraɪˈzeɪʃən
ˈfɒləʊ ˈɪnflʊənsəz ɪn ə weɪ ðæt wɒz nɒt ˈpɒsəbl ɪn ðə pɑːst
hæz biːn meɪd ˈpɒsəbl baɪ
grəʊθ ɒv ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
pəʊst
trəˈdɪʃənl ˈmiːdiə ˈfɪltə
kiːp ðeə fænz ɪnˈfɔːmd əˈbaʊt
ɪksˈplɔɪtɪd
pɜːˈveɪsɪv ˈmiːdiə ˈprɛzns
sɛl ðeə ˈprɒdʌkts ænd ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
ka:dæʃi:en
ˈfeɪməs fɔː prəˈməʊtɪŋ ˈveərɪəs ˈprɒdʌkts
ɪnˈkɔːpəreɪtɪŋ ˈkɔːpərɪt ˈɪntrɪsts ˈsiːmlɪsli ˈɪntuː ðeə ˈdeɪli lɪvz
ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃən
ˈðeəfɔː
dɪˈrɛkt ˈkɒnsɪkwəns
ˈnæʧrəl ˈhjuːmən əˈtrækʃ(ə)n tuː ði ədˈvaɪs ɒv səkˈsɛsfʊl
əˈtræktɪv ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz ˈkʌpld wɪð
ˈgləʊbəl kənˈsjuːmərɪst səˈsaɪəti
rɪˈleɪt tuː dɪˈvaɪdz ɪn səˈsaɪəti
ɪn pɑːst ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
ˈsɪtɪznz
ˈʤɛnərəl vɪˈsɪnɪti
ɪn ˈpɒpjʊlə ˈmiːdiə
ðeər ɪz ə ˈgreɪtə ʧɑːns ðæt wɪˈðɪn ˈɛni ˈgɪvn kəˈmjuːnɪti
keɪ-pɒp ˈaɪdlz
wɛl-nəʊn ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːz
ænd səʊ ɒn
daɪˈvɜːsɪti
ˈfrækʧəz
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈfæbrɪk
ˈstrʌglz
əˈtræktɪd tuː ɪksˈtriːmɪst vjuːz ˈɒnˌlaɪn
ˈeɪliəneɪtɪd
ˈmeɪnstriːm səˈsaɪəti
əkˈsɛptəns
ˈreɪsɪst
ˈprɛʤʊdɪst
ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl
ˈɪmɪteɪt ðə ˈfeɪməs ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz ˈteɪkɪŋ ədˈvɑːntɪʤ ɒv ðeə ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪtiz
ˈkɔːpərɪt ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n
ðə ˈʤɛnərəl ˈsɪtɪznri
ˈpəʊləraɪzɪŋ bɪˈheɪvjər əˈmʌŋ ˈjʌŋə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
Vocabulary Practice
I_______________________________________________r many younger individuals to i________e the f____________e and g______________r of c___________s. In my opinion, this is because of the c___________________n of c__________________s and can result in p_______________n in society.
Many younger people now can f________________________________________________t. This increased influence h__________________________y the g________________________a, whereby celebrities can p____t without a t__________________________r and k_____________________________t their opinions, fashion choices, and lifestyle. Companies have e____________d their p______________________________e to s____________________________s. For instance, the K___________s are f____________________________________s and i________________________________________________________s. The i___________n of these influencers is t__________e a d__________________e of a n______________________________________________l, a________________________________________h a g__________________________y.
The problems caused r____________________________y. I_________________s, c___________s were more influenced by people in their g______________________y and less by individuals from other countries or i___________________a. Today, t______________________________________________y there will be individuals attracted to sports stars, K________s, American movie stars, w________________________________s, a___________n. Though this d__________y has its benefits, it can also lead to f__________s in the s__________c. For instance, a young person who s_________s to make friends may be a_____________________________e. They may at some point become a________d from m____________________________y if they find a___________e in r______t, p__________d or c______________l groups, and i_________________________________________________________________s.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563221002338
Speaking Practice
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
Many young people today spend too much time following the latest fashion trends in areas such as clothing and technology.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
I would say it is written more about influence od social media on young people not about fashion at all.
True, I think I would modify this one a bit if I were writing it again.