IELTS Essay: Creativity
Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can is better for their overall skills development and creativity than reading.
To what extent do you agree?
Those who argue in favor of reading maintain that it stimulates creativity. For generations, parents have read stories to children not only to impart moral lessons but also inspire. One of the most famous children’s authors, Dr. Seuss, is well-known for his imaginative drawings, creative rhymes, and socially conscious plotlines. Children who read his stories are then likely to imitate this example in their own writing and artwork. As kids grow older, they can discover other creative writers and use reading as a way to imagine diverse worlds and characters. By doing so, they will implicitly have more examples to creatively rely on in their studies and future work.
However, a fun activity requires greater levels of engagement. This is broadly true for a number of pastimes ranging from playing sports and making art to socializing and going on holiday. For instance, if a parent decides to teach painting, then their children will have to learn how to employ different kinds of paints and papers, choose subjects to portray, and learn the techniques to achieve any given effect. They will also have to develop resilience and dedication as their first paintings are unlikely to be successes. If this activity is done in a group, then they can develop social skills at the same time. Depending on the activity, a child will have to push themselves outside their comfort zone far beyond what is required when passively reading a book alone.
In conclusion, despite the legitimate benefits of reading for imagination, I would argue that a more active undertaking has more concrete and memorable advantages. Parents should encourage a balance but prioritize active engagement over passivity.
Analysis
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who argue in favor of reading maintain that it stimulates creativity. 2. For generations, parents have read stories to children not only to impart moral lessons but also inspire. 3. One of the most famous children’s authors, Dr. Seuss, is well-known for his imaginative drawings, creative rhymes, and socially conscious plotlines. 4. Children who read his stories are then likely to imitate this example in their own writing and artwork. 5. As kids grow older, they can discover other creative writers and use reading as a way to imagine diverse worlds and characters. 6. By doing so, they will implicitly have more examples to creatively rely on in their studies and future work.
- 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.
- You might add a counterpoint here.
1. However, a fun activity requires greater levels of engagement. 2. This is broadly true for a number of pastimes ranging from playing sports and making art to socializing and going on holiday. 3. For instance, if a parent decides to teach painting, then their children will have to learn how to employ different kinds of paints and papers, choose subjects to portray, and learn the techniques to achieve any given effect. 4. They will also have to develop resilience and dedication as their first paintings are unlikely to be successes. 5. If this activity is done in a group, then they can develop social skills at the same time. 6. Depending on the activity, a child will have to push themselves outside their comfort zone far beyond what is required when passively reading a book alone.
- 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.
1. In conclusion, despite the legitimate benefits of reading for imagination, I would argue that a more active undertaking has more concrete and memorable advantages. 2. Parents should encourage a balance but prioritize active engagement over passivity.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Those who argue in favor of reading maintain that it stimulates creativity. For generations, parents have read stories to children not only to impart moral lessons but also inspire. One of the most famous children’s authors, Dr. Seuss, is well-known for his imaginative drawings, creative rhymes, and socially conscious plotlines. Children who read his stories are then likely to imitate this example in their own writing and artwork. As kids grow older, they can discover other creative writers and use reading as a way to imagine diverse worlds and characters. By doing so, they will implicitly have more examples to creatively rely on in their studies and future work.
However, a fun activity requires greater levels of engagement. This is broadly true for a number of pastimes ranging from playing sports and making art to socializing and going on holiday. For instance, if a parent decides to teach painting, then their children will have to learn how to employ different kinds of paints and papers, choose subjects to portray, and learn the techniques to achieve any given effect. They will also have to develop resilience and dedication as their first paintings are unlikely to be successes. If this activity is done in a group, then they can develop social skills at the same time. Depending on the activity, a child will have to push themselves outside their comfort zone far beyond what is required when passively reading a book alone.
In conclusion, despite the legitimate benefits of reading for imagination, I would argue that a more active undertaking has more concrete and memorable advantages. Parents should encourage a balance but prioritize active engagement over passivity.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
Those who argue in favor of people who support
maintain argue
stimulates creativity makes you more imaginative
not only to impart moral lessons more than just telling you ethical stories
inspire encourage
well-known for his imaginative drawings famous for creative pictures
creative rhymes interesting words that sound the same
socially conscious plotlines stories that show you care about the world
imitate copy
As kids grow older when children grow up
discover other creative writers find different imaginative authors
imagine diverse worlds and characters think of varied places and people
By doing so in this way
implicitly not explicitly
rely on depend on
studies schoolwork
future work job later
requires greater levels of engagement need more interaction
This is broadly true for mostly the case for
ranging from playing sports and making art to socializing and going on holiday including…
decides chooses
employ use
subjects what you choose to draw about
portray how it is shown
learn the techniques to achieve any given effect know how to make different kinds of images
develop resilience become grittier
dedication commitment
unlikely to be successes not much chance of it working out
social skills at the same time interacting with others also
Depending on relying on
push themselves outside their comfort zone far beyond challenge yourself
passively reading a book alone buried in a book on your own
despite the legitimate benefits of regardless of the real advantages of
active undertaking not a passive activity
concrete real, tangible
memorable advantages easy to remember benefits
encourage a balance promote equality
prioritize active engagement over passivity focus more on activity rather than doing nothing
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
fəˈsɪlɪteɪt
ɪˌmæʤɪˈneɪʃən
pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt ɪn ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ ækˈtɪvɪtiz ɪnˈstɛd ɒv ˈspɛndɪŋ taɪm ˈriːdɪŋ
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl tuː ɪˌmæʤɪˈneɪʃən tuː ən ɪksˈtɛnt
teɪk pɑːt ɪn ə mɔːr ˈæktɪv ˈpɑːstaɪm
ðəʊz huː ˈɑːgjuː ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
meɪnˈteɪn
ˈstɪmjʊleɪts ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvɪti
nɒt ˈəʊnli tuː ɪmˈpɑːt ˈmɒrəl ˈlɛsnz
ɪnˈspaɪə
wɛl-nəʊn fɔː hɪz ɪˈmæʤɪnətɪv ˈdrɔːɪŋz
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv raɪmz
ˈsəʊʃəli ˈkɒnʃəs plɒt laɪnz
ˈɪmɪteɪt
æz kɪdz grəʊ ˈəʊldə
dɪsˈkʌvər ˈʌðə kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv ˈraɪtəz
ɪˈmæʤɪn daɪˈvɜːs wɜːldz ænd ˈkærɪktəz
baɪ ˈdu(ː)ɪŋ səʊ
ɪmˈplɪsɪtli
rɪˈlaɪ ɒn
ˈstʌdiz
ˈfjuːʧə wɜːk
rɪˈkwaɪəz ˈgreɪtə ˈlɛvlz ɒv ɪnˈgeɪʤmənt
ðɪs ɪz ˈbrɔːdli truː fɔː
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm ˈpleɪɪŋ spɔːts ænd ˈmeɪkɪŋ ɑːt tuː ˈsəʊʃəlaɪzɪŋ ænd ˈgəʊɪŋ ɒn ˈhɒlədeɪ
dɪˈsaɪdz
ɪmˈplɔɪ
ˈsʌbʤɪkts
pɔːˈtreɪ
lɜːn ðə tɛkˈniːks tuː əˈʧiːv ˈɛni ˈgɪvn ɪˈfɛkt
dɪˈvɛləp rɪˈzɪlɪəns
ˌdɛdɪˈkeɪʃən
ʌnˈlaɪkli tuː biː səkˈsɛsɪz
ˈsəʊʃəl skɪlz æt ðə seɪm taɪm
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn
pʊʃ ðəmˈsɛlvz ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðeə ˈkʌmfət zəʊn fɑː bɪˈjɒnd
ˈpæsɪvli ˈriːdɪŋ ə bʊk əˈləʊn
dɪsˈpaɪt ðə lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈbɛnɪfɪts ɒv
ˈæktɪv ˌʌndəˈteɪkɪŋ
ˈkɒnkriːt
ˈmɛmərəbl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ə ˈbæləns
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz ˈæktɪv ɪnˈgeɪʤmənt ˈəʊvə pæˈsɪvɪti
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:
T__________________________________f reading m______________n that it s________________y. For generations, parents have read stories to children n__________________________s but also i___________e. One of the most famous children’s authors, Dr. Seuss, is w____________________________________s, c__________________s, and s_____________________s. Children who read his stories are then likely to i_________e this example in their own writing and artwork. A___________________r, they can d_____________________________________s and use reading as a way to i___________________________________s. B_____________o, they will i_____________y have more examples to creatively r________n in their s___________s and f____________k.
However, a fun activity r_______________________________________t. T___________________________r a number of pastimes r_________________________________________________________________________y. For instance, if a parent d________s to teach painting, then their children will have to learn how to e_______y different kinds of paints and papers, choose s________s to p________y, and l_________________________________________________t. They will also have to d__________________e and d___________n as their first paintings are u______________________s. If this activity is done in a group, then they can develop s__________________________________e. D_________________n the activity, a child will have to p_________________________________________________________d what is required when p_________________________e.
In conclusion, d_______________________________f reading for imagination, I would argue that a more a___________________g has more c___________e and m_____________________________s. Parents should e__________________________e but p___________________________________________________y.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Creativity
- Are you a creative person?
- What did you learn about creativity at school?
- Does anyone in your family have a good imagination?
- Are people in your country generally very creative?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:
Some people believe that engaging in an active pastime does more to develop children’s life skills than time spent reading.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Thank youusegull
A well written persuasive essay!
Some people believe that playing with children is more effective than reading in growing children’s overall skills and creativity. I agree with this idea as learning through playing is easier and children can concentrate for a longer time on a special task in comparison with Reading.
Learning through fun activities is usually interesting for children. learners are often keen to participate in target tasks and they are expected to cooperate for a longer time in comparison to Reading and other traditional education styles. if someone enjoys doing a special task, he will repeat it again and again. this repetition is fundamental to learning and expanding creativity. it is a common sight to see children are eager for sports activity in school but exhaust so quickly in other classes. some researchers have shown that playing enjoyable games releases endorphins in blood vessels and it is a feel-good factor, so the person absorbs these kinds of activities.
Learning by playing is also more comprehensible and easy-understanding. children usually understand lots of subjects like team working, social growth, and problem-solving skills in the playground. maybe this is the reason that in some parts of the world like Scandinavian countries, education is game-based and there isn’t any formal education for children younger than 7 years old. This education style is becoming prevalent more and more in other regions.
To sum up, playing with children gives them a better chance to increase their creativity and expand their skills rather than reading. I hope the governments would change their educational policies toward more playing and less reading for children.