This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of learning literature from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Learning Literature
Some people think that it is a waste of time for high school students to study literature, such as novels and poems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many today claim that learning about literature should no longer be a key component of the high school curriculum. In my opinion, there are practical reasons for this sentiment but literature still serves a purpose.
Proponents of this reform argue other subjects deserve prioritisation. There is little doubt that in the 21st century, the most important subjects for students’ future careers relate to the sciences, such as engineering and computer science, or the practical humanities, like business. The earlier that students begin specialising, the more likely they are to have a head start on the competition and secure a well-paying job immediately after graduating high school or university. In contrast, the novels and poems that students read in high school are usually completely forgotten within a few years and do not teach any tangible skills that will help them advance in the real world.
Nonetheless, literature contains many of the most important and fundamental truths about the human condition. Life is about more than a career and great authors tackle the most fundamental philosophical and psychological questions. For example, the masters of 19th century Russian literature, including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, are primarily concerned with human psychology and how this fits into a larger context of man’s search for meaning. Their exploration of these issues is relevant to everyone and cannot be replaced with a steady career. Moreover, the way in which great writers develop their themes, the aesthetic quality of their writing itself, imparts to careful readers the importance of artistic expression and may help them see outside the narrow modern confines of accumulating the most material wealth.
In conclusion, the utilitarian benefits of studying practical subjects do not outweigh the deeper values of literature. It is therefore advisable that literature be emphasised in high school classrooms.
Analysis
1. Many today claim that learning about literature should no longer be a key component of the high school curriculum. 2. In my opinion, there are practical reasons for this sentiment but literature still serves a purpose.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Proponents of this reform argue other subjects deserve prioritisation. 2. There is little doubt that in the 21st century, the most important subjects for students’ future careers relate to the sciences, such as engineering and computer science, or the practical humanities, like business. 3. The earlier that students begin specialising, the more likely they are to have a head start on the competition and secure a well-paying job immediately after graduating high school or university. 4. In contrast, the novels and poems that students read in high school are usually completely forgotten within a few years and do not teach any tangible skills that will help them advance in the real world.
- Write a topic sentence with a main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it specifically.
- Use a counter-example to fully develop your main idea.
1. Nonetheless, literature contains many of the most important and fundamental truths about the human condition. 2. Life is about more than a career and great authors tackle the most fundamental philosophical and psychological questions. 3. For example, the masters of 19th century Russian literature, including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, are primarily concerned with human psychology and how this fits into a larger context of man’s search for meaning. 4. Their exploration of these issues is relevant to everyone and cannot be replaced with a steady career. 5. Moreover, the way in which great writers develop their themes, the aesthetic quality of their writing itself, imparts to careful readers the importance of artistic expression and may help them see outside the narrow modern confines of accumulating the most material wealth.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Start a specific example.
- Develop the example.
- Develop it fully to finish the paragraph.
1. In conclusion, the utilitarian benefits of studying practical subjects do not outweigh the deeper values of literature. 2. It is therefore advisable that literature be emphasised in high school classrooms.
- Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
- Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many today claim that learning about literature should no longer be a key component of the high school curriculum. In my opinion, there are practical reasons for this sentiment but literature still serves a purpose.
Proponents of this reform argue other subjects deserve prioritisation. There is little doubt that in the 21st century, the most important subjects for students’ future careers relate to the sciences, such as engineering and computer science, or the practical humanities, like business. The earlier that students begin specialising, the more likely they are to have a head start on the competition and secure a well-paying job immediately after graduating high school or university. In contrast, the novels and poems that students read in high school are usually completely forgotten within a few years and do not teach any tangible skills that will help them advance in the real world.
Nonetheless, literature contains many of the most important and fundamental truths about the human condition. Life is about more than a career and great authors tackle the most fundamental philosophical and psychological questions. For example, the masters of 19th century Russian literature, including Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, are primarily concerned with human psychology and how this fits into a larger context of man’s search for meaning. Their exploration of these issues is relevant to everyone and cannot be replaced with a steady career. Moreover, the way in which great writers develop their themes, the aesthetic quality of their writing itself, imparts to careful readers the importance of artistic expression and may help them see outside the narrow modern confines of accumulating the most material wealth.
In conclusion, the utilitarian benefits of studying practical subjects do not outweigh the deeper values of literature. It is therefore advisable that literature be emphasised in high school classrooms.
Answers
claim argue
no longer not anymore
key component crucial part
curriculum what you’re learning at school
practical reasons real justifications
sentiment feeling
serves a purpose has a reason
proponents supporters
reform change
deserve prioritisation warrants valuing highly
there is little doubt that it is clear that
21st century 2000 – 2100
relate to has to do with
sciences chemistry, math, biology, physics, etc.
engineering figuring out how things work
computer science learning about computers
practical humanities business and economics
business learning about money, economics
specialising focusing on one area
head start getting ahead
competition fighting
secure safe
well-paying making good money
immediately after right following that
in contrast however
completely forgotten not remembered
tangible skills concrete abilities
advance getting ahead
real world reality
fundamental truths important facts about life
human condition people living in the world
tackle deal with
fundamental philosophical basic relating to life and death
psychological questions issues about the human mind
masters the best at something
19th century Russian literature books from Russia in the 1900s
Tolstoy Leo Tolstoy, writer of War and Peace
Dostoevsky Fyodor Dostoevsky, writer of The Brothers Karamazov
primarily concerned mainly to do with
human psychology how people think
fits into relates to
larger context what it concerns
man’s search for meaning finding a purpose in life
exploration finding out about
relevant related to
replaced instead of
steady career good job
moreover also
the way in which how it is done
develop their themes explore their concerns
aesthetic quality beauty, art
imparts gives
careful readers conscientious
artistic expression self-expression
see outside the narrow modern confines expand their worldview
accumulating the most material wealth getting richer
utilitarian benefits get something real from it
outweigh more important than
deeper values very important
advisable should be done
emphasised focused on
Pronunciation
kleɪm
nəʊ ˈlɒŋgə
kiː kəmˈpəʊnənt
kəˈrɪkjʊləm
ˈpræktɪkəl ˈriːznz
ˈsɛntɪmənt
sɜːvz ə ˈpɜːpəs
prəˈpəʊnənts
ˌriːˈfɔːm
dɪˈzɜːv praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzaɪˈzeɪʃən
ðeər ɪz ˈlɪtl daʊt ðæt
ˈtwɛnti fɜːst ˈsɛnʧʊri
rɪˈleɪt tuː
ˈsaɪənsɪz
ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪərɪŋ
kəmˈpjuːtə ˈsaɪəns
ˈpræktɪkəl hju(ː)ˈmænɪtiz
ˈbɪznɪs
ˈspɛʃ(ə)laɪzɪŋ
hɛd stɑːt
ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən
sɪˈkjʊə
wɛl-ˈpeɪɪŋ
ɪˈmiːdiətli ˈɑːftə
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
kəmˈpliːtli fəˈgɒtn
ˈtænʤəbl skɪlz
ədˈvɑːns
rɪəl wɜːld
ˌfʌndəˈmɛntl truːðz
ˈhjuːmən kənˈdɪʃən
ˈtækl
ˌfʌndəˈmɛntl ˌfɪləˈsɒfɪkəl
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈkwɛsʧənz
ˈmɑːstəz
ˈnaɪnˈtiːŋθ ˈsɛnʧʊri ˈrʌʃ(ə)n ˈlɪtərɪʧə
ˈtɒlstɔɪ
ˌdɒstɔɪˈɛfski
ˈpraɪmərɪli kənˈsɜːnd
ˈhjuːmən saɪˈkɒləʤi
fɪts ˈɪntuː
ˈlɑːʤə ˈkɒntɛkst
mænz sɜːʧ fɔː ˈmiːnɪŋ
ˌɛksplɔːˈreɪʃən
ˈrɛlɪvənt
rɪˈpleɪst
ˈstɛdi kəˈrɪə
mɔːˈrəʊvə
ðə weɪ ɪn wɪʧ
dɪˈvɛləp ðeə θiːmz
iːsˈθɛtɪk ˈkwɒlɪti
ɪmˈpɑːts
ˈkeəfʊl ˈriːdəz
ɑːˈtɪstɪk ɪksˈprɛʃən
siː ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðə ˈnærəʊ ˈmɒdən ˈkɒnfaɪnz
əˈkjuːmjʊleɪtɪŋ ðə məʊst məˈtɪərɪəl wɛlθ
ˌjuːtɪlɪˈteərɪən ˈbɛnɪfɪts
aʊtˈweɪ
ˈdiːpə ˈvæljuːz
ədˈvaɪzəbl
ˈɛmfəsaɪzd
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many today c_____m that learning about literature should n__________r be a k______________t of the high school c______________m. In my opinion, there are p_______________s for this s_____________t but literature still s_________________e.
P_______________s of this r_________m argue other subjects d_________________________n. T_____________________________t in the 2______________________y, the most important subjects for students’ future careers r___________o the s_________s, such as e______________g and c__________________e, or the p______________________s, like b_____________s. The earlier that students begin s_____________g, the more likely they are to have a h____________t on the c______________n and s__________e a w_____________g job i________________________r graduating high school or university. I__________________t, the novels and poems that students read in high school are usually c__________________n within a few years and do not teach any t_______________s that will help them a____________e in the r____________d.
Nonetheless, literature contains many of the most important and f________________s about the h________________n. Life is about more than a career and great authors t_________e the most f___________________________l and p__________________________s. For example, the m___________s of 1_________________________________e, including T___________y and D_____________y, are p____________________d with h__________________y and how this f__________o a l______________t of m__________________________g. Their e____________n of these issues is r_____________t to everyone and cannot be r_________d with a s_______________r. M__________r, t_____________________h great writers d__________________s, the a______________________y of their writing itself, i___________s to c_________________s the importance of a_________________n and may help them s________________________________s of a_________________________________________h.
In conclusion, the u_____________________s of studying practical subjects do not o_____________h the d______________s of literature. It is therefore a_____________e that literature be e_______________d in high school classrooms.
Listening Practice
Listen with the video below and use the following activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and practice with these ideas:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/30/opinion/sunday/fix-high-school-education.html
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Books
- Do you like reading books?
- What kind of books do you like most?
- What sort of books did you read as a child?
- Is it important to read?
Writing Practice
Write about the related topic below, then check with my sample answer:
Some people say that school children should be mainly taught about the literature (e.g fiction and poetry) of their own country because it is more important than that of other countries.
To what extent do you agree?
Thank you for your painstaking effort to update recent topics, very helpful.
You’re very welcome – good luck on your exam!
Many believe that literature based courses are time consuming and should be eliminated from school curriculum.In my opinion,literature is the legacy of country although hand-on lessons are counted as more significant items among some opponents.
Those who support practical subjects point out better job opportunity as a reason.As individuals live in a consumerism era,a decent is a priority to afford their daily expenses.The more governments develop,the higher demand would be in courses which pupils for labour market.Moreover,science lessons like computer training is a must-have to make students ready for achieving a well-paying career.On the other hand,literacy works like great old poems are not sensible and take a lot of time to learn without any desirable consequence.
Nonetheless,literature is the heritage and bedrock of a nation.What guarantees the stability of a country is its ties to ancient history,and invaluable litracy scripts like novels and poems play a crucial role in this stabilization.For example,Cyrus the Great cylinders,Persian emperor written command on 530BC,is a splendid symbol of humanity that not only connects Persians,but also unites all people.Furthermore,the way poets and writers imply lifeling lessons engrave morality on students’s mind to follow accordingly.
On the whole,what it might seem to be prevalent is that inspite of fundamental effects of practical courses,literature lessons are of greater value.Therefore,literature should be taken more into account in school curriculum.
Hi dave,would you please leave a comment on my essay,your words are lightening the way for me
Sure, I’ll take a look later, Mohamad!
Careful with your punctuation – especially spaces, Mohamad.
Great job with your overall opinion, especially in the conclusion. Your examples are really specific and detailed. Could be a bit more added to the second paragraph about the jobs available but otherwise really strong.
Keep up the hard work, Mohamad!
Hi,thanks so much for your great favour.I really really appreciate you Dave.
You’re welcome, Mohamad!
Thanx for to the point and precise essay!
You’re welcome Sandra! Do you mean pointed? That can be used as an adjective.