This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or not people should focus on reading local or international news from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: News
Some people focus on news in their own country, while others think it is more important to be aware of international news.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many readers now feel it is more important to stay informed concerning international news items, rather than local ones. In my opinion, though international news can be interesting, local stories contain greater relevance and are therefore more important.
Consumers of international news point out its entertainment value. The majority of people reading news from other countries recognize it has essentially no impact on their own life. However, for many articles from abroad also tend to hold greater appeal. An individual in the United Kingdom, for example, might become bored of local politics and repetitive, provincial stories. There is likely to be more excitement gained in reading about global conflicts, trade disputes, foreign elections, political unrest and environmental catastrophes in distant nations. The reader may not be aware of their own intentions, but these stories are primarily a way to pass the time and be entertained.
However, the entertainment value of international news is less important than relevant local reporting. For example, local news has become essential reading during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Individuals have little choice but to read articles about the particular strain in their nation, the number of active cases, and the restrictions being urged or mandated by public authorities. If an individual is unaware of such news, they may violate a rule and put themselves and others at risk. The value of local news applies to less pressing emergency situations as well and may include stories about local elections, corruption in politics, crime rates, and various other stories of interest.
In conclusion, despite the value of international news as a source of entertainment, local news should be prioritized given its actual significance. Individuals should strive to ignore as much news as possible and only stay informed about pertinent issues.
Analysis
1. Many readers now feel it is more important to stay informed concerning international news items, rather than local ones. 2. In my opinion, though international news can be interesting, local stories contain greater relevance and are therefore more important.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Consumers of international news point out its entertainment value. 2. The majority of people reading news from other countries recognize it has essentially no impact on their own life. 3. However, for many articles from abroad also tend to hold greater appeal. 4. An individual in the United Kingdom, for example, might become bored of local politics and repetitive, provincial stories. 5. There is likely to be more excitement gained in reading about global conflicts, trade disputes, foreign elections, political unrest and environmental catastrophes in distant nations. 6. The reader may not be aware of their own intentions, but these stories are primarily a way to pass the time and be entertained.
- 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.
- Extend with some long sentences as well.
- Finish this main idea.
1. However, the entertainment value of international news is less important than relevant local reporting. 2. For example, local news has become essential reading during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. 3. Individuals have little choice but to read articles about the particular strain in their nation, the number of active cases, and the restrictions being urged or mandated by public authorities. 4. If an individual is unaware of such news, they may violate a rule and put themselves and others at risk. 5. The value of local news applies to less pressing emergency situations as well and may include stories about local elections, corruption in politics, crime rates, and various other stories of interest.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
1. In conclusion, despite the value of international news as a source of entertainment, local news should be prioritized given its actual significance. 2. Individuals should strive to ignore as much news as possible and only stay informed about pertinent issues.
- 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.
Many readers now feel it is more important to stay informed concerning international news items, rather than local ones. In my opinion, though international news can be interesting, local stories contain greater relevance and are therefore more important.
Consumers of international news point out its entertainment value. The majority of people reading news from other countries recognize it has essentially no impact on their own life. However, for many articles from abroad also tend to hold greater appeal. An individual in the United Kingdom, for example, might become bored of local politics and repetitive, provincial stories. There is likely to be more excitement gained in reading about global conflicts, trade disputes, foreign elections, political unrest and environmental catastrophes in distant nations. The reader may not be aware of their own intentions, but these stories are primarily a way to pass the time and be entertained.
However, the entertainment value of international news is less important than relevant local reporting. For example, local news has become essential reading during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Individuals have little choice but to read articles about the particular strain in their nation, the number of active cases, and the restrictions being urged or mandated by public authorities. If an individual is unaware of such news, they may violate a rule and put themselves and others at risk. The value of local news applies to less pressing emergency situations as well and may include stories about local elections, corruption in politics, crime rates, and various other stories of interest.
In conclusion, despite the value of international news as a source of entertainment, local news should be prioritized given its actual significance. Individuals should strive to ignore as much news as possible and only stay informed about pertinent issues.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
readers people reading the news
stay informed keep up to date
concerning having to do with
international news items newspapers from around the world
rather than instead of
local from your area/country
stories contain articles have
greater relevance more personal importance
therefore thus
consumers people reading
point out argue
entertainment value fun to read
majority most of
recognize notice
essentially no impact basically no effect
articles stories
abroad in other countries
tend to hold greater appeal usually have more importance
the United Kingdom England and nearby countries
local politics government in your country/area
repetitive tedious
provincial related to your area
excitement enjoyment
global conflicts fights around the world
trade disputes conflicts related to economics and trade
foreign elections voting for people in other countries
political unrest problems related to government
environmental catastrophes hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.
distant nations remote countries
aware know about
intentions hopes
primarily mainly
pass the time occupy free time
entertained occupied and interested
relevant local reporting stories near them that matter
essential reading important stories
recent Covid-19 pandemic Coronavirus
have little choice but to no option except to
particular strain specific type
active cases Covid-19 currently circulating
restrictions rules
urged encouraged
mandated ordered
public authorities administrators, politicians, etc.
unaware not aware of
violate break
at risk under threat
applies relates here
less pressing emergency situations as well not such important problems
local elections people in your country voting
corruption crimes in positions of authority
crime rates how much crime there is
various other stories of interest other articles you might want to read
value importance
a source of entertainment place to read/watch stuff
prioritized made more important
actual significance real importance
strive try for
ignore not pay attention to
pertinent issues pressing problems
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈriːdəz
steɪ ɪnˈfɔːmd
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl njuːz ˈaɪtəmz
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˈləʊkəl
ˈstɔːriz kənˈteɪn
ˈgreɪtə ˈrɛlɪvəns
ˈðeəfɔː
kənˈsjuːməz
pɔɪnt aʊt
ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt ˈvæljuː
məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈrɛkəgnaɪz
ɪˈsɛnʃəli nəʊ ˈɪmpækt
ˈɑːtɪklz
əˈbrɔːd
tɛnd tuː həʊld ˈgreɪtər əˈpiːl
ðə jʊˈnaɪtɪd ˈkɪŋdəm
ˈləʊkəl ˈpɒlɪtɪks
rɪˈpɛtɪtɪv
prəˈvɪnʃəl
ɪkˈsaɪtmənt
ˈgləʊbəl ˈkɒnflɪkts
treɪd dɪsˈpjuːts
ˈfɒrɪn ɪˈlɛkʃənz
pəˈlɪtɪkəl ʌnˈrɛst
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl kəˈtæstrəfiz
ˈdɪstənt ˈneɪʃənz
əˈweə
ɪnˈtɛnʃənz
ˈpraɪmərɪli
pɑːs ðə taɪm
ˌɛntəˈteɪnd
ˈrɛlɪvənt ˈləʊkəl rɪˈpɔːtɪŋ
ɪˈsɛnʃəl ˈriːdɪŋ
ˈriːsnt ˈkəʊvɪd-19 pænˈdɛmɪk
hæv ˈlɪtl ʧɔɪs bʌt tuː
pəˈtɪkjʊlə streɪn
ˈæktɪv ˈkeɪsɪz
rɪsˈtrɪkʃənz
ɜːʤd
ˈmændeɪtɪd
ˈpʌblɪk ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz
ˌʌnəˈweə
ˈvaɪəleɪt
æt rɪsk
əˈplaɪz
lɛs ˈprɛsɪŋ ɪˈmɜːʤənsi ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz æz wɛl
ˈləʊkəl ɪˈlɛkʃənz
kəˈrʌpʃən
kraɪm reɪts
ˈveərɪəs ˈʌðə ˈstɔːriz ɒv ˈɪntrɪst
ˈvæljuː
ə sɔːs ɒv ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzd
ˈækʧʊəl sɪgˈnɪfɪkəns
straɪv
ɪgˈnɔː
ˈpɜːtɪnənt ˈɪʃuːz
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:
Many readers now feel it is more important to s_________________d c_________________g i_________________________s, r_____________n l____l ones. In my opinion, though international news can be interesting, local s___________________n g_______________________e and are t_____________e more important.
C______________s of international news p__________t its e_________________e. The m_________y of people reading news from other countries r__________e it has e________________________t on their own life. However, for many a___________s from a________d also t_____________________________l. An individual in the U________________m, for example, might become bored of l________________s and r______________e, p___________l stories. There is likely to be more e________________t gained in reading about g________________s, t__________________s, f__________________s, p_______________t and e______________________________s in d______________s. The reader may not be a_______e of their own i_____________s, but these stories are p_____________y a way to p________________e and be e____________d.
However, the entertainment value of international news is less important than r______________________g. For example, local news has become e_________________g during the r_________________________c. Individuals h_____________________________o read articles about the p__________________n in their nation, the number of a_____________s, and the r_____________s being u______d or m__________d by p_________________s. If an individual is u___________e of such news, they may v_______e a rule and put themselves and others a________k. The value of local news a________s to l_____________________________________l and may include stories about l_________________s, c__________________n in politics, c____________s, and v________________________________t.
In conclusion, despite the v______e of international news as a___________________________t, local news should be p_______________d given its a_____________________e. Individuals should s________e to i_______e as much news as possible and only stay informed about p________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNewYorkTimes
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.pulitzer.org/article/rebuilding-local-journalism-essential-democratic-force
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Newspapers/Magazines
- Do you prefer to read newspapers or magazines?
- Do you like reading the news online?
- Is it more convenient nowadays to read the news online?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
Although more and more people read news on the Internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
As per the old age theory, humans are termed as social animals. Being social, means a person is concerned about the surroundings, what is happening, whether it is for good or otherwise or vice versa. In this world, where one specie of human is divided into different countries, people are interested to keep themselves aware of the things, having news of the everything that effects them or the human civilization as a whole. Some people are interested in knowing the news related to only that part of the earth where they are living, means their own country, whereas there are many who considers that being aware of international news or events is more important. It can be said that it is the matter of the choice and one should be aware of everything, in my news focus on news in one’s own country is very important.
People interested in their own county news have view point that it reveals or make them aware of the things which are going to have direct influence upon them. For example, if any law is made in parliament of country, it is going to have direct impact on its citizens rather than the persons living in other countries. If any natural calamity is happened, or any other related thing, it is going to effect its residents on the first spot.
People , who pay more focus or emphasize to be aware of international news have several other points to support their opinion. Due to advancement of technology, there is nothing that can be limited to one country. For example, as there are IT giant companies, having their offices in whole of the world, then how can a person working in one country will not be effected by the action taken by the organization in any other country. They treat whole world as one and feels them effected by anything that is happening in any part of the world. Whatever happens, they feel personal concerns without bothering the boundary lines.
It can be said that it mainly depends upon the view of each and every individual and sometimes also on the nature of work, a person is pursuing. If a person is having business in various countries, he would be interested more in international news, similarly if a student is keen to pursue studies in foreign country, he will feel more related to that sort of news, if someone have relatives living in different countries, then anything happening in any part of the world is going to effect them. In my opinion, a person should be aware of everything happening on international level as in the modern world, one can’t survive by being living in its comfort zone but more focus should be on the national news as it is the thing that will give its result at a very fast pace. Being aware globally should not be on the cost of being unaware locally.
Good work, Pooja but some phrases are a little informal and it is way too long for this kind of essay!
Keep working hard!
Lots of grammar mistakes, many sentences are out of topic, too lengthy.
This essay will not get more than a 5 band score.
Advice from one student to another
Dont write more than 300 words. Max 350. The longer your essay, the more mistakes you will make. Keep it topic related. Improvise grammar.
Writing task 2
Hello, in 1st body paragraph,5th sentence, There is likely to be more excitement to be gained in reading……., so can we use gained from instead of gained in?
Yes, both prepositions are fine there, Sandra.
Cool. Thanx
You’re welcome!
Hello, in last sentence is it correct to write ‘as much news as people?’
Yes sorry that is a typo – fixed now to say as much news as possible!