This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of patriotism and war from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Patriotism and War

Some argue that patriotism is the primary cause of wars globally. Others feel that it serves to prevent less ethical politicians from running a country and starting wars.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Many feel that patriotic feelings do more to foment, rather than prevent, conflicts and potential wars. In my opinion, though patriotism can be a positive force in a nation, it is more likely to serve as the justification for armed conflict.

Those who value the benefits of patriotism argue that it is a tool to oppose international interventions. This is most often the case in countries where it is possible for citizens to voice their opinions publicly. A standout example of this would be in the United States as the government is often engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many critics make the argument that the US was originally isolationist and should not now interfere in the affairs of other countries. This appeal to the patriotic roots of the country is persuasive.

However, it is more common for politicians to encourage nationalistic feelings to justify foreign wars. There are examples of this from both the modern era and past historical epochs. For instance, in Medieval Europe there were frequent wars of aggression between France, England, and Spain. The rulers of these countries used both religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications for either expansion or defensive measures. Over time, patriotism came to be considered a method to distract residents from the domestic situation and motivate them towards a common goal.

In conclusion, despite the legitimate potential advantages of patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to serve as a catalyst for international conflict. In fact, individuals have very little overall impact on whether or not their country enters a war.

Analysis

1. Many feel that patriotic feelings do more to foment, rather than prevent, conflicts and potential wars. 2. In my opinion, though patriotism can be a positive force in a nation, it is more likely to serve as the justification for armed conflict.

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

1. Those who value the benefits of patriotism argue that it is a tool to oppose international interventions. 2. This is most often the case in countries where it is possible for citizens to voice their opinions publicly. 3. A standout example of this would be in the United States as the government is often engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. 4. Many critics make the argument that the US was originally isolationist and should not now interfere in the affairs of other countries. 5. This appeal to the patriotic roots of the country is persuasive.

  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. You might add a counterpoint here.

1. However, it is more common for politicians to encourage nationalistic feelings to justify foreign wars. 2. There are examples of this from both the modern era and past historical epochs. 3. For instance, in Medieval Europe there were frequent wars of aggression between France, England, and Spain. 4. The rulers of these countries used both religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications for either expansion or defensive measures. 5. Over time, patriotism came to be considered a method to distract residents from the domestic situation and motivate them towards a common goal.

  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. Continue your development.

1. In conclusion, despite the legitimate potential advantages of patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to serve as a catalyst for international conflict. 2. In fact, individuals have very little overall impact on whether or not their country enters a war.

  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.

Many feel that patriotic feelings do more to foment, rather than prevent, conflicts and potential wars. In my opinion, though patriotism can be a positive force in a nation, it is more likely to serve as the justification for armed conflict.

Those who value the benefits of patriotism argue that it is a tool to oppose international interventions. This is most often the case in countries where it is possible for citizens to voice their opinions publicly. A standout example of this would be in the United States as the government is often engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many critics make the argument that the US was originally isolationist and should not now interfere in the affairs of other countries. This appeal to the patriotic roots of the country is persuasive.

However, it is more common for politicians to encourage nationalistic feelings to justify foreign wars. There are examples of this from both the modern era and past historical epochs. For instance, in Medieval Europe there were frequent wars of aggression between France, England, and Spain. The rulers of these countries used both religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications for either expansion or defensive measures. Over time, patriotism came to be considered a method to distract residents from the domestic situation and motivate them towards a common goal.

In conclusion, despite the legitimate potential advantages of patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to serve as a catalyst for international conflict. In fact, individuals have very little overall impact on whether or not their country enters a war.

Answers

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

patriotic feelings being proud of your country

foment create

rather than prevent instead of stop

conflicts fights

potential wars possible fights

patriotism feeling strongly about your country

positive force does good

serve as the justification are the main reason for

armed conflict wars

value importance of

benefits advantages of

argue contend

tool to oppose international interventions method to stop fights abroad

This is most often the case in countries where usually happens in nations in which

voice their opinions publicly protest

A standout example of this would be in the United States as A good instance is in America where

engaged in unpopular conflicts abroad always fighting wars

critics those who argue against

argument contention

originally isolationist before didn’t interfere with other countries

interfere in intervene

affairs situations

appeal try

patriotic roots thinking about the past of your country

persuasive convincing

politicians governments

encourage nationalistic feelings make people love their country more

justify foreign wars give reason to fight abroad

modern era nowadays

past historical epochs past eras

frequent wars of aggression fighting others / attacking others

religious and ethnic or nationalistic justifications reasons related to religion, race, nation

either expansion or defensive measures in order to grow bigger or protect yourself

Over time later on

considered thought of as

distract residents make people not pay attention to

domestic situation how things are in the country

motivate them towards a common goal make them come together

despite regardless of

legitimate potential advantages of real possible benefits from

serve as a catalyst for international conflict be the main reason for wars abroad

In fact actually

very little overall impact on whether or not not much effect on the whole regardless if

enters a war starts a fight

Pronunciation

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

ˌpætrɪˈɒtɪk ˈfiːlɪŋz 
fəʊˈmɛnt
ˈrɑːðə ðæn prɪˈvɛnt
ˈkɒnflɪkts 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl wɔːz
ˈpætrɪətɪzm 
ˈpɒzətɪv fɔːs 
sɜːv æz ðə ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃən 
ɑːmd ˈkɒnflɪkt
ˈvæljuː 
ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˈɑːgjuː 
tuːl tuː əˈpəʊz ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˌɪntə(ː)ˈvɛnʃənz
ðɪs ɪz məʊst ˈɒf(ə)n ðə keɪs ɪn ˈkʌntriz weə 
vɔɪs ðeər əˈpɪnjənz ˈpʌblɪkli
ə ˈstændaʊt ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː ɪn ðə jʊˈnaɪtɪd steɪts æz 
ɪnˈgeɪʤd ɪn ʌnˈpɒpjʊlə ˈkɒnflɪkts əˈbrɔːd 
ˈkrɪtɪks 
ˈɑːgjʊmənt 
əˈrɪʤɪnəli ˌaɪsəʊˈleɪʃənɪst 
ˌɪntəˈfɪər ɪn 
əˈfeəz 
əˈpiːl 
ˌpætrɪˈɒtɪk ruːts 
pəˈsweɪsɪv
ˌpɒlɪˈtɪʃənz 
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ˌnæʃnəˈlɪstɪk ˈfiːlɪŋz 
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ ˈfɒrɪn wɔːz
ˈmɒdən ˈɪərə 
pɑːst hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈiːpɒks
ˈfriːkwənt wɔːz ɒv əˈgrɛʃ(ə)n 
rɪˈlɪʤəs ænd ˈɛθnɪk ɔː ˌnæʃnəˈlɪstɪk ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz 
ˈaɪðər ɪksˈpænʃən ɔː dɪˈfɛnsɪv ˈmɛʒəz
ˈəʊvə taɪm
kənˈsɪdəd 
dɪsˈtrækt ˈrɛzɪdənts 
dəʊˈmɛstɪk ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən 
ˈməʊtɪveɪt ðɛm təˈwɔːdz ə ˈkɒmən gəʊl
dɪsˈpaɪt 
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz ɒv 
sɜːv æz ə ˈkætəlɪst fɔːr ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl ˈkɒnflɪkt
ɪn fækt
ˈvɛri ˈlɪtl ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈɪmpækt ɒn ˈwɛðər ɔː nɒt 
ˈɛntəz ə wɔː

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 feel that p___________________s do more to f________t, r____________________t, c___________s and p_____________s. In my opinion, though p___________m can be a p_____________e in a nation, it is more likely to s_______________________________n for a_________________t.

Those who v______e the b____________s of patriotism a_______e that it is a t__________________________________________s. T__________________________________________________________e it is possible for citizens to v____________________________y. A________________________________________________________________s the government is often e____________________________________________d such as the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Many c______s make the a__________t that the US was o____________________t and should not now i________________n the a______s of other countries. This a________l to the p_______________s of the country is p____________e.

However, it is more common for p___________s to e___________________________________s to j__________________s. There are examples of this from both the m______________a and p________________________s. For instance, in Medieval Europe there were f______________________________n between France, England, and Spain. The rulers of these countries used both r____________________________________________s for e_______________________________________________s. O_________e, patriotism came to be c______________d a method to d_______________s from the d____________________n and m___________________________________l.

In conclusion, d______e the l____________________________________________f patriotism within a country, I feel that it is more likely to s_________________________________________________t. I_______t, individuals have v_______________________________________________t their country e______________r.

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:

https://www.historycrunch.com/nationalism-as-a-cause-of-world-war-i.html#:~:text=Nationalism%20was%20one%20of%20the,militarism%2C%20alliance%20systems%20and%20imperialism.

Speaking Practice

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

Your Home Nation/Country

  1. Where are you from?
  2. What do you like the most about your country?
  3. Where would you like to live in your country?
  4. Are people in your country patriotic?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Some people say patriotism causes problems and is negative overall. Others feel that it is beneficial for society at large.

Do the advantages of patriotism outweigh its disadvantages?

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