This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of recycling from the real IELTS general training exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Recycling
Some say that children should be taught at school to recycling and avoid waste. Others say they should learn this at home.
Discuss both views and give your opinion
Many feel that school, rather than the home, is the optimal environment to teach children about recycling and avoiding excessive waste. In my opinion, though schools can provide ideal social pressure, habits instilled at home are more likely to be long-lasting.
Those who would prioritize the duty of schools in this matter point to social factors. At school, students are first exposed to group dynamics and the expectations placed on them by institutions. Later in life, teachers will become bosses and school will become work. Children are especially vulnerable to the social pressures exerted by teachers and peers. For example, most young students will follow school rules without considering the possibility of disobeying. However, there is a likely turning point that will occur later in one’s schooling that may render progress achieved as a child less effective.
In contrast, the behaviors that a child learns at home can help form their identity. For instance, members of a family are likely to have similar tastes in food, entertainment, and various hobbies. Recycling is simply another habit that can be acquired and maintained over years. A child who reflexively recycles from a very young age will probably continue this action as they get older and learn the solid reasoning behind it. There is a chance that for other rules and habits they may rebel and actively work to change their identity but this is unlikely to occur with recycling since it is universally regarded as positive and progressive.
In conclusion, the home is a superior location to build habits related to recycling because schools often fail to instill lifelong behavioral changes. Therefore, a committed approach by parents is paramount to protecting the environment in the future.
Analysis
1. Many feel that school, rather than the home, is the optimal environment to teach children about recycling and avoiding excessive waste. 2. In my opinion, though schools can provide ideal social pressure, habits instilled at home are more likely to be long-lasting.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who would prioritize the duty of schools in this matter point to social factors. 2. At school, students are first exposed to group dynamics and the expectations placed on them by institutions. 3. Later in life, teachers will become bosses and school will become work. 4. Children are especially vulnerable to the social pressures exerted by teachers and peers. 5. For example, most young students will follow school rules without considering the possibility of disobeying. 6. However, there is a likely turning point that will occur later in one’s schooling that may render progress achieved as a child less effective.
- 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 short sentences as well.
- You can include a concession here!
1. In contrast, the behaviors that a child learns at home can help form their identity. 2. For instance, members of a family are likely to have similar tastes in food, entertainment, and various hobbies. 3. Recycling is simply another habit that can be acquired and maintained over years. 4. A child who reflexively recycles from a very young age will probably continue this action as they get older and learn the solid reasoning behind it. 5. There is a chance that for other rules and habits they may rebel and actively work to change their identity but this is unlikely to occur with recycling since it is universally regarded as positive and progressive.
- 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, the home is a superior location to build habits related to recycling because schools often fail to instill lifelong behavioral changes. 2. Therefore, a committed approach by parents is paramount to protecting the environment in the future.
- 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 feel that school, rather than the home, is the optimal environment to teach children about recycling and avoiding excessive waste. In my opinion, though schools can provide ideal social pressure, habits instilled at home are more likely to be long-lasting.
Those who would prioritize the duty of schools in this matter point to social factors. At school, students are first exposed to group dynamics and the expectations placed on them by institutions. Later in life, teachers will become bosses and school will become work. Children are especially vulnerable to the social pressures exerted by teachers and peers. For example, most young students will follow school rules without considering the possibility of disobeying. However, there is a likely turning point that will occur later in one’s schooling that may render progress achieved as a child less effective.
In contrast, the behaviors that a child learns at home can help form their identity. For instance, members of a family are likely to have similar tastes in food, entertainment, and various hobbies. Recycling is simply another habit that can be acquired and maintained over years. A child who reflexively recycles from a very young age will probably continue this action as they get older and learn the solid reasoning behind it. There is a chance that for other rules and habits they may rebel and actively work to change their identity but this is unlikely to occur with recycling since it is universally regarded as positive and progressive.
In conclusion, the home is a superior location to build habits related to recycling because schools often fail to instill lifelong behavioral changes. Therefore, a committed approach by parents is paramount to protecting the environment in the future.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
rather than instead of
optimal environment best place
recycling using products again – or putting them in bins so they can be processed and used again
avoiding excessive waste not throwing away too much stuff
provide ideal social pressure feel a lot of stress from others
instilled encouraged
long-lasting doesn’t go away for a while
prioritize make most important
duty responsibility
matter issue
point to highlight
social factors elements rated to people around them
exposed open to
expectations placed on them by institutions wishes put on by schools
later in life as they get older
especially vulnerable to really weak to
social pressures anxiety from people aroung you
exerted by forced by
peers fellow students
follow listen to
considering thinking about
possibility chance
disobeying not following rules
turning point change in thinking
occur happen
schooling going to school
render progress achieved make what they have done
effective works well
in contrast however
form their identity make up their personality
members of a family people in your family
tastes likes
acquired gathered
maintained kept up
reflexively instinctively
continue keep on
learn the solid reasoning behind it realize the justifications for it
rebel fight against
actively work make a big effort to
unlikely not much of a chance
universally regarded as worldwide thought ot
progressive forward-thinking
superior location better place
related to having to do with
fail to instill lifelong behavioral changes not make you follow these actions forever
therefore thus
committed approach dedicated way
paramount crucial
protecting keeping safe
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˈɒptɪməl ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
ˌriːˈsaɪklɪŋ
əˈvɔɪdɪŋ ɪkˈsɛsɪv weɪst
prəˈvaɪd aɪˈdɪəl ˈsəʊʃəl ˈprɛʃə
ɪnˈstɪld
lɒŋ-ˈlɑːstɪŋ
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
ˈdjuːti
ˈmætə
pɔɪnt tuː
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈfæktəz
ɪksˈpəʊzd
ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃənz pleɪst ɒn ðɛm baɪ ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃənz
ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
ɪsˈpɛʃəli ˈvʌlnərəbl tuː
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈprɛʃəz
ɪgˈzɜːtɪd baɪ
pɪəz
ˈfɒləʊ
kənˈsɪdərɪŋ
ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪti
ˌdɪsəˈbeɪɪŋ
ˈtɜːnɪŋ pɔɪnt
əˈkɜː
ˈskuːlɪŋ
ˈrɛndə ˈprəʊgrəs əˈʧiːvd
ɪˈfɛktɪv
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
fɔːm ðeər aɪˈdɛntɪti
ˈmɛmbəz ɒv ə ˈfæmɪli
teɪsts
ˌriːˈsaɪklɪŋ
əˈkwaɪəd
meɪnˈteɪnd
rɪˈflɛksɪvli
kənˈtɪnju(ː)
lɜːn ðə ˈsɒlɪd ˈriːznɪŋ bɪˈhaɪnd ɪt
ˈrɛbl
ˈæktɪvli wɜːk
ʌnˈlaɪkli
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəli rɪˈgɑːdɪd æz
prəʊˈgrɛsɪv
sju(ː)ˈpɪərɪə ləʊˈkeɪʃən
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
feɪl tuː ɪnˈstɪl ˈlaɪflɒŋ bɪˈheɪvjərəl ˈʧeɪnʤɪz
ˈðeəfɔː
kəˈmɪtɪd əˈprəʊʧ
ˈpærəmaʊnt
prəˈtɛktɪŋ
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 school, r_____________n the home, is the o____________________t to teach children about r_________g and a________________________e. In my opinion, though schools can p___________________________e, habits i_________d at home are more likely to be l___________g.
Those who would p____________e the d___y of schools in this m________r p________o s___________s. At school, students are first e___________d to group dynamics and the e_____________________________________s. L______________e, teachers will become bosses and school will become work. Children are e________________________o the s________________________y teachers and p_______s. For example, most young students will f_______w school rules without c_____________g the p___________y of d_____________g. However, there is a likely t_______________t that will o_________r later in one’s s____________g that may r_____________________________d as a child less e______________e.
I________________t, the behaviors that a child learns at home can help f__________________y. For instance, m______________________y are likely to have similar t________s in food, entertainment, and various hobbies. R___________g is simply another habit that can be a___________d and m______________d over years. A child who r___________y recycles from a very young age will probably c____________e this action as they get older and l________________________________t. There is a chance that for other rules and habits they may r________l and a______________k to change their identity but this is u____________y to occur with recycling since it is u__________________y r______________s positive and p________________e.
In conclusion, the home is a s___________n to build habits r__________o recycling because schools often f____________________________________________s. T____________e, a c_________________h by parents is p__________t to p____________g the environment in the future.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/19-activities-kids-learn-recycling/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam
Rubbish/Garbage/Litter
- How do you react when you see litter on the streets?
- Do you recycle?
- How do you help keep the streets tidy?
- What would you do if someone else dropped some litter?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
Many feel that school, rather than at home, is an optimal environment for children to learn the significance of recycling and avoid excessive waste. In my opinion, both school and home are equally important in terms of educating children to recycle.
Proponents of educating children about the importance of recycling may point out peer pressure. Children, in fact, have a tendency to obey the regulations imposed by teachers at school. Therefore, if teachers expect and form the habits of recycling among children, there is a high chance of the majority of them following their teachers’ advice and recycling willingly. Those who do not either recognize or understand the need to recycle also possibly feel obliged to do so when exposed to group dynamics because of the need to fit in. This is a testament to why school can be a great place to teach children the value of recycling.
Nonetheless, the environment at home is also ideal to teach children to recycle and avoid waste given the fact that parents have a natural authority and colossal influence on them. Research has shown that children tend to imitate the behaviors and the preferences of the adults surrounding them. This means that if both the father and mother place a strong emphasis on recycling in the formative years of children, they are more likely to form a long-lasting habit of recycling. There are certain exceptional examples of children rebelling against parental rules and therefore disregarding the need to recycle. These instances, however, are generally rare as children, after all, want to obey and satisfy their parents’ wishes.
In conclusion, both school and home play an equal role in shaping the habits of recycling among children. Therefore, a collective effort of both parents and teachers is required for future environmental preservation.
Nice work!
Don’t sit in the middle though – that is a major risk. Choose one that you think is slightly more important.
It’s impossible for something to be equally important, anyway…
I notice that the theme “recycling or avoiding waste” is not mentioned in the second paragraph. The second paragraph is talking about the function of school in social factor. It that works in writing task? I am afraid I would stray from the point. It seems a little bit dangerous.
Yes, to be safe you can repeat avoiding waste – but it is part of the same basic idea so I left it off.
Definitely a slight risk you don’t need to take, as you point out, Gakki!
Some assert that schools ought to take the responsibility to educate children to recycle and manage waste, whereas others think that parents should guide them at home to learn this. I, however, side with the former view.
On the one hand, proponents of home-education of waste materials argue that a school is a place for children to learn about core subjects like math, science, and technology. Children need to pay more attention to upgrading their knowledge of subjects which appear to be pivotal in shaping their future. For instance, lessons on math will make children proficient in dealing with numbers, which is crucial for understanding tertiary education subjects, such as accounting. Furthermore, waste management seems to be more of a general knowledge subject, which can be taught at home by parents. In other words, it does not require any expertise or specific skills to teach the recycling of trash. By contrast, subjects like chemistry may not be fully learned at home, and need theory as well as practical lectures to understand the intricate concepts behind them, which can be better tutored at school.
On the other hand, people who think (including myself) that waste disposal should be included in the school curriculum due to the following reasons. Firstly, parents often do not give attention to imbibing waste education since they are too busy earning money and they hardly have any time for such things. In addition, recycling is an essential life skill that children need to learn at a young age, because when they grow up, this habit is likely to be sustained throughout their life. Moreover, this is a useful skill not just for them but also for the environment. If children understand the importance of recycling trash, they can motivate adults too to help reduce global litter. Thus, proper and systematic education on handling waste is highly likely to be disseminated in schools rather than in homes.
To conclude, although it is imperative to learn core subjects such as math and physics, schools should ensure that children learn to recycle and limit waste because we need to take precautionary measures to save our dying planet.