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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of rules and laws from the real IELTS writing exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Rules and Laws
Society is based on rules and laws. It could not function if individuals were free to do whatever they wanted to do.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many believe that the rule of law is the only reason society does not
descend into anarchy. I am in agreement as idealistic, revisionist views of human nature do not take into account the full pre-history of humanity.
Those who have a more hopeful view of mankind argue the modern progression towards compassion and tolerance. Humans are not necessarily violent and prone to criminal activity. The last hundred years has seen tremendous advances in areas ranging from civil rights to voting to more inclusive social policies. There is therefore a chance that even if society removed or reduced laws governing behaviour, individuals would continue to behave responsibly out of a renewed understanding of what it can mean to be human. These claims are bolstered by the existence of certain small communities in isolation where there is relatively little or no crime.
However, modern values are the product of a refinement of humanity over centuries that still requires reinforcement. The laws against violent crimes, for example, were enforced with brutal penalties for thousands of years in countries around the world. Only in the last two hundred years, have most nations reformed punishments to be either imprisonment or fines. The harsher penalties of the distant past might be outdated, but the current ones still deter potential criminals. The best evidence of this is that people today still attempt to commit crimes despite advances in forensic science and nearly ubiquitous surveillance cameras. It takes little imagination to see realise many more would lean towards breaking the rules in the absence of punishments altogether.
In conclusion, laws and regulations are crucial barriers to the excesses of human nature and cannot be wished away with a good conscience. This does not, however, imply they must be unnecessarily strict.
Analysis
1. Many believe that the rule of law is the only reason society does not
descend into anarchy. 2. I am in agreement as idealistic, revisionist views of human nature do not take into account the full pre-history of humanity.
- Paraphase the overall essay topic.
- Write your opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who have a more hopeful view of mankind argue the modern progression towards compassion and tolerance. 2. Humans are not necessarily violent and prone to criminal activity. 3. The last hundred years has seen tremendous advances in areas ranging from civil rights to voting to more inclusive social policies. 4. There is therefore a chance that even if society removed or reduced laws governing behaviour, individuals would continue to behave responsibly out of a renewed understanding of what it can mean to be human. 5. These claims are bolstered by the existence of certain small communities in isolation where there is relatively little or no crime.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Include specific details.
- Make a logical argument.
- Support it with a specific example.
1. However, modern values are the product of a refinement of humanity over centuries that still requires reinforcement. 2. The laws against violent crimes, for example, were enforced with brutal penalties for thousands of years in countries around the world. 3. Only in the last two hundred years, have most nations reformed punishments to be either imprisonment or fines. 4. The harsher penalties of the distant past might be outdated, but the current ones still deter potential criminals. 5. The best evidence of this is that people today still attempt to commit crimes despite advances in forensic science and nearly ubiquitous surveillance cameras. 6. It takes little imagination to see realise many more would lean towards breaking the rules in the absence of punishments altogether.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Start an example.
- Develop the example.
- Continue developing the same example.
- State any evidence related to your argument.
- Conclude with a strong sentence.
1. In conclusion, laws and regulations are crucial barriers to the excesses of human nature and cannot be wished away with a good conscience. 2. This does not, however, imply they must be unnecessarily strict.
- Summarise your ideas and repeat your opinion.
- Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many believe that the rule of law is the only reason society does not
descend into anarchy. I am in agreement as idealistic, revisionist views of human nature do not take into account the full pre-history of humanity.
Those who have a more hopeful view of mankind argue the modern progression towards compassion and tolerance. Humans are not necessarily violent and prone to criminal activity. The last hundred years has seen tremendous advances in areas ranging from civil rights to voting to more inclusive social policies. There is therefore a chance that even if society removed or reduced laws governing behaviour, individuals would continue to behave responsibly out of a renewed understanding of what it can mean to be human. These claims are bolstered by the existence of certain small communities in isolation where there is relatively little or no crime.
However, modern values are the product of a refinement of humanity over centuries that still requires reinforcement. The laws against violent crimes, for example, were enforced with brutal penalties for thousands of years in countries around the world. Only in the last two hundred years, have most nations reformed punishments to be either imprisonment or fines. The harsher penalties of the distant past might be outdated, but the current ones still deter potential criminals. The best evidence of this is that people today still attempt to commit crimes despite advances in forensic science and nearly ubiquitous surveillance cameras. It takes little imagination to see realise many more would lean towards breaking the rules in the absence of punishments altogether.
In conclusion, laws and regulations are crucial barriers to the excesses of human nature and cannot be wished away with a good conscience. This does not, however, imply they must be unnecessarily strict.
Answers
the rule of law laws, rules, and regulations
descend into anarchy havoc, no law
I am in agreement I agree
idealistic hopeful
revisionist views opinions based on what happened already
human nature the way people are
take into account consider
full pre-history of humanity past of humans before it was recorded
hopeful view optimistic ideas
mankind humanity
progression advancements
compassion and tolerance caring
necessarily violent must be cruel
prone likely to
tremendous advances lots of progress
ranging from including
civil rights political rights within a society
voting choosing your government officials
more inclusive social policies laws including more types of people
removed or reduced gotten rid of or cut down on
governing controlling
behave responsibly act well
renewed understanding new conception of
claims arguments
bolstered supported
existence appearance
certain small communities in isolation small, untouched societies
relatively little comparably small
modern values contemporary views
product result
refinement getting better
reinforcement make stronger
enforced made to work
brutal penalties cruel repercussions
reformed changes
imprisonment put in prison
fines have to pay money
harsher penalties more severe punishments
distant past a long time ago
outdated no longer relevant
deter potential criminals stop people from committing crimes
despite regardless of
forensic science crime scene science
nearly ubiquitous surveillance cameras cameras all around
it takes little imagination to easy to imagine
lean towards breaking the rules inclined to not follow rules
absence lack of
altogether totally
crucial barriers important restrictions
excesses going too far
wished away made to disappear
good conscience not feeling bad about
imply means
unnecessarily strict too mean
Pronunciation
ðə ruːl ɒv lɔː
dɪˈsɛnd ˈɪntuː ˈænəki
aɪ æm ɪn əˈgriːmənt
aɪˌdɪəˈlɪstɪk
rɪˈvɪʒənɪst vjuːz
ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə
teɪk ˈɪntuː əˈkaʊnt
fʊl priː-ˈhɪstəri ɒv hju(ː)ˈmænɪti
ˈhəʊpfʊl vjuː
mænˈkaɪnd
prəʊˈgrɛʃən
kəmˈpæʃən ænd ˈtɒlərəns
ˈnɛsɪsərɪli ˈvaɪələnt
prəʊn
trɪˈmɛndəs ədˈvɑːnsɪz
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm
ˈsɪvl raɪts
ˈvəʊtɪŋ
mɔːr ɪnˈkluːsɪv ˈsəʊʃəl ˈpɒlɪsiz
rɪˈmuːvd ɔː rɪˈdjuːst
ˈgʌvənɪŋ
bɪˈheɪv rɪsˈpɒnsəbli
rɪˈnjuːd ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
kleɪmz
ˈbəʊlstəd
ɪgˈzɪstəns
ˈsɜːtn smɔːl kəˈmjuːnɪtiz ɪn ˌaɪsəʊˈleɪʃən
ˈrɛlətɪvli ˈlɪtl
ˈmɒdən ˈvæljuːz
ˈprɒdʌkt
rɪˈfaɪnmənt
ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsmənt
ɪnˈfɔːst
ˈbruːtl ˈpɛnltiz
rɪˈfɔːmd
ɪmˈprɪznmənt
faɪnz
ˈhɑːʃə ˈpɛnltiz
ˈdɪstənt pɑːst
aʊtˈdeɪtɪd
dɪˈtɜː pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈkrɪmɪnlz
dɪsˈpaɪt
fəˈrɛnsɪk ˈsaɪəns
ˈnɪəli ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪtəs sɜːˈveɪləns ˈkæmərəz
ɪt teɪks ˈlɪtl ɪˌmæʤɪˈneɪʃən tuː
liːn təˈwɔːdz ˈbreɪkɪŋ ðə ruːlz
ˈæbsəns
ˌɔːltəˈgɛðə
ˈkruːʃəl ˈbærɪəz
ɪkˈsɛsɪz
wɪʃt əˈweɪ
gʊd ˈkɒnʃəns
ɪmˈplaɪ
ʌnˈnɛsɪsərɪli strɪkt
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many believe that t___________________w is the only reason society does not
d___________________y. I_________________t as i_________c, r_________________s of h______________e do not t_________________t the f____________________________y.
Those who have a more h_________________w of m___________d argue the modern p__________________n towards c______________________________e. Humans are not n___________________t and p________e to criminal activity. The last hundred years has seen t_________________________s in areas r_________________________________s to v_______g to m______________________________s. There is therefore a chance that even if society r________________________d laws g_________________g behaviour, individuals would continue to b_____________________y out of a r_________________________g of what it can mean to be human. These c_________s are b_______________d by the e______________e of c________________________________________n where there is r_______________e or no crime.
However, m_______________s are the p____________t of a r_____________t of humanity over centuries that still requires r_______________t. The laws against violent crimes, for example, were e___________d with b____________________s for thousands of years in countries around the world. Only in the last two hundred years, have most nations r_____________d punishments to be either i________________t or f________s. The h___________________s of the d_______________t might be o____________d, but the current ones still d___________________________s. The best evidence of this is that people today still attempt to commit crimes d________e advances in f___________________e and n________________________________________s. I_____________________________o see realise many more would l___________________________________s in the a_____________e of punishments a_______________r.
In conclusion, laws and regulations are c________________s to the e____________s of human nature and cannot be w_____________y with a g___________________e. This does not, however, i__________y they must be u____________________________t.
Listening Practice
Watch the video below and use these activities to practice:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and practice with these ideas:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/chauvin-did-what-trump-asked-him-do/612574/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Truth in Crime
- Why do witnesses of crimes sometimes disagree in their accounts?
- How can modern technology help solve crimes?
- Will teaching children to be honest reduce crime in the future?
- Should there be more severe penalties for crimes like libel?
- How will the detection of lies change in the future?
Writing Practice
Write about the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Many researchers believe that we can now study the behaviour of children to see if they will grow up to be criminals, while others disagree.
To what extent do you think crime is determined by genetics?
Is it possible to stop children from growing up to be criminals?
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The society which has a different kind of people from various cultures and groups could not function if there are no rules and laws in society. I totally agree with this, as it will create a mess in all persons life.
According to me, if there are no rules & laws in the society than it will have a number of negative outcomes. Firstly, the crime rate will get a boost as there will be no rule or law that the people will be afraid of. Moreover, rules help to make a society to live where each individual can feel safe. Secondly, We live in an environment, where people are from different kinds of culture so the chances of getting clashes between them are very high. But with the help of rules & regulations, various cultured people can get an environment where they can easily live their life.
Even in this era, the crime rate is not that low where the individuals live in a number of rules but still, the people commit crimes to harm people. So we can easily imagine that if we give free hand to all the persons then it will not be an environment where a child can grow younger, or the female can feel safe. However, some reckon, that if we remove laws & rules then people can live a better life. But this is not the right method to adopt.
All in all, if we have rules then a person who wants to do a crime will think twice as there will be pressure in his mind. I strongly believe that society can’t survive without proper rules & regulations.
Nice writing, Jitesh!
Your 3rd paragraph should be a little longer and more formal.
Also be careful with over-using linking phrases – you shouldn’t be too reliant on them!
Hi
Hi! Do you have a question?
Hi Teacher David,
May I ask you one question about this sentence “Only in the last two hundred years, have most nations reformed punishments to be either imprisonment or fines.”
I saw that you used have in front of most nations, is it kind of reversed structure of “most nations have reformed..” ?
Thank you very much
Hi Harry,
Yes it is I suppose though I wasn’t thinking about that when I wrote it. An interesting one for sure and you are write that it is an inverted structure!
There is a strong argument that having a good rule of law is essential for the smooth functioning of society. I tend to completely agree with this view, however, I believe that there are some occasions that reducing regulations can bring positive effects on both society and individuals.
On the one hand, I believe reducing regulations can contribute to some positive effects. for example, most people hate to work in an environment that has strict regulations, and there is someone who always reminds them of the terms and tells them what to do. so if they give more freedom and autonomy, they may not only feel more motivated, but they are more likely to flourish in their roles. Moreover, reducing regulations also can promote innovation and creativity. As an instance, when governments impose fewer regulations on the design of new houses, people are enabled to use their creativity and imaginations to build unique and modernized houses that can make the city visually appealing.
On the other hand, I advocate the idea that a strong rule of law is vital for the smooth operation and sustainable development of a country. empirical evidence has shown that the weak role of low is a major hindrance to social and economic progress. without good governance and rule of law, corruption is nurtured in every tier of governments that would affects businesses operations, investments, employments, and consequently the quality of people’s lives. Rules also are necessary because they ensure safety in society and guarantee the basic rights of people.
In conclusion, while I accept that reducing regulations on some aspects can coutribute to the further development of society, in general, society could not survive without rules.
Dear Dave, i know that this essay has several mistakes. however, do you think i can give a score 6 or above? thanks