I actually wrote about almost the same question a few years back but it’s always good practice to try the same question a second time – especially tricky ones about crime!
IELTS Agree Disagree Questions
IETLS Advantages Disadvantages Questions
IELTS Cause Solution Questions
IELTS Essay: Solution to Crime
Prison is the common way most countries try to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide the public a better education.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some would argue that although punishment is the most pervasive means of combatting crime globally, education would in fact be far more efficacious. In my opinion, there are strong grounds for this opinion but ultimately deterrence remains the central core of all legal systems.
Those who favor education are trying to resolve systemic issues. There can be little debate over the fact that crime is overwhelmingly driven by necessity. Individuals who have few other options in life are more likely to see criminal activity as a viable alternative. By educating a population well and providing at minimum a high school diploma for every citizen, governments can effectively eliminate this motive. For instance, countries with quality education systems are much less likely to have high crime rates.
However, the solution detailed above is difficult to implement and the simplest method to discourage crime is to punish criminal acts. There are many justifications cited for punishment but the most basic is the need to deter future crimes. A criminal being put in prison does not reverse their past action but it does deter the same action being committed by other individuals in the future. If there were no punishments or extremely lenient sentences, it is a near inevitability that individuals would commit crimes, for a range of motives, more frequently.
In conclusion, education addresses the root causes of crime yet punishment is still a more effective preventative countermeasure. A combination of both is naturally ideal.
Analysis
1. Some would argue that although punishment is the most pervasive means of combatting crime globally, education would in fact be far more efficacious. 2. In my opinion, there are strong grounds for this opinion but ultimately deterrence remains the central core of all legal systems.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who favor education are trying to resolve systemic issues. 2. There can be little debate over the fact that crime is overwhelmingly driven by necessity. 3. Individuals who have few other options in life are more likely to see criminal activity as a viable alternative. 4. By educating a population well and providing at minimum a high school diploma for every citizen, governments can effectively eliminate this motive. 5. For instance, countries with quality education systems are much less likely to have high crime rates.
- 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.
- Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
1. However, the solution detailed above is difficult to implement and the simplest method to discourage crime is to punish criminal acts. 2. There are many justifications cited for punishment but the most basic is the need to deter future crimes. 3. A criminal being put in prison does not reverse their past action but it does deter the same action being committed by other individuals in the future. 4. If there were no punishments or extremely lenient sentences, it is a near inevitability that individuals would commit crimes, for a range of motives, more frequently.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
1. In conclusion, education addresses the root causes of crime yet punishment is still a more effective preventative countermeasure. 2. A combination of both is naturally ideal.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some would argue that although punishment is the most pervasive means of combatting crime globally, education would in fact be far more efficacious. In my opinion, there are strong grounds for this opinion but ultimately deterrence remains the central core of all legal systems.
Those who favor education are trying to resolve systemic issues. There can be little debate over the fact that crime is overwhelmingly driven by necessity. Individuals who have few other options in life are more likely to see criminal activity as a viable alternative. By educating a population well and providing at minimum a high school diploma for every citizen, governments can effectively eliminate this motive. For instance, countries with quality education systems are much less likely to have high crime rates.
However, the solution detailed above is difficult to implement and the simplest method to discourage crime is to punish criminal acts. There are many justifications cited for punishment but the most basic is the need to deter future crimes. A criminal being put in prison does not reverse their past action but it does deter the same action being committed by other individuals in the future. If there were no punishments or extremely lenient sentences, it is a near inevitability that individuals would commit crimes, for a range of motives, more frequently.
In conclusion, education addresses the root causes of crime yet punishment is still a more effective preventative countermeasure. A combination of both is naturally ideal.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
argue point out
although but
most pervasive means of combatting most common way of fighting
globally around the world
education schooling
in fact actually
efficacious effective
strong grounds good basis
ultimately in the end
deterrence not doing something because you are afraid of the consequences
remains still the same
central core foundation
legal systems courts, police, etc.
favor support
resolve systemic issues fix institutional problems
little debate over not much fighting about
fact truth
overwhelmingly much more than
driven by motivated by
necessity needed
few other options in life not many other choices
criminal activity committing crimes
as a viable alternative a good other option
providing at minimum assuming at least
a high school diploma graduating high school
citizen resident
effectively eliminate basically get rid of
motive reason for
quality education systems good schools
high crime rates lots of crimes
detailed above described before
difficult to implement hard to put in place
simplest most basic
discourage deter
punish criminal acts sentence criminals
justifications cited reasons mentioned
most basic fundamental
deter future crimes discourage misbehavior
reverse fix
past action thing done before
extremely lenient sentences not strict punishments
near inevitability almost certain to happen
a range of motives many reasons
addresses deals with
root causes basic sources
preventative countermeasure solution to prevent something
combination more than one thing combined
naturally ideal of course best
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈɑːgjuː
ɔːlˈðəʊ
məʊst pɜːˈveɪsɪv miːnz ɒv ˈkɒmbætɪŋ
ˈgləʊbəli
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
ɪn fækt
ˌɛfɪˈkeɪʃəs
strɒŋ graʊndz
ˈʌltɪmɪtli
dɪˈtɛrəns
rɪˈmeɪnz
ˈsɛntrəl kɔː
ˈliːgəl ˈsɪstɪmz
ˈfeɪvə
rɪˈzɒlv sɪˈstɛmɪk ˈɪʃuːz
ˈlɪtl dɪˈbeɪt ˈəʊvə
fækt
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli
ˈdrɪvn baɪ
nɪˈsɛsɪti
fjuː ˈʌðər ˈɒpʃənz ɪn laɪf
ˈkrɪmɪnl ækˈtɪvɪti
æz ə ˈvaɪəbl ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv
prəˈvaɪdɪŋ æt ˈmɪnɪməm
ə haɪ skuːl dɪˈpləʊmə
ˈsɪtɪzn
ɪˈfɛktɪvli ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt
ˈməʊtɪv
ˈkwɒlɪti ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən ˈsɪstɪmz
haɪ kraɪm reɪts
ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv
ˈdɪfɪkəlt tuː ˈɪmplɪmənt
ˈsɪmplɪst
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ
ˈpʌnɪʃ ˈkrɪmɪnl ækts
ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz ˈsaɪtɪd
məʊst ˈbeɪsɪk
dɪˈtɜː ˈfjuːʧə kraɪmz
rɪˈvɜːs
pɑːst ˈækʃ(ə)n
ɪksˈtriːmli ˈliːniənt ˈsɛntənsɪz
nɪər ɪnˌɛvɪtəˈbɪlɪti
ə reɪnʤ ɒv ˈməʊtɪvz
əˈdrɛsɪz
ruːt ˈkɔːzɪz
preventətɪv ˈkaʊntəˌmɛʒə
ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən
ˈnæʧrəli aɪˈdɪəl
Vocabulary Practice
Some would a_________e that a___________h punishment is the m____________________________________g crime g__________y, e___________n would i_____t be far more e_______________s. In my opinion, there are s___________________s for this opinion but u_____________________________s the c_______________e of all l__________s.
Those who favor education are trying to r_________________s. There can be l_______________r the f____t that crime is o______________________y d___________y n__________y. Individuals who have f______________________e are more likely to see c_______________________________e. By educating a population well and p_______________________________________a for every c______n, governments can e_________________e this m______e. For instance, countries with q________________s are much less likely to have h_______________s.
However, the solution d_____________e is d____________________t and the s______t method to d______________e crime is to p_______________________s. There are many j_______________________d for punishment but the m__________c is the need to d_______________________s. A criminal being put in prison does not r________e their p___________n but it does deter the same action being committed by other individuals in the future. If there were no punishments or e_____________________________s, it is a n____________________y that individuals would commit crimes, for a_____________________________s, more frequently.
In conclusion, education a______________s the r___________s of crime yet punishment is still a more effective p______________________________e. A c____________n of both is n_____________l.
Listening Practice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp4fKplfGRc
Reading Practice
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/06/14/the-murder-scandalizing-brazils-evangelical-church
Speaking Practice
Crime
- Why do people commit crimes?
- How can criminals be rehabilitated?
- What is the purpose of punishment?
- Are punishment and revenge the same?
- Will crime become less common in the future?
Hi Dave.
Hope you’re doing fine.
The topic of the essay should be written like this:
Prison is the common way most countries try to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide the public “WITH” a better education.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Thanks Hojat – it is fine with or without the with.
Without ‘with’ then the object is just education – to provide education – but both would be good!
Actually probably best without the ‘a’ so that it is more general.
Dear Dave, thanks for your feedback. I consulted Longman Dictionary and found that PROVIDE SOMEONE SOMETHING is not acceptable in English. The English PATTERNS are PROVIDE SOMEONE WITH SOMETHING and PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE.
Thanks Hojat – if you google ‘provide education’ you will see it used repeatedly in native English newspapers, etc.
In fact, it is used that way all the time – provide goods and services, provide money, etc.
The dictionary might not be including that usage because it is obvious – they are just including the phrasal verb versions.
Is that clear, Hojat?
Dear Dave , thanks for the feedback.
What I’m trying to say is that something is wring with PROVIDE “THE PUBLIC” A BETTER EDUCATION. I don’t see anything wrong with PROVIDE EDUCATION.
The only difference is the addition is who is being provided the education – the way that I have used it is correct though there are also other ways to write it, Hojat.
Thank you very much for your detailed explanation.
You’re welcome, Hojat – always appreciate your thoughtful comments as well!
Hi Dave, I’ve read a lot of your work, and I’ve been wanting to ask whether this kind of structure works for agree-disagree essays. I noticed that you typically discuss both sides of this question type, and I’m a bit concerned about task achievement. I was taught not to discuss both sides when dealing with opinion essays (unless you do a rebuttal of the side you oppose and another paragraph to support the side you agree with). Can you enlighten me? Thanks!
Thanks for the question, Tom!
I think all approaches are fine – actually I’ve read some well-known IELTS writers and examiners who say the opposite – if you don’t write about both sides in an agree/disagree essay then you won’t be able to get above a 7 for TA (I think that is unfair).
It depends on how the examiner interprets ‘answers all parts of the task’ – to me, both approaches are totally fine but I recommend writing about both sides so that your ideas won’t be repetitive and in case the examiner is a little odd and marks you down for just writing about one side.
Is that clear, Tom? Sorry it isn’t a totally black and white answer…
Pls take a look at the following examples taken from English newspapers.
• We want to provide the public with confidence that we are doing all we can. (The Gaurdian – Sport)
• ALFRED HITCHCOCK once said that his job was to provide the public with beneficial shocks. (The Economist)
• Some scientists are beginning to provide the public with direct access to tracking data. (The New York Times)
Yes, Hojat – that usage is common but it provide doesn’t always have to have ‘with’ with it.
Dear Dave, thank you for the time you spent answering my question. I really love the manner in which you write an essay.
Hi Dave!
I am an English learner from Viet Nam, I have just known your blog. It is very useful. I am reading this essay but there is one thing that I don’t understand, Can you give me an example. In your essay, the sentence “Individuals who have few other options in life are more likely to see criminal activity as a viable alternative. By educating a population well and providing at minimum a high school diploma for every citizen, governments can effectively eliminate this motive.” I have two questions. The first one is “Who are the people that have few other options in life” The second is “Why do they easily commit crimes?” Can you explain for me and give more examples! Thank you so much