This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the traditional ideas and how helpful they are for young people in the future from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Traditional Ideas and Young People
Traditional ideas from older people about the way to live and behave are not helpful to young people and their futures.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many are of the belief that past traditions now hold little future value for young people. In my opinion, there are still important lessons young people can learn from their cultural heritage.
Supporters of this contention argue that the changing world has make old ways of life irrelevant. This is especially the case as technology has hastened cultural and economic upheaval. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give worthwhile advice related to how to behave at work and manage their relationships. This is now less true than ever before because of the advent of social media apps, dating websites, remote working and the loss of traditional career paths. The growth of the internet has had a further globalising effect that erodes the uniqueness of cultures. For example, recent women’s empowerment movements have occurred simultaneously globally, often in conflict with the traditional values of individual nations.
Nonetheless, tradition serves as an increasingly important guide in a world with few fixed values. As the world has become more secular, religious values have declined but cultural traditions remain intact. A standout example of this would be the strong familial ties in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Children in these nations are expected to listen to the advice of their parents, maintain cultural traditions, and behave within certain ethical bounds. Without these customs to guide their behaviour, young people would be at the mercy of the values espoused in popular media. However, by following mores from the past, young people will have a foundation to judge their present and future actions.
In conclusion, despite the decreasing relevance of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an important place as a basis for ethical behaviour. Young people must therefore temper their desire to reform with a skeptical reverence for the past.
Analysis
1. Many are of the belief that past traditions now hold little future value for young people. 2. In my opinion, there are still important lessons young people can learn from their cultural heritage.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Supporters of this contention argue that the changing world has make old ways of life irrelevant. 2. This is especially the case as technology has hastened cultural and economic upheaval. 3. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give worthwhile advice related to how to behave at work and manage their relationships. 4. This is now less true than ever before because of the advent of social media apps, dating websites, remote working and the loss of traditional career paths. 5. The growth of the internet has had a further globalising effect that erodes the uniqueness of cultures. 6. For example, recent women’s empowerment movements have occurred simultaneously globally, often in conflict with the traditional values of individual nations.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Stay focused on the same main idea.
- If you haven’t included an example, add one at the end.
1. Nonetheless, tradition serves as an increasingly important guide in a world with few fixed values. 2. As the world has become more secular, religious values have declined but cultural traditions remain intact. 3. A standout example of this would be the strong familial ties in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. 4. Children in these nations are expected to listen to the advice of their parents, maintain cultural traditions, and behave within certain ethical bounds. 5. Without these customs to guide their behaviour, young people would be at the mercy of the values espoused in popular media. 6. However, by following mores from the past, young people will have a foundation to judge their present and future actions.
- 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!
- Relate it back to the overall topic.
1. In conclusion, despite the decreasing relevance of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an important place as a basis for ethical behaviour. 2. Young people must therefore temper their desire to reform with a skeptical reverence for the past.
- 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 are of the belief that past traditions now hold little future value for young people. In my opinion, there are still important lessons young people can learn from their cultural heritage.
Supporters of this contention argue that the changing world has make old ways of life irrelevant. This is especially the case as technology has hastened cultural and economic upheaval. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give worthwhile advice related to how to behave at work and manage their relationships. This is now less true than ever before because of the advent of social media apps, dating websites, remote working and the loss of traditional career paths. The growth of the internet has had a further globalising effect that erodes the uniqueness of cultures. For example, recent women’s empowerment movements have occurred simultaneously globally, often in conflict with the traditional values of individual nations.
Nonetheless, tradition serves as an increasingly important guide in a world with few fixed values. As the world has become more secular, religious values have declined but cultural traditions remain intact. A standout example of this would be the strong familial ties in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Children in these nations are expected to listen to the advice of their parents, maintain cultural traditions, and behave within certain ethical bounds. Without these customs to guide their behaviour, young people would be at the mercy of the values espoused in popular media. However, by following mores from the past, young people will have a foundation to judge their present and future actions.
In conclusion, despite the decreasing relevance of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an important place as a basis for ethical behaviour. Young people must therefore temper their desire to reform with a skeptical reverence for the past.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
of the belief think
past traditions customs from the past
hold little future value won’t help later
important lessons meaningful teaching
cultural heritage history and traditions of a people
supporters those in favour of
contention argument
irrelevant no longer important
especially the case in particular true
hastened cultural and economic upheaval sped up the changes in society
worthwhile valuable
manage deal with
This is now less true than ever before now not as much the case
advent beginning
social media apps TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snap, etc.
remote working working from home
loss of traditional career paths normal jobs going away
growth development
further globalising effect countries becoming more similar
erodes disappears
uniqueness special
recent women’s empowerment movements feminist reforms in recent years
occurred simultaneously globally happened at the same time all over the world
in conflict with fighting
traditional values beliefs from the past
individual nations singular countries
nonetheless regardless of
tradition serves as customs are
increasingly more and more
guide help
few fixed values not many set beliefs
secular non-religious
religious values morals from God
remain intact stay alive
standout example good instance
strong familial ties good relationships in families
expected to will likely
maintain keep
behave within certain ethical bounds follow rules
customs traditions
guide someone to follow
at the mercy of vulnerable to
espoused propagated
mores customs
foundation basis
judge form an opinion of
present and future actions right now and later
decreasing relevance becoming less important
important place key area
basis foundation
temper weaken
desire wanting to
reform changes
skeptical reverence wary level of respect
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf
pɑːst trəˈdɪʃənz
həʊld ˈlɪtl ˈfjuːʧə ˈvæljuː
ɪmˈpɔːtənt ˈlɛsnz
ˈkʌlʧərəl ˈhɛrɪtɪʤ
səˈpɔːtəz
kənˈtɛnʃən
ɪˈrɛlɪvənt
ɪsˈpɛʃəli ðə keɪs
ˈheɪsnd ˈkʌlʧərəl ænd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ʌpˈhiːvəl
ˈwɜːθˈwaɪl
ˈmænɪʤ
ðɪs ɪz naʊ lɛs truː ðæn ˈɛvə bɪˈfɔː
ˈædvənt
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə æps
rɪˈməʊt ˈwɜːkɪŋ
lɒs ɒv trəˈdɪʃənl kəˈrɪə pɑːðz
grəʊθ
ˈfɜːðə ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzing ɪˈfɛkt
ɪˈrəʊdz
juːˈniːknəs
ˈriːsnt ˈwɪmɪnz ɪmˈpaʊəmənt ˈmuːvmənts
əˈkɜːd ˌsɪməlˈteɪniəsli ˈgləʊbəli
ɪn ˈkɒnflɪkt wɪð
trəˈdɪʃənl ˈvæljuːz
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˈneɪʃənz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
trəˈdɪʃən sɜːvz æz
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli
gaɪd
fjuː fɪkst ˈvæljuːz
ˈsɛkjʊlə
rɪˈlɪʤəs ˈvæljuːz
rɪˈmeɪn ɪnˈtækt
ˈstændaʊt ɪgˈzɑːmpl
strɒŋ ˈfæmɪliel taɪz
ɪksˈpɛktɪd tuː
meɪnˈteɪn
bɪˈheɪv wɪˈðɪn ˈsɜːtn ˈɛθɪkəl baʊndz
ˈkʌstəmz
gaɪd
æt ðə ˈmɜːsi ɒv
ɪsˈpaʊzd
ˈməʊriːz
faʊnˈdeɪʃən
ˈʤʌʤ
ˈprɛznt ænd ˈfjuːʧər ˈækʃ(ə)nz
diːˈkriːsɪŋ ˈrɛlɪvəns
ɪmˈpɔːtənt pleɪs
ˈbeɪsɪs
ˈtɛmpə
dɪˈzaɪə
ˌriːˈfɔːm
ˈskɛptɪkəl ˈrəvərəns
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 are o______________f that p_________________s now h____________________e for young people. In my opinion, there are still i_______________________s young people can learn from their c__________________e.
S________________s of this c____________n argue that the changing world has make old ways of life i________________t. This is e________________e as technology has h__________________________________l. In the past, an individual’s grandparents might be able to give w_____________e advice related to how to behave at work and m___________e their relationships. T____________________________________e because of the a________t of s__________________s, dating websites, r________________g and the l_________________________________s. The a_________t of the internet has had a f______________________________t that e_________s the u__________________s of cultures. For example, r__________________________________s have o_________________________________y, often i_________________h the t______________________s of i_____________________s.
N________________s, t___________________s an i_______________y important g__________e in a world with f___________________s. As the world has become more s_____________r, r________________s have declined but cultural traditions r________________t. A s__________________e of this would be the s______________________s in Asian nations such as Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam. Children in these nations are e____________o listen to the advice of their parents, m_____________n cultural traditions, and b_________________________s. Without these c________s to g_______e their behaviour, young people would be a________________f the values e____________d in popular media. However, by following m_______s from the past, young people will have a f_____________n to j_______e their p______________________s.
In conclusion, despite the d_________________________e of tradition in the modern world, it still holds an i_____________________e as a b_______s for ethical behaviour. Young people must therefore t_________r their d________e to r__________m with a s______________________e for the past.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/09/america-without-family-god-or-patriotism/597382/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Food
- Do people in your country often eat together?
- Why are family meals less common today?
- Is this a positive or negative development?
- Are there any holidays in your country centred around food?
- Are international foods a threat to the traditional culture of your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Some think the current generation should take steps to protect the environment for the next generation.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
this is all are amazing content keep posting this is very useful
Thanks for saying so, Riddhi!
Thanks for such an outstanding essay Dave 🙂
Many are of the opinion that conventional notions passed down by previous generations have become of little use for both the present and future of young people. In my opinion, although certain traditions have become obsolete, the bulk of them are still of paramount importance to the youth.
It is true that certain ideas from the past have become irrelevant to today’s society. A good example of this would be the traditional stereotype in Asian countries such as China and Vietnam dictating that women should be solely responsible for household chores and raising children, while men are the only breadwinners in a family. However, this view has been regarded as anachronistic nowadays as women have proven that they are as competent as men in committing to a career path, which partly contributes to the emergence of dual-income families. Clearly, for this case, advice from the elderly seems to serve no useful purpose.
Despite the aforementioned argument, I claim that the majority of ideas introduced by the older generations are useful for young people. The truth is that many moral lessons in the past such as showing respect to others, behaving within certain ethical bounds, and honoring values such as honesty or loyalty have stood the test of time. Without that guidance, the youth are likely to be at the mercy of values imposed in popular media. Furthermore, there is an ongoing problem of young individuals increasingly obsessed with the pursuit of wealth over anything else in consumerism society. Traditional ideas are likely to remind those people about the importance of other values in life such as friendship and family. These are reliable testaments to why traditional lessons in the past still benefit young people.
In conclusion, although I admit that certain ideas given by the elderly have become old-fashioned, I am strongly convinced that most of them are still useful for both the current and future generations.
Great work again, Mike!
You should try writing some that are not paraphrased as well!
Hello Dave,
Just a small question. I don’t understand the topic statement of first BP. I googled the word ‘contention’ which shows complete disagreement, so can you please clear this confusion. Also, as you said in introduction that you disagree with the question, so why don’t you mention the topic statement which shows what is in your view?
Thanks
Contention means an opinion – a strong assertion of opinion.
It can also be used like contend – to fight or disagree.
I come back to my view in the 2nd BP, which is the structure I use for all my essays.
Is that clear, Girish?
Thanks for your questions!