This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of violent entertainment (games and movies) from the real general training IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Violent Entertainment (Games and Movies)
Movies and computer games containing violence are popular. Some people say they have a negative effect on society and should be censored. Others say they are just harmless relaxation.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some feel that violence in entertainment is a root cause of problems in society and should thus be censored. In my opinion, while there is legitimate cause to establish reasonable boundaries, such content has little actual negative impact.
On the one hand, there is a general level of acceptance that gratuitous violence should be restricted. This is particularly the case if films are being broadcast on public channels or it is possible to gain easy access to violent games. In most nations, programming during the daytime has higher thresholds for acceptable content due to fears of influencing impressionable children. The worry is that very young children and teenagers will become desensitized to violence and potentially establish either a confrontational way of interacting or, in extreme cases, a pattern of behavior. Studies have not shown much evidence for these claims however they possess a commonsensical logic.
On the other hand, the majority of individuals have no difficulty distinguishing between fiction and reality. Consumers of violent entertainment are simply passing the time or experiencing a vicarious thrill. There is even the slight chance that by watching violent entertainment, audiences will be dissuaded from such behavior or feel their need for violence has been sufficiently expressed. For instance, an individual who plays violent computer games or is obsessed with horror films, according to research, is no more likely to commit a violent crime or display abnormal behavior. The actual causes of problems in society relate to employment, economics, discrimination, income inequality, and various systemic barriers.
In conclusion, though there are certain levels of violence that should be censored depending on the context, most explicit content ought to be permitted in games and movies. Efforts to heavily censor would be short-sighted and misguided.
Analysis
1. Some feel that violence in entertainment is a root cause of problems in society and should thus be censored. 2. In my opinion, while there is legitimate cause to establish reasonable boundaries, such content has little actual negative impact.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. On the one hand, there is a general level of acceptance that gratuitous violence should be restricted. 2. This is particularly the case if films are being broadcast on public channels or it is possible to gain easy access to violent games. 3. In most nations, programming during the daytime has higher thresholds for acceptable content due to fears of influencing impressionable children. 4. The worry is that very young children and teenagers will become desensitized to violence and potentially establish either a confrontational way of interacting or, in extreme cases, a pattern of behavior. 5. Studies have not shown much evidence for these claims however they possess a commonsensical logic.
- 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.
- The more support, the higher your task achievement mark!
1. On the other hand, the majority of individuals have no difficulty distinguishing between fiction and reality. 2. Consumers of violent entertainment are simply passing the time or experiencing a vicarious thrill. 3. There is even the slight chance that by watching violent entertainment, audiences will be dissuaded from such behavior or feel their need for violence has been sufficiently expressed. 4. For instance, an individual who plays violent computer games or is obsessed with horror films, according to research, is no more likely to commit a violent crime or display abnormal behavior. 5. The actual causes of problems in society relate to employment, economics, discrimination, income inequality, and various systemic barriers.
- 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, though there are certain levels of violence that should be censored depending on the context, most explicit content ought to be permitted in games and movies. 2. Efforts to heavily censor would be short-sighted and misguided.
- 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.
Some feel that violence in entertainment is a root cause of problems in society and should thus be censored. In my opinion, while there is legitimate cause to establish reasonable boundaries, such content has little actual negative impact.
On the one hand, there is a general level of acceptance that gratuitous violence should be restricted. This is particularly the case if films are being broadcast on public channels or it is possible to gain easy access to violent games. In most nations, programming during the daytime has higher thresholds for acceptable content due to fears of influencing impressionable children. The worry is that very young children and teenagers will become desensitized to violence and potentially establish either a confrontational way of interacting or, in extreme cases, a pattern of behavior. Studies have not shown much evidence for these claims however they possess a commonsensical logic.
On the other hand, the majority of individuals have no difficulty distinguishing between fiction and reality. Consumers of violent entertainment are simply passing the time or experiencing a vicarious thrill. There is even the slight chance that by watching violent entertainment, audiences will be dissuaded from such behavior or feel their need for violence has been sufficiently expressed. For instance, an individual who plays violent computer games or is obsessed with horror films, according to research, is no more likely to commit a violent crime or display abnormal behavior. The actual causes of problems in society relate to employment, economics, discrimination, income inequality, and various systemic barriers.
In conclusion, though there are certain levels of violence that should be censored depending on the context, most explicit content ought to be permitted in games and movies. Efforts to heavily censor would be short-sighted and misguided.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
violence hitting, killing, hurting, etc.
root cause base reason
censored limited, some areas cut out
while although
legitimate cause real reason
establish reasonable boundaries set clear limits
content what is in shows, games, movies, etc.
little actual negative impact doesn’t actually hurt
on the one hand on one side
general level overall amount
acceptance believed in
gratuitous not for any real purpose
restricted contained
particularly the case especially true
broadcast show
public channels TV stations open to all
possible can happen
gain easy access not hard to get
in most nations in many countries
programming what’s on TV
higher thresholds more difficult to meet the standards
acceptable content appopriate stuff
fears worries
influencing impressionable children having an effect on kids
worry fear
desensitized stop being deeply affected by
potentially establish possibly create
confrontational way of interacting aggressive
in extreme cases in rare exceptions
pattern trend
behavior way of acting
claims arguments
possess have
commonsensical logic make sense
on the other hand however
majority most of
no difficulty distinguishing between fiction and reality cant tell apart the real and not real world
consumers people who buy things
passing the time occupying yourself
experiencing going through
vicarious thrill experiencing through others
slight chance small probability
dissuaded not encouraged to do it
sufficiently expressed fully done
obsessed care a lot about
according to research studies have shown
commit do
violent crime murder, etc.
display abnormal behavior
actual real
relate to employment concern jobs
economics finances
discrimination prejudice
income inequality people not earning equal amounts of money
various systemic barriers areas of society opposing people
levels amount of something
depending on having to do with
context situation
explicit very visual
permitted allowed to
efforts attempts
heavily strongly
short-sighted not looking at the long-term
misguided badly intentioned
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈvaɪələns
ruːt kɔːz
ˈsɛnsəd
waɪl
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt kɔːz
ɪsˈtæblɪʃ ˈriːznəbl ˈbaʊndəriz
ˈkɒntɛnt
ˈlɪtl ˈækʧʊəl ˈnɛgətɪv ˈɪmpækt
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd
ˈʤɛnərəl ˈlɛvl
əkˈsɛptəns
grəˈtju(ː)ɪtəs
rɪsˈtrɪktɪd
pəˈtɪkjʊləli ðə keɪs
ˈbrɔːdkɑːst
ˈpʌblɪk ˈʧænlz
ˈpɒsəbl
geɪn ˈiːzi ˈæksɛs
ɪn məʊst ˈneɪʃənz
ˈprəʊgræmɪŋ
ˈhaɪə ˈθrɛʃˌhəʊldz
əkˈsɛptəbl ˈkɒntɛnt
fɪəz
ˈɪnflʊənsɪŋ ɪmˈprɛʃnəbl ˈʧɪldrən
ˈwʌri
ˌdiːˈsɛnsɪtaɪzd
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli ɪsˈtæblɪʃ
ˌkɒnfrʌnˈteɪʃən(ə)l weɪ ɒv ˌɪntərˈæktɪŋ
ɪn ɪksˈtriːm ˈkeɪsɪz,
ˈpætən
bɪˈheɪvjə
kleɪmz
pəˈzɛs
ˈkɒmənsɛnsikəl ˈlɒʤɪk
ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd
məˈʤɒrɪti
nəʊ ˈdɪfɪkəlti dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃɪŋ bɪˈtwiːn ˈfɪkʃən ænd ri(ː)ˈælɪti
kənˈsjuːməz
ˈpɑːsɪŋ ðə taɪm
ɪksˈpɪərɪənsɪŋ
vaɪˈkeərɪəs θrɪl
slaɪt ʧɑːns
dɪˈsweɪdɪd
səˈfɪʃəntli ɪksˈprɛst
əbˈsɛst
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː rɪˈsɜːʧ
kəˈmɪt
ˈvaɪələnt kraɪm
dɪsˈpleɪ æbˈnɔːməl bɪˈheɪvjə
ˈækʧʊəl
rɪˈleɪt tuː ɪmˈplɔɪmənt
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks
dɪsˌkrɪmɪˈneɪʃən
ˈɪnkʌm ˌɪni(ː)ˈkwɒlɪti
ˈveərɪəs sɪˈstɛmɪk ˈbærɪəz
ˈlɛvlz
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn
ˈkɒntɛkst
ɪksˈplɪsɪt
pəˈmɪtɪd
ˈɛfəts
ˈhɛvɪli
ʃɔːt-ˈsaɪtɪd
ˌmɪsˈgaɪdɪd
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:
Some feel that v____________e in entertainment is a r_____________e of problems in society and should thus be c______________d. In my opinion, w_____e there is l_________________e to e______________________________s, such c__________t has l__________________________________t.
O_________________d, there is a g_________________l of a____________e that g_____________s violence should be r______________d. This is p____________________e if films are being b______________t on p____________________s or it is p___________e to g________________s to violent games. I__________________s, p_________________g during the daytime has h____________________s for a____________________t due to f_______s of i______________________________n. The w___y is that very young children and teenagers will become d_____________d to violence and p___________________h either a c______________________________g or, i___________________s, a p_________n of b__________r. Studies have not shown much evidence for these claims however they p__________s a c___________________________c.
O__________________d, the m___________y of individuals have n_____________________________________________y. C_______________s of violent entertainment are simply p_____________________e or e__________________g a v________________l. There is even the s___________________e that by watching violent entertainment, audiences will be d_______________d from such behavior or feel their need for violence has been s______________________d. For instance, an individual who plays violent computer games or is o_______________d with horror films, a_____________________________h, is no more likely to c_________t a v_____________e or d_____________________________r. The a____________l causes of problems in society r______________o e_________________t, e____________s, d_______________n, i_____________________________y, and v________________________s.
In conclusion, though there are certain l_______s of violence that should be censored d________________n the c__________t, most e_________t content ought to be p______________d in games and movies. E_________s to h__________y censor would be s_______________d and m__________d.
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:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Film/Movie Star
- Who is your favourite film star?
- Would you like to be a film star?
- Have you ever met a film star in person?
- Are film stars popular in your country?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
Many adults nowadays prefer spending their free time playing computer games.
Why do they do this?
Is this a positive or negative development?
Hello, in first body paragraph, if films are being broadcast – there should be word broadcasted instead of brodcast
I used present simple because it is a fact/habit that happens currently.
Ok. Got it. Thanx.
Hello, in the second body paragraph last sentence , can I write problems related to unemployment instead of employment?
Sure, that is basically the same thing!
There is an argument about whether violent entertainment is harmful to society, which should be limited, or not. In my opinion, violent movies and games are only receations which are accepted by tremendous kind people around the world.
Gunfire and blood splashing could cause crimes in some situations. On the one hand, those who hate society may feel ambitious after watching these movies, and they may try to mimic the movements in the movies. As a result, they are harmful to others, and become criminals. On the other hand, kids or teens may consider the actions in violent games cool and try to do the same thing in the real world. It is also a danger for other citizens.
However, for most normal people, violent is only an entertainment. People who are sane can differ the virtual world from reality clearly. A worldwide survey indicates that those countries with high crime rates are not those with a flourishing entainterment industry, but those with low development rates. People love their countries if they live happily. By contrast, people are dangerous to society because of their anti-social personality instead of violent movies and games.
In sum, although violence can light up the fire of some protential criminal, it is a only way to relax for normal people who are the primary part of citizens. Therefore, abandoning violent entertainment can not stop crime, but a friendly social atmosphere can. Furthermore, parents should paly their important roles on educating their children to divide the games from real world.
Some people say that it is necessary to use animals for testing the medicines intended for human beings, others however think it is cruel and unnecessary. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Task 2 *20th sept*
Remember this one from a while back – thanks, Bhumika!
Movies and computer games containing violence are popular. Some people say they have a negative effect on society and should be censored. Others say they are just harmless relaxation.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Violent cinematographies and video games are becoming more and more famous in recent year; While some individuals believe, due to their bad influence on adolescents, that they have negative impacts on people around and therefore needs to be censored, others thinks that they are infact good for our mental health. I support the former view and this essay will discuss arguments form both side.
Firstly, movies having violence in it may sometimes be considered to be similar to hate speech and could cause serious effects on a brain of a teenager. This is to say that as teens are known to be most vulnerable and so would be easily influenced by such games and movies. For instance, when some terrorist, aged between sixteen to eighteen, were interviewed, it was found that they had learned a lot from this kind of online games and movies. Visual violence does play some role in influencing kids; therefore, having certain bad impacts on their surroundings.
On the other hand, the ones who think that violent movies and games are one of many ways to relax thinks so because they might relieve some of our frustration and pressure. This means that as one is able to do some violent things virtually, he might be able to relieve some stress. Researchers, for example, has found that some violent actions can helps our mind to be at ease. Overall, there might also be some benefits to virtual violence.
To conclude, although there might be some advantages to violent games and movies, deficits outweigh them and censorship would be the best way to deal with it.
Great Patel!
But careful with over-paraphrasing to words we don’t use in English like ‘violent cinematographies’.
Keep working hard!
There is two points of view about banning the media that depicts violence; while some people believe that it results in aggressive behavior in society, others not. There are rational arguments on both sides of this controversial topic which will be discussed in detail, followed by my own take on the matter.
On one hand, censorship is not a primary option to tackle problems in the modern society. That is to say, the more contents banning, the more people engross about it. To be more exact, computer games and movie represents violence are so popular among all age groups, and if such consuming interests got restricted, it would wreak havoc on the society. For instance, to a pupil seeing the horror movies as an entertainment, banning the content may have a negative effect on their mind as they lost one of their major hobbies which may take them away from many offences. So, these kinds of contents may aid the society after all. Furtheremore, many people follow these contents as a genre, and not take it seriously.
On the other hand, being pessimistic about violence in the media is a widespread belief. Supporters believe that the contents leading to rising in the crime rate by oriented the society towards particular bad habits. That is to say, the continuous exposure of such contents may cause some psychological distress in a person. Deviant combination with personal fantasies may lead to criminal offenses. For example, there are many documents about sources of inspiration for criminals, most of which are violent books or movies.
All in all, in my opinion, restricted violence content is not a solution since there is a highlighted line between the reality and the movies which is so obvious for today’s generation.
could you please give me a score?
Nice work, try to avoid phrasal verbs though as they are informal.
If you want a score, you can sign up here: Patreon.com/howtodoielts
It is common to see the popularity of movies and video games that contain violent content. While some think that they ought to be banned due to the negative impact on society, others assert that they are merely leisure activities. This essay will discuss both perspectives. I, however, side with the latter view.
On the one hand, many reasons are given by people who feel that violent multi-media and games should be censored. Firstly, people who watch considerably more distress movies or virtually kill other players become pessimistic. Because of the high volume of negative material, people develop a negative attitude towards life. They start to feel that the entire world is similar to the one projected in movies. Thus, some even develop a feeling of apathy. Secondly, exposure to violence is detrimental to children. Since children are easily influenced by what they see, they try to enact the same in real life. A personal example of my nephew. After watching the WWF match, he tried to use some of the fighting moves on his younger brother and got himself severely injured.Therefore, constantly watching crime movies or fighting in computer games, children might start developing aggressive behaviour towards others.
On the other hand, some say that movies and computer games are not harmful pastimes. Few people would contest that crime and violence in societies existed even before the invention of movies and digital games. Thus, it is wrong to put the entire blame on them. Moreover, there are other factors responsible for causing destruction in societies, such as imbibing alcohol, substance abuse, and illegal firearm possession. These are more pressing issues deleterious to communities. Although violent movies and games may influence some changes in behaviour, it can be easily controlled by limited screen time. Parents should keep a tab on their children and teach them proper demeanor. Also, some exposure to violence is essential to sensitize people to the heinous incidences that may or may not be occurring in reality around the world, as depicted in movies.
To conclude, despite the fact that violence in movies and computer games might have dark effects on people, it can be curbed by reducing the time spent on viewing them. In my opinion, people should at least view some criminal content to have a fair knowledge of recent crimes.