This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of watching TV, movies, and other programmes alone from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Watching TV and Movies Alone
People these days watch TV, films and other programmes alone rather than with other people.
Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
Due to the advent of streaming services and personal computers it has become increasingly common for individuals to watch entertainment alone rather than with friends and family. In my opinion, this is overall a negative development despite the conveniences it offers.
The advantages of more insular viewing habits relate to individual convenience. Firstly, this concerns choice. A Netflix subscriber is able to choose from a wide range of current and past entertainment without having to consult others. This means they are more likely to choose programming relevant to their tastes. Secondly, watching shows alone allows for greater flexibility. An individual can pause, switch to another program, re-watch shows, and transition between a variety of portable devices. Each of these decisions does not require negotiation with others and can be made depending on a person’s mood and preferences.
However, I believe the tradeoffs related to social cohesion are more pressing concerns. Society has become increasingly insular in general due to the pervasiveness of one-sided technological interactions on devices such as smartphones and laptops. This transition has loosened social bonds between family members, friends, significant others, and society at large. In the past, a family might watch a television show together, joke about it, discuss it, and then have a common point of reference for later conversations. This is now less likely and many consumers now spend an outsized amount of time alone, limiting their exposure to other perspectives. Over time, the effects on mental health and social unity may be drastic and difficult to reverse.
In conclusion, although watching shows alone has benefits in terms of personal choice, the drawbacks related to social interaction make it a negative on the whole. Individuals should strive to limit the time they spend alone watching TV shows and movies.
Analysis
1. Due to the advent of streaming services and personal computers it has become increasingly common for individuals to watch entertainment alone rather than with friends and family. 2. In my opinion, this is overall a negative development despite the conveniences it offers.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The advantages of more insular viewing habits relate to individual convenience. 2. Firstly, this concerns choice. 3. A Netflix subscriber is able to choose from a wide range of current and past entertainment without having to consult others. 4. This means they are more likely to choose programming relevant to their tastes. 5. Secondly, watching shows alone allows for greater flexibility. 6. An individual can pause, switch to another program, re-watch shows, and transition between a variety of portable devices. 7. Each of these decisions does not require negotiation with others and can be made depending on a person’s mood and preferences.
- 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.
- You can have some long sentences like this to really argue your point.
- Be sure that you develop two advantages.
- And both of them fully.
1. However, I believe the tradeoffs related to social cohesion are more pressing concerns. 2. Society has become increasingly insular in general due to the pervasiveness of one-sided technological interactions on devices such as smartphones and laptops. 3. This transition has loosened social bonds between family members, friends, significant others, and society at large. 4. In the past, a family might watch a television show together, joke about it, discuss it, and then have a common point of reference for later conversations. 5. This is now less likely and many consumers now spend an outsized amount of time alone, limiting their exposure to other perspectives. 6. Over time, the effects on mental health and social unity may be drastic and difficult to reverse.
- 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!
- Conclude with a strong sentence.
1. In conclusion, although watching shows alone has benefits in terms of personal choice, the drawbacks related to social interaction make it a negative on the whole. 2. Individuals should strive to limit the time they spend alone watching TV shows and movies.
- 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.
Due to the advent of streaming services and personal computers it has become increasingly common for individuals to watch entertainment alone rather than with friends and family. In my opinion, this is overall a negative development despite the conveniences it offers.
The advantages of more insular viewing habits relate to individual convenience. Firstly, this concerns choice. A Netflix subscriber is able to choose from a wide range of current and past entertainment without having to consult others. This means they are more likely to choose programming relevant to their tastes. Secondly, watching shows alone allows for greater flexibility. An individual can pause, switch to another program, re-watch shows, and transition between a variety of portable devices. Each of these decisions does not require negotiation with others and can be made depending on a person’s mood and preferences.
However, I believe the tradeoffs related to social cohesion are more pressing concerns. Society has become increasingly insular in general due to the pervasiveness of one-sided technological interactions on devices such as smartphones and laptops. This transition has loosened social bonds between family members, friends, significant others, and society at large. In the past, a family might watch a television show together, joke about it, discuss it, and then have a common point of reference for later conversations. This is now less likely and many consumers now spend an outsized amount of time alone, limiting their exposure to other perspectives. Over time, the effects on mental health and social unity may be drastic and difficult to reverse.
In conclusion, although watching shows alone has benefits in terms of personal choice, the drawbacks related to social interaction make it a negative on the whole. Individuals should strive to limit the time they spend alone watching TV shows and movies.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
due to because of
advent beginning of
streaming services Netflix, Apple TV, etc.
personal computers laptops, desktops
increasingly common happens more often
alone by yourself
rather than instead of
overall on the whole
negative bad
despite regardless of
conveniences how easy it is
offers allows for
insular viewing habits watching shows alone
relate to has to do with
concerns choice has to do with freedom of deciding
subscriber person who signs up and pays monthly
wide range lots of
current right now
consult check with
more likely better chance it will happen
programming relevant shows they are interested in
tastes preferences
greater flexibility more choice and ability to change
pause stop
switch go to another show
re-watch watch again
transition change
a variety of portable devices many different kinds of phones, tablets, etc.
negotiation talking over with, debating
depending on comes down to
mood feeling
preferences what you like/dislike
tradeoffs disadvantages
social cohesion people getting along
pressing concerns big worries
insular alone
pervasiveness very common
one-sided technological interactions just watching things passively
devices smartphones, computers, etc.
loosened social bonds weakened relationships
significant others girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse
at large all together
common point of reference something in common
less likely not as strong a chance of happening
consumers people who buy/shop
outsized amount of time more time than they should
limiting keeping under control
exposure time spent with
perspectives viewpoints
mental health how you feel emotionally, mentally
social unity people coming together
drastic extreme
reverse go back to the way it was
in terms of when it comes to
on the whole overall
strive try hard
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
djuː tuː
ˈædvənt
ˈstriːmɪŋ ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
ˈpɜːsnl kəmˈpjuːtəz
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈkɒmən
əˈləʊn
ˈrɑːðə ðæn
ˈəʊvərɔːl
ˈnɛgətɪv
dɪsˈpaɪt
kənˈviːniənsɪz
ˈɒfəz
ˈɪnsjʊlə ˈvjuːɪŋ ˈhæbɪts
rɪˈleɪt tuː
kənˈsɜːnz ʧɔɪs
səbˈskraɪbə
waɪd reɪnʤ
ˈkʌrənt
kənˈsʌlt
mɔː ˈlaɪkli
ˈprəʊgræmɪŋ ˈrɛlɪvənt
teɪsts
ˈgreɪtə ˌflɛksɪˈbɪlɪti
pɔːz
swɪʧ
riː-wɒʧ
trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n
ə vəˈraɪəti ɒv ˈpɔːtəbl dɪˈvaɪsɪz
nɪˌgəʊʃɪˈeɪʃən
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn
muːd
ˈprɛfərənsɪz
tradeoffs
ˈsəʊʃəl kəʊˈhiːʒən
ˈprɛsɪŋ kənˈsɜːnz
ˈɪnsjʊlə
pɜːˈveɪsɪvnəs
wʌn-ˈsaɪdɪd ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪk(ə)l ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
dɪˈvaɪsɪz
trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n
ˈluːsnd ˈsəʊʃəl bɒndz
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈʌðəz
æt lɑːʤ
ˈkɒmən pɔɪnt ɒv ˈrɛfrəns
lɛs ˈlaɪkli
kənˈsjuːməz
ˈaʊtsaɪzd əˈmaʊnt ɒv taɪm
ˈlɪmɪtɪŋ
ɪksˈpəʊʒə
pəˈspɛktɪvz
ˈmɛntl hɛlθ
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈjuːnɪti
ˈdræstɪk
rɪˈvɜːs
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ɒn ðə həʊl
straɪv
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:
D_______o the a_______t of s___________________s and p_____________________s it has become i______________________n for individuals to watch entertainment a_______e r_____________n with friends and family. In my opinion, this is o_________l a n__________e development d__________e the c________________s it o________s.
The advantages of more i________________________s r________o individual convenience. Firstly, this c________________e. A Netflix s____________r is able to choose from a w_____________e of c__________t and past entertainment without having to c_________t others. This means they are m_____________y to choose p_____________________________t to their t_______s. Secondly, watching shows alone allows for g____________________y. An individual can p_______e, s_________h to another program, r___________h shows, and t____________n between a___________________________s. Each of these decisions does not require n________________n with others and can be made d_______________n a person’s m______d and p___________________s.
However, I believe the t____________s related to s______________n are more p_____________________s. Society has become increasingly i_________r in general due to the p_________________s of o________________________________s on d_________s such as smartphones and laptops. This t____________n has l________________________s between family members, friends, s______________________s, and society a_________e. In the past, a family might watch a television show together, joke about it, discuss it, and then have a c_____________________________e for later conversations. This is now l________________y and many c______________s now spend an o_________________________e alone, l_________g their e___________e to other p_____________s. Over time, the effects on m________________h and s________________y may be d__________c and difficult to r__________e.
In conclusion, although watching shows alone has benefits i_____________f personal choice, the drawbacks related to social interaction make it a negative o______________e. Individuals should s________e to limit the time they spend alone watching TV shows and movies.
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:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Spending Time Alone
- Do you spend a lot of time by yourself?
- What do you usually do when you’re by yourself?
- Do you prefer spending time alone or with your friends?
- Is it important to have time for yourself?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
Nowadays children watch much more television than they did in the past and spend less time being active or creative.
What is the reason for this?
What measures should be taken to encourage children to be more active?
It is true that the omnipresence of streaming services and personal computers has contributed to individuals these days eschewing watching entertainment with others in favor of doing these activities alone. Although this may bring great levels of convenience for individuals, this is a negative development on the whole.
The primary benefit of insular viewing habits pertains to personal convenience. This is because individuals can choose to watch movies or TV channels wherever and whenever they want without consulting others. Enjoying entertainment with others, on the other hand, can be problematic as individuals have to find a suitable time for everyone to watch together, which is not always possible given their hectic schedules these days. Furthermore, since each person has his or her unique interests regarding entertainment, a compromise needs to be reached between viewers to find a movie or a program that everyone can enjoy. The process of choosing a type of entertainment compatible with all individuals’ tastes is likely to result in disagreements or even conflicts, which potentially hurts their relationships as a result.
Nonetheless, the aforementioned advantage is far dwarfed by the disadvantage of increasing isolation. The truth is that individuals these days are exceedingly busy with numerous responsibilities such as working, housework, or child-raising. Worse still, they have to spend an oversized amount of time traveling to work on a daily basis, leaving them little time being around their families and friends. This means that the time for watching entertainment together can be of enormous value for them to be together, discuss, joke, or comment about what they are watching, which is obviously unavailable to watching alone. The situation is made worse when independent watching habits may loosen family bonds, which is a possible precursor to future mental problems.
In conclusion, while the convenience of enjoying entertainment alone is undeniable, I am strongly convinced it is overwhelmingly outweighed by the disadvantage of individuals becoming excessively isolated.
Nice work – some good collocations!
You said we need to have one main idea for each body paragraph. Then here you mentioned to advantages in one paragraph?
how many advantages and disadvantages do we need to write for essays like this (or cause and effect)?
This one asks for advantageS and disadvantageS so you should have two of each.
You can still group them under a single umbrella main idea such as convenience – as I usually do with this question type.
Is that clear?
Thanks a lot, I got that
You’re welcome!