This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of mobile phones and social interaction from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 General Training Sample Answer Essay: Mobile Phones and Social Interaction (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

Some people believe that smartphones are destroying social interaction today.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Recent IELTS Exam/Test

Many today are of the belief that smartphones are injurious to social interaction. In my opinion, while smartphones can isolate individuals, their creative potential for communication overshadows this downside.

Those who argue against smartphones are typically wary of isolation. In the era before smartphones, it was more common for people to meet up at large social gatherings or see each other in person. This still happens today but it is less common because smartphones allow individuals to communicate and stay connected with their friends in the privacy of their own homes. It is entirely possible for a person today to stay home and completely eschew in person social interaction. Cases of these shut-ins have increased due to smartphones and this is also reflected in the number of services like Netflix and YouTube that cater to isolated consumers.

However, proponents of smartphones can rightly point out their functionality. This is evidenced daily in messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WeChat. It is easy to set up group chats to message, share links, gifs and video for co-workers, family, old classmates, and various subsets of friends. This type of instant, infinitely flexible communication was impossible in the past and the ability to share images and video allows people to be more creative and banter in new ways. Far from destroying social interaction, smartphones have expanded its scope, accessibility, and convenience.

In conclusion, smartphones are not destroying social interactions; they are helping it, in general. It is important to be mindful of both the drawbacks and the new possibilities for communication opening up due to advances in technology.

Analysis

1. Many today are of the belief that smartphones are injurious to social interaction. 2. In my opinion, while smartphones can isolate individuals, their creative potential for communication overshadows this downside.

  1. In your first sentence, paraphrase the topic for the whole essay.
  2. Then write a clear opinion.

1. Those who argue against smartphones are typically wary of isolation. 2. In the era before smartphones, it was more common for people to meet up at large social gatherings or see each other in person. 3. This still happens today but it is less common because smartphones allow individuals to communicate and stay connected with their friends in the privacy of their own homes. 4. It is entirely possible for a person today to stay home and completely eschew in person social interaction. 5. Cases of these shut-ins have increased due to smartphones and this is also reflected in the number of services like Netflix and YouTube that cater to isolated consumers.

  1. Write a topic sentence with your first main reason at the end of it.
  2. Start developing or explaining your main idea.
  3. Continue to develop the same main idea.
  4. Here I include a hypothetical example to further support my idea.
  5. Finally, I reference research and specific examples to finish supporting my main idea.

1. However, proponents of smartphones can rightly point out their functionality. 2. This is evidenced daily in messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WeChat. 3. It is easy to set up group chats to message, share links, gifs and video for co-workers, family, old classmates, and various subsets of friends. 4. This type of instant, infinitely flexible communication was impossible in the past and the ability to share images and video allows people to be more creative and banter in new ways. 5. Far from destroying social interaction, smartphones have expanded its scope, accessibility, and convenience.

  1. Write another topic sentence with another clear main idea at the end of it.
  2. Use specific examples to support your main idea!
  3. Develop the example with supporting ideas.
  4. Keep developing it by talking about the results.
  5. Conclude your paragraph by tying it back to the overall essay topic.

1. In conclusion, smartphones are not destroying social interactions; they are helping it, in general. 2. It is important to be mindful of both the drawbacks and the new possibilities for communication opening up due to advances in technology.

  1. Repeat your opinion.
  2. Include a final thought.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Many today are of the belief that smartphones are injurious to social interaction. In my opinion, while smartphones can isolate individuals, their creative potential for communication overshadows this downside.

Those who argue against smartphones are typically wary of isolation. In the era before smartphones, it was more common for people to meet up at large social gatherings or see each other in person. This still happens today but it is less common because smartphones allow individuals to communicate and stay connected with their friends in the privacy of their own homes. It is entirely possible for a person today to stay home and completely eschew in person social interaction. Cases of these shut-ins have increased due to smartphones and this is also reflected in the number of services like Netflix and YouTube that cater to isolated consumers.

However, proponents of smartphones can rightly point out their functionality. This is evidenced daily in messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WeChat. It is easy to set up group chats to message, share links, gifs and video for co-workers, family, old classmates, and various subsets of friends. This type of instant, infinitely flexible communication was impossible in the past and the ability to share images and video allows people to be more creative and banter in new ways. Far from destroying social interaction, smartphones have expanded its scope, accessibility, and convenience.

In conclusion, smartphones are not destroying social interactions; they are helping it, in general. It is important to be mindful of both the drawbacks and the new possibilities for communication opening up due to advances in technology.

Answers

of the belief

injurious

social interaction

isolate

creative potential

overshadows

downside

argue against

typically wary

era

meet up

large social gatherings

in person

stay connected

in the privacy of their own homes

entirely possible

eschew

cases of these shut-ins

reflected

cater to

proponents

rightly point out

functionality

evidenced daily

set up group chats

gifs

various subsets of friends

instant, infinitely flexible communication

impossible

share images

banter

Far from

expanded its scope, accessibility, and convenience

in general

be mindful

opening up

Pronunciation

ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf 
ɪnˈʤʊərɪəs 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˌɪntərˈækʃən
ˈaɪsəleɪt 
kri(ː)ˈeɪtɪv pəʊˈtɛnʃəl 
ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊz 
ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd
ˈɑːgjuː əˈgɛnst 
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li ˈweəri 
ˈɪərə 
miːt ʌp 
lɑːʤ ˈsəʊʃəl ˈgæðərɪŋz 
ɪn ˈpɜːsn
steɪ kəˈnɛktɪd 
ɪn ðə ˈprɪvəsi ɒv ðeər əʊn həʊmz
ɪnˈtaɪəli ˈpɒsəbl 
ɪsˈʧuː 
ˈkeɪsɪz ɒv ðiːz ˈʃʌtˈɪnz 
rɪˈflɛktɪd 
ˈkeɪtə tuː 
prəˈpəʊnənts 
ˈraɪtli pɔɪnt aʊt 
ˌfʌŋkʃəˈnælɪti
ˈɛvɪdənst ˈdeɪli 
sɛt ʌp gruːp ʧæts 
gifs 
ˈveərɪəs ˈsʌbsɛts ɒv frɛndz
ˈɪnstəntˈɪnfɪnɪtli ˈflɛksəbl kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən 
ɪmˈpɒsəbl 
ʃeər ˈɪmɪʤɪz 
ˈbæntə 
fɑː frɒm 
ɪksˈpændɪd ɪts skəʊpəkˌsɛsɪˈbɪlɪtiænd kənˈviːniəns.
ɪn ˈʤɛnərəl
biː ˈmaɪndfʊl 
ˈəʊpnɪŋ ʌp 

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Many today are o______________f that smartphones are i___________s to s__________________n. In my opinion, while smartphones can i________e individuals, their c_________________l for communication o____________s this d___________e.

Those who a_____________t smartphones are t_______________y of isolation. In the e___a before smartphones, it was more common for people to m_________p at l_________________________s or see each other i_____________n. This still happens today but it is less common because smartphones allow individuals to communicate and s_________________d with their friends i______________________________________________s. It is e____________________e for a person today to stay home and completely e__________w in person social interaction. C__________________________s have increased due to smartphones and this is also r_______________d in the number of services like Netflix and YouTube that c_________o isolated consumers.

However, p_____________s of smartphones can r______________t their f_______________y. This is e_____________________y in messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and WeChat. It is easy to s_______________________s to message, share links, g_______s and video for co-workers, family, old classmates, and v______________________s. This type of i___________t, i_____________________________n was i______________e in the past and the ability to s_________________s and video allows people to be more creative and b_____________r in new ways. F__________m destroying social interaction, smartphones have e_______________________e, a________________y, and c___________________e.

In conclusion, smartphones are not destroying social interactions; they are helping it, i______________l. It is important to b_______________l of both the drawbacks and the new possibilities for communication o______________p due to advances in technology.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Learn more about how your cell phone is changing you below:

Reading Practice

Read here about breaking your smartphone addiction:

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/smartphone-addiction-tips

Speaking Practice

Answer the questions below from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Mobile Phones and Smartphones

  1. What are the advantages of smartphones?
  2. Should children be allowed to own smartphones?
  3. Do you thinks have a major or minor impact on mental health?
  4. Where in your country is it not appropriate to use a phone?
  5. Do you think smartphone usage may decline in the future?

Writing Practice

Write about the related question below and then read my sample answer on it:

The use of social media is replacing face-to-face interaction among many people in society.

Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Real Past IELTS Test/Exam

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