Violence in the media promotes violence in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Bhargavee Sisodia

30 Jul 2024

The International English Language Testing System or the IELTS test has two major types based on the purpose of application: The Academic and General Training IELTS. Both these types have four sets of exams among which one such test is the IELTS writing test.

For both Academic and General Training IELTS, the writing test is subdivided into 2 sections with an overall time limit of 60 minutes.  

In the Academic IELTS writing test, there are two sections namely the visual information section and essay writing section.

• Visual Information: It has a time limit of 20 minutes and a word limit of 150 words minimum. You can be asked to describe graphs, tables, charts, etc.
• Essay: It has a time limit of 40 minutes and a minimum word limit of 250 words. You will be given a topic on which you must write an essay. 

Likewise, the General Training IELTS writing test also has two segments, namely the letter writing segment and the essay writing segment. 

• Letter Writing: It has a time limit of 20 minutes with a minimum word count of 150. You will be asked to write a formal, informal, or semi-formal letter on a topic.
• Essay: The writing test's essay portion is the same for both IELTS exam types. It has the same word count and time restrictions. The essay's topics are chosen depending on popular interest. 

In IELTS writing task 2, you need to draft an essay on a topic given to you. You need to understand the meaning of the topic and determine the type of the essay, before starting it. This blog will help you with all the information needed for the IELTS writing essay section so that you can aim for your desired IELTS writing band score. Let’s discuss the major types of essays below. 

IELTS test: Types of Essay in IELTS Writing Module

IELTS essay themes often fall into one of six main categories, each with a specific format for responses. Therefore, you must be aware of and comprehend the main ideas behind each essay type. 

• Problem Solution Essay: These types of essays encourage you to write about the causes and effects of broad issues, such as global warming or overpopulation. Giving personal thoughts and suggestions in these kinds of articles must be avoided. 
• Advantage & Disadvantage Essay: In this kind of essay, you have to list the benefits and drawbacks of a certain topic. Your essay's main body should be well balanced, with each paragraph addressing a topic's advantages and disadvantages in turn. If the topic doesn't specifically ask for your opinion, don't share it.
• Discussion Essay: You are allowed to discuss all sides of an argument in this kind of essay. If the topic doesn't ask for your opinion, refrain from sharing it.
• Balanced Opinion Essay: You must present your points on the subject of the topic diplomatically in this kind of essay. You must present arguments on both sides of the matter without endorsing one over the other. The essay's introduction and conclusion should contain your opinions. 
• Opinion Essay: You must express your personal opinion (usually agree or disagree) on the assigned topic in an opinion essay. To persuade the examiner of your point of view, you must provide proper facts and reasoning. Remember that you cannot partially agree or disagree with the given topic. Whatever your stance is, it needs to be firm.
• Direct Question Essay: This evaluates your ability to articulate ideas, analyze a topic, and provide a coherent, well-structured response on a specific topic or issue. 

Like all the other parts of IELTS tests, the IELTS writing test’s essay segment has a few factors on which it is scored.  We have jotted down the key assessment criteria for the IELTS writing essay section for you to browse and understand which part of your writing should be emphasized and polished. 

IELTS Writing: Scoring Assessment criteria 

Each of the four criteria used to assess the essay portion of the writing test accounts for 25% of the total IELTS writing band score. The following are the contributing factors: 

• Task Achievement / Task Response: This component assesses how well you covered the assigned topic, how well you understood the important points made to support your response, and how accurately you understood the assigned topic. Make sure the word count of your essay does not fall below 250 and you have enough time to proofread your essay within the allotted 40 minutes. 
• Coherence and Cohesion: Coherence means the logical flow of ideas. In order to make your writing coherent, you need to be organized with your thoughts and make your writing easy to understand. Cohesion means a proper way of sticking different parts of writing together. To make your writing cohesive, you should use ample linking words and avoid repetitions. 
• Lexical Resource: The examiner would assess this point by looking over your writing for accuracy, the breadth of your vocabulary, any spelling mistakes, and how well you used word combinations in your writing. Proper utilization of a wide range of vocabulary can increase your score in this criterion. 
• Grammatical Accuracy and Range: This component assesses your punctuation, sentence structure, and usage of proper grammar. A wide range of grammar should be used to ace your score in this segment. 

You need to be careful about all the above factors to get a good IELTS writing band score. 

IELTS writing test: List of Linking words

Linking words are used to connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs in a writing and they help in elevating the logical appeal and fluency of one’s writing. One of the most common mistakes candidates make while writing their essays is to skip the usage of linking words. We have written a set of linking words for your reference and categorized them based on usage. 

Addition: Used for adding new points

• Moreover
• Furthermore
• In addition
• Also
• Besides

Contrast: To express a change in the flow of ideas

• However
• On the other hand
• Nevertheless
• Although
• Despite

Cause and Effect: To express cause and effect sentences

• Because
• As a result
• Since
• Therefore
• Consequently
• Thus

Comparison: To compare between two logics or ideas

• Similarly
• Likewise
• In the same way

Conclusion: To begin conceding thoughts

• In conclusion
• To sum up
• In summary
• Overall

IELTS writing task 2 sample questions with answers

To attempt a Balanced opinion essay you can be inclined to one side of the argument i.e. either agree or disagree, but cannot deny the other side. This means you can partially agree or disagree with the context of the topic.  

Introduction: Paraphrase the given information and state your stance on the topic (partially agree/partially disagree). You can state that you are more inclined on one side, but cannot rigidly negate the other.

Main Body: The main body should consist of at least 2 paragraphs.

• Paragraph 1: Initiate with the topic sentence and then write three to four sentences according to your primary inclination. Make sure to add enough examples and explanations. 
• Paragraph 2: You can add one or two pointers to support the second perspective on the topic and use a few more instances to justify them.
• Paragraph 3(optional): You can add statements related to opponent views and your outlooks on it.

Conclusion: Restate your point of view and give the essay a satisfying closure. 

Now let's have a look at the probable answers to one such IELTS essay topic which is “Violence in the media promotes violence in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree”. It is a Balanced Opinion Essay and below we have listed the answers for bands 6, 7, and 9. 

IELTS writing band score 6 sample

Media is one of the most powerful tools in today’s world and it has a lot of perks as well as a lot of downsides to it. People tend to be influence by the content shown in media, good or bad. I agree that violence in media can promote violence in society, but cannot ignore its advantages. Thus I would like to discuss its pros and cons in the essay.

First, if we speak about the benefits of media, we need to understand the extent of control it had on people in the current day. The media and its contents keeps people up to date with the latest news, newest trends, looming threats and potential struggles apart from keeping them entertained. Violent incidents if shown in media can keep everyone updated, which is one of the ways to reduce such crimes. For example, news about a robbery in a particular area, helps others in that area to be more cautious and develop defence against the crime.

However, it has a huge downside as well. Such content on television influence the younger generation to practice it in their lives, which influence the personality and completely ruins their sense of right and wrong. For instance, kids like to watch action scenes in movies or rough sports like kickboxing and act violently in real life. Incidents like that can ruin the entire future of a kid. 

Moreover, several adult get manipulated by it and resort to destruction and fight in their lives. For example, there are several instances of crimes in real life where the culprit has admitted to getting influenced by crime shows. Apart from that, violence like car chases, bike racing, and physical fights shown in movies and series can influence adults to act recklessly in real life which leads to disasterous outcomes. 

In conclusion, I believe, any type of violence shown on the media can be harmful to the onlookers if it is recreated in real life. So people should be aware of the positives and negatives of media content and screen it accordingly.  

Notes on the above answer: 

• The above answer represent Grammatical errors like incorrect tenses or nouns and punctuation mistakes which would decrease your score on Accuracy. 
• The induces spelling mistakes or lack of Lexical Resources. 
• Words like “influence”, “media”, “example”, and “crime” have been repeated in the essay which has reduced Coherence. Use of fewer linking words like “However”, and “Moreover” affects the overall Cohesion of the essay. 

IELTS writing band score 7

One of the most potent instruments in the modern world is the media, which has many advantages but also many disadvantages. Positive or negative media information frequently has an impact on people. I agree that violent media might encourage violent behavior in society, but fail to ignore its benefits which is why I want to talk about its advantages and disadvantages in this essay.

Before discussing the disadvantages of the media, we must acknowledge its current level of influence over society. In addition to providing entertainment, the media and its contents inform people about current events, emerging trends, risks, and possible difficulties. One strategy to lessen violent crimes is to show violent instances in the media so that everyone is informed. For instance, news of a robbery in a specific region encourage others in that area to exercise greater caution and build defenses against criminal activity.

Despite that, there is also a significant drawback. Television shows like this encourage the younger generation to emulate them, which eventually brings out the worst traits in them and utterly destroys their moral sense. Children, for example, often act violently after being influenced by action scenes in movies or sports like kickboxing. Something like that can destroy a child's entire future.

Furthermore, it manipulates a number of adults, who then turn to violence and devastation in their daily lives. For example, the perpetrators of a number of real-life crimes have acknowledged that they were influenced by crime television. In addition, violent television shows and films, such as those involving vehicle chases, bike races, and physical torture, can cause adults to behave dangerously in real life, which can have disastrous results. 

In conclusion, my opinion is, that if violence of any kind is replicated in real life, it could be dangerous and even life threatening. People ought to screen media content appropriately and get inspired by its advantages and discouraged by its disadvantages not the other way around.  

Notes on the above answer: 

• The above answer represent Grammatical mistakes like the incorrect choice of words, or nouns. 
• There were lack of clarity or accuracy in the statement or phrases, like “which eventually brings out the worst traits in them and utterly destroys their moral sense” could have been “which brings out their worst traits and ruins their moral sense” which increases Coherence. 
• Linking words have been used much less, and words like “violent”, “crimes”, and “influenced” have been repeated, which has also decreased the overall score of Cohesion and Coherence.
• The phrase  “a number of” should be “several”, or “many” which can increase the score in Accuracy. 

IELTS writing band score 9

The media, with a plethora of benefits and drawbacks, is one of the most powerful tools in the contemporary world. Broadcast content, whether favorable or unfavorable, frequently affects individuals. Since I agree with the aforementioned topic, but cannot completely refute its advantages, I'm inclined to offer my perspective on its benefits and drawbacks in this essay.

First, before illustrating the media's drawbacks, let's admit how much of an influence it currently has on society. Digital contents not only entertain people but also educate them about current affairs, new trends, dangers, and potential challenges. Publicizing violent incidents to educate the public is one way to reduce violent crime. For example, hearing of a robbery in a particular neighborhood can prompt people there to increase their vigilance and fortify themselves against criminal activity.

Still, there's a big negative. These kinds of television programs breed envy in the younger generation, bringing out the worst in them and completely undermining their moral compass. In particular, action sequences in movies or combat sports can influence children to engage in brutality. That kind of behavior has the potential to ruin a child's entire future.

Moreover, it manipulates several adults, who subsequently live lives filled with violence and destruction. For instance, crime television has been acknowledged as a source of influence by the perpetrators of some real-life crimes. Moreover, adult behavior can be disastrously affected by violent television series and movies, that feature scenes of physical altercations, bike races, or heinous murders.

In summary, it could be risky and even fatal if barbarity of any kind is recreated in real life. Thus, I believe, multimedia broadcasting content should be evaluated properly so that people are inspired by its positive aspects and deterred by its negatives. 

Conclusion

D-VIVID is here to be your mentor and assist you with a vast array of IELTS writing task 2 topics with answers categorized by IELTS writing band score to help you prepare for the band you are aiming to achieve in the writing test. Our archive of IELTS essay topics on different categories and types will surely improve your understanding of the task and its required outcomes. We are here to guide you in every step of your IELTS exam, so trust us and contact us. As you launch into your IELTS preparation, you need a guide to demonstrate the pattern of IELTS writing task 2 topics and judge your writing ability accordingly, and D-VIVID is the source of guidance you deserve.