Simon ,雅思,Ideas for IELTS topics.doc

Ideas for IELTS topicsWho is this book for?Many students have no ideas or opinions about IETLS writing topics. Even if your grammar is perfect,you will not get a high IELTS score if you do not know what to write. This book is for students who wantto go into the writing exam feeling confident that they have excellent ideas, opinions and vocabulary foras many topics as possibleHow do you get an IELTS score of 7 or higher?The key to a high score is not grammar, it is not your use of words like “moreover” or “in addition”, andit is not your use of phrases like “this is controversial issue nowadays”.To get a high score you need to use good “topic language” (words and phrases that are related to thequestion topic). You need good ideas in order to answer the question well.How should you prepare for IELTS writing task 2?There is an enormous amount of advice on my website . Here is a summary of what Isuggest:-Spend more time preparing than testingWhen you test yourself, you find out what your level is, but you do not learn anything new. You willnot improve if you only write test essays. Before writing an essay, study the topic and prepare yourideas, opinions and vocabulary.-Steal my ideasIf you only use the vocabulary that you already know, you will not learn anything new, and you willnot improve. Practise linking my topic ideas together to write “perfect essays”. See the website forexamples of how to do this.-Use this book together with the websiteThe website contains lessons and videos that show you how to use the ideas fromthis book. You can speak to me there if you have any questions.Content24 topics:1. AdvertisingPositives of Advertising Advertising is a key part of modern businessCompanies need to tell customers about their productsAdvertisements inform us about the choices we haveAdvertising is a creative industry that employs many peopleWithout advertising we would have less choiceWithout advertising there would be higher unemploymentAdvertising is a form of modern artPeople enjoy advertsNegatives of AdvertisingAdvertising manipulates peopleIt aims to persuade people that buying a product will make them happierAdvertisers focus on selling a brand imageThey use glamorous, successful peopleWe now live in a consumer cultureWe are persuaded to follow the latest trendWe are encouraged to associate certain brands with a higher statusAdvertisers often aim their marketing at childrenChildren can easily be influenced by advertisements.Children put pressure on parents to buy them thingsOpinions about AdvertisingAdvertising should be regulatedAdvertising aimed at children should be controlled or even bannedUnhealthy foods should not be marketed in a way that attracts childrenProducts that can be risk to healthy should display warningsIn some countries it is illegal to advertise cigarettes on televisionWarnings must be displayed on cigarette packetsHowever, advertising is necessary in free market economiesIt creates demand for productsGovernments should only censor false information or products that are harmful2. Animal rightsArguments for Animal testingAnimals are used in important scientific researchIt is necessary to do medical tests on new drugsAnimal testing helps to advance medical and scientific knowledge Many important medical discoveries involved experimentation on animalsResearchers aim to minimize the suffering that animals experienceTesting for the cosmetics industry is now banned in many countriesArguments against Animal TestingThe benefits of research using animals do not justify the suffering causedThere are alternative methods of researchThe lives of animals should be respectedHumans have no moral right to do experiments on animalsArguments for VegetarianismVegetarians do not eat foods that are produced by killing animalsMany people choose a vegetarian diet for moral or health reasonsA healthy diet is possible without eating meatIt is unnecessary to kill animal for foodA vegetarian diet may reduce the risk of disease like cancerMany people question the treatment of animals in factory farmsArguments against VegetarianismVegetarians do not eat a balanced dietIn many cultures, meat is the main ingredient in traditional mealsMeat-eaters argue that animals are below humans in the food chainIt is completely natural for us to kill them for foodOur aim should be improve farming methodsFarms should produce organic foodPositives of ZoosZoos paly an important role in wildlife conservation They can help to protect endangered speciesZoos allow scientists to study animals and their behaviorZoos are educational, interesting and funChildren, in particular, enjoy learning about animalsZoos provide job opportunities.Negatives of ZoosZoo animals are kept in artificial environmentsThey are kept in cages or have limited spaceZoo animals rely on humansThey lose the freedom to hunt for foodThey best way to save endangered species is by protecting natural habitats.Some people believe that zoos are unethicalZoos exhibits animals with the aim of making moneyWe have no right to use animals for entertainment and profit.3. CitiesReasons for UrbanizationPeople move to cities in search of job opportunitiesCities offer greater employment possibilities and a higher standard of livingPeople migrate to cities from the countrysideTraditional activities like farming need fewer workers nowadaysNegatives of City LifeLife in cities has its drawbacksThe cost of living is higher than in rural areasSome people d not manage to find workHousing is usually much more expensive Homelessness and poverty are common on citiesThere is a gap between rich and poorLife in cities can be extremely stressfulThere are problems like traffic congestion and crimeCities lack a sense of communityPeople do not even know their neighborCities are sometimes described as “concrete jungles”.Pedestrian AreasPedestrian zones in city centre can improve the local environmentBanning cars encourages people to walk or cycleMany European cities have built bicycle lanesDependence on cars is linked to health problems like obesityPeople who walk or cycle regularly are generally healthierPedestrian areas are safer and more attractive for both residents and tourists4. CrimePolice and Crime PreventionThe job of the polices is to catch criminalsThey must also prevent crime and make communities saferThere should be an increase in the number of police officers on the streetsPolice officers should be seen as part of the communityThey should be involved with education and preventionThe police should be in close contact with schoolsThey should focus on young people who have dropped out of school.These teenagers may become involved with gangs Punishments/PrisonsFines are used as punishment for minor crimesIf the crime is more serious, prison is the most common punishmentSome criminals pose a threat to societyThey are put in prison to ensure the safety of other citizensNegatives of PrisonsCriminals are put togetherThey make friends with other offendersMany prisoners re-offend when they are releasedA criminal record makes finding a job more difficultRehabilitationAnother aim of prisons is rehabilitationPrisoners receive education of vocational trainingPrisoners should learn personal skills and specific job skillsPunishment could make prisoners behavior worseRehabilitation aims to make them better citizensRehabilitated prisoners are less likely to re-offendCapital punishmentSupporters say that capital punishment deters crimeFear of the death penalty stops people from committing offencesThe death penalty shows that crime is not toleratedIt is a form of revengeThe cost of imprisonment is avoidedThe offender cannot pose a threat to othersAgainst Capital Punishment Innocent people could be wrongly convicted and executedCrime rates are not necessarily reducedMany criminals do not think they will be caughtCapital punishment is not a good deterrentExecuting prisoners creates a violent culture and encourages revengeWe have no right to take another human lifeCommunity serviceCommunity service is a way to reform offendersIt could be a solution to prison overcrowdingIt avoids the cost of imprisonmentIt makes offenders useful in their local communitiesThey are required to clean streets or talk to school groupsOffenders repay their communityThey avoid the negative influence that prison can haveAgainst community serviceCommunity service is not a sufficient punishmentCriminals should be locked up, away from their victimsCrime in the MediaCrime is one of the main subjects of most news programs.The mass media focus on violent and sensational crimesThis lead to fear of crime among the publicSensational stories attract more viewers or readersThe media report crime stories in order to increase their audience5. EducationBenefits of education Education gives people knowledge and skillsPeople with qualification are more likely to find workThey can earn a higher salaryThey can contribute positively to societySchools aim to teach young people moral values such as tolerance and sharingSchools prepare children to be members of a societyBenefits of Studying AbroadForeign institutions may offer better coursesMany students want to attend a prestigious universityThe best universities employ teachers who are experts in their fieldsQualifications gained abroad can open the door to better job opportunitiesLiving abroad can broaden students horizonsOverseas students are exposed to different cultures and customs.They become more independentThey are responsible for cooking, cleaning and paying billsThey will learn a foreign languageDrawback of studying abroadLiving and studying abroad can be difficultStudents have problems with paperwork such as visa applicationsThe language barrier can be a problemStudents have to find accommodation and pay billsStudying in a foreign language is challengingLiving alone in an unfamiliar culture can cause homesicknessTechnology in Education: AdvantagesTechnology is a powerful tool to engage students Technology can make lessons much more interestingStudents can do research using online resourcesStudents can study at their own placeAdults can take distance learning coursesStudents can study whenever and wherever they wantStudents also learn skills which are useful for their future jobsFor example, they learn to write reports using a word processorTechnology in Education: DisadvantagesPeople rely too much on computersYoung learners do not become proficient in some basic skillsThey use word processors and spelling may sufferPeople should be able to write a letter by handTechnology is no substitute for a real teacherLearners need a structured courseAn experienced teacher knows what materials to chooseComputers are expensive to maintain and can be unreliableTechnology in Education: OpinionInstitutions should supplement traditional teaching with the use of technologyTechnology is part of everyday lifeIt can enhance a teachers lessonsStudents can use online resources to help with homeworkStudents must still learn to write by handThey should still use traditional sources of information such as booksEducation in Developing countries: ProblemsChildren often have to work from an early age There are no schools in many areasFamilies do not have access to books or computersLiteracy rates are often lowPeople in developing countries need knowledge and skillsEducation is the key to improving the economy of these countriesEducation in developing countries: solutionsDeveloped countries could help developing nations by providing moneyThey could invest in schools and technologyThey could supply the funds to build schools and pay for teachersChildren need to have access to free schoolingComputer equipment could be donatedThe Internet can expose students to a world of knowledge and informationGovernments should make education compulsory for all childrenThey should encourage parents to send their children to schoolGovernments of developed and developing countries must work togetherHigher education: Advantages (also see “benefits of education”)There are many benefits to going to universityA degree can open the door to better employment prospectsEconomies are becoming increasingly knowledge-basedMost jobs require specific knowledge and skillsSkilled workers are needed for sectors such as information technology and engineeringRepetitive manual jobs are now done by machineMany factories have moved to developing countriesHigher education: DisadvantagesA healthy economy needs a wide range of workers Some manual workers will always be neededA university degree is not necessary for many service professionsPractical training is more important in some industriesIn the UK, for example, there is currently a shortage of plumbersTheir services are therefore becoming more and more expensiveAdvantage of Home-schoolingSome parents decide to educate their children at homeSome families live in isolated areas with poor transportOther parents are not satisfied with local schoolsParents can respond to what their children need and how they learn bestOne-to-one lessons allow much faster progressThe child can work at his or her own paceDiscipline problems are avoided by home-schoolingDisadvantages of home-schoolingMost parents do not have the time to educate their children at homeOne parent would need to give up workSchool subjects are normally taught by up to ten different teachersMost parents do not have the necessary knowledge or resourcesPrivate tutors are expensiveChildren will miss out on the social experience that school offersAt school, children learn how to get on with each otherHome-schooled children may lack social skillsSchools offer a better overall educational experienceBad behavior in schools: causesBad behavior is due to a lack of structure and discipline There are too many children in some classesLarge classes are difficult to manageMay disruptive students come from an unstable family backgroundOther parents are too lenient and spoil their childrenSome children are used to getting whatever they wantSchools can do very little if they are not supported by parentsBad behavior in schools: solutionsSchools need a clear code of conductSchools need a clear set of rules about behaviorThey need to create a positive working atmosphereTeachers must have the power to punish disruptive studentsSchools should remove difficult children from lessonsSchools need to work closely with parentsDiscipline could be lacking at homeParents must support the school rulesThey should take responsibility for their childrens behaviorCorporal Punishment: OpinionCorporal Punishment is not a good ideaPhysical punishment is a way of controlling children using fearThis does not promote trust between adults and childrenChildren who are punished physically may become shy or resentfulCorporal punishment creates an atmosphere of fear and angerSingle Sex Education: AdvantagesSome people believe that male and female students should go to separate schoolsThis is often for religious or cultural reasons Discipline problems might be avoided by separating boys and girlsBoys and girls may learn in different ways and have different needsStudent at single-sex schools often get better exam grades.Single-sex Education: DisadvantagesSeparating boys and girls is unnecessaryIt is unhealthy in terms of childrens social developmentMany coeducational schools are extremely successfulA mixed-sex environment is more representative of real lifeCoeducational schools provide children with better social skills for adult lifeAdvantages of Streaming (grouping children according to ability)Some schools separate students according to their academic abilityTeachers can work at the right speed for their studentsTeachers can plan more suitable lessonsHigh-level groups may progress fasterLower level groups can benefits from a slower paceSome teachers and parents support streaming for these reasonsDisadvantages of StreamingGrouping by ability may have a negative impact on studentsChildren do not want to be seen as less intelligent than othersStreaming could damage students self esteemThey may lose motivationStudents from wealthier families tend to be better preparedChildren from poorer families may receive less support from parentsMixed ability classes encourage everyone to achieve their potential.6. Environment Global warmingGases such as carbon dioxide trap heat from the sunThis causes global temperatures to riseThis process is known as the greenhouse effectHuman activity is a major factor in the rise of the greenhouse gasesFactories and vehicles produce emissions and exhaust fumesMany developing countries are becoming industrializedThe number of cars on our streets is growingCheap air travel is allowing more people to flyEffects of Global WarmingGlobal warming will have a significant impact on our planetRising temperature will cause melting of the polar ice capsSea levels will riseWe can expect more extreme weather conditionsFlooding and droughts may become more commonImpacts of humans on the environmentThe increasing world population is putting pressure on natural resourcesFossil fuels like oil and gas are running outWe ar