Happiness is often Considered difficult to Define- IELTS Writing Task 2

Happiness is often considered difficult to define. Why is this? What factors determine happiness?

Outline

Essay Type

Direct Question Essay

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – Paraphrase the topic with the use of synonyms to establish a base on which you will elaborate upon.

Sentence 3 – Mention that the essay will understand the difficulty in defining happiness, and the determinants of happiness.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Talk about the difficulty to define happiness as it is a subjective feeling, and how it affects the definition.

Paragraph 2 – Talk about the determinants of happiness. State some examples.

Conclusion

State the summary of the prior paragraphs.

Sample Essay

There is an emotion that almost every animal feels when elated, ecstatic, and thrilled. Humans call it happiness, and nowadays, it seems that happiness is difficult to define. This essay will unravel some mysteries regarding it while throwing some light on the determinants of happiness.

There are various layers to happiness, and the intricacy of human emotions doesn’t make it simpler. Behaviorists, sociologists, and psychologists have scratched their heads to arrive at a conclusive definition, but it too depends on multifarious factors and is usually influenced by various pretexts. Moreover, it is a subjective feeling. In other words, everyone has a different measure, scale, and reasons for their own happiness. Hence, defining happiness is a difficult task.

The determinants of happiness, just like its definition, are varied. For instance, the gratification of scoring well after preparing thoroughly for exams constitutes happiness. Some might fancy an excursion to the unexplored places, sufficing their quota of happiness. Even getting a bar of chocolate from your father can bring happiness, so does a simple heart-to-heart conversation with a dear one. In general, one can derive happiness wherever one wishes to, which essentially encapsulates its mysteries. If an individual desires, they can smile and feel happy even in the harshest of times.

All in all, the difficulty of defining happiness does not seem to bother people, as everyone desires to be happy – some are readily able to achieve happiness while the rest have to work a bit. But eventually, one does get to experience the joyous emotion.

Vocabulary

• Elated  

Meaning – ecstatically happy.
Example – I’m elated to announce my new role at the company.

• Ecstatic 

Meaning – feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement.
Example – After seeing his marks, he was feeling ecstatic.

• Unravel  

Meaning – investigate and solve or explain.
Example – We need to unravel the secrets of the cave in that mountain.

• Determinants  

Meaning – a factor that decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.
Example – The determinants of quality sleep are varied.

• Intricacy 

Meaning – the quality of being intricate.
Example – The intricacy of the woven fabric is mind-boggling.

• Multifarious 

Meaning – many and of various types.
Example – The school has lined up multifarious activities for our excursion.

• Pretexts 

Meaning – a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.
Example – Hari didn’t mention any pretexts before he decided to resign.

• Gratification  

Meaning – pleasure, especially when gained from the satisfaction of a desire.
Example – I achieve gratification when I accomplish something in my school.

• Excursion 

Meaning – a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity.
Example – I am planning an excursion to Goa.

• Encapsulates  

Meaning – express the essential features of (something) succinctly.
Example – The accompanying introduction encapsulates the poem.