Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings – IELTS Writing Task 2 Argumentative Essay

The IELTS Writing Task 2 Argumentative Essay topic 'Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings' is considered as one of the hardest essay types. This is because you need to present your argument very clearly, supporting it with examples, and making it coherent. Remember that the IELTS Writing topic requires you to argue between the conservation of old heritage and modernity. Therefore, you need to think about national identity, the role of tourism, and urban planning. By developing critical thinking skills, you will become familiar with the logical structure, improve proficiency in vocabulary, and focus on the usage of the various cohesion devices.

How to Brainstorm for IELTS Writing Task 2 Argumentative Essay, ‘Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings’?

To ace the IELTS Writing Task 2 section, you need to learn how to organize your ideas before you start writing the essay. Brainstorming is a very important step as it helps you to look at the topic from different perspectives and lay down a strong logical base for your essay. The table below shows how to brainstorm ideas, identify the main reasons, and focus on the specific perspectives.

Question - IELTS Writing Task 2 Argumentative Essay, ‘Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings’

Sample Answer 1 on ‘Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings’

Preserving historic buildings is vital to understanding our nation’s heritage. In the process of restoring them, some people believe that the authorities should not compensate for any changes done in their original appearance, and that the buildings should be restored as they were. This essay shall advocate a practical approach to this scenario.

Restoration is said to be the process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period.  All around the world, there are many active redevelopment projects undertaken by the government to preserve the sanctity of these ancient treasures. However, it is not reasonably possible to restore each and every detail of these buildings as it was.

Primarily, the construction of these century-old buildings begins to wear out in time. In such cases, some parts of the buildings might not be in a recoverable condition. Here, the architects need to reconstruct that particular part to give a complete look to the puzzle of these primeval structures. Therefore, it is unacceptable for the government to demand accurate traditional appearance of the buildings. Sometimes, a few relevant contemporary touches need to be added to make the older buildings appeasing enough.

In conclusion, the government should not be insistent on minute preservation of traditional appearance of old buildings. Minor modifications can definitely be made to adapt existing buildings to compatible new uses. This not only makes good economic sense, but preserves our legacy also.

Vocabulary for Sample Answer 1 on ‘Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings’

• Restoration - The act of giving something back its original condition

Eg - The restoration of the fort from the 16th century took more than five years.

• Sanctity - Respect given due to high importance

Eg - The government intends to maintain the sanctity of the ancient buildings across the city.

• Primeval Structures - Very ancient or old

Eg - The archaeologists were involved in the study of the primeval structures to gain insights about early civilizations.

• Appeasing - Making something pleasing to the senses

Eg - Soft lighting was installed to make the old cathedral more appeasing.

• Insistent - Repeatedly demanding with firm requests

Eg - The authorities were insistent on preserving every detail of the heritage house.

Sample Answer 2 on ‘Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings’

There has always been a disagreement regarding the restoration of historic structures on whether or not to keep the look intact. While some people opine that such constructions need to be reinvented, others would argue that it is better to keep the old look. I completely agree with the notion of renovating the structures without changing the appearance. This essay will put forth the reasons that support the latter view.

First of all, most of these buildings were constructed at the time when the cities were being constructed. In other words, these buildings not only hold history but also evoke memories which narrates the past. For instance, in Toronto, Canada, many old buildings are being renovated where the engineers are preserving the same look because the locals regard it as a part of their history.

Moreover, many buildings act as tourist attractions where people from all over the world come to visit them. If the government decides to change its appearance, then tourists might not be interested to visit. For instance, many architectures undergo major rebuilding due to fire that completely wiped out this famous landmark. Nevertheless, the government and engineers’ main concern was to reconstruct in the same manner as it was before the fire. This is because the appearance is vital for the attraction of the tourists to the spot.

In conclusion, the facade of ancient buildings should be kept intact not only for their inherent values but also because their locations are among the most preferred by the tourists. Therefore, the authorities must allow old buildings to keep their original look after some modernization.

Vocabulary for Sample Answer 2 on ‘Governments Must Insist on Preserving Traditional Appearance of Old Buildings’

• Evoke memories - To bring back past events or feelings.

Eg - The old buildings in a city evoke memories of the past.

• Narrate - To tell

Eg - Many moments narrate the history of the past which is depicted through the achievements.

• Facade - The overall appearance of a structure 

Eg - They have added a bit of modernization while restoring the building’s facade.

• Inherent value - The basic worth of something

Eg - The inherent value of the temples is in its religious and cultural significance.

As you prepare for the Writing Task 2 of the IELTS Exam, you must concentrate on the points of structure, coherence and vocabulary to make your essay persuasive. With consistent practice, you will be able to acquire the skill to present clear arguments that are well-supported. Focus on working on your areas of weaknesses and elevate your writing skills by developing good organizational skills while using accurate language.

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