IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic:

Modern technology has made it easier for individuals to download copyrighted music and books from the Internet for no charge. To what extent is this a positive or a negative development?

Outline

Identifying the essay type: Opinion 
Structuring the essay:

INTRODUCTION

refer to the statement

BODY

Paragraph 1: For many people, this is a very negative development.

[1] a form of stealing

[2] nobody actually buys music or books

Paragraph 2: Give your opinion and give some reasons

[1] freer access to books and music on the Internet is a liberating development

[2] stricter monitoring and harsher penalties stifle creativity and undermine creative industries

CONCLUSION:

Restate your point.

SAMPLE ANSWER:

Few would argue that technologies developed in recent years have had a significant impact on the way books and music are shared. The Internet enables very cheap, or even completely free, access to words and sounds.

For many people, this is a very negative development. Firstly, they make the point that downloading words and music without paying is morally wrong – it is, after all, a form of stealing, just as much as if someone had shoplifted a CD. Secondly, they claim that if nobody actually buys music or books then the people who produce them, for example, novelists, journalists or musicians, will no longer be able to make a living from such work. Eventually, new work will stop being created, no one will perform live, and whole industries will cease to function. They say that eventually the only way to make money from writing and music will be through things like celebrity endorsements, and mediocrity will flourish.

I believe, however, that freer access to books and music on the Internet is a liberating development, allowing more people to enjoy what was once the preserve of the few. It is particularly good that young people can freely experience a wide range of music and writing. I feel the only way to prevent accessing books and music is by stricter monitoring and harsher penalties and that this would be extremely damaging because it would increase surveillance and control. I believe it would stifle creativity and undermine creative industries much more than free access is said to do now.

In conclusion, I believe writers and musicians will find a way of benefiting from the new situation, and good artists will be able to make a living as they always have done.

(281 words)

Useful vocabulary

• Shoplifted
• Cease to function
• Celebrity endorsements
• Mediocrity
• Liberation development
• freely experience
• Harsher penalties
• Undermine creative
• Stifle creativity

Hope you can find this post intriguing. Try to practice writing every day to improve your writing skills. You can find more tips and lessons about the IELTS test on ieltsmaterial.com. Don’t forget “Practice makes perfect”.