Online Shopping is Replacing Offline or Shopping from Stores- IELTS Writing Task 2

Online shopping is replacing offline or shopping from stores. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion 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 try to understand how online shopping is a positive development.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Mention how online shopping became a reality. Also talk about how online shopping has made shopping easy and convenient for the user.

Paragraph 2 – Talk about other advantages of online shopping. Stress on how online shopping made life easier during COVID-19.

Paragraph 3 – Acknowledge that online shopping exerts stress on the environment as sustaining it results in pollution. But, mention that some companies are trying to switch to electronic vehicles or adapting other green initiatives, and that the positives of online shopping far outweigh the negatives.

Conclusion

Restate your views.

Sample Essay 1

Online shopping is an effect of the growing usage of the Internet. It essentially shortens the efforts necessary for buying articles, therefore conveniently enhancing the user experience. In my opinion, it is a positive development, and this essay will try to explain the same.

Being propelled by the unprecedented rise of the Internet, online platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, etc., have created unparalleled ease in the shopping experience of a customer. What used to take a couple of trips to buy electronics, clothes, footwear now takes not more than a click of the finger. This is the impact of online shopping, along with incorporating thousands of employees within their ranks.

Online shopping showed a massive surge due to COVID-19 as people were unable to leave their homes, but essentials were needed to run a household. In India, retail giant DMart started its own delivery platform, wherein a customer shops their groceries from an application or the website, and the goods are then delivered within a set time to their doorstep. Such services tremendously helped people all around the world.

It is true that online shopping lays a lot of stress on our planet. For instance, housing servers that facilitate the seamless running of the platform draw a lot of electricity, and the delivery boys use a lot of petrol as they require to deliver goods in every nook and corner. These activities exert pollution directly and indirectly. But, one cannot ignore how beneficial these platforms are, and some are even switching to e-vehicles for their delivery to show their commitment to battle climate change. Such major anecdotes showcase the importance of online platforms.

Hence, it is safe to say that shopping through online platforms is a wonderful adaptation, and a positive development.

Sample Essay 2

These days, we can see an increasing trend of online shopping. People prefer to buy goods and services online, as it provides them convenience, confirming their purchase with just a few simple clicks. It is one of the main reasons physical shopping from stores has been substituted with online shopping. However, in this essay, I will discuss how this change will remain incomplete due to some issues of virtual shopping.

While online shopping does offer convenience, there is a considerable compromise that one has to adjust on quality. While sitting at home, one can’t make out how a particular product would be in-person. One has to decide whether or not to make the purchase based on a few photos.

Another downside of online shopping is the monopoly of only a few big retailers, as a result of which small shops have taken a hit. These shop-owners are forced or compelled to either turn to the big retailers to sell their products, of which a colossal cut goes out of their pockets or be content with the offline sales they make.

However, despite all these negatives, one might think online shopping has, it is still seen that people prefer it over shopping in physical stores. The reason for this is what has been mentioned earlier-convenience like less time-consuming, huge discounts and easy accessibility.

It is hard to compete with the convenience and comfort offered by the availability of multiple products in a single place, the ideology on which the concept of malls was created. Other than that, to have a comprehensive display wherein, you can compare products prices and even apply filters according to your need is comfortable to a majority of people.

Vocabulary

• Enhancing 

Meaning – intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.
Example – The company tried everything towards enhancing its image after a failed marketing campaign.

• Unparalleled 

Meaning – having no parallel or equal; exceptional.
Example – His technique of painting is unparalleled.

• Propelled 

Meaning – drive, push, or cause to move in a particular direction, typically forward.
Example – The push for indigenisation propelled all the local industries in a profitable direction.

• Unprecedented 

Meaning – never done or known before.
Example – Unprecedented times rocked as the financial world came to a standstill in 2008.

• Incorporating  

Meaning – take in or contain (something) as part of a whole; include.
Example – Many companies are incorporating AI-powered tools in their workforce.

• Surge  

Meaning – a sudden powerful forward or upward movement.
Example – Due to COVID-19, sanitisers saw a surge in sales.

• Doorstep 

Meaning – a step leading up to the outer door of a house.
Example – Many companies promise a 30 minute delivery at your doorstep.

• Tremendously  

Meaning – to a very great extent.
Example – Since Jay came back from the USA, he has changed tremendously.

• Seamless  

Meaning –  smooth and without seams or obvious joins.
Example – Technology has helped us maintain a seamless life in many aspects.

• Exert 

Meaning – apply or bring to bear.
Example – Exert almost all your strength while you exercise.