The Availability of Entertainment Such as Video Games- IELTS Writing Task 2

The availability of entertainment such as video games on handheld devices are harmful to individuals and to the society they live in. To what extent do you agree and disagree?

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion type

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – In today’s world, video games have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Some people view them as a benign source of entertainment and recreation while others consider them to be baneful for not only an individual’s life but also for society at large.

Sentence 3 – In my opinion, I agree that such games on portable devices have an inimical effect upon the lives of people and the larger society and in the forthcoming paragraphs, I will provide the supporting and contradicting reasons behind my opinion.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Excessive playing of video games can worsen sleep, attention, and moods.

Paragraph 2 – Playing video games on portable devices has also caused many tragic accidents.

Paragraph 3 – However, in opposition to the aforementioned points, they also have some positive effects such as providing people enjoyment

Conclusion

Restate opinion.

Sample Essay

In today’s world, video games have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Some people view them as a benign source of entertainment and recreation, while others consider them to be baneful for not only an individual’s life but also for society at large. In my opinion, I agree that such games on portable devices have an inimical effect on the lives of people and the larger society and in the forthcoming paragraphs, I will provide the supporting and contradicting reasons behind my opinion.

Firstly, playing video games on handheld devices has several unfavourable effects on people. Research has found that immoderate playing of video games interferes with one’s sleep pattern and causes attention to dwindle and moods to worsen. Secondly, excessive playing of video games can cause people to be engulfed by virtual reality, which stymies their social relationships. Consequently, conflicts can erupt among family and friends due to the problematic overuse of such amusement.

Playing games on portable devices also keeps people distracted to such an extent that the possibility of them suffering accidents becomes ostensible. For example, the popular game ‘PokemonGo’ was prohibited because its open-world presence led to people suffering accidents and, in some tragic circumstances, dying. In the US, for instance, the game was held responsible for causing 256 deaths and 150, 000 traffic accidents. There are other physical costs of playing video games, such as the tendency of players to develop hand and wrist injuries due to overuse and inflammation and suffer from poor eyesight due to heightened screen time.

However, playing virtual games on handy devices is not without its commending qualities. People state that it is a delightful recreational activity, providing players with a sense of mirth and gratification. Some research has also suggested that playing video games in a restrained manner can have some benefits, such as boosting the focus of players. They have also found applicability in medical and psychological research.

Thus, in conclusion, I would like to say that while video games do have certain positive features to commend them, they have had a largely deleterious impact upon individuals and the rest of society and their overuse should be monitored as far as possible.

Vocabulary

• Ubiquitous

Meaning – ever-present or pervasive
Example – Advertisements have become a ubiquitous presence in modern life.

• Benign

Meaning – favourable or temperate
Example – The weather became more benign as spring approached.

• Inimical

Meaning – harmful or injurious
Example – The latest bills introduced in parliament are inimical to the interests of society.

• Immoderate

Meaning – excessive
Example – The demands made by the students were deemed to be immoderate by the college authorities.

• Dwindle

Meaning – diminish or decrease
Example – Children’s energy tends to dwindle by the end of the school day.

• Mirth

Meaning – happiness or joy
Example – Anita was filled with mirth after her agent informed her that she had finally gotten a publishing deal.

• Engulf

Meaning – cover or envelop
Example – Darjeeling was engulfed by a thick fog earlier this morning.

• Stymie

Meaning – to hinder or impede
Example – The construction of the new metro railway was stymied by the government’s financial crisis.

• Deleterious

Meaning – harmful or threatening
Example – Locusts are extremely deleterious to the cultivation of crops which is why farmers take steps to ensure their crops remain protected.

• Monitor

Meaning – regulate or observe
Example – Children’s screen time should be strictly monitored by their parents.