Unit 7: Exercise 1

In IELTS Writing Task 2 you may be asked to write an essay giving two
opposing views and also your own opinion.

Look at the following essay question.

Some people believe that social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, have
a negative impact on young people and their ability to form personal
relationships. Others believe that these sites bring people together in a
beneficial way.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Put the ideas for and against social media sites into the correct columns.

meet people from around the world waste of time build confidence

meet people with similar interests can be dangerous not real communication

only online easier to express yourself

For Against
meet people from around the world waste of time
build confidence only online
easier to express yourself can be dangerous not real
meet people with similar interests communication
Unit 7: Exercise 2
Look at the essay question again.

Some people believe that social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, have
a negative impact on young people and their ability to form personal
relationships. Others believe that these sites bring people together in a
beneficial way.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

Then put the paragraphs in the correct order to complete the sample essay.

While it is true that social media sites can be very useful and help us to connect and keep in
touch with others, we need to be careful and not forget that we can only make real friends in
the real world. These are the relationships that last a lifetime.

Firstly, let us consider what makes a meaningful relationship. Being able to talk and meet
with people is key and this can be done in person in the traditional way, or, increasingly,
online. However, seeing people in the real world is very different from meeting them online.
You can learn more about them and see them at both their best and their worst; therefore,
your relationship is based on more than short text communication.

New types of technology mean that you can easily connect with people around the world.
Many believe that this is harmful and prevents us from forming meaningful friendships with
others, while some people argue that using social media improves our ability to build new
relationships. In my opinion, the negative impact is greater than the benefits, as I will explain.

Many argue that modern social media allows us to connect with a variety of people from
different places and backgrounds, which can be true. Nevertheless, these websites often lead
young people into dangerous situations, for example, they may be bullied because of how
they look. Also, their personal information becomes available to all if they are not careful and
they never really know who they are connecting with.

1.
 New types of technology mean that you can easily connect with people around the
world. Many believe that this is harmful and prevents us from forming meaningful
friendships with others, while some people argue that using social media improves our
ability to build new relationships. In my opinion, the negative impact is greater than the
benefits, as I will explain.

Firstly, let us consider what makes a meaningful relationship. Being able to talk and
meet with people is key and this can be done in person in the traditional way, or,
increasingly, online. However, seeing people in the real world is very different from
meeting them online. You can learn more about them and see them at both their best
2.
and their worst; therefore, your relationship is based on more than short text
communication.

While it is true that social media sites can be very useful and help us to connect and
keep in touch with others, we need to be careful and not forget that we can only make
3. real friends in the real world. These are the relationships that last a lifetime.

Many argue that modern social media allows us to connect with a variety of people
from different places and backgrounds, which can be true. Nevertheless, these websites
4. often lead young people into dangerous situations, for example, they may be bullied
because of how they look. Also, their personal information becomes available to all if
they are not careful and they never really know who they are connecting with.

Unit 7: Exercise 3
Look at the essay plan and read the student’s essay. Which ideas from the plan
did the candidate use? Match the sentences in bold in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the
essay with the ideas.

You can use some of the ideas more than once and some you don't need at all.

For Against
meet people from around the world only online
easier to express yourself not real communication
build confidence can be dangerous
meet people with similar interests waste of time

New types of technology mean that you can easily connect with people throughout the world.
Many believe that this is harmful and prevents us from forming meaningful friendships with
others, while some people argue that using social media improves our ability to build new
relationships. In my opinion, the negative impact is greater than the benefits, as I will explain.

Firstly, let us consider what makes a meaningful relationship. Being able to talk and meet
with people is key and this can be done in person in the traditional way, or, increasingly,
online. However, seeing people in the real world is very different from meeting them
online. You can learn more about them and see them at both their best and their worst;
therefore, your relationship is based on more than short text communication.

Many argue that modern social media allows us to connect with a variety of people from
different places and backgrounds, which can be true. Nevertheless, these websites often
lead young people into dangerous situations, for example, they may be bullied because of
how they look. Also, their personal information becomes available to all if they are not
careful and they never really know who they are connecting with.

While it is true that social media sites can be very useful and help us to connect and keep in
touch with others, we need to be careful and not forget that we can only make real friends in
the real world. These are the relationships that last a lifetime.

build confidence can be dangerous easier to express yourself

meet people from around the world meet people with similar interests

not real communication only online waste of time

1. seeing people in the real world is very different from meeting them online

__________ only online __________________________

2. your relationship is based on more than short text communication

__________ not real communication __________________________

3. social media allows us to connect with a variety of people from different places and
backgrounds 

____________ meet people from around the world

________________________

4. these websites often lead young people into dangerous situations

____________ can be dangerous ________________________

5. their personal easier to express yourself information becomes available to all

____________________________________

6. they never really know who they are connecting with waste of time
 ____________________________________

Unit 7: Exercise 4
It is important not to make errors when you complete IELTS Writing Task 2.
Always check your work to correct any mistakes, especially taking care with
spelling.

Look at the sample essay. There are seven spelling mistakes. Can you find
them? Select the mistakes.

Some people believe that social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, have a negative
impact on young people and their ability to form personal relationships. Others believe that
these sites bring people together in a beneficial way.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

New types of technology mean that you can easily connect with people thrughout the world.
Many believe that this is harmfull and prevents us from forming meeningful friendships with
others while some people argue that using social medier improves our ability to build new
relationships. In my opinion, the negative inpact is greater than the benefits, as I will explain.

Firstly, let us consider what makes a meaningful relationship. Being able to talk and meet
with people is key and this can be done in person in the traditional way, or, increasingly,
online. However, seeing people in the real world is very different from meeting them online.
You can learn more about them and see them at both their best and their worst; therefore,
your relationship is based on more than short text communication.

Many argue that modern social media allows us to connect with a variety of people from
different places and backgrounds, which can be true. Never the less, these websites often lead
young people into dangerous situations, for example, they may be bulied because of how they
look. Also, their personal information becomes available to all if they are not careful and they
never really know who they are connecting with.

While it is true that social media sites can be very useful and help us to connect and keep in
touch with others, we need to be careful and not forget that we can only make real friends in
the real world. These are the relationships that last a lifetime.

Unit 7: Exercise 5
Look at the spelling mistakes. Can you correct them?

1. thrughout Through out

2. harmfull Harmful
3. meeningful Meaningful
4. medier media
5. inpact Impact
6. never the less Nevertheless,
7. bulied bullied

Unit 7: Exercise 6
Read the essay question and the words and phrases in bold in the sample essay.
Then put the words and phrases in the correct columns to complete the table.

Some people believe that social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, have a negative
impact on young people and their ability to form personal relationships. Others believe that
these sites bring people together in a beneficial way.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

New types of technology mean that you can easily connect with people throughout the world.
Many believe that this is harmful and prevents us from forming meaningful friendships with
others, while some people argue that using social media improves our ability to build new
relationships. In my opinion, the negative impact is greater than the benefits, as I will
explain.

Firstly, let us consider what makes a meaningful relationship. Being able to talk and meet
with people is key and this can be done in person in the traditional way, or, increasingly,
online. However, seeing people in the real world is very different from meeting them online.
You can learn more about them and see them at both their best and their worst; therefore,
your relationship is based on more than short text communication.

Many argue that modern social media allows us to connect with a variety of people from
different places and backgrounds, which can be true. Nevertheless, these websites often lead
young people into dangerous situations, for example, they may be bullied because of how
they look. Also, their personal information becomes available to all if they are not careful and
they never really know who they are connecting with.

While it is true that social media sites can be very useful and help us to connect and keep in
touch with others, we need to be careful and not forget that we can only make real friends in
the real world. I personally believe that these are the relationships that last a lifetime.
 Nevertheless However Many argue In my opinion I personally believe
Many believe While some people argue

Your opinion General opinion Opposing view

In my opinion I Nevertheless Many argue
personally believe However While some people argue
Many believe

Unit 7: Exercise 7
Complete the table. Put the phrases for expressing opinions and views in the
correct columns.

In spite of My (personal) opinion is Some (people) say To contrast It is said

On the contrary It is generally accepted that It is my belief To my mind

Your opinion General opinion Opposing view

To my mind It is said On the contrary
My (personal) opinion is It is generally accepted that To contrast
It is my belief In spite of It is generally accepted that

Unit 7: Exercise 8
Choose the correct words to complete the sentences.

1. It is my believe/belief that Facebook is excellent because it brings people closer.

2. Nevertheless, some people discuss/argue that social media affects young people in a
negative way.
3. In spite to/of this, some feel that Facebook can build confidence in people who are shy.

4. I personally/personal think there are both good and bad aspects of social media.
5. Some people tell/say that online relationships are not genuine.
6. On the contrast/contrary , many people feel that all relationships are beneficial.

Unit 7: Exercise 9
Look at the essay question. Then complete the essay. Use each of the words in
the box once only.

Some people believe that social media sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, have a negative
impact on young people and their ability to form personal relationships. Others believe that
these sites bring people together in a beneficial way.

Discuss both these views and give your opinion.

However Nevertheless feel however nevertheless nowadays

personally some start therefore while

Social media is a huge business today and many feel it has changed the world for the better.
Others ______________ the opposite and worry that we do not connect with people in a
good way. I ______________ feel that social media is, on the whole, a good thing as it has
improved the way we communicate.

To __________________ with, sites such as Facebook and Instagram mean we can now talk
to people from across the world and find out about different cultures. _______________
people feel this can be a little dangerous, as we can’t be sure who we are talking to.
__________________ , if we are responsible and take care, there are lots of benefits. For
example, you can make friends with people who you would never meet in your normal life.

Lots of people say that internet friends are not real friends, and that spending all your time
talking to people on the computer is a waste of your life. _________________ this may be
true if you only communicate electronically, meeting people on the internet can be a way of
overcoming shyness and these relationships can lead to real meetings. ________________ ,
it is becoming more common for people to meet their husbands or wives on the internet.

In conclusion, there are possible problems connected with social media; _______________ ,
if you are careful it can give you many opportunities for friendship that you would not
normally have. If these sites did not exist, _____________ , the world would be a much
more boring place.

Unit 7: Exercise 10

WRITING TASK 1

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. 

Write about the following topic.

Many people believe that modern music can have a negative impact on the young. Others
believe the effect of modern music is positive.   Discuss both these views and give your
opinion.

Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience. 

You should write at least 250 words.

Please add text into the Student post.

Student post: