Prepared and collected by Trang Le (2021)

UNIT 5: “TWO-PART QUESTION” ESSAY

I. ESSAY STRUCTURE

 Introduction
Many people decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it. This, they argue, leads to
a more satisfying working life. To what extent do you agree with this view? What other things
can people do in order to have a satisfying working life?
- It is true that some people know from an early age what career they want to pursue, and
they are happy to spend the rest of their lives in the same profession. While I accept that
this may suit many people, I believe that others enjoy changing careers or seeking job
satisfaction in different ways.
Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In
what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a
positive or negative development?
- It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication between people.
Technology has affected relationships in various ways, and in my opinion there are both
positive and negative effects.

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There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the
traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard
everywhere nowadays?
- It is true that a rich variety of musical styles can be found around the world. Music is a vital
part of all human cultures for a range of reasons, and I would argue that traditional music is
more important than modern, international music.
II. SAMPLES
 Successful companies use advertising to make more sales. What can make an
advertisement very effective? Do you think this is a bad thing or a good thing for
the society?
It is an irrefutable fact that advertisements are ubiquitous be seen everywhere). Most of the
well-established organizations throughout the globe take the help of adverts in order to
enhance their sales. Advertising can be made more impactful by
adopting/implementing/applying different strategies, and I believe that it has deleterious
impacts on the community.

To begin with, advertisements can be made more impressive by following these approaches.
The chief one is that these should be creative and entertaining, because people tend to like
new ideas and watch entertaining ads. Another persuasive method is to hire famous
celebrities to promote products. This is mainly because these prominent people are adored
by millions of followers who try to imitate their lifestyle; as a result, their fans will most
likely buy the products endorsed by their role models.

However, advertisements affect society in a negative way. To elaborate, although it makes

residents aware of the newly launched items, it promotes the use and throw culture. As a
result, individuals are spending their life savings recklessly to buy unnecessary items. Apart
from this, commercials mainly target children as / because they are more impressionable than
adults (impulsive buying/purchase). After watching these ads, kids force their parents to buy
those useless products. Since many families are not well-off, this compulsive urge to own the
latest products can land them in the debt trap. Hence it can be said that advertisements are
detrimental for the society.

In conclusion, from the aforementioned arguments it is evident that though multinational

companies increase their revenue by making intriguing adverts, in the long run, ads have
negative effects which are hazardous (= dangerous) to the society.

 The media is increasing interest in famous people who have ordinary backgrounds.
Why do you think people are interested in the lives of famous people? Do you think
this is a good thing?
 The majority of news being reported is bad news such as wars, famines, accidents,
and crime. Why do you think that is? Do you think the news should be a balance of
both good and bad news?

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Reference: https://canadianielts.com/ielts-writing/the-majority-of-the-news-being-reported-is-
bad-news/ (Just for idea reference, not a sample essay)
 Most people think that truth should be objective rather than subjective when it
comes to the news. Do you think all news is true? What is the function of a
newspaper?
There is widespread agreement that journalists need to adhere to strict impartiality guidelines
when reporting news. As far as the nature of news and the role of a newspaper are concerned,
I hold the belief that much of the news today is either biased or inaccurate and that a newspaper
is obliged to deliver the truth and covers a broad spectrum of opinion.
In recent years, public trust in the media has dropped considerably due to the fact that news is
not reported as truthfully and accurately as they should be. First of all, many pieces of news have
been found to be significantly misleading. For example, coverage of certain events and
incidents may contain factual errors, blatant lies, and unfounded claims, preventing readers from
accessing the truth and making informed decisions. Added to that, due to the partisan nature of
media outlets, news is much likely to be presented in a biased way, reporting only one side of
the story. As a result, such information is open to interpretations that are in favour of or against a
particular group.
It would be plausible to argue that the primary function of a newspaper is to provide the truth and
exposes readers to a variety of views on central social issues. The basic duty of mass media is to
aim at the closest approximation of truth by reporting exactly what happens in reality.
Inventing or doctoring stories to fit a particular political line instead of informing readers as
honestly as possible and separating lies from facts is a violation of basic journalist ethics. What
is more, a newspaper must serve as a source of diverse opinions about important issues and
leave room for serious discussion. Rather than being biased towards a political party, for
instance, it should present a balanced view, include the opinions of various experts, and give
chance for readers to look at issues from different angles as well as engage in intellectual debates
on matters of controversy.
To sum up, news in modern society tends to be partisan rather than objective. Therefore, it is
crucial that newspapers, as well as other mass media, should focus on delivering the right
information and represent a range of perspectives.
 Art and music are considered some of the fundamental elements of all societies. Do
you think art and music still have a place in today’s modern world of technology?
Should children spend more time learning art and music at school?
While it has been admitted that art and music have played/formed an integral part in human life for
centuries, many people have concerned the disappearance of art and music due to the emergence of
advanced technology. In my opinion, art and music are still of paramount/great importance in modern
societies, and art and music subjects should also be taught at schools.
It is clear that there is no way art and music can disappear for many reasons. First, they always play an
important role in people's lives in terms of making people entertained. In fact, in retrospect/over the

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course of human history, ancestors knew how to release their pressure and develop their mental health by
listening to music or creating artworks, and this has been maintained until now. Especially in this modern
world, humans can need music and art more than ever. Plenty evidence has suggested that with the
development of technology, humans have put more emphasis on working and boosting productivity,
causing more depression and pressure, thereby they do need music and art to keep work-life balance.
Regarding teaching art and music at schools, I believe that they should be included in didactic programs.
This is because art subjects help develop children fully besides academic subjects, not to mention
unlocking artistic potential of students. In fact, not only can students develop their right brain from learning
art subjects, but they also obtain creativity and social skills. Nevertheless, it is also recommended that how
much time students should spend on learning art and music should depend on children's preference.
Those who are eager for art subjects can spend more time to practice, but those who are not talented for art
and music should be encouraged to spend time learning other subjects.
In conclusion, despite the development of technology, art and music are still needed, even more in this
modern world. While children should be taught about art and music at schools, it is them who can decide
the amount of time spent on this.
 Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of
technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that
people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?
It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication between people.
Technology has affected relationships in various ways, and in my opinion there are both positive
and negative effects. 
Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and social life. Firstly,
telephones and the Internet allow business people in different countries to interact without
ever meeting each other. Secondly, services like Skype create new possibilities for
relationships between students and teachers. For example, a student can now take video
lessons with a teacher in a different city or country. Finally, many people use social networks,
like Facebook, to make new friends and find people who share common interests, and they
interact through their computers rather than face to face. 
On the one hand, these developments can be extremely positive. Cooperation between people
in different countries was much more difficult when communication was limited to written
letters or telegrams. Nowadays, interactions by email, phone or video are almost as good as face-
to-face meetings, and many of us benefit from these interactions, either in work or social
contexts. On the other hand, the availability of new communication technologies can also
have the result of isolating people and discouraging real interaction. For example, many
young people choose to make friends online rather than mixing with their peers in the real world,
and these ‘virtual’ relationships are a poor substitute for real friendships.
In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionized communication between people, but not
all of the outcomes of this revolution have been positive. 
 There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is
the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is
heard everywhere nowadays?

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It is true that a rich variety of musical styles can be found around the world. Music is a vital part
of all human cultures for a range of reasons, and I would argue that traditional music is more
important than modern, international music.
Music is something that accompanies all of us throughout our lives. As children, we are taught
songs by our parents and teachers as a means of learning language, or simply as a form of
enjoyment. Children delight in singing with others, and it would appear that the act of singing in
a group creates a connection between participants, regardless of their age. Later in life, people’s
musical preferences develop, and we come to see our favorite songs as part of our life stories.
Music both expresses and arouses emotions in a way that words alone cannot. In short, it is
difficult to imagine life without it.
In my opinion, traditional music should be valued over the international music that has
become so popular. International pop music is often catchy and fun, but it is essentially a
commercial product that is marketed and sold by business people. Traditional music, by
contrast, expresses/display the culture, customs and history of a country. Traditional styles,
such as …(example)…, connect us to the past and form an integral part of our cultural
identity. It would be a real pity if pop music became so predominant that these national styles
disappeared.
In conclusion, music is a necessary part of human existence, and I believe that traditional music
should be given more importance than international music.
 Most large companies nowadays operate multi-nationally. To what extent do
multinational companies have responsibility toward local communities in which they
operate?
It is true that, in this era of globalization, most large companies operate outside the confines of
national borders. While it is necessary that companies maximize their profits, this must not be at
the expense of the welfare of the people in areas where these companies are based.
From a social perspective, multinational enterprises should provide jobs for local people and
ensure that workers and their families have adequate salaries and access to health and
education services. The horrors of the industrial revolution in Europe and America must be
avoided – child labor, starvation wages and unhealthy working conditions. It is also in the self-
interest of multinational firms to employ a healthy and educated workforce. Physically fit
workers are more productive and mentally alert to the importance of health and safety at work.
Finally, an educated workforce gives the company more flexibility, as skilled employees can be
switched from one task to another to meet production requirements, as in the case of car
assembly plants like Ford or Nissan.
From an environmental perspective, multinational firms must safeguard the natural resources
of the area in which they operate. Local communities may traditionally depend on such
resources for their survival. Irresponsible oil extraction by firms such as Shell or Texaco, for
example, may result in oil spills which devastate the local fishing industry, as incidents in Alaska
have shown. Similarly, unsustainable logging of timber for construction or paper manufacture
may have serious effects on local farmers due to resultant soil erosion. Thus, it is essential to re-
invest corporate profits into schemes to prevent pollution and to guarantee the long-term
prosperity of local communities.

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In conclusion, multinational companies have a moral duty and a practical interest in improving
the quality of life of the local communities in which they conduct their operations.
 Fewer young people do farming work in rural areas. Why? Should young people be
encouraged to do farming work?
There has been a decline in the number of young people engaging in farming work, which can be
ascribed to a number of reasons. Because of the factors, it can be prudent for young people to
pursue agricultural work.
There are several reasons why youngsters are becoming more reluctant to work in farming.
Firstly, the slump in younger workers participating in the agriculture industry can be attributed
to factory-based jobs being more attractive. In comparison to farming work, factory jobs
usually provide a more lucrative income and allow more favorable working conditions… Thus,
young workers are more inclined to take a job at factories rather than at farming sites…
However, I am of the opinion that young people should be encouraged to engage in agriculture.
The first reason is that farming jobs require a great deal of manpower to keep up with the
currently growing demand for food. A dearth in personnel can hinder productivity in the
agricultural industry and by extension the national food supply can be deleteriously halted, which
may lead to a domestic food crisis. Furthermore, farming work can be a vocational pathway
in the context of the labor market becoming ever-increasing competitive…
In conclusion, the greater benefits provided by factory jobs and (changing perception of farm
work) are the leading causes of the decline in young people working in agriculture. Therefore,
they should be encouraged to work in that sector as it needs extensive manpower and it can be a
fruitful professional path for them to take.
 In some countries, people spend long hours at work. Why does this happen? Is it
positive or negative development?
Nowadays, working overtime is increasingly common for employees in many different parts of
the world. There are many reasons behind this phenomenon and I believe this brings more harm
than good to people.
There are two main reasons for the extension of working hours among people. Firstly, people
want to earn more money, which will satisfy their demand of affording their lives. In this
day and age, the living cost is much higher than before, not only in metropolises but also in rural
areas. This puts a large financial burden on employees, especially ones who are the breadwinner
in the family. As a result, people have to work extra hours to feed themselves and their family,
and also to increase the living standard. Secondly, people have to cope with a heavy workload
these days, which makes them spend longer hours at work. If people do not extend their
working hours, they may not meet the deadlines and be unable to finish given tasks, which
prevents them from climbing the career ladder.
Despite the benefits that this trend may bring to people, I believe it is negative due to two major
reasons. One is that it causes a lot of detrimental health effects when people spend too much

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time working. Overworking gives people little time to rest, and if this situation continues for a
long time, it may cause some physical diseases relating to the back, neck, eyes and even heart.
Moreover, dealing with a high volume of work continuously also makes people suffer from
mental problems such as stress, sleep disorders or even depression. Another negative impact of
this trend is people cannot get a work-life balance. Many people tend to spend more than half
a day working, which makes it impossible for them to spend enough time for themselves and
their beloved ones including family and friends. This leads to the fact that people may find no
fun in life because they have no time for family and their relationships are also likely to be
broken.
In conclusion, the tendency of working extra hours is caused by the increasing living expenses
and overwhelming workload. Personally, I believe this brings more negative impacts to
individuals.