You should spend about 40 minutes on IELTS writing task 2.
In the past, knowledge was contained in books. Nowadays, knowledge is uploaded to the internet. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
Traditionally people used to refer to books to find information, data, and transcripts as they were preserved in papers, but with the recent technological advancements, books have been replaced by the internet. This essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages and will conclude with why I believe the latter is better.
There are many benefits of using the internet to contain knowledge. Firstly, the internet is a cost- effective option compared to books. Since the information is available in abundance and there is no issue of storage, unlike physical books, it does eliminate a huge cost. For example, the data uploaded on the internet only requires a cloud memory, which is limitless and hassle-free. Additionally, the internet is an easily accessible resource that is available from any part of the world. One does not have to travel to a specific library or store to access it. For these reasons, it is easy to believe that information stored on the internet is inexpensive, readily available and more effective as compared to books.
Some people believe that knowledge contained in books is less risky than the internet. With the progress in technology, there is always a fear of technical glitches or cyber-attacks. For instance, some terrorist groups can hire hackers to destroy or damage information that is valuable to a nation or to any group. Books, on the other hand, if stored in a safe location, can provide a better option in the long run. Therefore, it is a reasonable argument that storing the knowledge in books is beneficial.
In conclusion, it is an undeniable fact that the internet has revolutionized the way we do many things around us, including the storage of information. I strongly believe that despite minor challenges with cybersecurity, the benefits of the internet far outweigh the drawbacks.
Structure of the essay
You are asked to write an advantages/disadvantages essay. This precisely means that you have to explain the advantages and disadvantages.
Remember to jot down all the points (advantages & disadvantages) before you begin the essay.
Introduction: Traditionally people used to refer to books to find information, data and transcripts as they were preserved in papers, but with the recent technological advancements, books have been replaced by the internet.
Body Paragraph 1:
Advantages:
- Cost-effective option compared to books
- No plan for maintenance
- Eliminates the cost of storage
- Internet is easily accessible
Body Paragraph 2:
Disadvantages:
- Fear of technical glitches or cyber-attacks
Conclusion: Summarised the advantages and disadvantages.