You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
In some parts of the world it is becoming popular to research the history of one’s own family. Why might people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer 1
Exploring one’s family background and history is becoming increasingly popular in numerous countries around the world. In my opinion, through research and knowing more about one’s family, people can see common trends passed through generations and useful information which can only be seen as beneficial for people’s future.
Firstly, some people look into their family history in order to discover any common trends with family members of a previous generation. This can be especially so with people who have particular skills, gifts or interests in uncommon fields. In other words, as some gifts and skills are hereditary, it can be interesting for people to learn how many others in their family shared these talents from previous generations.
Another reason for the popularity of finding out about one’s family history is often due to general curiosity of one’s geographical origins. That is to say, some families moved abroad, away from their own country, generations ago which resulted in them losing their original culture and adopting the culture of the country they moved to. Therefore, through research, people can learn more about their country of origin and understand more about the culture that their family originally came from.
Finally, the trend of researching family history is certainly beneficial and can help people find their place in the world. Some people feel a lack of direction in life or are dislocated from others but by learning more about their past family history, it can help them relate to the world and feel more comfortable about who they are. Take, for example, a person who feels nervous about making a certain choice in life, they may feel comforted by knowing that others in their family made the same choice many generations ago.
In conclusion, it can be advantageous for people to learn more about the family’s background and origins. It would be useful for children to learn about their own family history, if this was incorporated into the school curriculum.
Sample Answer 2
In certain nations the idea of looking into one’s family history is gaining popularity. There are a variety of explanations for this trend and I would argue that this is a positive development.
The trend toward learning more about one’s ancestors and family tree can be explained by several factors, chief of which is that one does this simply out of curiosity. This is particularly prevalent in multicultural countries such as the United States which has a sizeable number of immigrants. For instance, many American born Vietnamese in an attempt to find out about their roots may learn about the hardships their great grandparents had to endure while fleeing the Vietnam War in 1975. This knowledge could in turn instill in them a sense of pride and appreciation of their current life which would be very different now had their ancestors decided not to migrate a few decades ago.
I believe the rising popularity of researching one’s family history is a positive trend. One justification could be that such an activity could be highly educational for an individual. If a teenager, for example, were to find out he was the descendant of the most wanted criminal who received a life sentence in prison for his heinous crimes, he would likely be deterred from taking the same path and grow into a more upright citizen. This shows the benefits that can be derived from educating oneself about his family history given the increasing rates of juvenile delinquency in today’s society.
In conclusion, the rising popularity of researching one’s ancestry can be attributed to a number of factors and my belief is that this is a positive development.
Sample Answer 3
People nowadays are becoming increasingly keen to learn about their family history. There are some compelling reasons for this; and I strongly feel that this is a positive development.
Most people do research on their family history to find out whether their ancestors had the similar personality traits and to have deeper understanding about their roots and heritages. Or some others study their family historical background for less significant reasons, one of which is curiosity. For example, my uncle used to spend a great deal of time and effort tracing my family tree back to the 18th century just out of curiosity. Also, I think news media have a major part to play in this trend. There are a lot of news articles and advertisements that encourage genealogy and convince people that it is necessary to know about their ancestry.
In my view, this is a good way to teach children about history and how their ancestors lived, which is linked in part to family traditions. And it is even more important for children to carry on such valuable and unique traditions, given that this fast changing world is somehow making young generations ignore the spiritual legacy that their ancestors left. On top of that, family history can be a fascinating discussion topic whenever there is a family meeting. How my grandparents struggled to bring up their offspring during the Vietnam War, for example, has become my father’s favorite subject when all my relatives gather for a traditional holiday feast.
In conclusion, people like to study their family history for a variety of reasons as I have discussed in my essay, and personally I consider this a positive modern trend.
Sample Answer 4
In several countries, many people are increasingly conducting research regarding the origins of their own family. There are a number of reasons why this trend happens, and I believe it is a negative tendency.
To begin with, there are some reasons why individuals are interested in discovering their family’s history. The first clear reason is that these people are just curious about who their ancestors were and what role they played in society. For example, it might be interesting to find out that one’s great-grandfather was once a member of the royal family. This kind of information can make people become proud of their origins. Additionally, many people research about their family’s history as this activity can serve medical purposes. For instance, they would be aware of any disease that they inherit from their relatives.
However, I would argue that this tendency is negative because of some reasons. Firstly, as this trend does not bring about significant benefits apart from those related to health care, it can be considered a waste of time and money, especially for young individuals. In my opinion, it would better for them to focus their resources on more important things such as improving their social skills. Secondly, the information on the history of one’s family may have adverse effects on their attitude in life. To illustrate, a person with a noble origin may become arrogant, while someone who is a descendant of a criminal might be ashamed and lose his confidence.
In conclusion, researching one’s own origins is becoming more common in society, and I believe this is a negative development.
Sample Answer 5
The study of family history or genealogy has gained enormous popularity, particularly after the coming of the internet. People are indulging themselves into this study for various reasons which I shall highlight in the following paragraphs. I believe that this trend has both positives and negatives.
The most popular reason for tracing the roots of one’s family history is that it can just be plain fascinating. It is considered by most to be the fastest-growing hobby in North America, with many surveys and media sources proclaiming that it has surpassed quilting, stamp collecting and even gardening in popularity. Another reason is the potential to trace living relatives. This then opens up the possibility of finding out about and regaining contact with long-lost cousins or relatives. The ability to trace living relatives can also be important in tracing an heir or beneficiary.
Finally, the most significant reason is that studying family history is an important tool in maintaining good physical health. Studying family history helps to predict risk for a range of health concerns and diseases, including heart disease, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. Once a person’s family medical history has been established, it is far easier for physicians to advise patients on how to keep healthy.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of tracking family history. Genealogy which begins as a curiosity, a hobby may become an obsession. Then people waste too much time and money on it. One should not forget that it is the present which influences the future more and not the past. Often knowledge of family history is disastrous, leading people to keep old enmities alive. It may also reveal unpleasant facts that one would regret knowing.
In conclusion, it can be said that there are many motivations for studying family history, from developing a sense of belonging to maintaining good health. However, one should not develop an obsession for it and squander too much time and money on it.
Sample Answer 6
In various areas around the world, tracing one’s family history has gained considerable popularity. In my viewpoint, this trend can be attributed to people’s desire to strengthen their sense of identity and general curiosity, and I think that this is a positive development.
There are several different reasons for the emergence of genealogy. First, those who want to enhance their sense of self and increase their confidence will look at their family background and history since it is a good way to improve personal identity. These people will research their genealogies to know more about themselves and their roots, such as where they come from, or whether previous generations had similar personality traits or talents. Second, there are people who look into their family background and history simply because they want to satisfy their curiosity. A research, for example, on family history can be driven by a secret hope that there are any famous or wealthy ancestors in one’s family tree.
Families and individuals can benefit from research into their genealogies. To be more specific, hearing stories of ancestors and learning of the hardships they faced help people develop greater understanding, compassion, and empathy for them. This would build up the connection between present and previous generations of a family and be a good way to teach offspring about history by telling them how earlier generations lived. Also, there is a relationship between family history and personal identity development. Lives and stories of long-dead family members can directly impact how we see ourselves because they give us an idea of where we come from and how we fit into our family. Therefore, doing research into family roots can boost one’s self-awareness and confidence.
In conclusion, it seems to me that the desire to enhance personal identity and the general curiosity are what motivates more people to conduct research on their family history. This trend can bring many beneficial impacts to both families and individuals.
Sample Answer 7
Genealogy – the study of family history – has recently enjoyed increasing popularity in several countries in the world. There are several reasons for this, and I believe it is a positive development.
Curiosity might be one of the reasons why people take interest in such study. It is often fun and intriguing to trace back one’s bloodline to find out whether one is descended, either directly or indirectly, from a royal family or any prominent figures in the past. I still remember the excitement when I attempted to seek online the origin of my family name with the hope of finding a link, albeit vague, between me and the famed Chinese poet Du Fu. Also, to some war-stricken families, this family history research is more than just mere curiosity. With the power of the Internet, those who have lost contact with their close or distant relatives during wars may reunite with their family members by researching into their own family tree.
Genealogy offers several distinct benefits. For young amateurs, it is a fascinating way to learn how to systematically collect, organize and analyse data. For older people, it is a great leisure activity to while away the time, and a relevant source of family stories to tell their children. In addition, by learning about our ancestors, we may be able to gain a thorough insight into our own family-specific traditions, customs and titles. For example, one may be able to explain why there is always a fixed middle name in each of their family member’s full name if they learn about how the name originated in the first place. Finally, with an element of luck, one may find their long-lost relatives whom they have never met before, and indeed, there are many articles that retell such miraculous reunions.
In conclusion, researching one’s family line stems from two main aforementioned reasons, and I think it is a very interesting activity that should be encouraged.