Let’s assume that we are going to write an essay in response to the following Task 2 question:

WRITING TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

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

Write at least 250 words.

1. Let’s choose the keywords in the question.

Here are the keywords that we can highlight in the question:

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

2. Let’s read and analyze the statement and the question.

The given IELTS Writing Task 2 statement and question are related to the topic of technology and its impact on children. The statement highlights the fact that some children spend excessive amounts of time on their smartphones, and the question asks why this is happening and whether it is a positive or negative development.

The statement and question provide a clear direction for the essay by focusing on two key aspects:

1. the reasons behind children’s smartphone usage and
2. the potential positive or negative consequences of this behavior.

The first part of the question, “Why is this the case?” prompts the writer to examine and explain the reasons for children’s excessive use of smartphones. This requires the writer to analyze the various factors that contribute to the trend of smartphone use among children.

The second part of the question, “Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?” asks the writer to take a stance on the topic and provide reasons and evidence to support their opinion. The writer needs to critically evaluate the positive and/ or negative effects of smartphone use and present a well-reasoned argument.

Overall, this IELTS Writing Task 2 question demands critical thinking on the issue of children using smartphones.

3. Let’s think about the “content” of our essay?

Content is one of the most important aspects of IELTS Writing Task 2, as it makes up a significant portion of the overall score. In the assessment criteria for Task 2, content is included in the Task Response category, which evaluates how well a candidate has addressed the task prompt with relevant and appropriate ideas.

To better understand what task response means, you may read the following article:
Task Response: The Secret Sauce for Boosting Your IELTS Writing Task 2 Score

Content refers to the ideas, arguments, examples, and explanations that a candidate presents in their essay to support their position or answer the question. The content should be well-organized, coherent, and cohesive, with a clear and logical structure and progression of ideas. It should also be relevant to the task prompt and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the topic and the issues involved.

This IELTS Writing Task 2 question requires you to write an essay on the topic of children spending hours on their smartphones. You need to explain why this trend is happening and whether you believe it is a positive or negative development.

Assume that you believe it is a negative development.

An essay in response to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question should include the following content:

Introduction

• Briefly introduce the topic of children spending hours every day on their smartphones.
• Provide some background information and mention the main points that will be discussed in the essay.

Body paragraphs 1(&2) – Reasons why children spend hours every day on their smartphones.

• Discuss various reasons why children spend hours every day on their smartphones such as social media addiction, entertainment, access to information, communication, etc.
• Provide examples and statistics to support your arguments.

Body paragraph 3 – Why you believe it is a negative development?

• Discuss the negative effects of spending too much time on smartphones such as lack of physical activity, poor social skills, sleep deprivation, cyberbullying, etc.
• Provide examples and statistics to support your arguments.

Conclusion

• Summarize the main points of the essay.
• Provide your opinion that you think spending hours on smartphones is a negative development.
• Restate your main arguments and conclude with a final thought.

4. How many paragraphs do we need?

An IELTS Writing task 2 essay in response to the given question should ideally include 4-5 paragraphs. However, the number of paragraphs may vary depending on the writer’s approach and the length of the essay.

Generally, the essay should have an introduction that provides background information and presents the thesis statement, which is followed by body paragraphs that provide supporting arguments and evidence. The conclusion should summarize the main points and restate the thesis statement in a different way.

The body paragraphs should cover the main ideas and provide examples to support the arguments. It is recommended to have one main idea per paragraph, and each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea. Additionally, the paragraphs should be logically connected and flow smoothly from one to another.

Note that this is just one possible essay structure, and there are many ways to organize your ideas effectively. The most important thing is to make sure that your essay is well-organized, coherent, and easy to follow for the reader.

5. Let’s brainstorm and generate ideas.

Here are some ideas for an IELTS Writing task 2 essay on why some children spend hours every day on their smartphones:

Reasons for excessive smartphone use among children:

Availability and accessibility of smartphones

With the increasing availability and affordability of smartphones, children have easy access to them.

Social media

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are designed to be addictive and engaging, leading children to spend hours scrolling through their feeds.

Online games

Many children are drawn to online games that are specifically designed to be engaging and addictive.

Peer pressure

Children may feel pressure to fit in with their peers, and excessive smartphone use may be seen as the norm among their friends.

Boredom

Children may turn to their smartphones when they are bored or have nothing else to do.

Lack of outdoor activities

The prevalence of screen-based activities and a decrease in outdoor activities may lead children to spend more time on their smartphones.

Assume that you believe it is a negative development.

Negative consequences of excessive smartphone use among children:

Physical health effects

Excessive smartphone use can lead to physical health problems such as eye strain, neck and back pain, and obesity.

Mental health effects

Research has linked excessive smartphone use with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

Smartphone addiction

Excessive smartphone use can lead to addiction, causing children to prioritize their smartphone use over other activities and responsibilities.

Academic performance

Excessive smartphone use can lead to a decline in academic performance, as children may spend less time studying and completing schoolwork.

Social skills

Excessive smartphone use can hinder the development of social skills, as children may spend less time interacting with others face-to-face.

Cyberbullying

Social media platforms and online games can be breeding grounds for cyberbullying, leading to negative mental health effects and even suicide in extreme cases.

6. Let’s write a sample essay.

In today’s society, the use of smartphones has become increasingly common, especially among children. While some argue that this trend is beneficial, I believe that the excessive use of smartphones by children is a negative development. In this essay, I will explore the reasons why children spend hours on their smartphones and explain why it is a negative trend.

One of the main reasons why children spend hours on their smartphones is because of the numerous social media platforms available. Nowadays, children are more inclined to spend hours on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. These apps are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible, with endless scrolling and notification features. As a result, children may spend countless hours on their smartphones, scrolling through feeds, commenting on posts, and watching videos.

Another reason why children use their smartphones excessively is because of the gaming industry. With advancements in technology, mobile games have become more immersive, interactive, and addictive. Children are attracted to these games and can easily lose track of time while playing. In addition, some games require in-app purchases, which can be costly and addictive, leading to even more time spent on the smartphone.

Despite the potential benefits of using smartphones, such as access to educational resources, I believe that the excessive use of smartphones by children is a negative development. Spending hours on smartphones can negatively impact a child’s physical and mental health. The blue light emitted from smartphone screens can affect sleep patterns and cause eye strain, while excessive use can lead to decreased physical activity and obesity. In addition, social media can have negative effects on mental health, such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

In conclusion, the excessive use of smartphones by children is a negative development. While there are some benefits to using smartphones, such as access to educational resources, the potential negative effects on physical and mental health outweigh the positives. Parents and caregivers should take measures to limit a child’s smartphone use and encourage other activities such as reading, outdoor play, and spending time with family and friends.

(352 words)

7. Let’s analyze the essay paragraphs.

Let’s analyze different parts of each paragraph:

The introductory paragraph

The introductory paragraph can be analyzed in the following parts:

Hook

In today’s society, the use of smartphones has become increasingly common, especially among children.

This sentence grabs the reader’s attention and sets the context for the essay by mentioning the topic and the target audience.

Thesis statement

While some argue that this trend is beneficial, I believe that the excessive use of smartphones by children is a negative development.

This sentence clearly states the writer’s position on the topic and sets the tone for the essay.

Roadmap

In this essay, I will explore the reasons why children spend hours on their smartphones and explain why it is a negative trend.

This sentence provides a brief overview of the essay’s main points and gives the reader an idea of what to expect in the coming paragraphs.

The first body paragraph

The first body paragraph consists of the following parts:

Topic sentence

“One of the main reasons why children spend hours on their smartphones is because of the numerous social media platforms available.”

Supporting sentence

“Nowadays, children are more inclined to spend hours on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.”

Developing sentences

“These apps are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible, with endless scrolling and notification features. As a result, children may spend countless hours on their smartphones, scrolling through feeds, commenting on posts, and watching videos.”

The second body paragraph

The second body paragraph consists of the following parts:

Topic sentence

“Another reason why children use their smartphones excessively is because of the gaming industry.”

1^st Supporting sentence

“With advancements in technology, mobile games have become more immersive, interactive, and addictive.”

Developing sentence

“Children are attracted to these games and can easily lose track of time while playing.”

2^nd Supporting sentence

In addition, some games require in-app purchases, which can be costly and addictive, leading to even more time spent on the smartphone.

The third body paragraph

The third body paragraph consists of the following parts:

Topic sentence

“Despite the potential benefits of using smartphones, such as access to educational resources, I believe that the excessive use of smartphones by children is a negative development.”

1^st Supporting sentence

“Spending hours on smartphones can negatively impact a child’s physical and mental health.”

Developing sentence

“The blue light emitted from smartphone screens can affect sleep patterns and cause eye strain, while excessive use can lead to decreased physical activity and obesity.”

 

2^nd Supporting sentence

“In addition, social media can have negative effects on mental health, such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.”

The concluding paragraph

The concluding paragraph consists of several parts:

Restatement of thesis

The author restates the main argument of the essay, which is that excessive smartphone use by children is a negative development.

“In conclusion, the excessive use of smartphones by children is a negative development.”

 

Summary of main points

The author summarizes the main points made in the essay, including the benefits and drawbacks of smartphone use and the need for parental guidance:

“While there are some benefits to using smartphones, such as access to educational resources, the potential negative effects on physical and mental health outweigh the positives.”

Final thoughts

The author offers a final thought on the topic, suggesting that parents and caregivers should take measures to limit a child’s smartphone use and encourage other activities:

“Parents and caregivers should take measures to limit a child’s smartphone use and encourage other activities such as reading, outdoor play, and spending time with family and friends.”

Overall, the concluding paragraph effectively summarizes the main arguments of the essay and provides a clear call to action for the reader.

8. Final words

When practicing for IELTS Writing Task 2, always remember to:

• Read and understand the statement and the question. Highlight or underline keywords.
• Think about the topic and all parts of the task and choose your content.
• Plan your essay and organize your content into 4 or 5 paragraphs. Specify the main point within each body paragraph.
• Brainstorm and generate ideas to support your main points.
• Write your essay coherently.
• Edit your writing.

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