The Influence Of Advertising On Societal Values is a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. This topic has appeared multiple times in recent years and is likely to continue being a popular choice for examiners due to its relevance in our modern, consumer-driven world. To help you prepare for this potential question, we’ll analyze a real IELTS task and provide sample essays for different band scores.
Should governments ban advertising aimed at children? This question touches on a related aspect of advertising’s influence, particularly on younger generations. As we explore the broader impact of advertising on society, it’s important to consider its effects on various demographics.
Let’s examine a typical IELTS Writing Task 2 question on this topic:
Some people believe that advertisements have a positive impact on society by informing consumers about new products and services. Others argue that advertising has negative effects on social values. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Analyzing the Question
This question requires you to:
- Discuss the positive impacts of advertising on society
- Examine the negative effects of advertising on social values
- Provide your personal opinion on the issue
Remember to address all parts of the question and maintain a balanced approach throughout your essay.
Sample Essay 1: Band 8-9 Response
Advertising has become an integral part of modern society, sparking debates about its overall impact on our values and way of life. While some argue that advertisements play a crucial role in informing consumers, others contend that they have a detrimental effect on social norms. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own viewpoint.
Proponents of advertising highlight its informative function in society. They argue that advertisements serve as a vital channel for disseminating information about new products and services, enabling consumers to make informed decisions. For instance, when a new eco-friendly technology enters the market, advertising can raise awareness about its benefits, potentially encouraging more sustainable consumer choices. Moreover, advertising can promote social causes and public health initiatives, such as anti-smoking campaigns or charitable fundraising efforts, contributing positively to societal well-being.
Advertisement for Eco-Friendly Products
On the other hand, critics argue that advertising can negatively influence social values. They contend that the pervasive nature of marketing often promotes materialism and consumerism, potentially overshadowing more meaningful aspects of life such as relationships and personal growth. Furthermore, advertisements frequently employ persuasive techniques that may create unrealistic expectations or insecurities, particularly in vulnerable groups like children and teenagers. For example, beauty product advertisements often portray idealized body images, which can contribute to low self-esteem and body image issues in young people.
In my opinion, while advertising undoubtedly plays a significant role in informing consumers, its potential negative impacts on social values cannot be ignored. I believe that a balanced approach is necessary, where the informative benefits of advertising are preserved while implementing stricter regulations to mitigate its harmful effects. This could include measures such as limiting advertising in public spaces, enforcing truthful marketing practices, and educating consumers about media literacy to help them critically evaluate advertising messages.
Social Media Influencer Promoting Beauty Products
In conclusion, advertising’s influence on society is complex and multifaceted. While it serves an important informative function, steps must be taken to address its potential negative impacts on social values. By striking a balance between the benefits and drawbacks of advertising, we can harness its power to inform while safeguarding the well-being of individuals and society as a whole.
(Word count: 345)
Sample Essay 2: Band 6-7 Response
Advertising is everywhere in our modern world, and people have different opinions about how it affects society. Some think it’s good because it tells us about new things we can buy, while others say it changes our values in a bad way. I will talk about both sides and give my own thoughts.
Many people believe advertising is helpful for society. It lets companies tell us about their new products and services, which helps us know what we can buy. For example, if a new phone comes out with better features, ads can tell us about it so we can decide if we want to upgrade. Advertising can also be used for good causes, like telling people to recycle or donate to charity.
However, other people think advertising can be bad for our social values. They say that ads make us want to buy too many things and care more about stuff than about important things like family and friends. Also, some ads can make people feel bad about themselves, especially young people. For instance, ads for clothes or makeup often show very thin or beautiful people, which might make regular people feel like they’re not good enough.
Billboard Advertising Fast Food Restaurant
In my opinion, advertising has both good and bad effects on society. I think it’s useful to know about new products, but we should be careful about how much we let ads influence us. Maybe there should be some rules to make sure ads don’t trick people or make them feel bad. It’s also important for people to learn how to think critically about the ads they see.
To sum up, advertising can be both helpful and harmful to society. While it gives us information, it can also change our values in ways that aren’t always good. I believe we need to find a balance between using ads to inform people and making sure they don’t have too much negative impact on our social values.
(Word count: 309)
Sample Essay 3: Band 5-6 Response
Advertising is a big part of our lives today. Some people think it’s good for society, but others think it’s bad. I will talk about both sides and say what I think.
Some people say advertising is good because it tells us about new things. When companies make new products, they use ads to tell us about them. This helps us know what we can buy in the stores. For example, if there’s a new computer, we can learn about it from ads. This is good because we get information.
But other people think advertising is bad for society. They say it makes us want to buy too many things we don’t need. Ads can also make people feel bad about themselves. Like when they see very beautiful people in ads, they might think they’re not good enough. This can be bad for how people feel about themselves.
Television Commercial for a Luxury Car
I think advertising has both good and bad points. It’s good that we can learn about new things, but it’s bad if it makes people feel unhappy. Maybe there should be some rules about what ads can say or show. It’s also important for people to think carefully about the ads they see and not believe everything.
In conclusion, advertising can help society by giving information, but it can also cause problems. We need to be careful about how much we let ads affect us and our values. It’s important to find a good balance.
(Word count: 234)
Explanation of Band Scores
Band 8-9 Essay:
- Fully addresses all parts of the task with a well-developed response
- Presents a clear position throughout the essay
- Uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features
- Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy
- Demonstrates a high level of coherence and cohesion
- Provides relevant, extended, and well-supported ideas
Band 6-7 Essay:
- Addresses all parts of the task, though some parts may be more fully covered than others
- Presents a relevant position, although conclusions may become unclear or repetitive
- Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, with some inaccuracies
- Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
- Arranges information coherently and there is clear overall progression
- Presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed/unclear
Band 5-6 Essay:
- Addresses the task only partially; the format may be inappropriate in places
- Expresses a position but the development is not always clear
- Uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task
- Uses only a limited range of structures with only rare use of subordinate clauses
- Presents information with some organization but there may be a lack of overall progression
- Presents some main ideas but these are limited and not sufficiently developed
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Integral (adjective) /ɪnˈteɡrəl/ – necessary and important as a part of a whole
- Proponent (noun) /prəˈpəʊnənt/ – a person who advocates for something
- Pervasive (adjective) /pəˈveɪsɪv/ – spreading widely throughout an area or group of people
- Materialism (noun) /məˈtɪəriəlɪzəm/ – a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values
- Mitigate (verb) /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ – make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful
- Multifaceted (adjective) /ˌmʌltɪˈfæsɪtɪd/ – having many different aspects or features
- Detrimental (adjective) /ˌdetrɪˈmentl/ – tending to cause harm
- Disseminating (verb) /dɪˈsemɪneɪtɪŋ/ – spread (information, ideas, etc.) widely
The influence of culture on gender roles is another important topic that often intersects with discussions about advertising and societal values. As you prepare for your IELTS exam, consider how advertising might reinforce or challenge traditional gender roles in different cultures.
Conclusion
The influence of advertising on societal values remains a crucial topic in IELTS Writing Task 2. As you’ve seen from the sample essays, this subject allows for a rich discussion of both positive and negative impacts. To prepare for your exam, practice writing essays on related topics such as:
- The role of social media in shaping consumer behavior
- The impact of celebrity endorsements on public opinion
- Ethical considerations in advertising to children
- The effectiveness of government regulations on advertising
Children Watching Television Commercials
Remember to analyze the question carefully, structure your essay logically, and support your arguments with relevant examples. By practicing regularly and expanding your vocabulary, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle this topic in your IELTS exam.
We encourage you to write your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This practice will help you refine your writing skills and receive valuable feedback from others preparing for the IELTS exam.
Consumer behavior shaped by social media platforms is a related topic that you might want to explore further. Understanding how social media advertising influences consumer choices can provide additional insights into the broader impact of advertising on society.
