The topic of how the internet affects students’ research skills is increasingly relevant in today’s digital age. This theme has appeared in various forms in past IELTS Writing Task 2 questions and is likely to continue being a popular subject for future exams. After reviewing recent exam trends, we’ve identified a pertinent question that closely aligns with this topic:
Some people think that the Internet is making it easier for students to do research, while others believe it is making students lazy and less able to do in-depth research. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Analyzing the Question
This question requires candidates to:
- Discuss the positive view: The internet facilitates research for students
- Discuss the negative view: The internet makes students lazy and less capable of in-depth research
- Provide a personal opinion on the matter
It’s crucial to address all parts of the question to achieve a high band score. Let’s examine sample essays for different band scores to understand how to approach this topic effectively.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
The proliferation of the Internet has revolutionized the way students conduct research, sparking a debate about its impact on their research skills. While some argue that online resources have made research more accessible and efficient, others contend that it has led to laziness and superficial research habits. In my opinion, while the Internet offers unprecedented access to information, its benefits can only be fully realized when coupled with critical thinking and proper research methodologies.
Proponents of the Internet’s positive impact on research skills argue that it has democratized access to information. Students can now access a vast array of scholarly articles, e-books, and academic databases from the comfort of their homes, eliminating geographical and financial barriers to knowledge. Furthermore, digital tools like search engines and citation managers have streamlined the research process, allowing students to find and organize information more efficiently than ever before. This ease of access and organization can potentially lead to more comprehensive and diverse research outcomes.
On the other hand, critics argue that the Internet’s convenience has made students overly reliant on quick, surface-level information. The abundance of easily accessible data may discourage students from delving deeper into topics or critically evaluating sources. There is a concern that the “copy-paste” culture facilitated by the Internet undermines original thinking and proper citation practices. Additionally, the instant gratification of finding quick answers online might diminish students’ patience for the often time-consuming process of in-depth research and analysis.
In my view, the Internet’s impact on students’ research skills is largely dependent on how it is utilized. When used judiciously, the Internet can be an invaluable tool that enhances research capabilities. However, it is crucial that students are taught proper research methodologies, critical thinking skills, and digital literacy. Educational institutions should focus on teaching students how to evaluate online sources, synthesize information from multiple sources, and conduct both online and offline research effectively.
In conclusion, while the Internet has undoubtedly transformed the landscape of academic research, its impact on students’ research skills is not inherently positive or negative. The key lies in harnessing its potential while mitigating its pitfalls through proper education and guidance. By fostering a balanced approach that combines the Internet’s vast resources with traditional research skills, we can ensure that students develop robust research capabilities suited for the digital age.
(Word count: 398)
Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates characteristics of a high band score (8-9) for the following reasons:
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Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. It explores the topic in depth, presenting a well-developed response.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear progression throughout. It uses cohesive devices effectively (e.g., “On the other hand”, “Furthermore”, “In conclusion”) and maintains a clear central topic in each paragraph.
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Lexical Resource: The essay uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Examples include “proliferation”, “democratized”, “streamlined”, “undermines”, and “judiciously”.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: It uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Complex sentences are used effectively, and there are no noticeable errors.
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Development of Ideas: Each point is well-developed with clear reasoning and relevant examples. The essay presents a nuanced view of the topic, acknowledging both sides of the argument before presenting a balanced personal opinion.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
The Internet has changed the way students do research for their studies. Some people think it’s a good thing because it makes research easier, while others believe it makes students lazy and unable to do deep research. I will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On the positive side, the Internet has made it much easier for students to find information. In the past, students had to go to libraries and look through many books to find what they needed. Now, they can just use search engines and find lots of information quickly. This saves time and allows students to access more sources. Also, students can find recent information that might not be in books yet.
However, there are also negative effects. Some people argue that because information is so easy to find on the Internet, students don’t learn how to do proper research. They might just copy and paste information without really understanding it. Also, students might rely too much on the first few results they see on search engines and not look for other viewpoints. This can lead to shallow research and a lack of critical thinking.
In my opinion, the Internet can be both helpful and harmful for students’ research skills. It depends on how students use it and how teachers guide them. I think the Internet is a great tool for research, but students need to learn how to use it properly. They should be taught how to evaluate sources, how to find reliable information, and how to use the Internet as just one part of their research process.
To conclude, while the Internet has made research easier in many ways, it’s important for students to develop good research skills that go beyond just using the Internet. Schools should teach students how to use online and offline resources effectively to get the most benefit from both.
(Word count: 309)
Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates characteristics of a Band 6-7 score for the following reasons:
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Task Response: The essay addresses all parts of the task, discussing both viewpoints and providing a personal opinion. However, the ideas could be more fully developed and supported with specific examples.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized with clear overall progression. It uses some cohesive devices, but they are not always used with full control. Paragraphing is logical.
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Lexical Resource: The essay uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary (e.g., “evaluate sources”), but the range is not as wide or sophisticated as in the Band 8-9 essay.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There are no major errors that impede communication, but the range of structures is not as wide as in higher band scores.
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Development of Ideas: Each main idea is relevant to the task and is supported with some explanation. However, the ideas could be more fully extended and elaborated.
Key Vocabulary
- Proliferation (noun) – /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃn/ – rapid increase or spread
- Democratized (verb) – /dɪˈmɒkrətaɪzd/ – made accessible to everyone
- Streamlined (verb) – /ˈstriːmlaɪnd/ – made more efficient and effective
- Undermines (verb) – /ˌʌndəˈmaɪnz/ – gradually weakens or damages
- Judiciously (adverb) – /dʒuːˈdɪʃəsli/ – with good judgment or sense
- Mitigating (verb) – /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪtɪŋ/ – making less severe or serious
- Synthesize (verb) – /ˈsɪnθəsaɪz/ – combine different ideas or things
- Digital literacy (noun) – /ˈdɪdʒɪtl ˈlɪtərəsi/ – ability to use digital technology effectively
Conclusion
The topic of the Internet’s impact on students’ research skills is a complex and nuanced one that requires careful consideration of multiple perspectives. As demonstrated in the sample essays, a high-scoring response should address both the positive and negative aspects of the Internet’s influence on research, while also providing a well-reasoned personal opinion.
For further practice, consider writing essays on related topics such as:
- The role of technology in education
- The impact of social media on academic performance
- The future of libraries in the digital age
- The importance of critical thinking skills in the information era
We encourage you to practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This active practice is an excellent way to improve your IELTS Writing Task 2 skills and receive feedback from others.