IELTS Writing Task 2 - Topic Technology #2

Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.

Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. 

What are the positive and negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?

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

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1. Phân tích đề và phát triển ý

This page analyzes a computer games essay and also notes how you can make good use of the question to plan and organize your essay.

Take a look at this IELTS task 2 question:

Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games. 

What are the positive and negative impacts of playing computer games and what can be done to minimize the bad effects?

Remember to always analyze the question carefully. The topic should be fairly clear: Computer games

Remember to also look carefully to see if the topic is being narrowed down to a particular aspect of the topic. In this case it is: Children

Now you need to check what the task is. How many things do you have to write about?

Hopefully you realized there are three things that you can easily turn into brainstorming questions:

1. What are the positive impacts of computer games on children?
2. What are the negative impacts of computer games on children?
3. How can the negative impacts be minimized?

Your answers to these questions will form your computer games essay.

You do not have much time and you have three things to answer, so one or two ideas for each is enough, as remember you will need to explain your ideas and give examples.

2. Model answer - Bài mẫu

Access to computers has increased significantly over recent decades, and the number of children playing games on computers has increased too. This essay will consider the positive and negative impacts of this and discuss ways to mitigate against the potential negative effects.

With regards to the positive effects, playing computers games can develop children’s cognitive skills.  Many popular games require abstract and high level thinking skills in order to win, skills that may not be taught at school. For example, children need to follow instructions, solve complex problems and use logic in many of the games that are currently popular.  Such experience will be beneficial to a child’s progression into an adult.

However, concerns have been raised about the prolific use of computer games by children, much of this related to the violence they contain. The problem is that in many of the games children are rewarded for being more violent, and this violence is repeated again and again. For instance, many games involve children helping their character to kill, kick, stab and shoot. This may lead to increased aggressive feelings, thoughts, and behaviours.  

In order to minimize these negative impacts, parents need to take certain steps. Firstly, some video games are rated according their content, so parents must check this and ensure their children are not allowed to have access to games that are unsuitable.  Parents can also set limits on the length of time games are played. Finally, parents should also take an active interest in the games their children are playing so they can find out how they feel about what they are observing. 

To sum up, there are benefits of computer games, but there are disadvantages too. However, if parents take adequate precautions, the severity of these negative impacts can be avoided.  

(296 Words)

3. Nhận xét

This computer games essay is well-organized and it directly answers the question, with each paragraph addressing one of the tasks.

Note how the topic sentences match the tasks (which have been taken from the prompt):

With regards to the positive effects, playing computers games can develop children’s cognitive skills.

However, concerns have been raised about the prolific use of computer games by children, much of this related to the violence they contain.

In order to minimize these negative impacts, parents need to take certain steps.

1. What are the positive impacts of computer games on children?
2. What are the negative impacts of computer games on children?
3. How can the negative impacts be minimized?

This is why analyzing the question is so important. This provides you with the basic building blocks with which to write your essay.