IELTS Writing Task 2: 'marriages' topic

Marriages are bigger and more expensive nowadays than in the past. Why is this the case? Is it a positive or negative development?

To plan an essay for this topic, consider the following questions:

1. Would you call this an 'opinion' essay or a 'discussion' essay?
2. For a 4-paragraph essay, what would each paragraph be about?
3. What 2 things do you need to do in the introduction?
4. Do you have any ideas to explain why weddings are bigger/expensive?
5. Should you choose 'positive' or 'negative', or can you discuss both?

Feel free to answer these questions in the comments area. I'll give you my answers tomorrow, and I'll try to write a full essay for next week.

Note:
Please don't send me full essays. I can't check them or give you a score.

Comments

[SamEer]

1-Its a hidden argument essay

2- introduction,one paragraph about how marriages used to simple and low key affair in the past,one paragraph about how marriages have become a lavish extravaganza nowadays and its negatives and positives,conclusion

3-I'm going to tell paraphrase question and then going to say what's my opinion..

4- people wants to showoff thier wealth or social status,want to compete with others(showing upper hand),creating more oppurtunities to network,more fun

5- we can do either

[Dongdong]

Hi, Simon
Interesting topic! Here are my answers.
1 The topic asks me for my opinion about wedding.
2 Para1: Intro
Para2:Explain why marriage becomes bigger and more expensive
Para3: My opinion+explanation:To me, it is negative development.
Para4: conclusion
3 For intro, I only need to rewrite this topic, then give my opinion.
4 Ideas for bigger: bigger social network and more friends to invite;more choice of wedding place, like restaurant, beach,etc. while in the past, we have wedding ceremony only at home; showing off family wealth.
Ideas for expensive: we r better at arranging high standard wedding, like using wedding company, gorgeous wedding photos; buying new house for young couples in China; oversee honeymoon, etc
5 I recon that I would call this topic a discuss essay to question 1 if i choose to discuss both sides here. For me, it is easier to argue that all the money comes from our parents, so spend too much money on wedding is a negative development.

[Maksim]

1. I can say that it is typical “opinion essay”, because the question is strict “is it positive or negative…?” Also, we have the small prompt in question #3.

2. For #1- introduction (we have to state the topic (paraphrase it) and our opinion);
For #2 – describe the positive development (viewpoint and example);
For #3 – describe the negative development (viewpoint and example);
For #4 – summarise and restate our opinion.

3. we have to state the topic (paraphrase it) and our opinion.

4. – Nowadays, people try to keep touch not only with relatives but with a colleagues, business partners etc. and wedding is one of the most important reasons to gather all of them together, as a result, it lead to the high coast of wedding.
- Inflation – prices are increasing and now it is more expensive to organize this event.
- Today people have the examples of wedding of celebrities and they want to imitate\copy them.
- It’s stupid but for some people prestige/social status is extremely important and they want to show that they are able to organize a great wedding party and than to live a hand-to-mouth existence
- Today people can celebrate in expensive restaurant instead of home, rent a limousine, to spend a honeymoon abroad etc. All these costs make the wedding more expensive

5. I think that we have to discuss both points of view

[Elysiakim]

Hi, Simon.
How are you doing?

I'm greatful for you lesson as all the time.
Here is what I think about your questions:

1. I think this is 'opinion topic'. I can't exactly explain why, but that's how I feel towards this question.

2. 1st - as saying marriges are getting bigger, also say favour opinion and against opinion. present my opinion which is against big marriges.
2nd - present possible reasons why it is thought as positive development with examples.
3rd - present reasons why I think it is negative development with exaples and some evidences.
4th - conclusion.

3. paraphrase the question and make my opinion.

4.1. Social network is getting bigger so that people invite more guests than in the past.
2. Economic state of people are wealthier than in the past.
3. People concern about others thought more than before.

5. I'll discuss both side but I'll make my opinion with one of them.

[Clement]

Hi Simon...

1. I would say this is an opinion essay because they asked about negative or positive as a conclusion.

2. (1) Introduce the topic as well as give an idea why wedding become more expensive, last sentence say expensive wedding can create problem (which is my opinion).
(2) Explain about negative effect (unnecessary cost for wedding which is can use it for other more important thing such as buy a house or car).
(3) Explain about some of the positive effect from these days wedding (can meet all the relatives and friend which is hard to see them during normal day as they are busy with their own activities).
(4) Conclude all our ideas in this paragraph and state our final word (negative or positive, in this case, I would say negative development).

3. First, introduce the topic sentence and then explain briefly why wedding become more expensive.

4. More expensive because they invite all their relatives and friends (not even close friends).

5. I will discuss negative effect in second paragraph, then on next paragraph I will explain some of the positive effect. After all of that, on fourth paragraph, I will summarize then choose negative effect for the conclusion.

[Hetal]

Hi Simon,

Thankyou so much for this lesson.

I have answered this question in exam in following way.

Intro:It is certainly true People spend more money and arrange marriages in bigger way nowadays.I believe this is a positive development.

Body1 :I have mentioned the reasons why it was not bigger and expensive in the past (such as no such facilities available like dj,designer clothes,different cuisine etc that period was not modernised,people have bind themselves in limitation in financial way)

body 2:I have mentioned why it is positive development.
Like-It has become business, many people gets employed,like dj,catering,shops,photographers.people can explore their knowledge by performing a dance.people gets refresh from their daily routine life by attending the ceremony and also its way to be in touch.marriages represent the culture so younger generation can understand the importance of wedding.

concluded with marriages are certainly positive development.

[Ruth Weldekristos]

Hi Simon,

This is an interesting topic, here is my answer.

It is clearly asking the reasons that why marriages are costly than before and the writer's point of view.

[Ruth]

Nowadays, people spend a lot of money for weeding ceremonies ever than before.It happens for many reasons: to showoff their wealth as well as to be well known by their community.

During especial occasion like marriage some people want their ceremony memorable by spending a huge amount of their money. hiring well knowing wedding planners, for instance. with out considering their budget, they buy many items for the groom and bride. So people end up in a lot of problems.

In addition, by spending a huge amount of money some people would like to buy popularity.They invite many guests to the weeding and pay for their food and entertainment. The whole community will talk about the well known man.

To summarize, it is clear that a big weeding is a non sense and a wast of money.

[Simon]

SIMON'S ANSWERS:

1) I'd call it an opinion essay. It asks why YOU think weddings are bigger and more expensive, and whether YOU think this is positive or negative.

2) 4 paragraphs:
- Introduction
- Reasons why marriages are bigger and more expensive
- Your opinion about whether it is positive or negative
- Conclusion

3) Introduction: topic + response
You could paraphrase the question to introduce the topic, then give a basic answer to the questions (response).

4) People want a special, memorable day. Weddings have become status symbols - people want to show off. Nowadays it is easier to pay for a wedding using a loan or credit card. We are also influenced by the media - we see pictures of famous people's weddings and we want to copy them.

5) You can do whatever you want. You don't have to discuss both. Just make your opinion clear, then support it.

Thanks for your contributions. You all seem to have the right idea.

Simon

[Tang Van Ha]

Hi Simon
I am a your fan from Vietnam. I took the IELTS test on the 22nd, January. Writing Task 2 was about anti-social behaviours. what are the causes of this problem? Who are responsible for this?

[Simon]

Hi Tang,

Thanks for sharing your question. Good luck with your results!

[jami]

hi here is my answer
-this is a discussion essay
-1-how was old marriage function
2-new functions
3-it become a social event to show the status of the family
4-negative development

-restatement of question and my opinion
-to show the wealth of the family
-positive-pleasant to attend the function can have the delicious food
-negative-poor people will try to do the same and they will become more poor
nobody wants to marry from poor family
become more suicidal attempts can occure

[Simon]

Thanks Jami,

Have a look at my answers too - in my comment above "SIMON'S ANSWERS".

[zillur]

why do u write visitors like visitors'? can you clarify this please? thanks

[Simon]

Hi Zillur,

I don't know where I wrote that, but we write visitors' when it is plural possessive e.g. "visitors' opinions" means "the opinions of visitors"

[zillur]

in that case we write like visitor's...how should i write, visitor's or visitors'? waiting for your feedback....thanks

[Simon]

Hi Zillur,

visitor's = of one visitor (singular possessive)
visitors' = of several/many visitors (plural possessive)

[zillur]

hi simon
thank you very much for your help.

another thing: i understand the use of "by", when i use rose or fell by 5(difference between two figurs) in task 1.

but sometimes i saw "by 2005 or by the year 2005 or by cotrast" these things are not clear to me. when can i use these? it will be highly appreciable if u help me in this regard. again thanks zillur

[Simon]

Hi Zillur,

"By contrast" is the same as "In contrast". Both mean the same as "However".

I'll explain "by + year" in tomorrow's task 1 lesson (Thursday 24th November).

[Vandana]

Recent speaking topics

[Mansour]

Hi Simon,
could you please put your full essay regarding this lesson? I'd be very grateful!