Newspapers have an enormous influence on people’s opinions and ideas. Do you think it is a positive or negative situation?
Sample Response
Newspapers are one the oldest source of information regarding current events before the invention of the radio, television and the internet. It has a huge influence in people's opinions and ideas. But without the ability of the people to cross-reference what is written in the news, we tend to believe that all are facts. Newspapers have a positive and negative effect on its readers. If we will study history, we will find out that newspapers were once used for propagandas during World War II. As a result, many people were brainwashed and believed what they were reading in the news were accurate. Some of the newspapers also come with inappropriate articles and images that might harm the children that will read it without their parents’ consent. While there are negatives effects, I believe that there are more effects on the positive side as there are lots of credible newspapers that are circulating worldwide. Aside from the regular local and world current events, readers can check the newspaper the weather for the day. A businessman can also see current stock market rates while sports enthusiast can check the results of their favourite games be it basketball, baseball, football, etc. Job searchers can also look on job openings and employers can easily advertise their job vacancies. And lastly, people will be up to date and entertained at the same time with the addition of entertainment sections. With the emergence of the internet and the age of social media is becoming more popular, the popularity of the newspapers has been affected by it. But nothing can beat the newspaper as one of the leading source of information and entertainment, especially, for the people who do not have access to computers.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Missing of and plural Original: one the oldest source Suggested revision: one of the oldest sources Why it matters: The fixed structure is one of the plus a plural noun.
- 2. Time logic Original: before the invention Suggested revision: and predate Why it matters: Newspapers remain sources after later media were invented.
- 3. Plural agreement Original: It has a huge influence Suggested revision: They have a huge influence Why it matters: The antecedent newspapers is plural.
- 4. Correct preposition Original: in people's opinions Suggested revision: on people's opinions Why it matters: Influence takes on.
- 5. Clear pronoun Original: believe that all are facts Suggested revision: believe that everything reported is factual Why it matters: All lacks a clear noun reference.
- 6. Pronoun agreement Original: effect on its readers Suggested revision: effects on their readers Why it matters: Newspapers is plural and two effects are named.
- 7. Conditional tense Original: If we will study history Suggested revision: If we study history Why it matters: Use present simple in this if-clause.
- 8. Uncountable noun Original: used for propagandas Suggested revision: used for propaganda Why it matters: Propaganda is uncountable here.
- 9. Clause agreement Original: believed what they were reading in the news were accurate Suggested revision: believed that what they read in the news was accurate Why it matters: The what-clause functions as a singular unit.
- 10. Natural relative clause Original: children that will read it Suggested revision: children who read them Why it matters: Who is preferable for people and them matches articles and images.
- 11. Adjective form Original: negatives effects Suggested revision: negative effects Why it matters: Negative is the required adjective.
- 12. Direct position Original: more effects on the positive side Suggested revision: more significant positive effects Why it matters: The revision makes the comparison clearer.
Suggested Rewrites
- one the oldest source one of the oldest sources
- before the invention and predate
- It has a huge influence They have a huge influence
- in people's opinions on people's opinions
- believe that all are facts believe that everything reported is factual
- effect on its readers effects on their readers
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response states that newspapers have more positive than negative effects and supplies a range of relevant functions, including news, markets, jobs, and entertainment. However, much of the discussion lists newspaper content rather than analysing influence on opinions, and frequent agreement, article, and sentence-structure errors reduce control. Focus each paragraph on how newspapers shape beliefs and develop fewer examples more deeply.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Response
A position is present and both sides are mentioned, but the positive case mainly describes usefulness rather than influence on opinions and ideas.
Explain how credible reporting can inform judgement and how bias or propaganda can distort it, then weigh those effects directly.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response has a recognisable progression, but it is one block, contains list-like development, and shifts late to declining newspaper popularity.
Use an introduction, one negative paragraph, one positive paragraph, and a conclusion that restates the evaluation.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is adequate for the topic, though word-form, collocation, and repetition problems occur regularly.
Build accurate topic phrases such as source of information, influence on opinions, propaganda, job vacancies, and access to computers.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is generally clear, but subject-verb agreement, articles, conditionals, plurals, and clause boundaries are frequently inaccurate.
Proofread every noun phrase for number and every sentence for a complete subject-verb structure.