Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society?
Sample Response
In the last decade, there has been considerable debate over the role of free speech in a free society. Some object to absolute freedom of speech. Others advocate free speech, arguing that the freedom of speech is the single most important political right of citizens in a civilized society. Whilst I believe that there are strong arguments on both sides, I would suggest that freedom of speech should be protected in all but extreme circumstances.
The freedom of speech is important at all levels in a society. Yet it is most important for government. A government which does not know what the people feel and think is in a dangerous position. This is how the communist regimes of Eastern Europe were toppled in the 1980s. The same is happening again in other regions of the world today. The governments that muzzle free speech run a risk of pushing their people to behave destructively or to rebel.
Furthermore, without free speech no political action is possible and no resistance to injustice and oppression is possible. Without free speech elections would have no meaning at all. Policies of contestants become known to the public and become responsive to public opinion only by virtue of free speech. Between elections the freely expressed opinions of citizens help restrain oppressive rule. Without this freedom it is futile to expect political freedom or consequently economic freedom.
In conclusion, I believe that the importance of free speech as a basic and valuable characteristic of a free society cannot be underestimated. It may be challenging for society to allow differences of opinion out into the open; however, the consequences of restricting free speech are likely to be more damaging in the longer term.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove unnecessary article Original: arguing that the freedom of speech Suggested revision: arguing that freedom of speech Why it matters: The general concept does not require the definite article here.
- 2. Remove unnecessary article Original: The freedom of speech is important Suggested revision: Freedom of speech is important Why it matters: Use the uncountable concept without the definite article when speaking generally.
- 3. Correct preposition Original: at all levels in a society Suggested revision: at all levels of society Why it matters: The established expression is 'at all levels of society.'
- 4. General plural needs no article Original: The governments that muzzle Suggested revision: Governments that muzzle Why it matters: A general plural noun should not take the definite article in this context.
- 5. Use fixed expression Original: a Suggested revision: the Why it matters: The standard collocation in this structure is 'run the risk of.'
- 6. Use electoral term Original: Policies of contestants Suggested revision: Candidates' policies Why it matters: 'Candidates' is the precise term for people standing in an election.
- 7. Clarify policy relationship Original: become responsive to public opinion Suggested revision: are shaped by public opinion Why it matters: This phrasing expresses more naturally how public opinion influences policies.
- 8. Add introductory comma Original: Between elections Suggested revision: Between elections, Why it matters: A comma clearly separates this introductory phrase from the main clause.
- 9. Clarify logical addition Original: or consequently economic freedom Suggested revision: and, consequently, economic freedom Why it matters: The conjunction and commas make the intended additive consequence clear.
- 10. Use natural expression Original: allow differences of opinion out into the open Suggested revision: allow differences of opinion to be expressed openly Why it matters: This revision states the idea more directly and idiomatically.
- 11. Sentence rewrite Original: Furthermore, without free speech no political action is possible and no resistance to injustice and oppression is possible. Suggested revision: Furthermore, without free speech, neither political action nor resistance to injustice and oppression is possible. Why it matters: The correlative structure removes repetition while preserving the original claim.
Suggested Rewrites
- arguing that the freedom of speech arguing that freedom of speech
- The freedom of speech is important Freedom of speech is important
- at all levels in a society at all levels of society
- The governments that muzzle Governments that muzzle
- a the
- Policies of contestants Candidates' policies
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response presents a clear, well-sustained position and develops the political importance of free speech through relevant explanation and examples. Its main limitation is that the qualification about extreme circumstances is introduced but never explored, while a few claims are broader than the support provided. The highest-priority improvement is to define those exceptional limits and examine them briefly, making the argument more nuanced and fully aligned with the thesis.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response answers the question directly with a clear position and well-developed, relevant reasons about political accountability and freedom.
Define the extreme circumstances mentioned in the thesis and explain why limits would be justified in those cases.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through a clear introduction, two focused body paragraphs, and a consistent conclusion, with cohesive links used effectively.
Make the relationship between the two body arguments more explicit so the second develops rather than partly restates the first.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary supports the argument effectively, including strong expressions related to government, oppression, and political rights.
Reduce repetition of free speech and refine occasional broad or awkward wording such as policies becoming responsive to public opinion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and flexibly, with only rare minor awkwardness that does not impede meaning.
Refine the few densely coordinated sentences to make their grammatical relationships even more precise and natural.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Is freedom of speech necessary in a free society?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.