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Some people say that what children watch on TV influences their behaviour....(Band 9 Sample Essay)

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.


Write about the following topic:


Some people say that what children watch on TV influences their behaviour, while others say the amount of time children spend watching TV influences their behaviour.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.


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


You should write at least 250 words.


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Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay (Some people say that what children watch on TV influences their behaviour, while others say the amount of time children spend watching TV influences their behaviour.)

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IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay

There is a debate whether the program content or the duration of watching television impacts on children’s behaviour. I believe it is the amount of time that affects most because though the children are prone to learn everything they see; they are more likely to absorb the ones that they are exposed over a long period of time. I will elucidate both views followed by my opinion in the essay.


Children learn best by observing and imitating their surroundings, whether in real life or in visual media, as they are dependent on their environment for their growth. As a result, the idea of role modeling has enormous potential for their implicit learning. In essence, the emotional state and conduct of youngsters are directly influenced by the personalities shown on television, as well as by the mannerisms, speech, clothes, and cultural standards that actors and actresses display. Children may imagine themselves as Sherlock Holmes after watching his adventures, for instance, while exposure to Harry Potter may inspire fantasies of living in a mysterious world. The same logic applies to being exposed to violent images. Recent studies have demonstrated that 65% of individuals with a history of criminal behavior were exposed to violent media during their formative years.


On the other hand, the amount of time kids spend watching TV is another major factor in how they behave. In reality, viewing too much television not only encourages addiction, but also negatively impacts other areas of a child's life. American Paediatric Association advises that each age group should only be permitted to watch TV for a certain amount of time every day in light of this grave result. Children under the age of two are not supposed to be permitted to watch any TV, and those between the ages of two and three are only supposed to watch for a maximum of two hours a day. In addition, a recent study indicated that 70% of students who struggle to pay attention in class lectures watch TV for longer than five hours every day.


In conclusion, the amount of time spent watching TV and the sort of shows children see both have an impact on how they behave in one way or another, but in the long term, I think the time spent is what really mobilizes them.


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IELTS Task 2 Band 8 Sample Essay

There is a discussion among people whether children are immensely impacted what is being displayed on TV or it is the amount of time spent on TV programs that guides their actions. I, personally, believe that the amount of time spent in front of TV definitely has much more effect on children than that of any other factors. In my essay, I am going to elucidate both these views and my opinion with relevant arguments.


Adults are prone to spend their free time in front of TV, and undoubtedly, it leads the children to wilfully join them too. Sadly, they witness some improper broadcasts such as violence or extreme action films which exert enormous influence on their behaviour. Statistical analysis reveals that children endeavour to bully each other right after watching detective or similar kind of movies. For example, children who watch the film called “Terminator”, a superhero movie, feel themselves as a hero and tend to act accordingly. However, if the content is controlled by parents, it will only generate some benefits for children such as learning languages, widening their outlook or getting new experience. In that regard, cartoons and educational programs are irreplaceable.


On the other hand, the other group of people ignore the influence of content, rather they argue that the amount of time spent in front of TV drives children’s activities. They propose that children must engage in useful things to learn and watching TV must only take the small portion of this time. Moreover, once children tend to watch TV rather than studying, it will cause a long-standing addiction and misbehaviour. For example, an addicted child will not be satisfied with what is being told him/her until he or she is fed up watching TV that day and finally voluntarily commence studying. I am of the same idea since children turned into lazy ones today because of the amount of time spent on inappropriate items for their age.


To conclude, the content and timing ought to be chosen meticulously since children are not aware of danger. Parents should strictly follow the time spent on TV programs, build a discipline, ban inappropriate content and pursue time limit.


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