IELTS Writing Task 2: partly agree

Here's the 'hobbies' question that we've been looking at:

Popular hobbies and interests change over time and are more a reflection of trends and fashions than an indication of what individuals really want to do in their spare time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

After thinking about some examples of hobbies, it seems to me that some of them are trends (e.g. video games or gym activities), whereas others have stood the test of time (e.g. jogging, football, swimming, reading).

I'll therefore write a 'partly agree' answer. Here's a possible introduction:

Some leisure activities become fashionable for a short time and then disappear when a new trend comes along, whereas others seem to be perennially popular. I can therefore only partly agree with the assertion that hobbies reflect changing fashions rather than our true interests.

Comments

[Pachu]

This question is a little bit different from the usual.Sir, can we write from one side only ? I mean strongly agree that popular hobbies and interest are changing over time and shows the trend of fashion rather than a indication of personal activities in the free time.

[Vishaal]

Dear Simon,

I found your introduction a little bit difficult, so I tried to write it in a more simpler way. Is my introduction up to the mark?

The preference for the leisure activities has been observed to be changing time to time. While it may be partially true that some of these changes indicate the recent trend and fashion, I would argue that hobbies preliminarily reflect an individual’s true interest.

[Ameet]

Hobbies are becoming more fashionable with the passage of time and are interchangeable with ones personality, whereas others seems to be constantly the most favourite. Therefore, I can partially agree with the statement that hobbies capture changing fashions fairly our real attentions.

[Shakhzod]

Hi Simom

You always taught us to be simple but in this introduction there are many less common words. Did you change your method a little bit or the case is lack of alternatives? Anyway thanks for sharing ideas))

[zara]

Pachu

In principle, it is perfectly okay to take a one-sided stance. You would need to demonstrate that people follow "popular hobbies and interests" despite not really being interested in them. Can you can come up with examples to support this argument? To me, the difficulty lies in proving the lack of real interest.

Vishaal

The preference for the [or: preferred leisure activities] leisure activities has been observed to be changing from time to time. While it may be partially true that some of these changes indicate [reflect/mirror/follow/are swayed by] the recent trend [no article: recent trends and fashions] and fashion, I would argue that hobbies preliminarily primarily reflect an individual’s true interest [plural?].

Ameet
Hobbies are becoming more fashionable with the passage of time [This suggests becoming more common, which is not true. ] and are interchangeable with ones personality [So I can swap my personality for some extra hobbies? I think not. ], whereas others seems to be constantly [ 'perennial favorites' is the English idiom.] the most favourite. Therefore, I can partially agree with the statement that hobbies capture changing fashions fairly our real attentions.[INCOHERENT]

[zara]

Shakhzod

This is not quite the same as Mr Simon's but a little simpler perhaps:

Some leisure activities are quite trendy and ephemeral, but do not stand the test of time; whereas others seem to be perennial favorites. While fashion and trends have some influence, I believe that for most people our true interests win out or take over in the end.

This issue with Mr Simon's version would be that the question asks whether they are "more" a reflection of trends and fashions, not whether it is solely a reflection.

[subha]

Overtime we observe that our hobbies and interests go in tandem with latest trends and fashion but might not reflect our true interest on activities we indulge at leisure.

[Jane]

Hi Simon

Pls i'm a bit confused about the content of the body paragraphs if I choose to agree completely. Will I only talk about how fashion and trends influence hobbies without talking about them being a product of true interest? Thanks in advance for ur answer.

[zara]

subha

-> Over time we observe that ...

"Overtime" is a noun meaning extra hours worked beyond the norm.

[zara]

Jane

Your task would be to prove that fashion and trends have more influence than individuals' true interests. Something like:

Jogging might be an interesting example. It was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s by Arthure Lydiard and became fashionable and trendy, mainly for men. Later women took it up. These days it is much less common where I live, and it seems to be mainly women doing it. Men here seem to have moved on to other forms of exercise, such as cycling or gym.

Yoga is another interesting example. It was originally practiced by men and dates back perhaps five thousand years. The modern Western version is dominated by women and focuses more on the physical poses. Again, yoga is very trendy where I live, having taken off over the last decade.

Perhaps these examples illustrate that fashion and society do have considerable sway, but people have a steady long-term underlying interest in keeping fit, so it is not just all about image and being fashionable.

Fashions in dancing or music or singing might be another area to explore, and contrast the consistent fundamental interest.

[Teen]

Can we take sleeping and socialising as hobbies of free time???

Hobbies and interests of certain people are believed to be change with the trends and fashion in the society.While I believe it is true to a certain extend,many people still have popular ancient hobbies like sleeping as well as socialising at their free time.

[subha]

Thanks Zara for your feedback

[Akter]

It is to be believed that popular hobbies and interests are widely changing with the passages of time and new fashions and trends play a crucial role in the noticeable change. I completely agree with the statement that people are now being confused about what they should actually do on their vacations or leisure periods.

[Akter]

It is to be believed that popular hobbies and interests are widely changing with the passages of time and new fashions and trends play a crucial role in the noticeable change. I completely agree with the statement that people are now being confused about what they should actually do on their vacations or leisure periods.

I want a moderation of my writing. Plz check

[Tiny]

It is argued that nowadays leisure activities have been undergoing a change over time to be more trendy and fashionable rather than personal. While I agree that there exist the tendency, I hold a firm belief that some hobbies are likely to be perennially popular and depend on our true interests.

[Wanda]

It is to be believed that popular hobbies and interests are widely [?] changing with the passage [singular] of time and new fashions and trends play a crucial role in the [this] noticeable change. I completely agree with the statement that people are now being [becoming] confused about what they should actually do on their vacations or [in their] leisure periods.

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=*_ADV+changing&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t2%3B%2C%2A_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3Bconstantly_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Brapidly_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bcontinually_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bever_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Balways_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bnot_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bgradually_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bperpetually_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bthus_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0%3B%3Bslowly_ADV%20changing%3B%2Cc0

https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=with+the+passage+of+time%2C+with+the+passages+of+time&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cwith%20the%20passage%20of%20time%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cwith%20the%20passages%20of%20time%3B%2Cc0

[colette]

Tiny

It is argued that [By whom?]
nowadays [This implies the situation was different in the past]
leisure activities have been undergoing a change over time ['over time' is implied by the tense]
to be [become] more trendy [trendier] and fashionable
rather than personal [All hobbies and leisure activities are personal: rather than matching personal interests/ for one's own behoof].
While I agree that there exist [-> there is /exists] the tendency, I hold a firm belief that some hobbies are likely to be perennially popular and depend [mirror] on our true interests.
[Perhaps better to avoid paraphrasing the question twice in the introduction and save them for later: I agree with this notion/idea/proposition/argument.]

[Jubino]

Dear Simon
I went through your modal essays where you have used words such as firstly, secondly and finally in body paragraphs . Band descriptor 9 of task achievement says "presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas"
So how is it possible to do so with three different ideas/points in one paragraph ? Will one get 9 band ?

[wendy]

Jubino

It depends. It is fine to list two or three reasons or examples to support the main focus of a paragraph, and one way is to present them via "firstly", "secondly", "finally". However, if this format is used to present two or three seemingly unrelated points, then the focus of the paragraph is lost.

https://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2016/09/ielts-advice-about-task-response.html

[Wanda]

Jubino

It depends.It is fine to list two or three reasons or examples to support the main focus of a paragraph are fine, and one way could be to present them via "firstly", "secondly", "finally". However, if this format is used to present two or three seemingly unrelated points, then the focus of the paragraph is lost.

https://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2016/09/ielts-advice-about-task-response.html

[Pachu]

Thank you Zara.you are quite good.
Simon sir, please write another easy introduction in simpler form so that band 5 and band 6 students can easily understand.

[zara]

Pachu

In British English, "quite good" can mean good to a small extent. Like damning with faint praise.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/damn_with_faint_praise

[Kaz]

Hello,

I am struggling to write an introduction by paraphrasing the question...
Can anybody give me a suggestion or share how you are doing it?

Thanks in advance.

[Kaz]

Hello,

I am struggling to write an introduction by paraphrasing the question...
Can anybody give me a suggestion or share how you are doing it?

Thanks in advance.

[colette]

Kaz
Something like:
When choosing their hobbies and leisure activities, I think that people are undoubtedly swayed by the latest trends to some extent. In the long term, however, their choices tend to mirror their underlying interests.

[Simon]

Jubino,

Sometimes you MUST include more than one idea in each paragraph (e.g. when you are asked to give causeS, advantageS, solutionS etc. - all plurals). You don't have time or space to develop each of these ideas, and it's best to see them as 'sub-points' rather than main ideas.

[Jubino]

Thanks a lot for your comment Simon.
But I have some other problems too here . Could you pls address them?

Dear Simon,
I have some confusion regarding the modal essay of 2nd March, 2016 about Task 2. Question is " More people migrating cities search of better life but face difficulty .
Explain difficulties & how government make urban life better? "
1) confusion no. 1 is thesis statement of introduction where
you have mentioned only one idea (solution) but missed to address difficulty . Conclusion is fine acvording to your tips in your blog. You only paraphrased the thesis.
Pls reply .
2) Amother confusion is the "Real content " Topic in your blog in which you have mentioned that to score 7 or more one must focus on "Real Content " rather than grammar, linking and structure. But somewhere I found that Impressive idea is not important; one should focus on .....
So I m really confused. Could you pls ....... Simon?

[Simon]

Jubino,

1) I mentioned the difficulties in the first sentence of the introduction: " but there are also some major drawbacks of living in a large metropolis". It's fine to do thi.

2) 'Real content' means ideas and vocabulary that relate directly to the topic of the question. What I'm arguing against are the lists of 'big words' and 'complex structures' that some students want to memorise and use in any essay. I call these 'any essay phrases' because they are not topic-specific and can be learnt by anyone. Examiners are impressed by topic-specific ideas.

[andrea]

I really don't like this answer. Video games are obviously recent, because computers were born less than 50 years ago. And jogging and yoga are just trends? Seriously?

[Simon]

andrea,

Whether or not you, or the examiner, likes the ideas or opinions doesn't matter in an IELTS context. It's a language exam, and you express your views in order to demonstrate your ability to write in English. Don't judge your ideas too harshly; just do your best to express them.