Ideas For Essay Topics
13-14-15-16-17-18/24
Source: http://ielts-simon.com
ielts360toefl@hotmail.com
13. Health:
diet, exercise, state health system, private healthcare, alternative medicine, stress
Diet--
The human body requires a balanced diet.
An unhealthy diet can cause various health problems.
Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are on the increase.
Many people nowadays rely on fast food or pre-prepared meals.
These foods often contain too much fat, salt and sugar.
They are cheap to buy and very easy to prepare.
Many young people have grown up on a diet of convenience foods.
Populations in developed countries are increasingly overweight.
Exercise--
Regular exercise is essential in maintaining a healthy body.
Exercise burns calories and helps to build healthy bones and muscles.
Doctors advise exercising at least three times a week for 20 minutes.
Most people nowadays lead a sedentary lifestyle.
We tend to walk less and do desk jobs.
Most adults relax by watching television.
Children play video games rather than doing outdoor sports.
In the past, people were more active in their jobs and at home.
Government's Role--
Governments have a significant role to play in reducing obesity.
More and more people, including young children, are seriously overweight.
They are at risk of heart disease and diabetes.
This situation will increase the burden of hospitals and taxpayers.
Hospitals rely on the government for money and resources.
Governments should promote a healthy diet and regular exercise.
They should promote a healthy diet and regular exercise.
There should be more time for sports on school timetables.
Unhealthy junk food should be banned from school menus.
People need information about what foods contain.
Food packaging must show the food's nutritional content.
State Health Systems: Advantages
Good healthcare should be available to everyone for free.
State healthcare is paid by the government using money from taxes.
Everyone has access to the same quality of healthcare and treatment.
Private healthcare is unfair because only wealthy people can afford it.
Private Healthcare: Advantages
State hospitals are often very large and difficult to run.
Private hospitals have shorter waiting lists for operations and appointments.
Patients can benefit from faster treatment in private hospitals.
Many people prefer to pay more for a personal service.
Patients have their own room and more comfortable facilities in private hospitals.
Alternative Medicine: Positives
People are increasingly using alternative medicine to treat illnesses.
For example, acupuncture can be used to treat backache.
Herbal medicines can be used to treat allergies or viruses.
Many patients report positive experiences with these alternative treatments.
Some traditional cures have been used for hundreds of years.
Alternative Medicine: Negatives
Many alternative medicines have not been tested scientifically.
They may have no beneficial effect at all.
They may cause unknown side effects.
People should trust the opinions of qualified doctors.
An illness could get worse without treatment from a doctor.
Stress--
Modern lifestyles are increasingly stressful.
People work long hours with strict deadlines.
Our busy lifestyles mean we have less time to relax.
Unemployment is a major cause of stress.
Children may be affected by their parents' relationship problems.
Tests and exams can also cause stress.
How to reduce Stress--
Stress can be reduced by taking regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.
It is also important to get sufficient sleep and make leisure time a priority.
People should work less overtime and take regular holidays.
Schools have started to employ psychologists.
They can offer emotional support to students.
They can help students to cope with exam stress.
01. Advertising:
positives, negatives
02. Animal Rights:
testing on animals, vegetarianism, zoos
03. Cities:
urbanization, problems of city life
04. Crime:
police, punishments/prisons, rehabilitation, capital punishment
05. Education:
studying abroad, technology in education, education in developing countries, higher education, home-schooling, bad behavior, corporal punishment, single sex education, streaming (grouping children according to ability)
06. Environment:
global warming, impact of humans on the environment, solutions to environment problems, waste/rubbish, litter, recycling, nuclear power
07. Family:
family size, working parents, negative effects on children, divorce, care for old people
08. Gender:
gender and education, gender and work, women's and men's role in the family
09. Genetic Engineering:
positives, negatives, genetically modified foods
10. Global Issues:
problems in developing countries, how to help developing countries, immigration, multicultural societies, globalization
11. Government and Society:
what government can do, public services, censorship, video cameras in public places
12. Guns and Weapons:
gun ownership and possession, police and guns, nuclear weapons, armed forces
13. Health: (See above)
diet, exercise, state health systems, private healthcare, alternative medicine, stress
14. Housing and Architecture:
state housing, old buildings, modern/green buildings
State/Council Housing--
In some countries the government provides state or council housing.
This helps people who cannot afford to buy their own house.
It can be argued that state housing creates dependence on the government.
People have no incentive to earn money and buy their own home.
Council properties are often made with cheap, poor-quality materials.
Old Buildings--
Historic buildings are part of a country's heritage.
They should be protected.
Old buildings are often considered to be works of art.
They give character to cities and attract tourists.
They show us how people lived in the past.
We identify countries by architectural symbols like the pyramids in Egypt.
Governments should spend money on looking after historic buildings.
They need regular repairs and maintenance.
New buildings should be designed to complement them.
Modern/Green Buildings--
Modern buildings should be designed to be environmentally friendly.
They should use less energy and produce less waste.
Modern insulation can make houses more energy-efficient.
Solar and wind power can be used to generate electricity.
Rainwater and waste water can be recycled and used to flush toilets.
Modern glass buildings take advantage of natural light.
15. Language:
English as an international language
English is widely used around the world.
It is becoming a global second language.
It is the dominant language of technology, science and international business.
International business meetings are regularly held in English.
The most important textbooks and journals are published in English.
The ability to speak English is a necessary skill in the modern world.
Negatives of English as an International Language--
If one language is dominant, other languages may disappear.
The dominant language brings its own culture.
American culture has become popular around the world.
Other cultures may be damaged.
As an alternative to English, a new global language could be invented.
It would have no nationality or culture attached to it.
This could help to promote international peace and understanding.
Esperanto is an example of a language that was invented with this aim.
16. Money:
money and society, consumerism
Money and Society--
Society has become increasingly materialistic.
People aspire to earn more money.
They want a bigger house or a better car.
We connect wealth and material possessions with happiness and success.
Advertising creates new desires and needs.
It persuades us to buy the latest styles.
Positives of Consumerism--
Consumerism creates employment.
It helps to reduce poverty.
It encourages innovation and creativity in business.
We live in a global economy.
We have a better quality of life.
Negatives of Consumerism--
Consumerist societies create more waste.
They use more natural resources.
They cause damage to the environment.
Consumerism creates a 'throw-away' culture.
Advertisers tell us who we are and what we want.
Wealth alone does not lead to happiness.
Materialism causes greed and crime.
We should return to traditional values like sharing.
17. Personal Development:
happiness, success, nature or nurture
Happiness-
Happiness means different things to different people.
It can be described as a feeling of pleasure or enjoyment.
People enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Hobbies, sports and games can be a source of fun and enjoyment.
Some people see money as a source of happiness.
Other people define happiness as something deeper.
In order to be truly happy it is necessary to live a good life.
We need to feel that we are doing something useful with our lives.
Some people get a sense of achievement from their work.
Others find happiness in bringing up their children.
Religion or a sense of purpose can also be a source of happiness.
Success--
People define success in different ways.
Some people get a sense of achievement from raising a family.
For others, success is defined by wealth or status.
We often think of rich and famous people as being successful in life.
For some, being successful means achieving personal or professional goals.
They see success as the result of hard work.
Success in any field requires long-term planning and effort.
Nature or Nurture--
Some people believe that our personalities are determined mainly by genetics.
We inherit our abilities and talents from our parents.
Others think that our education and upbringing are more important.
We develop according to the influences around us.
Our personalities and achievements depend more on nurture than nature.
Many people argue that we control our destinies.
We can shape our own personalities.
By working hard we can achieve a goal that we put our minds to.
Many successful people are 'self-made'.
We are not limited by our genetic characteristic or upbringing.
18. Sport and Leisure:
professional/competitive sport, sport salaries, sport and politics
Arguments against Professional/Competitive Sport--
Sport has become a business.
Professional sport encourages people to compete for money.
Many sports stars are only concerned about money and fame.
Some athletes take drugs in order to win at any cost.
Competitors are often selfish and rude.
They are not good role models for children.
All sports should be amateur.
Sports should be leisure activities for enjoyment and health reasons.
Taking part is more important than winning.
Arguments for Professional Sport--
Professional sports are the same as any other business.
Many people are employed in the sports industry.
People should be able to use their talents to earn a salary.
Sports stars entertian millions of people.
Money is necessary to improve facilities and tran athletes.
The level of professional sport is much higher than that of amateur sport.
Arguments for Competive Sport--
Competition is a natural instinct in humans.
In daily life we compete to get jobs or the highest grades.
Sports are a safe form of competition.
Competition is healthy because it pushes us to give our best.
Competitors and fans can release energy and aggression.
Opinions: Professional Sport Salaries Are Too High--
Sports professionals earn too much money.
They do not provide a vital service.
Football players, for example, earn enormous salaries by simply kicking a ball.
We could all live happily without professional football.
Life would be difficult without doctors, engineers and other vital professionals.
Society does not seem to value these professions as highly as professional sport.
Sports salaries should be compatible with the wages most people earn.
Opinion: Professional Sport Salaries Are Fair--
It is fair that the best professionals earn a lot of money.
Sport is a multi-million-dollar industry.
There is a large audience of sports fans.
Sports on television attract many viewers.
Sports stars have dedicated hours of practice to developing their fitness and skills.
Only the most talented among them will reach the top.
A sports career may only last 10 years.
Sports fans are silling to pay to support their teams.
