IELTS Writing Task 2 | What is the best method for reading the news?

• Introduction:
• Paraphrase the overall essay main topic.
• Write a clear opinion.
• 1st Body Paragraph
• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea.
• Explain your main idea.
• Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
• 2nd Body Paragraph
• Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea.
• Explain your new main idea.
• Include specific details and examples.
• Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
• Conclusion:
• Summarise your main ideas.
• Include a final thought.

• In recent years, many have argued that the best way to read the news is no longer in newspapers. In my opinion, though there are sentimental reasons to prefer newspapers, newer forms of media are far superior.
• Those who continue to value newspapers tend to be older individuals. They have typically maintained this habit for years or even decades. Over such a long period reading newspapers, it is logical that they will have developed an emotional attachment to the act of buying and reading a physical copy of the news. For example, The New York Times continues to publish and sell physical copies of their paper in select markets. The people buying these papers could save time and money by reading the same articles online, but might be attracted to the feel and memories surrounding physical newspapers.
• However, new forms of media allow audiences a wide range of choices that enhance the overall experience. A user accessing a media website can not only read an article from the convenience of their phone or laptop, but also take advantage of features like automatically generated text-to-speech, videos, links to related content, the ability to share an article, and more. All these features are also complemented by the ability to select a diversity of news sources. Instead of reading a single news outlet that might have a liberal or conservative bias, a discerning reader can seek out multiple viewpoints and find the news that is most trustworthy over time.
• In conclusion, despite the respect due to the history of journalism, there are now a wide array of better options online. Individuals should nonetheless be wary of less trustworthy sources.

Vocabulary and Useful Expressions

• In recent years: these days
• argued: pointed out
• read the news: read a newspaper
• no longer in newspapers: not in physical papers
• sentimental reasons: emotional attachment
• newer forms of media are far superior: more recent news sources are better
• value: care about
• tend to be: are usually
• typically maintained this habit for: usually keep up this practice for
• decades: many years
• Over such a long period: for a while
• logical: rational
• emotional attachment: caring about
• the act of buying and reading a physical copy of the news: the action of purchasing a real newspaper
• publish: issue, send out into the world
• sell physical copies: sell newspapers
• paper in select markets: newspaper in certain places
• save time: not waste time
• reading the same articles online: read the same news on the internet
• attracted: care about
• feel: what that it feels, seems
• memories surrounding physical newspapers: remembering reading real newspapers before
• new forms of media allow audiences a wide range of choices: more recent news sources let people do more
• enhance the overall experience: make the reading better
• user accessing a media website: reader going online to read the news
• from the convenience of: the ease of using
• take advantage of features: use the extra stuff
• automatically generated text-to-speech: an article read aloud to you
• links to related content: hyperlinks to other articles
• ability to share an article: posting an article on social media
• features: elements, parts
• complemented by: supported by
• select a diversity of news sources: choose from different news items
• Instead of: rather than
• single news outlet: one source of news
• liberal or conservative bias: more modern or traditional prejudices
• a discerning reader: a person who is skeptical
• seek out multiple viewpoints: look for different opinions
• most trustworthy over time: can be trusted more
• despite: regardless of
• respect due to: reverence you should have for
• history of journalism: past writing of articles
• wide array of better options: many different choices
• nonetheless: regardless
• wary of less trustworthy sources: worried about unreliable sites