Historical accuracy

by Dave
introduction 3

Sample answer 5

Analysis 6

vocabulary 10

pronunciation 13

links 14

by Dave
 Hi everyone!

Here is a sample of an unrelated correction!

introduction

Read it here
Some feel that movies
and tv shows are a good
way to study history
despite their lack of
historical accuracy at
times.

To what extent do you

agree or disagree?
by Dave
 Sample answer
Many today have argued that watching movies and television shows about history
are legitimate methods to learn about the past. I am generally in disagreement with this
sentiment as these shows typically prioritize entertainment over historical accuracy.
The argument in favor of learning from period pieces is that they are sometimes
well-researched. Most scripted dramas are based on historical sources and there is of-
ten at least one historian serving as an advisor on set or during pre-production. A stand-
out example of this would be ‘Ekaterina,’ a Russian drama based on the life of Catherine
the Great. In contrast to the American show ‘The Great,’ based on the same historical
figures, this series is more closely related to actual historic accounts and the deviations
from history and dramatizations should be self-evident to most viewers. There are
many similar shows produced globally with the same commitment to an honest retell-
ing of history.
However, movies and TV shows will naturally skew towards entertainment. Even the
most well-intentioned productions must take liberties not only in terms of the private
conversations they depict but also for the portrayals and characterizations of major fig-
ures. When it comes to figures from recent history, such as movies featuring President
John F. Kennedy, actors can rely on archival footage to be more accurate in their perfor-
mances. When it comes to older figures who predate video, then writers and actors will
necessarily have to impose their individual interpretations on history. This is unavoid-
able and viewers who are not skeptical are likely learning misrepresentations.
In conclusion, although entertainment is undeniably an effective way to learn, it is
likely to be largely filled with dramatic liberties. Therefore, these shows should be en-
joyed but not taken too seriously.
by Dave
Structure Analysis
Many today have argued
For your first sen-
that watching movies and tence - rewrite
television shows about his- the topic with new
words, keep it
tory are legitimate methods short and simple!
to learn about the past. I
am generally in disagree-
State a clear
ment with this sentiment as overall opinion
these shows typically priori- and try to men-
tion both main
tize entertainment over his- ideas.
torical accuracy. by Dave
structure Analysis
The argument in favor of learning from Your topic sentence should include the
period pieces is that they are some- main idea for the whole paragraph.
times well-researched. Most script-
ed dramas are based on historical
sources and there is often at least one Explain your main idea.
historian serving as an advisor on set
or during pre-production. A standout
example of this would be ‘Ekaterina,’
Continue with the
a Russian drama based on the life of
same main idea.
Catherine the Great. In contrast to the
American show ‘The Great,’ based on
the same historical figures, this series
is more closely related to actual his- Aim for about 4-5
toric accounts and the deviations from sentences.
history and dramatizations should be
self-evident to most viewers. There are
many similar shows produced globally
Finish strong!
with the same commitment to an hon-
est retelling of history.
Structure Analysis
However, movies and TV shows will Write a clear simple topic
naturally skew towards entertainment. sentence.
Even the most well-intentioned pro-
ductions must take liberties not only
in terms of the private conversations Explain your idea.
they depict but also for the portrayals
and characterizations of major figures.
When it comes to figures from recent
history, such as movies featuring Be specific and continue
President John F. Kennedy, actors can your ideas.
rely on archival footage to be more
accurate in their performances. When
it comes to older figures who predate
video, then writers and actors will nec- The more detail, the better.
essarily have to impose their individ-
ual interpretations on history. This is
unavoidable and viewers who are not
skeptical are likely learning misrepre- Finish the development.
sentations. by Dave
 Structure Analysis
In conclusion, although en-
Repeat your opin-
tertainment is undeniably
ion and summarise
an effective way to learn, it both of your ideas
is likely to be largely filled specifically.
with dramatic liberties.
Therefore, these shows
Add in a final detail or thought. To get above
should be enjoyed but not band 7 for task achievement, you must
include this sentence. This could be a sug-

taken too seriously. gestion, solution or further support.

practice idea
After you review and practice with this PDF, write or look up online a Writing Task 2 on a similar
topic. Find the topics here.

by Dave
Write about the new topic and try to use some of the vocabulary and analysis from this essay
to help you.
vocabulary
write a definition or synyonm for the underlined
words. If you’re not sure, try to figure out or
guess what they mean based on the sentence.

Many today have argued that watching movies and television shows about history
are legitimate methods to learn about the past. I am generally in disagreement with this
sentiment as these shows typically prioritize entertainment over historical accuracy.
The argument in favor of learning from period pieces is that they are sometimes
well-researched. Most scripted dramas are based on historical sources and there is of-
ten at least one historian serving as an advisor on set or during pre-production. A stand-
out example of this would be ‘Ekaterina,’ a Russian drama based on the life of Catherine
the Great. In contrast to the American show ‘The Great,’ based on the same historical
figures, this series is more closely related to actual historic accounts and the deviations
from history and dramatizations should be self-evident to most viewers. There are
many similar shows produced globally with the same commitment to an honest retell-
ing of history.
However, movies and TV shows will naturally skew towards entertainment. Even the
most well-intentioned productions must take liberties not only in terms of the private
conversations they depict but also for the portrayals and characterizations of major fig-
ures. When it comes to figures from recent history, such as movies featuring President
John F. Kennedy, actors can rely on archival footage to be more accurate in their perfor-
mances. When it comes to older figures who predate video, then writers and actors will
necessarily have to impose their individual interpretations on history. This is unavoid-
able and viewers who are not skeptical are likely learning misrepresentations.
In conclusion, although entertainment is undeniably an effective way to learn, it is
by Dave
likely to be largely filled with dramatic liberties. Therefore, these shows should be en-
joyed but not taken too seriously.
Many today have argued that lots of people think
legitimate methods real ways
I am generally in disagreement with this senti-
ment as I mostly disagree with this argument
typically prioritize entertainment over historical
accuracy care more about engaging people in-
stead of being objective
The argument in favor of those who support
period pieces historic shows/movies
well-researched lots of background on it
scripted dramas written shows
based on coming from
historical sources accounts from the past
at least at minimum
historian person who studies history
serving as an advisor on set or during pre-pro-
duction writing, designing, etc.
A standout example of this would be a good in-
stance of this is
drama show
based on the life of informed by real history
In contrast to compared to
historical figures people from the past
closely related to actual historic accounts comes
from real history
deviations going off of history
dramatizations making a show
self-evident to most viewers obvious to most peo-
ple
produced globally made around the world
commitment to an honest retelling of history care
about telling the truth
naturally skew towards entertainment of course
prioritize being entertaining
Even the most well-intentioned productions
take liberties not only in terms of the best shows
even distort things
private conversations they depict talking they
show
portrayals how you are characterized
characterizations ways a person is shown
major figures historic people
recent history not that long ago
featuring showing, portraying
rely on archival footage use old videos
performances acting
predate video before video tech existed
impose make
individual interpretations on history
unavoidable can’t be avoided
viewers audiences
skeptical questioning
learning misrepresentations absorbing false-
hoods
undeniably an effective way to learn definitely a
good way to study
by Dave
largely filled with dramatic liberties distort history
not taken too seriously thought about lightly
vocabulary Remember and fill in the blanks:
M______________________t watching movies and television shows about history are
l__________________s to learn about the past. I _________________________________________s
these shows t__________________________________________________y.
T__________________f learning from p_____________s is that they are some-
times w_______________d. Most s___________s are b_________n h_____________s and
there is often a________t one h_________n s___________________________________n.
A_________________________e ‘Ekaterina,’ a Russian d______________________f Cather-
ine the Great. I_____________o the American show ‘The Great,’ based on the same
h_________________s, this series is more c______________________s and the d__________s from
history and d_________________s should be s___________________s. There are many similar
shows p___________________y with the same c_____________________________________y.
However, movies and TV shows will n______________________________________
____t. E_______________________________s must t_____________________________f the
p____________________________t but also for the portrayals and c___________________s of
m_________________s. When it comes to figures from r__________________y, such as movies
f__________g President John F. Kennedy, actors can r__________________e to be more accu-
rate in their p_________________s. When it comes to older figures who p___________o, then
writers and actors will necessarily have to i______e their i________________________________
_y. This is u_____________e and v________s who are not s__________l are likely l______________
_________________s.
In conclusion, although entertainment is u_______________________________n, it is likely
to be l_______________________________s. Therefore, these shows should be enjoyed but
n__________________________y.
by Dave
Pronunciation
ˈmɛni təˈdeɪ hæv ˈɑːɡjuːd
ðæt
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈmɛθədz
aɪ æm ˈʤɛnərəli ɪn
ˌdɪsəˈɡriːmənt wɪð ðɪs
ˈsɛntɪmənt æz
ˈtɪpɪkᵊli praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt ˈəʊvə
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈækjʊrəsi.
ði ˈɑːɡjʊmənt ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˈpɪərɪəd ˈpiːsɪz
wɛl-rɪˈsɜːʧt
ˈskrɪptɪd ˈdrɑːməz
beɪst ɒn
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈsɔːsɪz
æt liːst
hɪsˈtɔːrɪən
ˈsɜːvɪŋ æz ən ədˈvaɪzər
ɒn sɛt ɔː ˈdjʊərɪŋ priː-
prəˈdʌkʃᵊn
ə ˈstændaʊt ɪɡˈzɑːmpl ɒv ðɪs dɪˈpɪkt
wʊd biː pɔːˈtreɪəlz
ˈdrɑːmə ˌkærɪktəraɪˈzeɪʃᵊnz
beɪst ɒn ðə laɪf ɒv ˈmeɪʤə ˈfɪɡəz
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst tuː ˈriːsnt ˈhɪstəri
hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl ˈfɪɡəz ˈfiːʧərɪŋ
ˈkləʊsli rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˈækʧʊəl rɪˈlaɪ ɒn ɑːˈkaɪvəl ˈfʊtɪʤ
hɪsˈtɒrɪk əˈkaʊnts pəˈfɔːmənsɪz
ˌdiːvɪˈeɪʃᵊnz priː deɪt ˈvɪdɪəʊ
ˌdræmətaɪˈzeɪʃᵊnz ɪmˈpəʊz
sɛlf-ˈɛvɪdənt tuː məʊst ˈvjuːəz ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ɪnˌtɜːprɪˈteɪʃᵊnz
prəˈdjuːst ˈɡləʊbəli ɒn ˈhɪstəri
kəˈmɪtmənt tuː ən ˈɒnɪst ˌʌnəˈvɔɪdəbᵊl
ˌriːˈtɛlɪŋ ɒv ˈhɪstəri. ˈvjuːəz
ˈnæʧrəli skjuː təˈwɔːdz ˈskɛptɪkəl
ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt ˈlɜːnɪŋ ˌmɪsˌrɛprɪzɛnˈteɪʃᵊnz.
ˈiːvən ðə məʊst wɛl-ɪnˈtɛnʃᵊnd ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbᵊli ən ɪˈfɛktɪv
prəˈdʌkʃᵊnz weɪ tuː lɜːn
teɪk ˈlɪbətiz nɒt ˈəʊnli ɪn tɜːmz ˈlɑːʤli fɪld wɪð drəˈmætɪk
ɒv ˈlɪbətiz
ˈpraɪvɪt ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃᵊnz ðeɪ nɒt ˈteɪkən tuː ˈsɪərɪəsli
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