IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay:

Learning Through Film or Written Documents

It is better to learn the way people lived in the past through films and video records than
written documents.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some believe that learning about the past is best done through written documents, while
others feel video is a more accurate medium. In my opinion, recent films in particular can be
useful but most information about the past is contained in documents.

Those who argue in favour of video recordings can point to their accuracy. Images transform
every observation into a firsthand account. For example, there are documentaries and home
videos starting in the 1960s that show how people lived. By watching these films, a social
anthropologist can spot more than the surface content. They can see how people talked to
each other in real life, what products they used, get a sense for the fashion and the way people
spoke. In order to better understand their subject, historians would give anything for an
opportunity to have similar film of the Ancient Greeks or Romans.

However, video is limited, especially in terms of its access to important persons and events of
the past. It might reveal how everyday people behaved but the facts of what was going on
behind the scenes is contained in firsthand notes, memos, letters, and official documents. A
good example of this would be the exhaustive four volume biography of Lyndon Johnson
written by Robert Caro. A famously meticulous writer, he has poured over thousands of
documents ranging from private diaries and correspondences to the laws and orders issued at
the time. Slowly, a good observor of the past is able to piece together disparate pieces of
information into a narrative that approaches truth. There simply does not exist the same
 repository of video evidence from any period to yet allow for such a complete understanding of
individuals or historic periods.

In conclusion, the value of film may increase in the future but documents still offer the greatest
insights into the past. It is important to be mindful that all history is speculation but the best
history sticks closely to the facts.

Anaylsis
1. Some believe that learning about the past is best done through written documents, while
others feel video is a more accurate medium. 2. In my opinion, recent films in particular can be
useful but most information about the past is contained in documents.
1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Include your opinion. Read more here about introductions.

1. Those who argue in favour of video recordings can point to their accuracy. 2. Images
transform every observation into a firsthand account. 3. For example, there are documentaries
and home videos starting in the 1960s that show how people lived. 4. By watching these films, a
social anthropologist can spot more than the surface content. 5. They can see how people
talked to each other in real life, what products they used, get a sense for the fashion and the
way people spoke. 6. In order to better understand their subject, historians would give anything
for an opportunity to have similar film of the Ancient Greeks or Romans.
1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Give a specific example.
4. Develop the example.
5. Continue to develop it – don’t switch to a new idea or example.
6. State the final results of the example.

1. However, video is limited, especially in terms of its access to important persons and events of
the past. 2. It might reveal how everyday people behaved but the facts of what was going on
behind the scenes is contained in firsthand notes, memos, letters, and official documents. 3. A
good example of this would be the exhaustive four volume biography of Lyndon Johnson
written by Robert Caro. 4. A famously meticulous writer, he has poured over thousands of
documents ranging from private diaries and correspondences to the laws and orders issued at
the time. 5. Slowly, a good observor of the past is able to piece together disparate pieces of
information into a narrative that approaches truth. 6. There simply does not exist the same
repository of video evidence from any period to yet allow for such a complete understanding of
individuals or historic periods.
1. Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Write another real example.
4. Develop the example.
5. Keep developing it.
6. Conclude the paragraph with a strong statement.

1. In conclusion, the value of film may increase in the future but documents still offer the
greatest insights into the past. 2. It is important to be mindful that all history is speculation but
the best history sticks closely to the facts.
1. Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
2. Add a final thought/detail.

Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?

Some believe that learning about the past is best done through written documents, while
others feel video is a more accurate medium. In my opinion, recent films in particular can be
useful but most information about the past is contained in documents.

Those who argue in favour of video recordings can point to their accuracy.
Images transform every observation into a firsthand account. For example, there are
documentaries and home videos starting in the 1960s that show how people lived. By watching
these films, a social anthropologist can spot more than the surface content. They can see how
people talked to each other in real life, what products they used, get a sense for the fashion
and the way people spoke. In order to better understand their subject, historians would give
anything for an opportunity to have similar film of the Ancient Greeks or Romans.

However, video is limited, especially in terms of its access to important persons and events of
the past. It might reveal how everyday people behaved but the facts of what was going
on behind the scenes is contained in firsthand notes, memos, letters, and official
documents. A good example of this would be the exhaustive four volume biography of
Lyndon Johnson written by Robert Caro. A famously meticulous writer, he has poured
over thousands of documents ranging from private diaries and correspondences to the laws
and orders issued at the time. Slowly, a good observor of the past is able to piece together
disparate pieces of information into a narrative that approaches truth. There simply does
not exist the same repository of video evidence from any period to yet allow for such
a complete understanding of individuals or historic periods.
In conclusion, the value of film may increase in the future but documents still offer the greatest
insights into the past. It is important to be mindful that all history is speculation but the best
history sticks closely to the facts.

Answers
best done better approach
written documents books, notes, diaries, etc.
accurate medium best way
in particular especially
argue in favour of believe that
transform change into
observation watching
firsthand account live account in person, not secondhand
home videos films made at home
spot find/see
surface content what is immediately apparent
get a sense for have some understanding of
subject what they are studying
would give anything willing to sacrifice anything
opportunity chance
in terms of when it comes to
access can get to
reveal uncover
behind the scenes what is happening where people can’t see
firsthand notes what people wrote themselves
memos notes
official documents orders, receipts, reports, etc.
exhaustive comprehensive
volume book
famously meticulous writer well-known for doing good research
poured over read closely
ranging from including
private diaries journals
correspondences letters
orders demands
observor someone watching
piece together disparate pieces of information combine facts
narrative story
approaches truth gets close to being accurate
repository collection
complete understanding fully know about
historic periods times in the past
greatest insights biggest takeaways
mindful aware of
speculation guesses
sticks closely to the facts not speculate

Pronunciation
bɛst dʌn
ˈrɪtn ˈdɒkjʊmənts
ˈækjʊrɪt ˈmiːdiəm
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
ˈɑːgjuː ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
trænsˈfɔːm
ˌɒbzə(ː)ˈveɪʃən
ˈfɜːstˈhænd əˈkaʊnt
həʊm ˈvɪdɪəʊz
spɒt
ˈsɜːfɪs ˈkɒntɛnt
gɛt ə sɛns fɔː
ˈsʌbʤɪkt
wʊd gɪv ˈɛnɪθɪŋ
ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ˈæksɛs
rɪˈviːl
bɪˈhaɪnd ðə siːnz
ˈfɜːstˈhænd nəʊts
ˈmiːməʊz
əˈfɪʃəl ˈdɒkjʊmənts
ɪgˈzɔːstɪv
ˈvɒljʊm
ˈfeɪməsli mɪˈtɪkjʊləs ˈraɪtə
pɔːd ˈəʊvə
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈdaɪəriz
ˌkɒrɪsˈpɒndənsɪz
ˈɔːdəz
əbˈzɜːvə
piːs təˈgɛðə ˈdɪspərɪt ˈpiːsɪz ɒv ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃən
ˈnærətɪv
əˈprəʊʧɪz truːθ
rɪˈpɒzɪtəri
kəmˈpliːt ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
hɪsˈtɒrɪk ˈpɪərɪədz
ˈgreɪtɪst ˈɪnsaɪts
ˈmaɪndfʊl
ˌspɛkjʊˈleɪʃən
stɪks ˈkləʊsli tuː ðə fækts

Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:

Some believe that learning about the past is b__________e through w________________________s, while
others feel video is a more a_______________________m. In my opinion, recent
films i__________________r can be useful but most information about the past is contained in
documents.
Those who a_______________________f video recordings can point to their accuracy.
Images t_________________m every o_______________n into a f_________________________t. For example,
there are documentaries and h_____________________s starting in the 1960s that show how people
lived. By watching these films, a social anthropologist can s______t more than
the s___________________t. They can see how people talked to each other in real life, what products
they used, g__________________r the fashion and the way people spoke. In order to better
understand their s_________t, historians w______________________g for an o_________________y to have
similar film of the Ancient Greeks or Romans.
However, video is limited, especially i___________f its a__________s to important persons and events
of the past. It might r_________l how everyday people behaved but the facts of what was going
on b________________s is contained in f_________________s, m________s, letters,
and o__________________________s. A good example of this would be
the e_______________e four v__________e biography of Lyndon Johnson written by Robert Caro.
A f______________________________________r, he has p__________________r thousands of
documents r_________________m p___________________s and c__________________________s to the laws
and o__________s issued at the time. Slowly, a good o____________r of the past is able
to p___________________________________________________n into a n____________e that a___________________h.
There simply does not exist the same r______________y of video evidence from any period to yet
allow for such a c___________________________g of individuals or h_____________________s.
In conclusion, the value of film may increase in the future but documents still offer
the g__________________s into the past. It is important to be m______________l that all history
is s_______________n but the best history s_______________________________s.
Listening Practice
Watch some history videos from the playlist below:
https://youtu.be/1yv_MXNYbAo?list=PLUaQmDAYhFGCHUfSJc5pANqmLJN5w1JjE

Reading Practice
Read about a scandal from history below:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/roger-stone/614068/

Speaking Practice
Answer the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

History
Do you like reading books about history?
Which country’s history is most interesting to you?
Which historical event or period do you find most interesting?
Why is it important to read about history?

Writing Practice
Write about the following topic then check with my sample answer:

Some believe that history has little to teach us about today while others think that the
study of the past helps us to understand the present.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.