Writing Feedback / Writing task 2 Is offering online courses a positive or negative development? [3]

Some universities now offer their courses in the Internet so that people can study online. Is this a positive or negative development?

study from your home online

It is true that online courses are becoming a common feature of university education system. Even though there are some disadvantages of Internet-based learning, I believe that benefits of it far outweigh its drawbacks.

Three cons of online education should be mentioned. The main problem is lack of direct interaction between students and teachers which is a crucial learning process. For example, students can ask teachers questions after class, but it seems not possible if online platform replaces classroom. Another concern is that it is difficult to ensure students attendance. Due to omission of rigorous attendance counting and punishment, playing truant is easy to do with no cost. The last negative possibility is the effectiveness of online courses is still questionable as there is insufficient scientific evidence to prove it.

Despite the drawbacks mentioned above, offering online education is still a reasonable decision owing to several factors. Learning online is a more convenient way to study because students can choose the best time to learn and have a flexible timetable which favours students to learn something other than university courses. In addition, geographical location is no more a limitation because online courses are available as long as Internet service is available. For instance, students in Africa do not have to travel thousands of milometres to Finland to attend lessons there. It also helps facilitate the free flow of knowledge because Internet is a convenient "place" to connect people around the world and their possessed wisdom and experiences.

In conclusion, while I recognise the aforementioned disadvantages of online learning, I consider it to be a positive development overall. (267 words)

Writing Feedback / [IELTS writing task 2] Advantages and disadvantages of media [3]

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following as Media for communicating information. State which you consider to be the most effective.
-Comics
-Books
-Radio
-Television
-Film
-Theatre
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

the most effective media types

Television, comic and film are three common channels to convey information to the general public. Among them, movie is the most effective tool to communicate information. The advantages and disadvantages of the three media are illustrated in the following paragraphs.

Each of the three aforementioned media has their own merits. Television's coverage is the widest among them. It is a free access to information as well as a traditional way for audience to receive news, especially the elderly's generation. Comic, which is a comparatively simple method to communicate information, usually contains a few blocks of picture. The delicacy of comic is that authors convey the subtle message with a few simple drawings which are easy to understand. In contrast, film is also very popular because people like story. The messages can be instilled into audience's minds with a series of scenes subconsciously.

A coin has two sides. There are some constraints for these media. Although television has been the most successful medium in the past decade, its influence is declining due to people's prior preference of the Internet and wireless network which are more convenient than conventional television. The popularity of comic is limited by the amount of content. Owing to the length of ordinary comic, it can be funny and easy to understand but not affluent in content. Notwithstanding the attractiveness of casts and scenarios of film, the cost of seeing a movie is comparatively high among the three channels. Therefore, it may not be an available choice of media for people who are sensitive to price.

In conclusion, film is the best way to distribute information as it is rich in content and attractive to the general public. (280 words)

Writing Feedback / [IELTS Writing Task 1] Changes in the town of Youngsville in New Zealand from 1980 to 2005 [2]

The maps below show changes in the town of Youngsville in New Zealand from 1980 to 2005.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

in 2005 Youngsville is a different town than it was in 1980

The maps illustrate development in the coastal town of Youngsville in New Zealand during the period from 1980 to 2005.

The most obvious change is that the town has undergone significant modernisation. A lot of trees and houses have been removed to spare space for constructing new buildings and facilities.

In 1980, trees were everywhere and the main type of building was house. Trees were located mainly alongside the River Alanah while houses were concentrated nearby the coast. There were only some basic facilities including hospital, school, railway station and airport. Basically, the town was a pure residential area.

In contrast, various kinds of construction have been developed over the 25-year period. Trees and small houses have been replaced by new stadium, factories, warehouse and skyscrapers. Some houses have even been demolished for new railway. In addition, transportation has been more convenient due to the existence of extended railway and new marina. (152 words)

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Writing Feedback / Honey bee diagram explanation - [IELTS Writing Task 1] [4]

The diagram shows the life cycle of the honey bee.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

from an egg to the adult honey bee

The pictures demonstrate how the honey bee is born and grows. The entire process involves 7 stages which are from being laid as an egg to being mature. It takes 34 to 36 days.

The first stage of the life cycle starts with laying egg by female adult honey bee. In every three days, she lays 1 or 2 eggs at a time. Next, the egg laid hatches 9 to 10 days later and the nymph appears.

At the third stage, it moults 3 times as it grows in the 5th, 12th and 21st days respectively after the day it is out of the egg. It grows bigger as every time it removes its old skin. Having shed its skin 3 times, it becomes a young adult honey bee. At last, it spends 4 more days to be an adult honey bee. This sequence is repeated after it is complete. (150 words)

Thank you for your time to read my essay and please feel free to comment on it.

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Writing Feedback / [IELTS Task 1] The main reasons for study among students of different age groups [2]

The charts below show the main reasons for study among students of different age groups and the amount of support they received from employers.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

the road from study to work

The first bar chart illustrates the motivations for students in various age classes to study while the second one provides information about support offered by employers across different ages.

In general, young students tended to learn for career whereas older students pursued studies for the sake of interest. In addition, employers preferred to support students who were under 26 years old.

It is apparent that career is a critical driving factor for students under 40 years old to study. There were almost 80% and around 70% of students aged below 26 and 26 to 29 respectively admitted that career was the reason for them to have higher education qualification. Even though the figure of age group 30 to 39 was lower, the share of people in this group agreed with studying for career still exceeded the half of total portion of this group. In contrast, less than one third of respondents claimed that their own interest encouraged them to study further. The situation reversed at the group of 40 to 49 in which the number of interviewees claims they learnt for career and interest which were the same were 40%. In the group of over 49, more than two thirds of respondents stated that interest was their stimulus to study.

As for support from employer, the age group of below 26 was most likely to receive support from their employers. Over 60% of students aged lower than 26 were supported by employers. However, students aged 30 to 39 had the lowest probability to receive help which was about one third of total. This figures increased slightly for students in their forties and above. (273 words)

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Writing Feedback / [IELTS Writing Task 1] The consumption of fish and different kinds of meat between 1979 and 2004 [3]

The graph below shows the consumption of fish and some different kinds of meat in a European country between 1979 and 2004.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting tha main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

appetite for meat and seafood

The diagram illustrates fish and meats consumed in a country in Europe during the period from 1979 to 2004.

In general, the consumption level dropped throughout the years between 1979 and 2004. Among all kinds of food, the amount of chicken ate was the only rising number while other three items' figures decreased.

In 1979, there were more than 200 grams of beef consumed per person per week which was the highest figure. The lamb consumption amounted to around 150 grams per person per week while the figure of chicken as food was just 10 grams lower than the lamb consumption. Last but not least, people ate about 60 grams fish per week.

The consumption of beef drastically plummeted to just over 100 grams per person per week in 2004 although this amount has once peaked at the level of almost 250 grams in a year from 1979 to 1984. The weights of lamb and fish consumed fell steadily to approximately 60 grams and below 50 grams respectively in 2004. In contrast, chicken was the only choice became more popular in the 25 years. Its consumption level skyrocketed to around 250 grams per person per week. (196 words)

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