This is the next in my series of model IELTS essays. This one looks at a question relating to the cinema. I analyse the question for you, show you a possible structure to answer the essay and give you some vocabulary help and ideas for the essay.
Thinking about the question
In recent years, people watch more movies from overseas? What are the reasons for this? Should the government give financial support to local cinema to produce local films?
This is a tricky double question. It is very important that you answer both halves of this question because if you don’t you will be penalised for bad Task Response. The first part of the question is perhaps the harder half as it asks you to give reasons why “international films’ have become so popular. Some possible ideas for you are:
- a new global culture
- the internet age
- desire to see big budget films
- the power of Hollywood/Bollywood
- the influence of American TV
- the spread of English as a world language
- international films threaten local culture
- they offer less choice to the viewer
- it’s the duty of governments to protect national industries
- local films are higher quality than mass-produced Indian/US films
- there is still a place for local films on tv and in smaller cinemas
- the new global culture is positive
- people choose what they want to watch – it’s not the job of the government to interfere
Structure the essay
The logical approach here is to deal with the two questions in the question in separate paragraphs. So a possible structure might look like:
Intro
Note both parts of the task and show whether you believe the government should provide assistance
Para 1
Explain the reason why international cinema is more popular nowadays. (This is maybe a complex paragraph to write with the reasoning)
Para 2
Say whether the government should provide financial assistance. Explain why/not. (This is a chance to use an “If clause” which is good for your grammar)
Conclusion
Summarise the main idea in para 1 about why international cinema is popular and the main idea in para 2 about what the government should do.
Thinking vocabulary
Clearly, the main area of vocabulary for this essay is the cinema but you should also think about words and phrases for “finance”, “cause and effect” and possibly “globalisation”. Here are a few ideas for you:
Finance
- provide financial support/support financially/financial backing/back financially
- subsidise/give subsidies to
- bankroll
- give a tax incentive
- budget
Globalisation
- the global village
- global culture
- the internet age
Film and cinema
- produce a film
- film studio
- blockbuster
- art house film
- special effects
- the audience
- the cinema-going public
- film buffs
A sample essay
Note that this model essay is slightly long at 317 words and it is 5 rather than 4 paragraphs. I have written 2 paragraphs on why international films have become more popular to help you with language and ideas. It may be sensible in the exam to concentrate on a 4 paragraph structure as I suggest above.
In recent years, people watch more movies from overseas? What are the reasons for this? Should the government give financial support to local cinema to produce local films?
It is unquestionably the case that there is a growing trend for people to watch foreign films in preference to films made in their home country. In this essay, I will discuss why this is the case and why I believe national governments ought to support home grown cinema financially.
Perhaps the principal reason for the popularity of foreign made films is the globalisation of culture in the internet age. In the past, children growing up only had access to the culture and traditions of their own country and so preferred to watch films about their own land. Now in the era of Youtube, young people grow up with easy access to an international culture and so when they go to the cinema, they expect to see films that reflect that international culture and for them a Hollywood blockbuster is much “cooler” than a serious film in their own language.
A second reason why internationally produced films tend to dominate the domestic market is financial. The two great centres of world cinema, Bollywood and Hollywood, have studios with budgets of billions of dollars which can make films with exciting special effects and high production values. In contrast, locally produced films often have much smaller budgets are sometimes therefore less attractive to the mass market.
Personally, I believe that this globalisation of culture is not entirely positive and governments should take action to promote local films. If countries had their own film industries which could compete with the international studios, this would not only help preserve national culture, but would also create more choice for the public as global films offer little variety.
In conclusion, the main reasons for the expansion of international films are a new globalised world culture caused by the internet and the financial power of a few film studios in Hollywood and Bollywood. We would have more choice if the governments subsidised local films.
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Thankyou very much for your response. You are really a gem and may God bless you.
thank you very much
Is it okay to use the word “cooler’ in a formal essay —-?
Regards Dinaz
Excellent question.
It is unusual perhaps, but in this context it seems appropriate in that it relates to the attitude of young people who have grown up in the internet age: they regard a film as being “cool”. I have now amended the essay so that “cooler” is in speech marks to show that I am using it in a special way.
It’s an excellent question as it shows that you understand that there are certain words that you do not normally use in more academic writing. I would only point out that there are no particular rules in this area about what words you should and shouldn’t use and that what matters is that you use mostly more academic/formal language. If you do this, then it does not matter so much if you use a few words which are less academic/formal.
Exilent explanation. I have question ,should we write the essay topic/task on the top or not ? If I write will be loose or bebefited?
Thanks
What will happen is that if you answer the question part, then you will automatically write about the topic as the question relates to the topic. The mistake is ONLY to write about the topic and ignore the task/question.
Sory, may be I could not explain what I wanted to know. As example shall I write this question at the top then write the answer? If not write will be panalised or not?
“In recent years, people watch more movies from overseas? What are the reasons for this? Should the government give financial support to local cinema to produce local films?”
Thanks
There is no need to write out the question if that is what you are asking.
In this essay, the second sentence of the introduction directly says “In this essay, I will discuss why this is the case and ……” Is a good style in essay writing?