Some countries have implemented mandatory community service programmes for young people. In these programmes, children aged 16 to 18 do charity work, help old people and work with animals. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion.

Different governments around the world have started proposing the idea of community services for adolescents between 16 and 18 years old. That could involve
activities
such
as charity work, assisting the elderly and working at animal rescue centres.
This
initiative has one main advantage which is the possibility of educating the children
while
interacting with people from different backgrounds and ages or even animals. One possible disadvantage could be that some adolescents will think of it as losing precious
time
if they are willing to invest it studying or even working at part-
time
jobs. On the one hand, young people who cooperate with charities are more likely to develop higher empathy and communication skills compared with those who don’t.
For example
, spending some
time
at nursing homes, at non-profit events and at shelters are some excellent
activities
as they can feel useful by doing
activities
such
as helping feed some elders, cooking or even cleaning and tidying common spaces.
In addition
, it has to be taken into consideration that some of the teenagers would rather have contact with animals, refugees for rescued pets are
also
a good choice. These
activities
can generate social bonding, boost their self-confidence and even create reflections about the society where they live
in
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.
On the other hand
, the main disadvantage could be the lack of personal development
due to
time
constraints. Nowadays, many teenagers must work in order to pay for their university studies as their families can not afford the economic burden,
while
those who aim to enrol at prestigious universities need to get the highest grades,
hence
, they have to invest their
time
studying. There is a chance that a small part of them might not even be interested in participating in these events, with the risk of becoming a hassle rather than helpful.
To conclude
, even though I really think in
this
case the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, forcing these
activities
on all of the students could cause some rejection. The best way to push it forward would be by reaching an agreement between all the parties involved by setting up the minimum hours required and the places where these services could be performed with some flexible rules
,
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so that the whole community can effectively benefit.
Submitted by maria.delrioholgado2 on

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Task Achievement
Be sure to expand on your examples. While your essay mentions general scenarios where young people may volunteer, including specific situations or personal anecdotes can help strengthen your argument and make your points more vivid.
Coherence & Cohesion
Try to present a balanced view by dedicating similar lengths of discussion to both advantages and disadvantages. This ensures that each side is equally explored and contributes to a more comprehensive essay.
Coherence & Cohesion
Introduce a wider range of cohesive devices to better link your ideas and to create a smoother flow in your argumentation. Phrases such as 'furthermore,' 'moreover,' 'on the contrary,' and 'however' can be used to make comparisons and contrasts clearer.
Coherence & Cohesion
Work on essay planning to ensure that your body paragraphs have clear main ideas that are developed thoroughly before moving on to the next point. This will add depth to your argument and make each paragraph feel complete.

Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

  • Paragraph 1 - Introduction
    • Sentence 1 - Background statement
    • Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
    • Sentence 3 - Thesis
    • Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
  • Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
    • Sentence 1 - Summary
    • Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
    • Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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