IELTS Writing Correction Service /
Writing Samples /
Band 7

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: Some people think history has nothing or little to tell us. Others believe that studying the past history can help us better understand the present. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

#minutes #topic #people #history
An inevitable heritage of deconstructionism is historical
nihilism
, which has haunted all contemporary historians and philosophists. From my perspective, on the one hand,
this
 opinion arbitrarily repudiates the possibility of reflecting on
history
 and whereby avoiding the same mistakes;
on the other hand
, it is partly reasonable in its insightful cognition that we do not "know"
history
,
instead
, only interpret it. Before defending
history
, I would like to expound on these rational elements of historical
nihilism
. Precisely as Zizek's saying, all histories are contemporary, which means when we learn
history
 through various media, both the obscurity of these media and our cultural backgrounds will influence understanding. It is usually inevitable that we are not learning
history
,
instead
, we are "learning" the
history
 in our eyes. Seen from
this
 aspect, we can to some degree recognise the rationality of historical
nihilism
, which largely depended on the profound development of epistemology in the
last
 two centuries.
Nevertheless
, as I have said, I am not intent on defending historical
nihilism
. But if our prosecution against it is based on a misconception about it, we cannot expect any actual progress in our efforts. After checking the rationality of historical
nihilism
, I would like to explain why I do not agree with it. One primary reason is
that
Correct word choice
apply
show examples
that we cannot grasp the truth of
history
 does not mean we are unable to learn from it something.
Although
 Hegel pessimistically said "the only thing the human has learnt from
history
 is that they never learn anything from
history
",
this
 is not true. After the Holocaust caused by Nazis, the Germans have confirmedly rejected a party with racism; after the poisonous misty in London, the UK's government has persistently improved air conditions. The
history
 of our versions does teach us something. In conclusion,
although
 nihilists are justified to some degree in arguing that
history
 does not tell us anything,
this
 does not prevent us from continually absorbing wisdom from it, which helps us lead a better life.
Submitted by hx88375757 on

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introduction
While the essay's introduction effectively sets the stage for the discussion, it can focus more sharply on the two perspectives you are addressing. This can lead to a clearer understanding of the structure and arguments you intend to present.
cohesion
The coherence could be improved by smoother transitions between paragraphs, especially when you move from discussing historical nihilism to opposing it. Ensure logical progression from one point to another without abrupt changes.
task response
Clarify and directly compare the two perspectives on history to strengthen the 'discuss both views' requirement of the task. Explicitly contrast these ideas to demonstrate a balanced discussion.
examples
In the task achievement criterion, provide more specific examples to support points. Although examples about Germany and the UK are relevant, connecting them more clearly with the main arguments will enhance their effectiveness.
conclusion
The conclusion successfully encapsulates the main argument of the essay, reiterating the balanced view that history, despite complexities, still offers valuable lessons.
task response
You demonstrate a great understanding of sophisticated philosophical concepts like deconstructionism and historical nihilism, which enhances the depth of your argument.
coherence
The essay includes well-structured main points on whether we can truly learn from history, with a clear viewpoint stated.

Include an introduction and conclusion

A conclusion is essential for IELTS writing task 2. It is more important than most people realise. You will be penalised for missing a conclusion in your IELTS essay.

The easiest paragraph to write in an essay is the conclusion paragraph. This is because the paragraph mostly contains information that has already been presented in the essay – it is just the repetition of some information written in the introduction paragraph and supporting paragraphs.

The conclusion paragraph only has 3 sentences:

  • Summary
  • Restatement of thesis
  • Prediction or recommendation

Example:

To summarize, a robotic teacher does not have the necessary disciple to properly give instructions to students and actually works to retard the ability of a student to comprehend new lessons. Therefore, it is clear that the idea of running a classroom completely by a machine cannot be supported. After thorough analysis on this subject, it is predicted that the adverse effects of the debate over technology-driven teaching will always be greater than the positive effects, and because of this, classroom teachers will never be substituted for technology.

Start your conclusion with a linking phrase. Here are some examples:

  • In conclusion
  • To conclude
  • To summarize
  • Finally
  • In a nutshell
  • In general

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