The Internet is a Great Source of Information and Has Opened up Opportunities- IELTS Writing Task 2

The internet is a great source of information and has opened up opportunities for people to learn all over the world. Is all information reliable on the internet? What could be done to control information online?

Outline

Essay Type

Direct Question essay

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – Paraphrase the topic with the use of synonyms. Create a base understanding for the reader, something to expand on in the essay.

Sentence 3 – State that the essay will understand how information available on the internet has changed the world, but an individual needs to be aware of its authenticity, and the steps one needs to take to ensure this.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Talk about how the information available on the internet has changed the world. Mention how a learner can now attend college online and get his degree, and how courses and skills can be learnt over the internet.

Paragraph 2 – Underline the fact that not everything available on the internet is true, and one should be aware of scams and cybercrimes. To avoid such unfortunate instances, one must be actively scanning information online, be aware of fraudulent activities; the internet should be policed; and mention such examples.

Conclusion

Summarise the essay and state your views.

Sample Essay

The Internet has enabled access to an endless reservoir of information on every topic imaginable. Nowadays, anyone can pick up a random skill or course from the web and achieve some practice in it. But alongside this comes a question of authenticity and reliability, as a lot of information minted on the net is a farce. This essay will examine the same and provide some ideas on how this can be resolved.

Imagine a world where education has become universalised to such an extent that degrees can be attained while attaining lectures at the student’s convenience. Now picture a life where the same student can learn from multiple colleges, institutions, or sources simultaneously, again, at his convenience. Fast forward to 2021, the Internet has actualised the second notion, and it has revamped education and sponging information as we know it. An individual can find courses from the premier institutions of the world at a click’s use or learn something new from verified platforms.

But, one needs to be wary of phishing and fraudulent practitioners who act as impostors from reputable institutions. One grave nuisance of the Internet is anonymity, and some people make full use of it and monger fake information online. This is an impending catastrophe as believing everything on the Internet is consequential. Hence, the judge of this jury is the user, who needs to be on his toes in order to realise what’s true and what’s not. One way to do this is by checking multiple sources to know if the information checks out. Another way is to police the Internet and catch scamsters in the act while strengthening cyber laws and safeguarding users’ interests.

The Internet is a miraculous invention that has brought the world closer, made information easier and conventionally transformed lives. There are a few people who are taking undue advantage of this resource, making the experience bitter. But, this cannot deny the fact that there remains a vast reservoir of information on the Internet, that too of every imaginable topic.

Vocabulary

• Farce

Meaning – an event or situation that is absurd or disorganized.
Example – The discussion soon took a turn for the worse and led to a farce result.

• Universalised

Meaning – give a universal character or application to something.
Example – Peace and love need to be universalised further.

• Actualised

Meaning – make a reality of.
Example – He persevered and actualised his dream.

• Revamped

Meaning – give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to.
Example – The Sursagar lake looks ever so lovely after getting revamped.

• Phishing

Meaning – a cybercrime in which targets are contacted by email, telephone or text message by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data.
Example – The cyber branch of police is running awareness campaigns against phishing and other crimes.

• Impostors

Meaning – a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, especially for fraudulent gain.
Example – I have had quite a few run-ins with life-insurance impostors lately.

• Monger

Meaning – denoting a dealer or trader in a specified commodity.
Example – We need to be aware of online persons who are mongers of fear and hatred.

• Scamsters

Meaning – a person who commits fraud or participates in dishonest schemes.
Example – Lately, scamsters have been threatening a lot of people online.

• Safeguarding

Meaning – a measure taken to protect someone or something or to prevent something undesirable.
Example – Mr. Arora is safeguarding the future of his children by investing in insurances.

• Undue

Meaning – unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate.
Example – Sometimes, a policeman takes an undue advantage of their uniforms and asks for bribes.