Thursday, December 30, 2010

IELTS Writing Task 2

Topic: Under British and Australian laws a jury in a criminal case has no access to information about the defendant’s past criminal record. This protects the person who is being accused o the crime. Some lawyers have suggested that this practice should be changed and that a jury should be given all the past facts before they reach their decision about the case. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.

Laws play a pivotal role in controlling and stabilizing a nation as a whole. Although some people claim that it is acceptable not to assess information about the defendant’s prior offences by a jury, others believe that all relevant information should be revealed to a jury. Clearly, a jury should have a special privilege to obtain details information to the defendant due to the importance of a correct court determination.

It may be true that in some countries a jury in a criminal case has no right, which is stated by the judicial legislation, to acquire more information that is related to the previous record of a defendant. An example of this case is constituted in British and Australian laws. This benefits the criminal who sometimes tends to conceal the past illegal activities. Another positive thing is that it may minimize the punishment issued by the court. Thus, previous record of crime, in some cases, should be concealed for individual benefit.

It can be argued that it is good mechanism to enforce laws effectively in the case that a jury should be entitled to have special right to obtain all relevant important information about the defendant. This illustrates that effectiveness of law enforcement as well as a correct court determination can be performed efficiently in modern society. An example in the case that a jury has privilege to access prior offences of defendant exists in some communist countries- Vietnam, Laos, and China. The advantages of essential information obtained are to dispense justice to the defendant. Therefore, it is necessary that a jury should have access to needy information for the sake of fair judgment.

In conclusion, though some countries practice laws which restricted the right of a jury not to obtain past record of criminal and merely benefit the defendant, the essential changes towards these proceedings should be practiced for the effectiveness of law enforcement as well as fair judgment in society as a whole.

By Nguon Sophal


PAST IELTS WRITING TOPICS

15/10/2005 Some children in rural places cannot have good schools and medical facilities. To improve this situation, some people suggest that new teachers and doctors should be sent to rural places for several years. Others, however, believe every one has the free right to choose where to work. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

2005 10 22 The speeding up of life in many areas such as travel and communication has negative effects on society at all levels-individual, national and global. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2005 10 29 Some people say that the increasing business and cultural contact between countries is a positive development, while others think that many countries will lose their national identities. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

2005 11 12 Recently, global trade increases between different countries and some dairy goods are exported to other countries. To what extent do you think its advantages outweigh its disadvantages?

2005 11 19 Advertising encourages consumers to buy in quantity rather than in quality. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2005 11 26 Some people think the public libraries only provide books, and they needn't waste limited resources and spaces on providing Hi-tech, e.g. computer software, audio DVDS. To what extent do you agree or disagree of this opinion?

2005 12 10 Scientific research should be carried out or controlled by government rather than private companies. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

17/12/2005 Some people think it is more important to pay attention to the building's purpose than its appearance. Do you agree or disagree?

2006.1.7 Some people think they should keep all the money they earn, and should not have to pay tax to the state. Do you agree or disagree?

2006/01/14 There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. What form do these problems take? Do you think they outweigh its benefits?

2006.1.21 The advancement of science and technology has great positive impact on people, but value of artists is also important, such as musicians, painters and writers. So what can arts tell us about life that science can not?

2006.2.12 In modern society, there are more and more old people, do you think its benefits outweigh its disadvantages?

IELTS Writing Task 2

Topic: Under British and Australian laws a jury in a criminal case has no access to information about the defendant’s past criminal record. This protects the person who is being accused of the crime.
Some lawyers have suggested that this practice should be changed and that a jury should be given all the past facts before they reach their decision about the case.
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.


Court is considered to be the most reliable place to seek for justice. There are a number of criminals who gain advantages from no access to the information of the defendant’s past criminal record. However, this practice has been criticized by some lawyers. Thus, there must be some access to the past facts before the case is decided to ensure equity and avoid unjust sentence.

Access to past facts of the defendant may be regarded as a human rights violation since every person has the right to privacy. Also, this may not be a logical practice to decide on a criminal case because the previous experience can be changed based on individual circumstances and environment. Furthermore, relating the new illicit case with the past record may lead to bias judgment. Therefore, access to past illegal record may not provide assistance in the determination of criminal cases.

On the contrary, these assumptions are completely wrong because the decision on criminal cases is not done expeditiously since this can affect people for their entire lives. Without access to the real information of the person who is being accused of the crime, the jury can not have a full consideration on the case. In addition, plenty of facts about the current and past record allow the jury to avoid uninformed judgment or punishment. For example, it has been shown in a movie called 12 angry men that a young man was accused for murdering his father. A number of facts, particularly his past criminal records assist the jury to have a fair judgment. Thus, access to the past facts is very useful for both juries and criminals.

In conclusion, past records should be allowed to access to facilitate juries in judgment process and avoid false punishment.

By Moeung Sovannden

IELTS Writing Task 2

Topic: Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. However, others think that change is always a goods thing.

Discuss both points of view and give your opinion.


Lifestyle is the main feature in society. Some conservatives considered the change in lifestyle and culture can lead to violence and disaster. However, lifestyle and social changes can result in enhancement and advancement. Thus, habitual change is a wishful method to invent and develop society.

Ancient living was a pure society in which there was no exploitation, and people usually helped each other in any obstacles. However, due to the change in this culture, whole societies have suffered from violence and jealousy. For example, some tribes in virgin forest in the Amazon basin and others in Africa live in peace and solidarity with their traditional agriculture and fishery, and they share everything. Therefore, keeping the same culture might be the source of peace.

However, change is inevitable because the nature of human is ambitious for prosperity, advancement and convenience. And if people keep living in the same lifestyle, they would not enjoy with present prosperity. An example of the first steam engine, invented by Englishman Thomas Newcomen, had been changed and developed several times from size to methodology. This movement is regarded as the sources of industrial revolution. Thus, change provides opportunities for growth.

Furthermore, change or revision is a vital component in management, particularly decision - and policy-making, in order to adjust to current situation because no one has a perfect plan. Country or people can be negatively affected from sticking to old-fashioned decision and laws. For instance, Cambodian assembly had made amendment to some articles in constitution to break through the political bottleneck after national election. Therefore, change can promote political stability and development.

In conclusion, change is inevitable and can bring a lot of advantages to society such as prosperity, advancement and conform-ability.

By Ith Hero

IELTS Writing Task 2

Topic: The exploration and development of safe alternatives to fossil fuels should be the most important global priority today. To what extend do you agree or disagree?



Creating safe alternatives sources of energy to replace fossil fuels is becoming a hot debate. Owing to global warming challenges, the exploration and development of safe alternative sources beside fuels such as wind, solar and hydro powers should be international encouraged.

Fossil fuels may be a plentiful and inexpensive source for facilitating people’s life because it could be used to generate electricity, transport and industry. People could experience and consume available natural resources to improve their standard of living. In Los Angeles, the private car is the most popular mode of transport. So fuels may play a significant role in societies.

On the contrary, using fossil fuels results in pollution. Vehicles emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This pollution affects human health as well as global warming. The damage caused by oil leaking in the Gulf of Mexico leave negative impact on national economic and biodiversities. Therefore, the use of fossil fuels should be minimized.

In addition, exploration or development of other source energies should be taken into consideration. Wind or solar powers are a good illustration. Nations can generate electricity to supply to the entire population without ant obstacles. This case is practicable in United Kingdom and in Japan. Additionally, the Chinese government has built a dam at Mekong delta in order to manufacture electricity through water flow. This is an example of using hydro power in Asia. Hence, wind and solar powers result in positive outcome to people life.

In summary, fossil fuels utility far out weight disadvantages than advantages. Initialing various alternative sources of energies should be promoted.


By Uy Chanborany