Technology Agree/Disagree How to Write Band 9 IELTS Essay

Have you ever felt that your writing is too basic?

Students tend to write “I agree that convenience hurts our thinking because of spellcheck.”

Or

“Technology makes us less independent because we just follow videos on YouTube to cook or fix things.”

These aren’t bad ideas, but they don’t show critical thinking.

How would you answer?

Generally, band 6 students don’t question the question.

What words, for example, in the question need defining?

My first question is, “what kind of technology are we talking about?”

Each type of technology will affect people differently: some in positive ways and some in negative.

So, how do we handle this dichotomy?

So, I’ll start with, “While” to make a two-idea sentence.

The first part will cut out the tech we don’t want to talk about, and the second will define it.

“While technology itself is neutral, it is the user’s ability to manage it that determines original thinking.”

There are no ‘big words’ here. I’m just showing critical thinking. That’s far more impressive to the examiner in the first sentence than putting big words with no meaning.

“IELTS Technology Writing and Vocabulary”

“Technology is making us isolated, and this is unhealthy. agree or disagree?”

What does each answer do?

1. I agree that technology makes us isolated. Nowadays, everyone is on their phones all the time, even at dinner.
2. Technology has many benefits for our health. For example, we can use smartwatches to count our steps and apps to track our diet.
3. I largely agree that the pervasive nature of digital tools has facilitated a state of social atomization.
4. Isolation is a dualistic situation. Depending on the person, one can feel alone and depressed while others enjoy the quiet contemplation.

Critique

1. I agree that technology makes us isolated. Nowadays, everyone is on their phones all the time, even at dinner. (Agreeing right away shows that you didn’t think about the question carefully, and ‘nowadays’ is  just the worst word to use, it’s too common.)
2. Technology has many benefits for our health. For example, we can use smartwatches to count our steps and apps to track our diet. (This isn’t answering the question correctly. You must address the idea of ‘isolation making us unhealthy’.)
3. I largely agree that the pervasive nature of digital tools has facilitated a state of social atomization. (Atomization means isolation. “I” is a weak word to start with. This hasn’t addressed the health issue. Band 6 TR.)
4. Isolation is a dualistic situation. Depending on the person, one can feel alone and depressed while others enjoy the quiet contemplation. (This looks at both sides of the situation. It shows that it’s not just ‘healthy or unhealthy’. I’ll continue with one side: “However, the notion that technology can replace human connection is harmful because almost all humans need some physical connection and support.”)

Can you develop the fourth answer into paragraphs?

How would you answer? You can get full essay feedback here.

Here’s a model paragraph.

The fallacy of digital equivalency is the notion that virtual interactions are a functional substitute for physical human presence. While digital platforms offer the frictionless convenience of instant communication, they lack the sensory depth and biochemical feedback. They do not, for example, create the release of oxytocin, that occurs during face-to-face engagement. This chemical enhances trust and strengthen social bonds. By accepting digital proxies as ‘connection,’ individuals fall into a state of psychological malnutrition, where the quantity of interactions increases while the quality of emotional support atrophies. This often leads to poor health.

Sentence-by-sentence breakdown.

The fallacy of digital equivalency is the notion that virtual interactions are a functional substitute for physical human presence. (By starting with a ‘big term’ rather than “I”, you are focusing on the academic rather than personal. You will find this in academic journals.)

While digital platforms offer the frictionless convenience of instant communication, they lack the sensory depth and biochemical feedback. (We get into more detail of what ‘physical connection is’. Sensory depth and biochemical feedback are the things we need in the physical world. Notice that there are two ideas of things we need. This supports the essay’s main argument.)

They do not, for example, create the release of oxytocin, that occurs during face-to-face engagement. (You are commonly told that you don’t need to know about a subject to write about it. However, if you have the terms for the situation, you can express your ideas in depth, gaining task response marks. You can also gain vocabulary marks. This all comes from reading.)

This chemical enhances trust and strengthen social bonds. (When you explain what oxytocin does, it adds depth to your argument, and you get band 9.)

By accepting digital proxies as ‘connection,’ individuals fall into a state of psychological malnutrition, where the quantity of interactions increases while the quality of emotional support atrophies. (atrophy (atrophies: verb) means ‘shrinks’. This is the consequence of only using tech to connect.)

By starving oneself of physical connection to humans, one often invites poor mental and emotional health. (notice ‘invites’. This means ‘it is possible’ rather than ‘always’. This is called ‘hedging’.)

Try another question with these new techniques.

“Some people believe that the increasing use of technology in the workplace is making employees more productive. Others argue that it is actually making work more stressful and less meaningful. Discuss both views and give your opinion.”

Learn How to get into depth in these agree/disagree topics.

Education Agree/Disagree essay model and notes.

Environment Agree/Disagree essay model and notes.

Health Agree/Disagree essay model and notes.

Technology Agree/Disagree essay model and notes.

See how IDP’s advice is holding you back, and what to do about it here.