In the last lesson I asked you to create an argument for and against ‘privacy’ for celebrities:
Celebrities should be given more privacy.
More privacy No privacy
| Some people have not chosen to be famous e.g. The royal family. | Some court fame and fortune. |
| Everyone deserves the protection of the law. | Some thrive on rumour and gossip and their careers benefit from the attention. |
| Some do not wish to have every detail of their lives reported. | The limelight is what they seek. |
| Some may not want to be misunderstood. Some gossip may not be true or reports may be unfounded. | Some sell their stories to reporters to gain notoriety. |
| Media intrusion can ruin lives e.g. Britney Spears | Some have no scruples and seek to spread rumours about others e.g. slander and libel cases. |
| Some may have become famous by accident and want to live a quiet life. | They understand the life they are getting into and it cannot come as a surprise to them. |
Now try to write an answer to the question below. Make sure that you do not use all my ideas as the text might be difficult to write. Just choose 2 from each side and try to develop the ideas with support and examples.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some celebrities say that their private lives shouldn’t come under media scrutiny. Other people, however, believe that they should accept it as part of their fame.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
ALISTAIR BROWN: As a writing and speaking examiner for more than 10 years, I bring a lot of experience. I have seen the frustrations that students have with IELTS from a career where I have actively guided and corrected students’ studies. I am looking for the most effective ways to teach IELTS as I understand students’ needs.