Is Following the News a Waste of Time? — 15.05.2026

Task 2 Topic

Some people think the news has no connection to people's lives, so then it is a waste of time to read the news in the newspaper and watch television news programs.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

1Task analysis

Item	Detail
Essay type	Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)
Main topic	Whether reading and watching the news is pointless because it has nothing to do with people's lives
Keywords	the news · no connection to people's lives · a waste of time · newspaper · television news programs
Task focus	Judge whether the news is irrelevant to ordinary people and therefore a waste of time
Required position	Say clearly how far you agree or disagree and keep the same position in every paragraph
Plain-English meaning	Some people say news stories do not affect our lives, so reading or watching the news is useless. Do you agree?
Hidden trap	The statement has two parts: a claim (no connection to people's lives) and a conclusion (a waste of time). Disprove the claim with concrete ways news affects daily life
Chosen stance	Disagree. The news gives practical information about weather, prices and safety, and helps people make better decisions as citizens and consumers
Main-idea plan	BP1 → news tells us about weather, traffic, prices and health · BP2 → news helps people make good decisions about money, voting and safety

2Idea generation

Body 1 — News affects our daily lives

Weather and traffic news help daily plans ✓ strongest
News about prices and new laws
Health warnings about diseases dự phòng

Body 2 — News helps us make good decisions

News helps people make good decisions ✓ strongest
People can vote with good information
News about scams keeps people safe dự phòng

✓ strongest = ý dùng trong bài mẫu · dự phòng = ý thay thế, không có trong bài mẫu.

3Skeleton

Introduction

General statement: Millions follow the news
Paraphrased task: Rewrite: news irrelevant → waste of time
Thesis: I disagree — two reasons

Body 1: Weather, traffic, prices, health → daily life

Body 2: Good information → better decisions about money, voting, safety

Conclusion: Restate the opinion → summarise both reasons → final thought

4Plan & write your paragraphs

How to use: Read the main idea, tap the cue words to add them to the box, then write your own sentence. Your essay is built automatically at the bottom and saved in this browser.

Introduction(40–55 words)

0 words

Goal: Topic → rewrite the statement → give your opinion.

General statement

Main idea: Millions follow the news

Starter: Every day, millions of … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Paraphrased task

Main idea: Rewrite: news irrelevant → waste of time

Starter: However, some people think … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Thesis

Main idea: I disagree — two reasons

Starter: I disagree with this … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Body Paragraph 1 — News affects our daily lives(80–95 words)

0 words

Goal: Reason 1: explain it and give an example.

Topic sentence

Main idea: News affects daily life

Starter: Firstly, the news gives … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 1

Main idea: Weather, traffic, laws, prices

Starter: News programmes tell us … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Example

Main idea: Storm warning

Starter: For example, if the … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Link

Main idea: Closely connected

Starter: Therefore, the news is … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Body Paragraph 2 — News helps us make good decisions(80–95 words)

0 words

Goal: Reason 2: explain it and give an example.

Topic sentence

Main idea: Better decisions

Starter: Secondly, following the news … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Explanation 1

Main idea: Leaders, money, safety

Starter: When people know what … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Example

Main idea: Avoiding phone scams

Starter: For instance, many older … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Link

Main idea: Good use of time

Starter: As a result, reading … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Conclusion(30–45 words)

0 words

Goal: Repeat your opinion, sum up both reasons, final thought. No new ideas!

Restated thesis

Main idea: I disagree

Starter: In conclusion, I disagree … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Summary

Main idea: Useful information + better decisions

Starter: The news gives useful … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

Final thought

Main idea: Choose reliable sources

Starter: However, people should choose … ·

Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.

📝 My essay

✓ saved

5Language bank (Band 4.5-6.0)

Mỗi đoạn có bảng collocation riêng. ✓ = có trong bài mẫu · + = cụm mở rộng để học viên tự dùng. 5.0 = nền tảng · 6.0 = nâng band.

Introduction

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
find out	verb phrase	tìm hiểu	5.0	✓
what is happening in the world	clause	những gì đang xảy ra trên thế giới	6.0	✓
news stories	noun + noun	tin tức	5.0	✓
ordinary people	adj + noun	người bình thường	5.0	✓
a waste of time	noun phrase	sự lãng phí thời gian	5.0	✓

Body Paragraph 1 — News affects our daily lives

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
useful information	adj + noun	thông tin hữu ích	5.0	✓
affects our daily lives	verb phrase	ảnh hưởng đến cuộc sống hằng ngày	6.0	✓
traffic problems	noun + noun	vấn đề giao thông	5.0	✓
changes in prices	noun phrase	thay đổi về giá cả	6.0	✓
a big storm	adj + noun	cơn bão lớn	5.0	✓
closely connected	adv + adj	liên quan chặt chẽ	6.0	✓

Body Paragraph 2 — News helps us make good decisions

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
make better decisions	verb + noun	đưa ra quyết định tốt hơn	6.0	✓
choose good leaders	verb phrase	chọn lãnh đạo giỏi	5.0	✓
avoid danger	verb + noun	tránh nguy hiểm	5.0	✓
phone scams	noun + noun	lừa đảo qua điện thoại	6.0	✓
a news report	noun + noun	bản tin	5.0	✓
a good use of time	noun phrase	cách dùng thời gian hiệu quả	6.0	✓

Conclusion

Collocation	Form	Vietnamese	Band	Bài mẫu
In conclusion	linker	tóm lại	5.0	✓
watching the news	verb + noun	xem tin tức	5.0	✓
our daily lives	noun phrase	cuộc sống hằng ngày	5.0	✓
reliable news sources	noun phrase	nguồn tin đáng tin cậy	6.0	✓

Useful structures

Subject + modal verb + base verb + object (should / can / will)
If + present simple, + will + verb (first conditional)
Noun + who / which + verb … (simple relative clause)
Because / Although + clause, + main clause

6Self-check before you submit

Task Response: Clear position (Disagree) in the thesis, kept in both body paragraphs and restated in the conclusion; every reason is explained and supported by a realistic exampleCoherence & Cohesion: One reason per body paragraph, both supporting the same position; linkers In conclusion, Firstly, Secondly, For example, For instance, As a result, Therefore, HoweverLexical Resource: Topic collocations from the Language bank; paraphrase the key words of the question (the news, no connection to people's lives, a waste of time)Grammar: Short clear sentences plus because, if, which; check articles, plural nouns and subject–verb agreementFit for band: Realistic examples, no invented statistics, about 250–280 words in total

7🔒 Model Essay (Band 6.0)

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