Some people think all lawbreakers should be sent to prison, while others think there are better alternatives for those whose crimes are minor, such as making them do work for the local community.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people think all lawbreakers should be sent to prison, while others think there are better alternatives for those whose crimes are minor, such as making them do work for the local community.

Lawbreakers Prison vs Alternatives Minor Crimes Community Work - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 6 ยท 290 words.

It is believed that those who break laws ought to be sent to prison, while others think community-based punishments are more effective. I believe agree with the latter side.

On the one hand, supporters of the first view say that this is the most effective way to punish offenders. If people commit a crime, even if it is a minor crime, they should be sent to prison for a certain period. For example, a blogger whose nickname is dili.me suddenly hit the traffic light. The rules play the same role for all people, and thus he was sent to prison for 15 days to avoid happening this kind of crimes. In short, taking security measures protects society from dangerous criminals. In addition, the fear of prison may discourage people from committing crimes. This means people are afraid of wasting their time behind bars because they want to build a career, get married, and enjoy their life. As a result, they do not commit crimes.

On the other hand, I believe that community-based punishments are the better option for minor crimes. People who commit minor crimes should be treated by having a house or an apartment helped to build. By doing so, people learn skills that improve their chances of getting a job if they do not have one. Furthermore, community service requires offenders to contribute to society by doing unpaid work. For example, a person who vandalizes public property can clean parks or repair community facilities. Consequently, they are more aware of the consequences of their actions and take more responsibility.

In conclusion, although imprisonment is necessary for serious criminals, I am of the view that community-based punishments are a more effective way because they reduce reoffending in peaceful side.

Examiner feedback

The essay successfully addresses all parts of the prompt with a clear position and logical paragraph structure. While the vocabulary and grammar are adequate for a Band 6, occasional awkward phrasing and unconvincing examples limit a higher score.

Task Response - 6

- Addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout. - Main ideas are presented and supported, though some examples (like the blogger) are unconventional. - Task coverage is complete with both perspectives and the writer's view discussed.

Coherence & Cohesion - 6

- Information is organized into logical paragraphs with a clear overall progression. - Cohesive devices are used effectively, though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. - Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different viewpoints.

Lexical Resource - 6

- Uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, such as 'community-based punishments' and 'vandalizes'. - Attempts less common lexical items, but occasional awkward phrasing occurs ('treated by having a house'). - Spelling and word formation are generally accurate.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 6

- Employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with reasonable control. - Contains some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'avoid happening this kind of crimes', 'in peaceful side'). - Punctuation is mostly accurate and does not impede communication.

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