GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 426
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people believe that advertising encourages us to buy things that we do not really need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 1:
Many people believe that advertisement entices people to purchase unnecessary products, while others feel that it provides consumers with information about commodities that improve their lifestyles. This essay will discuss both perspectives and a reasonable opinion will be offered at the end of the discussion.
Some argue that advertisement helps people to improve their lifestyle. This is because, through the medium of the adverts, consumers get useful information regarding new products. A good example here is the new Tesla Pi phone ad campaign, which provides the information that Tesla uses solar panels for harvesting energy from the sun. The users can charge their phones without connecting to a socket. People, thus, are able to surf the internet, play games or stream movies without the fear of the battery running out quickly and they can learn all these from the adverts. Despite this, I would argue that advertising pursues us to buy things we do not need.
On the other hand, others say that commercials provoke people to buy unnecessary commodities since it triggers emotional needs. Put simply, marketers put stress on emotional needs to satisfy their customers. Shampoo, for example, cleans hair. An advertiser, at a basic level, might try to convey the message of why their shampoo cleans one’s hair better than other brands. However, it is now well-established that shampoo cleans hair so marketers do not need to convey the message. What they do instead is try to place emphasis on an emotional connection and say, for instance, that shampoo coupled with conditioner cleans someone’s hair and makes him or her handsome and glamorous. This is because emotional advantage often means more than rational advantage. Therefore, feeling glamorous and empowered is perhaps more important than just having clean hair, and not only do the consumers want to buy shampoo, they want to purchase conditioner as well for these emotional benefits.
In conclusion, although advertising sometimes helps to obtain useful information about products, this essay finds that it oftentimes motivates consumers to purchase unnecessary products by igniting emotional needs.
Sample Answer 2:
Advertising has become an integral part of our daily lives, influencing our consumer behaviour and shaping our perceptions of products and services. While some argue that advertisements manipulate us into purchasing unnecessary items, others contend that they inform us about innovative products that can enhance our lives. This essay will examine both perspectives and argue that adverts increase our desire to purchase products and take services that we do not need.
On the one hand, proponents of the benefits of advertising argue that it plays a vital role in informing consumers about new products that have the potential to improve their lives. Through advertisements, individuals become aware of innovative solutions and advancements in various industries, ranging from health and technology to household and personal care. For example, commercials showcasing energy-efficient appliances or eco-friendly alternatives can educate consumers on sustainable choices that benefit both their well-being and the environment.
Conversely, those who believe that advertising encourages unnecessary consumption opine that it creates artificial needs. Advertisements often employ persuasive techniques, such as emotional appeals and clever slogans, to create a desire for products that individuals may not genuinely require. It can lead to impulsive buying decisions and contribute to the accumulation of material possessions that offer little value or utility. For instance, flashy commercials promoting the latest fashion trends or high-tech gadgets can generate a sense of urgency to purchase, even if the item does not serve a practical purpose in the consumer’s life.
My personal opinion on this issue is that advertisements are primarily made to create a false sense of urgency to allure us to purchase products that have no utility for us. Therefore, we should be careful of the impulsive buying habits that most adverts are aimed at creating among us.
In conclusion, advertising can encourage unnecessary consumption and highlight unique features of a product or service that are actually not. From my perspective, responsible and ethical advertising practices are crucial to mitigating this problem, and consumers should buy things that they really need not because they have been advertised to them.