Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay - Crime TV

Shows (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

The frenzy over crime shows in recent years has led many to question both the origins of this
morbid interest and its impact. In my opinion, people watch these shows to dispel or safely
confirm psychological similarities with killers and the result for society will be negligible in most
cases.
The reason people watch crime shows is to understand and compare the psychology of killers.
The mystery of these shows goes deeper than figuring out which suspect is the real
perpetrator. Audiences are chiefly concerned with motive and the best shows analyse
compelling, complex personality archetypes. People can then try to parse out whether or not
these individuals are driven by human nature and are just expressing their desires differently
from law-abiding citizens or if they are qualitatively different from the average person. Some
watch to try to unequivocally differentiate themselves while others experience a guilty,
unconscious pleasure in identification and vicarious living.
The end result of all these shows related to crime will amount to nothing in the final analysis.
There will be some exceptions where individuals develop an unhealthy obsession that isolates
them from normal society or claim them as excuses for their own crimes but this is just as likely
to occur with any form of entertainment. The majority of people watch these shows, think
about them and talk about them just as they discuss a book or a sports team. Research has
been unable to show any direct link between watching crime shows and committing crimes or
altering one’s outlook towards others. Similarly, they will not have a positive impact since most
people do not watch them to get tips to avoid criminals and the sample sizes for the crimes
taking place are too small relative to the knowledge gained.
In conclusion, people watch crime shows to exonerate or convict themselves and it is a benign
obsession. It is more important for psychologists to examine the drive to fascination than its
object.

Analysis
1. The frenzy over crime shows in recent years has led many to question both the origins of this
morbid interest and its impact. 2. In my opinion, people watch these shows to dispel or safely
confirm psychological similarities with killers and the result for society will be negligible in most
cases.
1. Paraphrase the overall topic for the whole essay.
2. Answer both questions directly.
1. The reason people watch crime shows is to understand and compare the psychology of
killers. 2. The mystery of these shows goes deeper than figuring out which suspect is the real
perpetrator. 3. Audiences are chiefly concerned with motive and the best shows analyse
compelling, complex personality archetypes. 4. People can then try to parse out whether or not
 these individuals are driven by human nature and are just expressing their desires differently
from law-abiding citizens or if they are qualitatively different from the average person. 5. Some
watch to try to unequivocally differentiate themselves while others experience a guilty,
unconscious pleasure in identification and vicarious living.
1. Write a  topic sentence  with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Begin developing your main idea with specific details.
4. Keep supporting your argument. Make sure your ideas are logical and link to the
previous sentence.
5. Conclude your argument – you don’t have to summarise the paragraph!
1. The end result of all these shows related to crime will amount to nothing in the final
analysis. 2. There will be some exceptions where individuals develop an unhealthy obsession
that isolates them from normal society or claim them as excuses for their own crimes but this is
just as likely to occur with any form of entertainment. 3. The majority of people watch these
shows, think about them and talk about them just as they discuss a book or a sports
team. 4. Research has been unable to show any direct link between watching crime shows and
committing crimes or altering one’s outlook towards others. 5. Similarly, they will not have a
positive impact since most people do not watch them to get tips to avoid criminals and the
sample sizes for the crimes taking place are too small relative to the knowledge gained.
1. Write another clear and simple topic sentence.
2. Again begin to develop it. I start here with a concession.
3. Here I use an analogy to make my argument stronger.
4. I also quote research which is a good way to add in support.
5. I conclude by covering whether or not there is any positive impact.
1. In conclusion, people watch crime shows to exonerate or convict themselves and it is a
benign obsession. 2. It is more important for psychologists to examine the drive to fascination
than its object.
1. Repeat your answer to both questions to be 100% sure you get above band 5 for task
achievement by fully answering the topic.
2. Add in an extra detail/final thought.

Vocabulary
The frenzy over crime shows in recent years has led many to question both the origins of
this morbid interest and its impact. In my opinion, people watch these shows
to dispel or safely confirm psychological similarities with killers and the result for society will
be negligible in most cases.
The reason people watch crime shows is to understand and compare the psychology of killers.
The mystery of these shows goes deeper than figuring out which suspect is the real
perpetrator. Audiences are chiefly concerned with motive and the best shows
analyse compelling, complex personality archetypes. People can then try to parse
out whether or not these individuals are driven by human nature and are just expressing
their desires differently from law-abiding citizens or if they are qualitatively different from
the average person. Some watch to try to unequivocally differentiate themselves while
others experience a guilty, unconscious pleasure in identification and vicarious living.
The end result of all these shows related to crime will amount to nothing in the final analysis.
There will be some exceptions where individuals develop an unhealthy
obsession that isolates them from normal society or claim them as excuses for their own
crimes but this is just as likely to occur with any form of entertainment. The majority of
people watch these shows, think about them and talk about them just as they discuss a book
or a sports team. Research has been unable to show any direct link between watching crime
shows and committing crimes or altering one’s outlook towards others. Similarly, they will
not have a positive impact since most people do not watch them to get tips to avoid criminals
and the sample sizes for the crimes taking place are too small relative to the knowledge
gained.
In conclusion, people watch crime shows to exonerate or convict themselves and it is
a benign obsession. It is more important for psychologists to examine the drive
to fascination than its object.

Answers
frenzy obsession with
question wonder about
origins source
morbid interest dark fascination
dispel dismiss
safely confirm without risk show the connection
psychological similarities same way of thinking
negligible not a major factor
mystery enigma/riddle
deeper not superficial
figuring out knowing
suspect who might have done it
real perpetrator actual guilty criminal
chiefly concerned mostly interested in
motive reason
compelling influential
complex personality archetypes complicated type of person
parse out break down
driven encouraged
human nature nature
expressing their desires differently sublimating
law-abiding citizens people who don’t break the law
qualitatively different a real distinction
average person common person
unequivocally differentiate definitely different
guilty did the crime
unconscious pleasure unacknowledged joy
identification relate to
vicarious living living through others
amount to adds up to
in the final analysis in the end
exceptions outside the norm
unhealthy obsession dark faschinations
isolates makes separate
claim say/think
excuses reasons
just as likely to occur equally possible it will happen
just as the same as
direct link clear cause/effect relationship
altering one’s outlook towards others being less empathetic
sample sizes a group representing a larger group
crimes taking place criminal acts happening
relative to in comparison to
exonerate clear of all wrong-doing
convict criminal
benign harmless
fascination interest in
object who/what is acted upon

Pronunciation
ˈfrɛnzi 
ˈkwɛsʧən 
ˈɒrɪʤɪnz 
ˈmɔːbɪd ˈɪntrɪst 
dɪsˈpɛl 
ˈseɪfli kənˈfɜːm 
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ˌsɪmɪˈlærɪtiz 
ˈnɛglɪʤəbl 
ˈmɪstəri 
ˈdiːpə 
ˈfɪgərɪŋ aʊt 
ˈsʌspɛkt 
rɪəl ˈpɜːpɪtreɪtə
ˈʧiːfli kənˈsɜːnd 
ˈməʊtɪv 
kəmˈpɛlɪŋ
ˈkɒmplɛks ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪti ˈɑːkɪtaɪps
pɑːz aʊt 
ˈdrɪvn 
ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə 
ɪksˈprɛsɪŋ ðeə dɪˈzaɪəz ˈdɪfrəntli 
ˈlɔːəˌbaɪdɪŋ ˈsɪtɪznz 
ˈkwɒlɪtətɪvli ˈdɪfrənt 
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəli ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪeɪt
ˈgɪlti
ʌnˈkɒnʃəs ˈplɛʒə 
aɪˌdɛntɪfɪˈkeɪʃən 
vaɪˈkeərɪəs ˈlɪvɪŋ
əˈmaʊnt tuː 
ɪn ðə ˈfaɪnl əˈnæləsɪs
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz 
ʌnˈhɛlθi əbˈsɛʃənz 
ˈaɪsəleɪts 
kleɪm 
ɪksˈkjuːsɪz 
ʤʌst æz ˈlaɪkli tuː əˈkɜː 
ʤʌst æz 
dɪˈrɛkt lɪŋk 
ˈɔːltərɪŋ wʌnz ˈaʊtlʊk təˈwɔːdz ˈʌðəz
ˈsɑːmpl ˈsaɪzɪz 
kraɪmz ˈteɪkɪŋ pleɪs 
ˈrɛlətɪv tuː 
ɪgˈzɒnəreɪt 
ˈkɒnvɪkt 
bɪˈnaɪn 
ˌfæsɪˈneɪʃən 
ˈɒbʤɪkt
Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice
The f______________ over crime shows in recent years has led many to q______________ both
the o______________ of this m______________ and its impact. In my opinion, people watch these
shows to d______________ or s______________ p______________ with killers and the result for society will
be n______________ in most cases.
The reason people watch crime shows is to understand and compare the psychology of killers.
The m______________ of these shows goes d______________ than f______________ which s______________ is
the r______________. Audiences are c______________ with m______________ and the best shows
analyse c______________, c______________. People can then try to p______________ whether or not these
individuals are d______________ by h______________ and are just e______________ from l______________ or
if they are q______________ from the a______________. Some watch to try
to u______________ themselves while others experience
a g______________, u______________ in i______________ and v______________.
The end result of all these shows related to crime will a______________ nothing i______________.
There will be some e______________ where individuals develop
an u______________ that i______________ them from normal society or c______________ them
as e______________ for their own crimes but this is j______________ with any form of entertainment.
The majority of people watch these shows, think about them and talk about
them j______________ they discuss a book or a sports team. Research has been unable to show
any d______________ between watching crime shows and committing crimes or a______________ .
Similarly, they will not have a positive impact since most people do not watch them to get tips
to avoid criminals and the s______________ for the c______________ are too small r______________ the
knowledge gained.
In conclusion, people watch crime shows to e______________ or c______________ themselves and it is
a b______________ obsession. It is more important for psychologists to examine the drive
to f______________ than its o______________.
Listen and check: