Question: Spoken communication is more powerful than written communication. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Band 8+ Sample Answer:
(Intro) It is believed by some that verbal communication supersedes written communication. I disagree with this statement, as I believe that each kind of communication is more effective in particular situations.
(Body 1) There are grounds to believe that communicating verbally is the most effective means of conveying messages. As people engage in conversations, they find it easier to express their feelings and emotions, which might be impossible for people with a limited range of vocabulary if they have to present their opinions and emotions in writing. In addition, some speeches are emotional and inspirational and consequently have a bigger impact on the audience. A salient example of this is speeches delivered by presidential candidates in the USA where citizens are likely to support and vote for the person with a more persuasive and influential address.
(Body 2) However, the power of written communication is obvious to some extent. Compared to messages in the spoken form, pieces of writing are preferred when it comes to discussing complicated and sensitive issues which are too inconvenient to express directly through verbal utterances. What is more, by stating opinions in the written form, people have the opportunity to showcase their excellent writing skills and outstanding choice of words. This rings true among those who panic when talking to others. It is, therefore, not uncommon to see many leading universities requiring students to write a letter of purpose to decide whether those students possess the ability to plan and present their thoughts successfully and effectively in an academic paper.
(Conclusion) In conclusion, it seems to me that both spoken and written communication are capable of powerfully transmitting information, exemplified through political speeches and letters of importance. Therefore, both forms should be accepted as long as they are appropriate to the target audience and achieve their primary purpose. (297 words)
Essay: Student Essay by Lucas Nguyen, fully corrected and upgraded by Nick Kemp, former IELTS Examiner.
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