This document provides prompts for writing arguments on various topics. It includes prompts on issues like animal rights, child obesity, crime, energy sources, equal pay, fertility treatment, free health, global poverty, international travel, marriage, mobile phones, music industry, nuclear technology, overpopulation, poverty and the environment, privacy laws, seniority in the workplace, traditional culture, university, and work-life balance. For each topic, it provides background information and asks the writer to agree or disagree with a statement and give reasons for their opinion in at least 250 words.

1. Animal rights
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Animal rights’ protesters strongly believe that any form of animal experimentation is not only
cruel and inhumane but also immoral. Scientists, however, believe that it is justified when used
to develop new medicines, which benefit the lives of humans.
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.
Child obesity
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
As child obesity becomes a serious health issue in today’s society, some people feel that TV
commercials advertising junk food aimed at kids should not be shown before 9pm.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Crime
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Very few people who commit crime want to. They do it because they feel they have no choice.
This is the reality of the situation, and it means that police and prisons are not relevant to
reducing crime.

2. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence.
Write at least 250 words.
Energy sources
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
As the world’s supply of oil and natural gas continue to diminish, governments are constantly
seeking alternatives to traditional energy sources, such as nuclear power.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Equal pay
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Recent research has shown that within the European Union the largest difference between the
earnings of men and women exists in the UK. Many equal rights campaigners believe that
immediate action should be taken to close the gender pay gap.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Fertility Treatment

3. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Health experts say that obese women and women over the age of 40 should not be given free
fertility treatment (IVF) because they are more likely to experience health problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Free Health
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Some countries have free health services. However, some people feel that those who live
unhealthy lives - smoking, not exercising, being stressed, etc - should not receive free health
services.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence.
Write at least 250 words.
Global Poverty
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument of a case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic:
Individuals cannot alleviate the poverty that exists in the world; it is the responsibility of
governments.
Do you agree or disagree?

4. Use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your argument with examples and
relevant evidence.
Write at least 250 words.
International travel
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Cheaper and more frequent international transport has meant that people from some countries
regularly travel abroad and it is claimed that this is improving understanding among the world’s
population.
However, others feel that this is just another form of consumerism, and that nothing meaningful
is learnt. They say it would be better to use mass media to find out about more about the world.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Marriage
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Some people believe that the definition of marriage is a union of man and woman and that same-
sex marriages should therefore be banned. However, others feel that same-sex couples should be
able to enjoy the same marital rights as heterosexual couples.
Discuss both these attitudes and give your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.

5. Mobile phones
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
The increased use of text messaging using mobile phones is largely to blame for the falling
standards in written English, particularly among young people, many of whom are unable to
construct grammatically correct sentences.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Music Industry
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Many people in the music business feel that illegal music sites on the internet are a serious threat
to the industry and more should be done to prevent them from operating.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Nuclear technology
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.

6. World peace is maintained through the threat of nuclear weapons. Nuclear power provides cheap
and clean energy.
Do the benefits of nuclear technology outweigh the disadvantages? To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Overpopulation
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
It is believed that overpopulation is putting such a strain on the world’s natural resources that
depleted supplies could lead to international wars in the future.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Poverty & The Environment
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Poverty in the world is having a devastating effect on the environment. If we are to save the
environment for future generations, we need to deal with global poverty now.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Privacy laws

7. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Some people hold the opinion that celebrities should not expect to be protected by privacy laws
because receiving unwanted publicity is the price they have to pay for their fame and fortune.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words
Seniority in the workplace
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
Some people think that the best jobs should be reserved for those with seniority; other people
think older workers should move over to make room for younger staff.
What do you think about the situation, and how do you think it will develop in the future?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence.
Write at least 250 words.
Traditional culture
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic:
In many countries, much traditional culture is being neglected, while technologically generated
music, art, cinema, etc is taking over. This means genuine talent and real culture are
disappearing.
Do you agree or disagree?

8. You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence.
Write at least 250 words.
University
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the
following topic.
These days, more people are going to university than in the past. They start work later in life and
with higher qualifications.
Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with
examples and relevant evidence.
Write at least 250 words.
Work-life balance
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Many people try to balance their working and personal lives in order to allow them more free
time. More and more leisure activities are available to fill this time, but they can be expensive.
Meanwhile, family life is often said to be less valued than in the past.
What do you think about the situation, and how do you think it will develop in the future?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.
Write at least 250 words.