IELTS Writing Task 2 | Is Literature a Waste of Time?

Task Prompt

People say that it is a waste of time for high school students to learn literature at school.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In this lesson, we take a clear disagree position and build an argument step by step by focusing on what studying literature actually involves.

Before developing ideas, we clarify that studying literature is not just about reading old books. It is about reading stories and analyzing them. From this understanding, we develop two supporting ideas.

Body Paragraph 1: Understanding Other People

The first paragraph argues that studying literature helps students understand other people by exposing them to different perspectives and life situations.

Paragraph:

I disagree that literature is a waste of time because studying stories helps students understand people who are different from themselves. Whether they are analyzing a classic play or a modern series like Harry Potter, students are forced to see the world through the eyes of characters facing difficult life challenges. This process builds empathy, which is a vital skill that helps young people communicate and work well with others in their future careers. Because these social skills are so important in the workplace, studying literature is actually a very productive use of school hours.

This paragraph begins by clearly stating the position and main idea. It then explains what students do when they study stories, shows how this builds empathy, and finishes by directly answering the question again.

Body Paragraph 2: Critical Thinking and Analysis

The second paragraph focuses on how studying literature develops critical thinking skills that are useful beyond the classroom.

Paragraph:

Furthermore, literature is an excellent tool for helping high school students develop their critical thinking skills. Instead of simply memorizing facts, students must question the motivations of characters and identify the underlying messages an author is trying to communicate. In a world full of social media and advertising, this ability to analyze stories helps students judge information carefully rather than believing everything they read online. Therefore, the analytical habits developed through studying literature are highly practical and far from a waste of time.

This paragraph introduces a new idea, explains how literary analysis works in class, connects that skill to real-life situations, and concludes by rejecting the idea that literature is a waste of time.

Your Turn

Use the same question and choose a position.
Think of two clear ideas that support that position, and build each paragraph by explaining:

• what happens in practice
• why it matters outside the classroom

Focus on the ideas first. Once the logic is clear, the writing becomes much easier.