opinion essay simon

IELTS Opinion Writing Samples Band 8

Many things can influence the academic achievement and emotional growth of a student. in this regard, peers have more of an impact than teachers do. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this topic, completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a good job. on the other hand, other people think that getting experience and developing soft skills is more important. discuss both sides and give your opinion, some people argue that art, such as paintings and music are a waste of money and and the government should spend this money on pubic service to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement, nowadays it is easy to apply for and be given a credit card. however, some people experience problems when they are not able to pay their debt back. in your opinion, do the advantages of credit cards outweigh the disadvageants, some people think certain prisoners should be made to do unpaid community work instead of being put behind bars. to what extent do you agree and disagree, these days more fathers stay at home and take care of their children while mothers go out to work. what could be the reasons for this do you think it is a positive or a negative development, children learn best by observing behavior of adults and copying it. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement, employers should give their staff at least four-weeks’ holiday a year to help employees get better at their jobs. to what extent do you agree or disagree, in their advertising, businesses nowadays usually emphasise that their products are new in some way. why is that do you think it is positive or negative development, today‘s children are living under more pressure from the society than children in the past. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion, success is often measured in terms of how much money somebody has earned. do you think wealth is a good measure of success how else could we measure whether somebody is successful or not, some people think traffic and housing problems in large cities can be solved by moving companies and factories and their employees to the countryside. to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement., in some countries the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and fitness are decreasing. what do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them, some people think that the government is wasting money on the arts and that this money could be better spent elsewhere. to what extent do you agree with this viewpoint, student should pay the full cost for their own study, because university education benefits individuals rather than society. to what extent do you agree or disagree, students should pay their full cost for their own study, because university education benefits individuals rather than society. to what extent you agree or disagree, students should pay the full cost for their own study, because university education benefits individuals rather than society. to what extent do you agree or disagree., many manufactured food and drink products contain high levels of sugar; which causes many health problems. sugary products should be made more expensive to encourage people to consume less sugar. do you agree or disagree, some cities have vehicle-free days when private cars, trucks, and motorcycles are banned from the city center. public transportation like buses, taxis, and metros are advised. to what extent do you think the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages, it student, were given tie choce between not to study and study most of the time they would choose not to study. do you agree or disagree with the following statements.

• Unlimited Task 1 checks Get all the feedback you need to keep improving your charts and letters.
• Unlimited Task 2 checks Practice and perfect your skills with essays.
• Personalized suggestions Know how to boost your score.
• Detailed mistakes analysis Get instant feedback. Spot every mistake.
• Topic ideas generator Get topic-specific ideas to enhance your writing.
• Vocabulary helper Get the right words for any topic.
• Progress tracking Track your writing improvements.

Welcome Guest!

• IELTS Listening
• IELTS Reading
• IELTS Writing
• IELTS Writing Task 1
• IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Speaking Part 1
• IELTS Speaking Part 2
• IELTS Speaking Part 3
• IELTS Practice Tests
• IELTS Listening Practice Tests
• IELTS Reading Practice Tests
• IELTS Writing Practice Tests
• IELTS Speaking Practice Tests
• All Courses
• IELTS Online Classes
• OET Online Classes
• PTE Online Classes
• CELPIP Online Classes
• Free Live Classes
• Australia PR
• Germany Job Seeker Visa
• Austria Job Seeker Visa
• Sweden Job Seeker Visa
• Study Abroad
• Student Testimonials
• Our Trainers
• IELTS Webinar
• Immigration Webinar

IELTS Opinion Essay – Topics, Structure and Sample Answers

10 min read

Updated On Feb 22, 2024

Share on Whatsapp

Share on Email

Share on Linkedin

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

IELTS opinion essays mainly focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a particular fact or information. It presents two opposite views and you have to develop your argument supporting one view (strictly one!) You get 40 minutes to complete this task. You have to write at least 250 words on the topic given.

Given below are some examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays along with their structure. So, let’s understand how to frame the IELTS opinion essay from the sample answers given in the blog!

What is the IELTS Opinion Essay Format?

If you’re gearing up to tackle the Opinion Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, know that it’s all about writing your opinion on a specific topic with supporting examples. To make sure your essay ticks off all the criteria of a band 8+ essay, organizing it in the right way is key!

Let’s now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay.

Introduction:

• Keep it short, usually around 2-3 sentences.
• Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion.
• Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs (Usually 2 paragraphs):

• Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your opinion.
• Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
• Provide evidence, examples, and reasoning to support your main idea.
• Aim for coherence and cohesion within each paragraph by using appropriate transition words.
• Make sure to use appropriate vocabulary and grammar while explaining an idea in the body paragraphs.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Restate your opinion, emphasizing its importance or relevance.
• Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

IELTS Opinion Essay Sample Answers

Given below is an example of an IELTS Writing task 2 opinion essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have.

Sample Question 1

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Given below is a brief outline of what to write in the essay after identifying the essay type.

Opinion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic of the essay using synonyms for the words used in the topic statement. Clearly state the view on the topic.

Body Paragraph 1

Technological improvements have increased the level of ease and convenience to a point where people can access news and information at the click of a button. This has led to print media becoming outdated.

Body Paragraph 2

The development of news websites and sites that freely distribute information and print media in a digital form has led to a trend of availing such services and content without paying.

Summarize the essay and re-state the opinion on the topic.

Struggling to Crack the IELTS opinion essays? Our 8+ band trainers have got you! Sign up for a  FREE demo  now!

Sample Answer 

Presently, newspapers, books, journals, magazines, etc. are still actively used by a section of the global population. However, with the arrival of news sites and the availability of books, magazines and other forms of media online, totally free of cost, many believe that such forms of media are on their way to becoming outdated. I agree with this statement, and will explain it further with relevant examples in the essay.

It is a well-known fact that in this day and age if an individual wants to read a book or just go over the news of the day, the first step that they take is to search the internet. Devices such as smartphones and tablets have improved the time efficiency of searching for information online to such an extent that a person can access their preferred form of media in the comfort of their homes in a matter of minutes. Consequently, people have started to abandon their preference for print media due to the presence of much more convenient alternatives.

Additionally, the various forms of print media enjoyed by people can often be availed free of charge on several websites. For instance, most news organizations publish their daily news on their official website, which can be accessed by anyone. Also, some numerous sites and databases provide popular books, journals and magazines in a digital form to the public for a nominal subscription fee or sometimes even for free, leading to a majority of readers of such forms of media shifting away from buying hard copies.

Nevertheless, there is still a sizable chunk of the population that enjoys the conventional forms of print media. That being said, with the cost-effective nature of making such information and content available online, organizations will soon completely shift to internet-based services.

In conclusion, I would like to say that people always prefer the more comfortable alternative that is available. Therefore, it can be safely said that in the coming years, there will be a complete shift from traditional print media to online media services and products.

Sample Question 2

Some people say that international sporting events contribute greatly to peace and stability in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Paraphrase the topic sentence using synonyms.

Mention the view on the topic.

Body Paragraphs

International sports tournaments are events where teams and the general public of various countries come together and collectively participate in the event.

Sports events, especially cricket and football help distract the minds of the citizens from the ongoing difficulties in their country and enjoy these events.

Summarize the essay and state the final view.

Sample Answer

Sports has always been a magnificent platform for the finest talents of a country to showcase their skills and represent their nation. At the same time, sports is also one of the few occasions where every citizen of the country unites in support of their favourite teams. It is considered by many that sports are a great approach to maintain stability among countries. This essay will elaborate on the given topic and justify why sports can successfully bring and preserve global peace.

One of the greatest characteristics of any popular sporting event is that supporters of every team involved in the tournament almost always attend the matches that are organized in their cities. Some veteran fans even travel to different parts of the country to witness a match between their favourite teams. These events also unite the populace of a nation as every patriotic individual prays for the success of their national team. For instance, the entire nation wishes for the victory of their national team in the Olympic Games as winning an Olympic Medal is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a country.

It is a well-known fact that the people of a country collectively face several challenges on a day-to-day basis. These issues can be caused by numerous factors and are the typical difficulties that ordinary citizens have to overcome. Sports help people enjoy a few moments of excitement and take a break from the monotony of everyday life.

That being said, sometimes the passion of overenthusiastic sports fans ends up leading to harmful and conflicting situations among communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact of sports on our lives is undoubtedly positive.

Finally, sports are one of the aspects of human life that bind a whole community together. This is enough evidence to understand that sports help maintain peace and stability in a nation.

Ready to grab the latest IELTS writing task 2 question papers of 2024?

Sample Question 3

Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?

Paraphrase the topic and mention the view.

Genetics are only a part of the entire list of factors that affect a person’s personality.

One of the most important influences on an individual’s personality is their childhood and upbringing.

Summarize the essay and mention the final view in brief.

Even between small periods of time, there are subtle variabilities in our disposition. Such alterations are quite natural and are a part of a human being’s existence. However, it is often assumed that our personality is entirely dependent on genetics. The following paragraphs will explore the different aspects of personality and justify why genetics are not the only factor influencing our personality.

An individual has countless experiences in their life from childhood to adulthood and finally until death. Every one of these experiences has an impact on a person’s mind, no matter how giant or small. The kind of people present in a person’s immediate surroundings also has a huge influence on their nature and characteristics. Thus, it can be safely surmised that a person’s genes are not the only contributing factor when it comes to personality.

One of the most significant influences on our personality is our childhood experiences and the teachings of our parents. Children are always known to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Thus, if the parents of a child are successful in teaching their children the right values and morals, they are bound to grow into responsible and decent individuals.

It is true that the personality traits of an individual are determined by the features of their parents. Nevertheless, these traits can be altered over the course of many years and different experiences.

In conclusion, genetics affect our personalities in a trivial manner as compared to all the other aspects of our temperament. That being said, our life experiences and learnings are the consequential factors in developing our character.

The Latest IELTS Opinion Essay Topics of 2024

A few IELTS opinion essay topics are listed down below, which you can practice. These opinion essay questions may appear in the actual examination.

• In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live on, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to complete a course in university education. Others claim that it is better to start work after school and gain experience in the world of work. How far do you agree or disagree with the above views?

• Although more and more people read the news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?
• Students in schools and universities learn more from their teachers than through other means such as the Internet, libraries, and TV. To what extent you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or for those coming from rural areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that governments must insist on preserving the traditional appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
• Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• Many people believe that schools should teach children to become good citizens and workers rather than independent individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.

People should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Prevention is better than cure. Do you agree or disagree that out of the country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures?

Top 3 Common Mistakes of IELTS Opinion Essays

In IELTS opinion essays, it’s easy to make some common mistakes that can lower your band score. Getting aware of them is the key to not committing them knowingly or unknowingly while you prepare!

The top 3 common mistakes to avoid are:

• Not giving a clear opinion.
• Presenting arguments for both sides of the issue.
• Failing to support your opinion with well-defined reasons and examples.

Tips to Answer IELTS Opinion Essay Questions

In the IELTS opinion essays, you need to write your opinion about a topic and back it up with proof and examples. If you use a clear structure and good writing methods, you can improve your chances of doing well!

• Spend 5 minutes on a mind map before writing.
• Stick to one viewpoint throughout the essay.
• Use a single main idea to support the topic in each of the two body paragraphs.
• Express your opinion throughout the essay, not just in the conclusion.
• Keep the introduction short, a maximum of 50 words.
• Ensure each body paragraph explains a main idea within 100 words.
• The conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
• Write a complete essay following the given structure.
• Aim for a word count of 280 words or less.

Here are the 10 Examples for the Opinion Essay Topics IELTS:

Also check:

• Tips to write introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2
• Tips to write great writing essay
• IELTS Sample essays
• How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure for writing the introduction for an opinion essay?

Is it mandatory to state my opinion in the introduction? Can I skip it and introduce my opinion in the body paragraphs?

What are the words that I can use to state my opinion?

Can I underline the important sentences, to attract examiner’s attention?

Is it mandatory to write the essay in first person?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

Start Preparing for IELTS: Get Your 10-Day Study Plan Today!

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

Nehasri Ravishenbagam, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist and a Certified IELTS Trainer of 3 years, crafts her writings in an engaging way with proper SEO practices. She specializes in creating a variety of content for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and certain immigration-related topics. As a student of literature, she enjoys freelancing for websites and magazines to balance her profession in marketing and her passion for creativity!

Explore other Opinion Essays

Janice Thompson

Whitney Houston

Post your Comments

Purnima Koli

Posted on Oct 5, 2021

In fast-paced global economy, it is imperative to have both knowledge and skill. Ability to learn on the job paves way for more hands-on training than discussing case studies at university. Doing a course can be time taking and can surely burn a hole in our parents’ pockets, the middle class knows it better. Getting straight to business of things, meaning starting to work soon after school is beneficial in many ways.

Working in office gives us professional perspective about how business processes are streamlines, turning creative ideas into tangible projects and most importantly getting paid for the amazing work I put out. I feel it’s great to have my ideas being incorporated as solutions to processual issues. Personal growth due to long years of work experience makes us future-ready for the big dream job. Alternatively, some also start their own business after getting gaining a good reputation for their work.

In my personal experience my university education looks good on my CV but has not been financially rewarding for I still have to even out my return on investment. I regret joining an elite institution where I felt out of place as I came from a humble upbringing. However, I learnt a lot about living away from home, managing finances, making new friends, living independently, honed my communication skills.

All in all, I feel it is better to join workforce early on than to do a full-fledged university course. This saves time, money and energy from studying on campus which can be channelized to working with a small business which has ample scope to learn on the job. Later, one can switch to bigger companies with the achieved industry experience after a few years of rigorous hands-on training and development.

In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The available land for household, industrial and recreational usage is shrinking. We see large scale infrastructure development in India. But for all these activities we need more land on earth itself, not on some other worldly planet, Mars. I would have to disagree that Mars has answers to all our earthly problems. I think it’s more about gaps in planning, policy making and the way we conduct our lives on a day-to-day basis. If we base our routine on sustainable habits, we are already solving more problems than we create. The problems are created on earth so they need solutions on earth itself, I believe.

The problems like polluted resources such as air, water, land, soil have ample ways to be fixed as we read in scientific journals and other informational sources. The popular ‘3 Rs’ such as Recycle, Reuse and Reduce need to be inculcated for us to have clean air, water, soil, land. We need community development along with economic development so the civil society, environment and the development process can go hand-in-hand. Overcrowding in urban areas due to migration for work, education or marriage can be solved by having proper laws. On the other hand, achieving conservation targets for endangered flora and fauna is a vital step towards holistic saving the ecosystem.

Consequently, I strongly believe that having ideas about Mars being an inhabitable place in the future is surely fantastic idea. But It’s a childish way to think of a better world somewhere else than fixing problems at hand. Let’s face it, our survival instincts have made us exploit resources faster than the nature can replenish them. And we see the negative outcomes like sea-level rising, frequent coastal flooding, drastic weather changes, global warming. As a global community of conscious individuals, we need our planet more than it needs us.

Posted on Sep 11, 2021

In a new country one faces multiple challenges to overcome the culture shock. Different people may adopt the new ways of life at different pace. But I do agree that willing to accept and change with the circumstances can ease the burden.

As we know that change is inevitable, we need to get accustomed to the new culture. There’s no harm in getting the best of both worlds, from your country of origin to this new land of surprises. Festivals, celebrations, new people, new places, new things tend to broaden our perspective on life. We come out much stronger by dealing with the new possibilities. Initially, the surrounding might be tough to make sense of, but with time it should get better.

The decision of moving to a new country is yours so you’d be the person who needs to adapt to get the best possible advantage. Human psychology is common but mannerisms might be different. So, one can learn that through social observation, trial and error and asking questions.

To belong at a place, we must take the initiative to learn the traditions and customs of the new country. To feel welcomed, one must socialize with like minded individuals, take part in group activities at workplace or educational institute or even neighborhood social clubs. Try to get out there, find your niche, excel at what you do, travel and get to know people. It’s easy if you are willing.

Otherwise, you’ll end up losing new experiences which enliven our senses. To live more each day, we need to blend with the culture. Traditions tells us stories of the past which we could relate with stories back at our homeland as well. This way it’s going to be much easier to make bonds, live a cheerful life.

Posted on Sep 15, 2021

Okay. Thanks for your reply. The 4 paragraph structure goes for all other types of (Task 2) essays too?

Posted on Sep 13, 2021

Overall band: 6

Follow the 4 paragraph structure so that it is easy for the examiner to mark you for coherence. . For opinion essays, it is better to write one line after your opinionated paragraphs. Just one line that you are aware of the other side.

Recent Articles

Raajdeep Saha

Our Offices

Gurgaon city scape, gurgaon bptp.

Step 1 of 3

Great going .

Get a free session from trainer

Have you taken test before?

Please select any option

Get free eBook to excel in test

Please enter Email ID

Get support from an Band 9 trainer

Please enter phone number

Already Registered?

Select a date

Please select a date

Select a time (IST Time Zone)

Please select a time

Mark Your Calendar: Free Session with Expert on

Which exam are you preparing?

Great Going!

Paul Simon Essay Contest winner speaks on mental health

Editor's note: This story mentions a suicide attempt. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline  by dialing 9-8-8, or the  Crisis Text Line  by texting HOME to 741741.

  A Princeton student recently won the Paul Simon Essay Contest. This essay highlights Illinois community colleges. The student shares how her college embraced her after she returned following a not-so-great start.

Lauren Frost is a student at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, Illinois. The contest is sponsored by the Illinois Community College Trustees Association and offers a five-hundred-dollar scholarship. The student must describe, “How My Community College Has Changed My Life.” Frost said she loves writing, but essay writing wasn't a part of her repertoire.

“I'm somebody who likes to use a lot of words, and there was the 500-word limit, and I was like, oh my goodness, I don't know how to like put this all into just 500 words.”

She said she is used to creative writing and has done this since she was a child. The other thing Frost loved to do was play the Trumpet. She said she wasn’t a great player and the other kids often made fun of her.

“And so, I decided, well, I'll go into elementary education just because it was something that, you know, I knew people did. I knew it was a job option,” she said. “And so, I was like, well, I'll go into that. Um, and that didn't work out very well. I didn’t really like the classes that I had, and I didn't have a very big passion for it either. So, um, and along with that, my mental health was definitely declining. I was very depressed.”

She ended that semester with a 0.429 GPA. That was in 2021. She decided to take a break. Frost said things came to a head in May of 2022. At the age of 18, she said she tried to take her life and ended up in the hospital. Frost said after that, she went to therapy to get help.

“I ended up finding out that I had, ADHD, depression, and then, schizotypal personality disorder,” she continued, “dependent personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder, which was quite the diagnosis.”

Frost said she originally noticed something wasn’t right with her mental health when she was in seventh grade. Back then she talked to her friends and parents about her concerns.

“And they'd kind of just chalk it up to being, you know, just like going through puberty,” she said.

Frost said in the fall of 2022 she decided to enroll in IVCC again. This time she took her passion for music and mixed it with something she felt helped her maneuver through life – taking care of her mental health. Her intent was to major in social work. But one of her first classes was music appreciation. She said it set the tone for her and helped her with her anxiety. This led her to pursue an education in music therapy.

“There's always the connection that you make with people when you play music with them, of course. I mentioned that before, but even then, listening to music is like an underrated tool to help,” she explained.

Frost said her mom was the one who told her to submit an essay for the contest. Those paragraphs detailed her journey to wellness and how the college helped with that.

“And to this day, nobody ever comments on, you know, how badly my first semester there went,” she said. “And it’s always just kind of been talking about the future and what happens next.”

Frost said mental health is not talked about the way it should be. She encourages open discussions about mental health and says it is important to speak with a therapist.

Frost is scheduled to read her winning essay at the college’s commencement ceremony on May 18 th .

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Serge Schmemann

Student Protest Is an Essential Part of Education

By Serge Schmemann

Mr. Schmemann is a member of the editorial board and a former Moscow bureau chief for The Times. He was a first-year graduate student at Columbia in 1968.

Anyone who was at Columbia University in the spring of 1968 cannot help but see a reprise of those stormy, fateful and thrilling days in what is happening on the Morningside Heights campus today.

But there is a troubling and significant difference. If the students back in ’68 were divided into rebellious, longhaired pukes and conservative, close-cropped jocks, with a lot of undecided in between, the current protests at Columbia — and at the growing number of other campuses to which they have spread — have witnessed personal and often ugly divisions between Jewish students and Arab or Muslim students or anyone perceived to be on the “wrong” side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

That, in turn, has thrust the protests squarely into the polarized politics of the land, with politicians and pundits on the right portraying the encampments as dangerous manifestations of antisemitism and wokeness and demanding that they be razed — and many university administrations calling in the police to do just that.

The transformation of the protests into a national political football is perhaps inevitable — everyone up to President Richard Nixon sounded off about students in ’68 — but it is still a shame. Because student protests, even at their most disruptive, are at their core an extension of education by other means, to paraphrase Carl von Clausewitz’s famous definition of war.

The hallowed notion of a university as a bastion of discourse and learning does not and cannot exclude participation in contemporary debates, which is what students are being prepared to lead. From Vietnam to apartheid to the murder of George Floyd, universities have long been places for open and sometimes fiery debate and inquiry. And whenever universities themselves have been perceived by students to be complicit or wrong in their stances, they have been challenged by their communities of students and teachers. If the university cannot tolerate the heat, it cannot serve its primary mission.

The counterargument, of course, is that without decorum and calm, the educational process is disrupted, and so it is proper and necessary for administrations to impose order. But disruption is not the only byproduct; protests can also shape and enhance education: a disproportionate number of those who rose up at Columbia in 1968 went into social service of some sort, fired by the idealism and faith in change that underpinned their protests and by the broader social movement of the ’60s.

I was a first-year graduate student at Columbia in ’68, living in the suburbs and so more of a witness than a participant in events of that spring. But it was impossible not to be swept up in the passions on the campus.

The catalyst was a protest by Black students over the construction of a gym in Morningside Park , which touched on many Black grievances against the university — the way it was pushing into Black neighborhoods, the gym’s limited access and separate door for area residents, many of them Black. The slogan was “Gym Crow must go.”

The Black sit-in quickly galvanized students from all the other social and political causes of that turbulent era — a war that was killing scores of American boys and countless Vietnamese every week, racism that just weeks earlier took the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and, yes, a celebration of flower power and love. The gym issue at Columbia was quietly resolved, but by then, other students were occupying several buildings. Finally, Columbia’s president, Grayson Kirk, called in the police.

I have a snapshot embedded in my memory of groups of students milling about the grounds, which were littered with the debris of the confrontation, many of them proudly sporting bandages from the injuries inflicted by the violent sweep of the Tactical Patrol Force. Psychedelic music blared from some window, and a lone maintenance man pushed a noisy lawn mower over a surviving patch of grass.

The sit-ins had been ended, and order was being restored, but something frightening and beautiful had been unleashed, a faith that mere students could do something about what’s wrong with the world or at least were right to try.

The classic account of Columbia ’68, “The Strawberry Statement,” a wry, punchy diary by an undergraduate, James Simon Kunen, who participated in the protests, captures the confused welter of causes, ideals, frustrations and raw excitement of that spring. “Beyond defining what it wasn’t, it is very difficult to say with certainty what anything meant. But everything must have a meaning, and everyone is free to say what meanings are. At Columbia a lot of students simply did not like their school commandeering a park, and they rather disapproved of their school making war, and they told other students, who told others, and we saw that Columbia is our school and we will have something to say for what it does.”

That’s the similarity. Just as students then could no longer tolerate the horrific images of a distant war delivered, for the first time, in almost real time by television, so many of today’s students have found the images from Gaza, now transmitted instantly onto their phones, to demand action. And just as students in ’68 insisted that their school sever ties to a government institute doing research for the war, so today’s students demand that Columbia divest from companies profiting from Israel’s invasion of Gaza. And students then and now have found their college administrators deaf to their entreaties.

Certainly there’s a lot to debate here. Universities do have a serious obligation to protect Jewish students from antisemitism and to maintain order, but it is to their students and teachers that they must answer, not to Republicans eager to score points against woke “indoctrination” at elite colleges or to megadonors seeking to push their agendas onto institutions of higher learning.

Like Mr. Kunen, I’m not sure exactly how that spring of 1968 affected my life. I suspect it forced me to think in ways that have informed my reporting on the world. What I do know is that I’m heartened to see that college kids will still get angry over injustice and suffering and will try to do something about it.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Serge Schmemann joined The Times in 1980 and worked as the bureau chief in Moscow, Bonn and Jerusalem and at the United Nations. He was editorial page editor of The International Herald Tribune in Paris from 2003 to 2013.

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Baltimore author and HBO screenwriter D….

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Baltimore Sun eNewspaper

• Food and Drink
• Events Calendar

Things To Do

Restaurants, food and drink, restaurants, food and drink | baltimore author and hbo screenwriter d. watkins is now a james beard-nominated food writer, too.

But what you may not know is that D. Watkins is also a food writer — and one nominated for a James Beard Award, at that.

The author, screenwriter and University of Baltimore professor recently added another accolade to his resume with the news that he’s in the running for a 2024 James Beard Journalism Award in the beverage writing category.

Watkins is nominated for an essay published in Salon , where he is an editor at large. The piece looks at the growing sobriety movement and Watkins’ own experiences abstaining from alcohol.

It’s also a tribute to his cousin, Maja Griffin, who died last September. Griffin, a talented bartender who worked at Baltimore hotspots like Charleston, Alma Cocina Latina and Bloom’s, was a champion of Watkins’ efforts to cut back on drinking, making him “MajTails” and other non-alcoholic concoctions that still had the layers of flavor one might search for in a good cocktail.

“You always have fun, even when y’all not drinking or before y’all’s drinks come out,” she promised Watkins when he worried about how a night out without drinking might go. “So just have fun — focus on that.”

Griffin’s supportiveness stands in contrast to some of the other characters encountered in his first-person essay. Despite a growing national interest in sober living, and a rapidly expanding market of “zero-proof” beers, wines and spirits , Watkins writes about being mocked for his decision not to drink, and being tempted to break his sobriety by well-meaning guests at a party in his honor.

Watkins’ essay grapples with alcohol’s grip on so many facets of our lives: the way it is interlaced with our social gatherings and career opportunities.

“Liquor is not my business,” he writes . “But so much of my business as a writer revolves around it — I call it let’s go grab a drink culture. I met my managers over a drink. Some of my first agents signed me after a drink or 10. I’ve done shots with lawyers and television executives. What would my career look like without it? Would I have been thought of a certain way if I had refused those drinks, or insisted we meet up for tea or sodas instead?”

The essay isn’t Watkins’ first foray into writing about food and drink. He’s previously mused about how hard it is to get a salad in Baltimore and his preference for real crab meat over the imitation stuff. He caught flak for a piece about how he hates home-cooked meals (“the whole point is that, if the meal is bad, you have to sit in someone’s house and pretend to enjoy it,” he says).

“I’m not really known as a food writer but I love food, I love to drink, I love conversation,” Watkins told me shortly after his nomination for a Beard award.

He was caught off guard by the news. Watkins was in the middle of an interview when a deluge of calls and Slack messages lit up his phone.

“I knew my editor had submitted the essay because she thought it was strong,” he said, “but thousands of people submit. I didn’t think they were going to choose me.”

He’ll be one of several Maryland finalists at this year’s Beard awards. Clavel, the Mexican restaurant and mezcaleria in Remington, is one of five finalists for the foundation’s Outstanding Bar award. Harley Peet of Bas Rouge on the Eastern Shore and Tony Conte of Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana in Darnestown are contenders in the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category. The media awards ceremony is scheduled to take place June 8 in Chicago, and the restaurant and chef awards will be announced June 10.

It’s also the latest honor for Watkins, who has been named a 2024 Gordon Parks Fellow .

The author said he plans to keep dabbling in food writing. He’s even starting to come around to the idea of cooking at home: He and his wife, Caron, experimented with home-cooked meals in the pandemic’s earlier days, whipping up shrimp and lobster omelets and addressing each other in the kitchen as “chef.”

“I felt like Carmy in ‘The Bear,’” he said.

More in Restaurants, Food and Drink

New restaurant Cece’s Roland Park sets opening date at Village of Cross Keys

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Bits & Bites: Where to find Mother’s Day dining specials in Baltimore

Crime and Public Safety | Baltimore arson investigators probing Monday fire behind Papi Cuisine in Federal Hill

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Former Ammoora workers file lawsuit alleging unpaid wages and tips, ‘retaliatory’ firings

This website uses cookies.

Daily lessons with Simon, ex-IELTS examiner

Forgot password?

Not a member? Sign up or learn more here

IELTS Speaking: Not academic or formal

May 9, 2024 | 2 Comments

People doing the academic IELTS test are often misled by the word ‘academic’.

IELTS Listening: Bypass road (multiple choice)

May 8, 2024 | 5 Comments

Listen to a report about the construction of a bypass road around a town, and answer the multiple choice questions.

IELTS Reading: ‘Humans and animals’ gap-fill

May 7, 2024 | 11 Comments

Complete the summary by choosing the correct words from the list below it.

Writing Task 2: ‘Driverless vehicles’ essay skeleton

May 6, 2024 | 9 Comments

The introduction, main paragraph topic sentences and conclusion are the ‘bones’ that hold an essay together.

IELTS Advice: Aim for clarity

May 5, 2024 | 8 Comments

Here’s a suggestion…

Writing Task 1: Process diagram overview

May 4, 2024 | 17 Comments

In this lesson we look at how to write the overview paragraph for a process diagram task about recycling plastic bottles.

General Writing Task 1: ‘Conversational’ style

May 3, 2024 | 12 Comments

If the task asks us to write a letter or email to a friend, we should aim to write in a conversational style.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: ‘Neighbours’ topic

May 2, 2024 | 4 Comments

Here are some more part 1 questions and model answers.

IELTS Listening: Multiple choice underlining

May 1, 2024 | 7 Comments

In this lesson we practise underlining key words in multiple choice questions.

IELTS Reading: Trait theory (T, F, NG)

Apr 30, 2024 | 7 Comments

Try today’s ‘true, false, not given’ exercise.

Writing Task 2: ‘Driverless vehicles’ task

Apr 29, 2024 | 12 Comments

Let’s start work on a new writing task about the advantages and disadvantages of driverless vehicles.

IELTS Advice: Simon vs ChatGPT

Apr 28, 2024 | 0 Comments

Maybe you have wondered how ChatGPT can help you with your IELTS preparation.

Writing Task 1: New ‘process diagram’ task

Apr 27, 2024 | 12 Comments

Let’s start work on a new ‘process diagram’ task.

General Writing Task 1: ‘Arranging a trip’ answer

Apr 26, 2024 | 2 Comments

Here’s my band 9 answer for the ‘arranging a trip’ letter task. It contains some excellent informal phrases.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Countryside

Apr 25, 2024 | 6 Comments

Here are some part 3 questions and band 9 sample answers on the topic of ‘the countryside’.

IELTS Listening: Multiple choice tips

Apr 24, 2024 | 0 Comments

In last week’s listening lesson I asked you to share your problems with me. The most common problem that people mentioned was this…

IELTS Reading: ‘Phonics’ paragraph heading

Apr 23, 2024 | 10 Comments

Try today’s quick paragraph headings exercise.

Writing Task 2: Different advice for different scores

Apr 22, 2024 | 2 Comments

My writing advice for bands 5 to 6 is different from my writing advice for band 7 and higher.

IELTS Advice: Reuse your best ideas

Apr 21, 2024 | 2 Comments

If you have a good idea for one part of the IELTS test, you might be able to reuse it in another part. This lesson contains an example.

Writing Task 1: to, by, with, at

Apr 20, 2024 | 2 Comments

Here are some examples to give you a basic idea of how to use these four little words.

General Writing Task 1: ‘Arranging a trip’ part 3

Apr 19, 2024 | 8 Comments

See if you can finish this letter task by writing the last 2 sentences.

Speaking Part 2: Special techniques?

Apr 18, 2024 | 8 Comments

Occasionally I hear from students who have found a new technique for part 2 of the speaking test, and they want to know my opinion about it.

IELTS Listening: Tell me your troubles!

Apr 17, 2024 | 14 Comments

Please use the comments below this lesson to share your experiences and ask any questions you have about the listening test.

IELTS Reading: ‘Times tables’ multiple choice

Apr 16, 2024 | 4 Comments

Try today’s multiple choice exercise.

My favourite type of paragraph

Apr 15, 2024 | 2 Comments

This lesson contains an example of my favourite type of main body paragraph for task 2 essays.

IELTS Vocabulary: Join vs join in

Apr 14, 2024 | 10 Comments

Many English learners get confused about when to use the verb “join” and when to use the phrasal verb “join in”.

Writing Task 1: Correct the mistakes

Apr 13, 2024 | 6 Comments

Can you find and correct the mistakes in five sentences written by students?

General Writing Task 1: ‘Arranging a trip’ part 2

Apr 12, 2024 | 10 Comments

Write two sentences to convince your friend to go on a trip to your chosen destination.

IELTS Speaking: Three questions about part 2

Apr 11, 2024 | 6 Comments

Here are some common questions about part 2 of the speaking test, with my answers below them.

IELTS Listening: Compound words 2

Apr 10, 2024 | 6 Comments

Test your spelling of 10 more compound words.