IELTS/ PTE/TOEFL Writing Tasks, The Essay
Writing Task 2, Essay
The Essay Question:
Some people think it is better to have friends who always have the same opinion as them. Other people believe it is good to have friends who sometimes disagree with them. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
The Essay
There is a dichotomy in the thought of people as to whether it is good to have friends who possess similar opinions as theirs or differ at times. In both cases, there are advantages and disadvantages.
People who opine that it is good to have friends with identical ideas, contend that there is more fun and understanding amongst them. For example, if two friends believe that reading books is beneficial, they can discuss topics of their interest without much arguments. Besides, they say that such friends could spend hours engaged in the same activity, sans a trace of ennui.
Nevertheless, friends who disagree, can learn much from each other. There could be a healthy exchange of ideas and discussions. This way both can gain and enhance knowledge. Moreover, with this amalgamation of ideas, unique inventions might emerge. For instance, Thomas Edison the famous inventor and John Burroughs the essayist, although far apart in their opinions, were yet great friends and often went for long rides together.
Additionally, friends who are poles apart in thinking, may trigger the quality of acceptance and ability to embrace divergent personalities. This is the linchpin for a peaceful and stress free life, wherein we encounter an array of varied characters in our daily functioning without losing balance. Besides, when friends disagree, it will toughen each other preparing them to deal with challenging people.
To conclude, according to me, it is certainly superior to have friends whose line of thoughts do not match, since that would be meritorious by educating one another with novel thoughts and instilling the capability to accept others irrespective of agreement, although some believe that it is better to have friends with no contrasting opinions.