Pre-TOEFL Writing Should you pay attention to the opinions of famous people? - revised -

Writing Topic

When famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars give their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay attention to these opinions? Give specific reasons and examples to support your answer

有名人の意見に注目すべきかどうか

 

☆Hints for Points

1.     Celebrities raise awareness of important issues and make changes.

有名人は重要な問題への意識を喚起し改革を起こす。

2.     Issues taken up by famous people are usually significant.

有名人が取り上げる問題は通常非常に重要。

3.     Most famous people follow the status quo, and what they say could be wrong.

ほとんどの有名人は現状に従うので発言が間違っている可能性がある。

4.     Endorsement by stars could be used to manipulate public opinions.

スターの支持は世論操作に使われるかもしれない。

 

☆Sample Essay Structure                                           

【Introduction】We should pay attention to the opinions of celebrities with a reservation. 保留付きで賛成

【Point 1】Most celebrities have a good heart and their agenda is worth listening to. 善良で聴くに値する議題

【Point 2】Public opinion often comes out of a celebrity’s mouth. 世論の反映

【Follow-up】However, celebrity influence can be used for bad purposes. 悪用される可能性

【Conclusion】With caution, we should listen to what famous people say. 注意して耳を傾けるべき

 

☆Sample Development

1. Celebrities raise awareness of important issues and make changes. They have the power to mobilize large numbers of people in a short time. Since their admirers follow them through social media, when they mention something and call for an action, the comments will be shared by people and lead to positive results. Michael Moore, the filmmaker, has made people know the truth in politics and social problems, encouraging them to realize true democracy. Roger Waters, the member of Pink Floyd, has been working for the freedom of the people in Palestine, reconstruction of disaster-stricken areas, and other causes. The 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, contributed to attention to police brutality and the discrimination against black people in the U.S. by refusing to stand up but instead kneeling down during the national anthem, and the news made people all over the world think about the problem and the importance of taking a stand. Actors are working. Too. Angelina Jolie has used her fame to support poor people in Africa. Leonardo DiCaprio actively tries to alert the world to climate change. Many stars are taking advantage of their publicity for good causes, and we should listen to them. 有名人は重要な問題への意識を喚起し改革を起こす。短期間で多数を動員する力がある。崇拝者がソーシャル・メディアを通してフォローしているので彼らが何かに言及し行動を求めると人々にシェアされ肯定的な結果になる。（マイケル・ムーア→政治・社会問題の真実と真の民主主義実現の呼びかけ、ロジャー・ウオーターズー→パレスチナ問題や被災地復興他、コリン・キャパニック→アメリカの警察の暴力と黒人差別、アンジェリーナ・ジョリー→貧困問題、レオナルド・ディカプリオ→温暖化）多くのスターが良い運動のために知名度を活用しており我々は耳を傾けるべき。

 

2. Most famous people follow the status quo, and what they say could be wrong. They live on their exposure to the mainstream media, which depend on sponsors. Thus, they conform to the people in power. For example, when Michael Moore blamed President George W. Bush for having a fictitious war, meaning that the Iraq War was based on a false reason, in his winning speech of the Academy Award, many participants booed him and accused him of being “unpatriotic”, but before long, Michael Moore proved right. There were no weapons of mass distraction in Iraq, and it turned out that the Bush administration had planned the war since 9.11 not for war on terrorism but for oil. However, few celebrities, as well as the mainstream media, mention it even today. As this example shows, it is necessary to make an educated guess on the opinions of famous people. ほとんどの有名人は現状に従うので発言が間違っている可能性がある。彼らは主要メディアに曝されることで生活しており、メディアはスポンサーに頼っている。従って権力のある人たちに合わせる。マイケル・ムーアがアカデミー賞授賞スピーチでブッシュ大統領を嘘の戦争をしている（イラク戦争は嘘の理由に基づいている）と言って非難した時、多くの出席者がブーイングし非国民だと非難したが、まもなくマイケル・ムーアが正しかったことが分かった（イラクに大量破壊兵器はなく、ブッシュ政権は9.11直後からテロではなく石油のために戦争を計画していたことが明らかになった。）。しかし現在そのことに言及する有名人は主要メディア同様ほとんどいない。有名人の意見については、知識に裏付けられた推測をすることが必要だ。

 

3. Celebrity influence can be used for bad purposes. Famous musicians and artists have been used for war propaganda. Also, a comment of an influential person can be an incitement for illicit activities. When a popular TV show host Glenn Beck said, “I’m usually against death penalty except when it comes to Michael Moore,” many people tried to kill Michael Moore, the filmmaker who criticized the Iraq War, which was soon proved to be an illegal invasion. People who talked with Michael Moore in person realized that they were wrong and made friends with him. 2021 United States Capitol Attack was caused by people who believed Donald Trump’s lies about his loss in the 2020 presidential election. 有名人の影響力が悪い目的に使われる可能性がある。有名な音楽家や芸術家は戦争のプロパガンダに使われてきた。また、影響力のある人の発言が犯罪の教唆になる可能性もある。人気のあるテレビ番組の司会であるグレン・ベックが「死刑には通常反対だがマイケル・ムーアは別だ。」と言った時、多くの人が彼を殺そうとした。マイケル・ムーアはイラク戦争を批判した映画監督で、まもなく戦争は違法な侵略であることが明らかになった。マイケル・ムーアと直接話した人は自分が間違っていたことを悟り、彼と友達になった。2021年の米国会議事堂襲撃事件は、ドナルド・トランプの2020年大統領選の敗北に関する嘘を信じた人々が起こした。