Street Art: Vandalism or Culture?
The Prompt
Imagine walking down a street and seeing a huge, colourful painting on a wall, or maybe some quick, scribbled words. This is 'street art' – things like graffiti, giant murals, or stencils that appear on buildings, bridges, and public spaces.
Some people absolutely love street art! They think it's a brilliant way for artists to share their talent, make boring walls exciting, and add colour and culture to our towns and cities. They see it as a vibrant form of expression that tells stories and brightens up urban areas, making them more interesting places to live and visit. It can even become famous and attract tourists!
However, other people believe street art is actually vandalism. They argue that painting on public or private property without permission is wrong. They might think it makes an area look messy, untidy, and neglected, or that it damages buildings and costs money to clean up. Sometimes, it can even feel a bit scary or unwelcome.
Your task is to write a discussion piece about whether street art should be celebrated as amazing art and culture, or if it's just a form of vandalism that makes places look untidy. Think about both sides of the argument carefully. What are the good points of street art? What are the bad points? After exploring both views, tell us what you truly believe. Is it art, or is it vandalism?
💡 Writing Tips
- •
Think of both sides: Before you start, list reasons why street art is a good thing (like making a wall beautiful) and reasons why it might be a bad thing (like painting on someone's property without permission).
- •
Use examples: Have you seen any cool street art or messy graffiti? Talk about what you've seen or imagine what it might look like.
- •
State your opinion: After discussing both sides, make sure you clearly tell the reader what you think: Is it art, or is it vandalism?
- •
Use linking words: Words like 'however', 'on the other hand', 'because', 'therefore' will help your writing flow smoothly between ideas.
📝 Sample Answer
Street art is a tricky topic because people have very different ideas about it. On one hand, many murals are incredibly beautiful, turning plain walls into amazing pictures that make our towns feel more exciting and cultural. They can tell stories or make people think. However, sometimes graffiti appears where it shouldn't, like on someone's fence or a historical building, which feels like damage and can make an area look untidy. I think street art can be wonderful art when it's done with permission and skill, but if it's scribbled without care on someone else's property, it crosses the line into vandalism.
Did You Know?
You can use the atoply app to practise this prompt and get instant feedback to help improve your writing skills.
Practice This Prompt