Essay question

Question
Read the two texts below.
Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible and include your own ideas in your answers.

Tackling Traffic Congestion Policy-makers employ a wide range of measures to tackle the problem of traffic congestion. Enforcement schemes such as setting strict speed limits on major roads and the use of congestion charges in city centres are two such examples as are vehicle exclusion zones or parking restrictions in busy pedestrian areas. However, it also makes sense to encourage motorists to become less reliant on their car. This can be achieved by making public transport more efficient and promoting the benefits of car-sharing with work colleagues, thus reducing weekly fuel bills. And the increasing number of cycle lanes on many roads is further evidence of how to win the hearts and minds of motorists in the fight against congestion.

The Joy of Motoring Recent research into the attitudes of motorists shows we are still more than happy to get behind the wheel. Despite rising fuel costs, insurance premiums and frequent traffic jams, 9 out of 10 of us still enjoy driving. Whether it’s visiting friends and relations, taking the family for a day out or even commuting to work, the car remains first choice for many people. Experts argue that unlike public transport, the car leaves us in charge of our own destiny, giving us the freedom to travel when and where we want. The car also gives us the opportunity to express ourselves. The kind of vehicle we drive tells the world something about who we are or what we aspire to be. Cars are not simply a means of transport but also something we wear.

Write the essay. (around 240 - 280 words)

Article writing task

An article

•is a piece of writing usually intended for publication in a newspaper, magazine or journal

•is written for a wide audience, so it is essential to attract and retain the readers’ attention

•may include amusing stories, reported speech and descriptions

•can be formal or informal, depending on the target audience

•should be written in an interesting or entertaining manner

•should give opinions and thoughts, as well as facts

•is in a less formal style than a report 

An article can

• describe an experience, event, person or place

• present an opinion or balanced argument

• compare and contrast

• provide information

• offer suggestions

• offer advice

It should consist of:

1.an eye-catching title which attracts the readers’ attention and suggests the theme of the article. (Think about why you read a magazine or newspaper article recently - what made you read it?) Articles can also have subheadings before each paragraph.

2.an introduction which clearly defines the topic to be covered and keeps the reader’s attention.

3.the main body of two to five paragraphs in which the topic is further developed in detail.

4.the conclusion - summarising the topic or a final opinion, recommendation or comment.

Consider these aspects:

•where is the article going to appear - in a newspaper or magazine?

•who are the intended readers - a specific group such as students or teenagers, or adults in general?

•what is the aim of the article - to advise, suggest, inform, compare and contrast, describe, etc.?

Topic sentences

•To ensure unity in a paragraph, it is necessary to group sentences around a main idea.

•This means that it is necessary to begin by finding a theme or Topic Sentence which sums up the main idea of the whole paragraph.

•The best position for this sentence is normally at the beginning of the paragraph, but it need not always be there.

•However, it is preferable when writing an article to place the Topic Sentence at the beginning to help the reader to quickly comprehend the topic of the whole paragraph and minimise the likelihood of losing the theme altogether.

Planning an article

•It can now be seen that in order to write a good article you need first to find the theme or topic sentence which summarises what you are going to write about, and then make a plan.

•This strategy will enable you to write quickly and clearly, help you think of a title more easily and your work will have cohesion.

•Using this method gives the topic sentence of each paragraph and connects it to the other paragraphs.

•These topic sentences can be made into one paragraph and then developed to form a whole article.

•Conversely, these topic sentences, when taken together, can be used to cut down the entire article into a one-paragraph summary of the whole piece.