Task type: an Essay

Writing Paper: Part 1 Task type: an Essay
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)
What you need to include to passClick here for our checklist first to understand what the examiner is looking for in a good answer.
Ideas for writingAsk yourself the following questions to help you get started:

• What are the key points in each extract?
• How do the points in each text relate to each other?
  - Do both texts have different points of view?
  - Do the texts complement each other in any way?
• Now make some notes about your reaction to the key points in each text: E.g. Enforcement: does this have any drawbacks?
  Changing habits: how can policy-makers encourage people to change their driving habits?
• Whilst making notes think about how you might paraphrase the key points to avoid copying sections from the texts.
• Do you have any anecdotal evidence to support your own views?
  E.g. "Traffic congestion in my own area has been alleviated somewhat by ..."
• How many paragraphs should your essay have? What will the focus of each paragraph be?

Drafting and proofreading your work
You should look at your first draft of the task and decide:

• Have you answered the question fully?
• Is the layout and organisation appropriate for an essay?
• Is the language accurate with a good range of structures?
• Is the style appropriate and consistent for your essay?
• Is your essay informative as well as being interesting to read?

If the answer is 'no' to any of these questions then you will need to do some more drafting!

Writing Paper: Part 1 Task type: an Essay

Content Should include a summary of the the key points in each text. The essay should also include an evaluation of these key points including the writer's own views on the subject.

Communicative achievementShould be fairly formal as that is consistent with the requirements of an academic essay. The reader would get a clear summary of the two texts along with the writer's point of view.

OrganisationThe essay must be divided into clear paragraphs and these should be linked appropriately. The format should be that of a standard essay, i.e. without headings in the body of the essay.

Language Language of evaluation, discussion, comparison (between the two texts) narrative (use of a personal anecdote) and speculation (possible results of various schemes). Topic vocabulary relating to motoring, and traffic congestion. Does not have to be completely accurate but any errors should be minimal.

Model answer

Congestion: the challenge facing policy-makers{1}

 

As ever increasing levels of traffic lead to gridlock in our major towns and cities, pressure is growing on decision-makers to come up with solutions.{2}

The first text highlights the sophisticated range of traffic management solutions at our disposal. These range from 'top-down' enforcement strategies{3} such as driving restrictions and congestion charges through to schemes that attempt to persuade motorists of the benefits of leaving the car at home occasionally. Such measures are clearly necessary when one considers the main contention of the second text{4}: namely that we have a very strong practical and sometimes emotional attachment to our car. Whether we see it as a fashion statement, an expression of our inner-most being or simply a handy means of personal transport, policy-makers face the additional challenge of breaking our dependency on the car.

Restricting the movement of traffic and setting financial penalties for those who break the rules certainly acts as a deterrent and goes some way towards reducing the amount of traffic on the roads. However, hand in hand with these measures must be initiatives that allow people to make the 'right' decision themselves{5}. The cost of motoring for all but the richest in society can be a heavy burden. Faced with rising costs, motorists will surely be open to persuasion when it comes to car-sharing, making use of public transport or occasionally using a bicycle.

In conclusion{6}, it seems motorists are not going to give up their car lightly. However, encouraging people to reflect on their driving habits and seeing how they can benefit from reducing the number of journeys they make is a crucial step in the process. In conjunction with this, there needs to be sufficient investment in the public transport system including a network of cycle lanes to make the change of habits a practical and appealing alternative.