Companies now make computer games designed to help very young children learn. The games are advertised for use by children aged 2 to 8 years and often involve basic math and reading skills, presented in a fun, game-like style. Some people say that this results in children spending too much time looking at computer screens. Do you think it's a good idea for very young children to play educational computer games? Why or why not?
Sample Essay with Corrections
Expert Feedback
The essay demonstrates a clear understanding of the topic and addresses both the benefits and drawbacks of educational computer games for young children, which is a key strength. However, there are critical areas for improvement, particularly in grammatical accuracy and the use of cohesive devices to enhance the flow of ideas. Structural changes made include correcting grammatical errors, improving transitions between paragraphs, and refining awkward phrasing to enhance clarity. Suggestions for further improvements not implemented in the corrected version include incorporating specific examples or statistics to support claims and expanding the vocabulary range to avoid repetition. The tone used is appropriate for an academic essay, maintaining a formal and informative style throughout.
Detailed Scores
What this means:
The essay has a logical structure with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. However, some transitions between ideas are abrupt, and the flow could be improved. For instance, the shift from discussing concerns about screen time to the benefits of educational games could be smoother. Using more cohesive devices, such as 'furthermore' or 'in addition,' would enhance the overall coherence.
How to improve:
- Use a clear paragraph structure
- Connect ideas with appropriate linking words
- Maintain logical progression
- Use referencing effectively
What this means:
The essay contains several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('companies are creating educational computer games, which aims') and incorrect verb forms ('they says'). Additionally, there are awkward constructions, such as 'staring at computer all the day.' While the meaning is generally clear, these errors detract from the overall quality. To improve, the writer should focus on proofreading for grammatical accuracy and varying sentence structures.
How to improve:
- Use complex sentence structures
- Maintain grammatical accuracy
- Use a variety of sentence patterns
- Check for common grammar errors
What this means:
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate, but there are instances of repetition and awkward phrasing, such as 'the very small kids' and 'making new friends.' The use of terms like 'addicted for video games' is incorrect; it should be 'addicted to video games.' To improve, the writer could incorporate a wider range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions to convey ideas more effectively.
How to improve:
- Use a wider range of vocabulary
- Demonstrate awareness of collocations
- Avoid word repetition
- Use more sophisticated vocabulary accurately
What this means:
The essay addresses the prompt by discussing both the benefits and drawbacks of educational computer games for young children. However, it lacks depth in exploring the implications of excessive screen time and could benefit from more specific examples or evidence to support the claims made. To improve, the writer could include statistics or studies that highlight the impact of screen time on child development.
How to improve:
- Address all parts of the task fully
- Support ideas with specific examples
- Develop each point thoroughly
- Stay relevant to the topic
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