Some people believe that modern architecture has made cities more attractive in the last century. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Sample Essay with Corrections
Expert Feedback
The essay effectively addresses the prompt, presenting a clear position that modern architecture has enhanced the attractiveness of cities. Key strengths include the relevant examples provided, such as skyscrapers and specific landmarks, which support the main ideas. However, critical areas for improvement include the need for smoother transitions between ideas and a more varied vocabulary to avoid repetition. Additionally, grammatical accuracy needs attention, particularly in subject-verb agreement and article usage. Structural changes made include correcting grammatical errors, enhancing cohesion with varied linking words, and improving clarity in some sentences. Suggestions for further improvements not implemented in the corrected version include acknowledging potential counterarguments regarding modern architecture's impact on historical contexts and expanding on the discussion of how modern architecture influences urban life. The tone used is appropriate for an academic essay, maintaining a formal and analytical style throughout.
Detailed Scores
What this means:
The essay is generally well-organized, with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of modern architecture, contributing to the overall argument. However, the use of cohesive devices could be improved; for instance, transitions between ideas could be smoother to enhance the flow of the essay. Phrases like 'Firstly,' 'Also,' and 'Furthermore' are used, but more varied linking words could enhance cohesion.
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 demonstrates a reasonable range of grammatical structures, but there are several grammatical errors that affect clarity. For example, 'the cities more attractive in past century' should be 'the cities more attractive in the past century,' and 'the modern architecture definitely have made' should be 'the modern architecture definitely has made.' These errors, along with some awkward constructions, indicate a need for more careful proofreading and grammatical accuracy.
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 appropriate and conveys the intended meaning effectively. Terms like 'skyscrapers,' 'unique shapes,' and 'decorative concrete' demonstrate a good range. However, there are some repetitive phrases, such as 'modern buildings' and 'city,' which could be varied to enhance lexical richness. Additionally, minor inaccuracies in word forms, such as 'the modern architecture definitely have' instead of 'the modern architecture definitely has,' detract slightly from the overall lexical quality.
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 effectively, presenting a clear position that modern architecture has enhanced the attractiveness of cities. The main ideas are developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of skyscrapers and specific landmarks. However, the argument could be strengthened by acknowledging potential counterarguments or discussing the impact of modern architecture on the historical context of cities.
How to improve:
- Address all parts of the task fully
- Support ideas with specific examples
- Develop each point thoroughly
- Stay relevant to the topic
Related Writing Samples
Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have had a huge negative impact on individuals and society. To what extent do you agree?
Whether or not someone achieves their aims is mostly a question of luck. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
We have become a disposable society, preferring to buy new products rather than fixing existing items. What are the causes of this trend and what are the possible solutions?
The tendency that news reports in media focus on problems and emergencies rather than on positive developments is harmful for individuals and the society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Today single-use products are still very common. Why is this? What are the problems associated with this?
In the future, more people will choose to go on holiday in their own country and not travel abroad on holiday. Do you agree or disagree?