Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others, however, believe there are better alternative ways of reducing crime. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Sample Essay with Corrections
Expert Feedback
The essay presents a balanced discussion on the topic of crime reduction, effectively addressing both sides of the argument and providing a clear personal opinion. Key strengths include a logical structure and appropriate vocabulary, demonstrating a good understanding of the topic. However, critical areas for improvement include grammatical accuracy, as several errors detract from clarity, and the need for more specific examples to support the arguments. Structural changes made include correcting grammatical errors, enhancing transitions for a more formal tone, and improving the overall fluency of the essay. Suggestions for further improvements not implemented in the corrected version include incorporating specific examples of successful rehabilitation programs or community initiatives to strengthen the arguments further. The tone used is appropriate for an academic essay, maintaining a formal and objective stance throughout.
Detailed Scores
What this means:
The essay is generally well-organized, with a logical flow of ideas. However, some transitions could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'On the other hand' could be replaced with 'Conversely' for a more formal tone. Additionally, the use of cohesive devices could be varied to improve the overall fluency.
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, such as 'this approach act as strong deterrent' (should be 'acts as a strong deterrent') and 'do not addressing root causes' (should be 'do not address root causes'). These errors affect clarity and accuracy, but the overall meaning remains understandable.
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 varied, with terms like 'recidivism' and 'socio-economic factors' demonstrating a good range. However, there are some repetitive phrases, such as 'longer prison sentences' and 'crime rates,' which could be replaced with synonyms to enhance lexical variety.
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 task by discussing both views on reducing crime and presents a clear opinion. However, it could benefit from more specific examples to strengthen the arguments. For instance, mentioning successful rehabilitation programs or community initiatives could enhance the discussion.
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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