A student asked me about the following topic, whether I think it is a situation essay or an argument one.
“The first car appeared on Britain’s road in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What are your views?”
I think this is a situation essay because it is talking about a problem and is looking at a possible solution.
Essay plan
Introduction paragraph
Here you should explain what is the problem, what is it’s reason and it’s consequences. The problem is traffic congestion and a higher number of traffic accidents, the roads are jammed and the environment suffers from increasing amounts of pollution.
First body paragraph – an explanation of the reasons for this situation
The reason is people are accustomed to using their own cars and that population growth combined with higher living standards means that more and more people own cars.
Second body paragraph – a possible solution (alternative transport)
Explain what forms of public transport should be developed more and why the state they are now is not sufficient to convince people use the public transport. How exactly can government develop the public transport and how can it encourage people use it.
Third body paragraph – another possible solution (laws to control cars ownership)
Write about what kind of laws can be introduced world wide to limit the number of cars per family / per company. Write whether or not you think it will work and why.
Conclusion paragraph
Summarize what was said before, do not add new information.
