1 Essay 2 - Model answer

We often hear about the many benefits of health and fitness. However, less often do we hear
concrete suggestions for how to improve participation rates, particularly among young people.
In this essay I will discuss two possible actions that governments could focus on in order to
promote health and fitness to youth today.

The first possible action is to improve physical education teaching in schools. Local students
have at times complained that the curriculum is rigid and emphasises repetitive activities
instead of team sports and enjoyment. Better role models and more adventurous options
could lead to improved attitude and participation. Naturally, employing specialist sports
teachers would incur considerable cost.

A second option would be to attempt to change the overly competitive attitudes that seem
ingrained in many of the sports competitions for youngsters. When adults such as parents
and teachers focus on winning above having a good time, it puts undue pressure on the
participants. They may feel a sense of failure if they lose and also be less inclined to try a
new sport.

To sum up, either approach would be a step in the right direction. In my view, it would be wise
to prioritise dealing with reducing competitiveness first because I believe it would help young
people feel better about the sports they already do. They could then, in turn, influence their
friends to join in.

2 Introducing a dress code

We often hear that it is important for young people to be able to express themselves by what
they wear. At our college, our lack of clothing guidelines has led some students to dress in a
way that compromises both safety and our reputation in the community. Items of concern
include ripped clothing, hoods that obscure the face, offensive T-shirts and very high platform
heels. In this essay, I will discuss two advantages of introducing a dress code at our college.

The image that we present to the community is important for a number of reasons, but
primarily because overly casual dress makes it more difficult to place students in homestays
and on work experience. Recently, this problem seems to have escalated as we have
received some phone complaints about students' scruffy appearance. Additionally, it has
come to my attention that a few students have worn T-shirts with slogans that could be
considered xenophobic. It seems obvious that implementing a dress code will improve the
college's image.
With regard to health and safety, three students have fallen down the stairs during the last
month. One of them, who had been wearing a pair of stiletto heels at the time, unfortunately
broke her leg. I have grave concerns that without a dress code outlining suitable footwear
choices, further accidents may be inevitable.

In my view, keeping people safe at our school is our responsibility. Consequently, this is the
most pressing reason why it is time to introduce a dress code, even if it is initially unpopular
with the student body.

3
Is the film industry failing to scale the cultural heights of yesteryear? Is the studios
preoccupation with profit, which is reflected in their marketing expenditure, stifling originality?
The cinema has long provided an escape from the banality of daily life. It has, since its
invention, fed our imagination through its ability to bring our wildest fantasies one step closer
to reality. It has transformed the way we view the world and our place in it by addressing the
issues of the day, provoking debate and weaving new and powerful narratives. And as special
effects have evolved, cinema has found new ways to grip audiences, leaving successive
generations awestruck by its unrivaled capacity to convince and inspire.

Yet despite modern cinema having reached the height of its power, in terms of its
technological potential, it is arguable that todays films lack the originality and charm of their
predecessors. As film budgets have grown, it seems that Hollywood has learned that avoiding
risk is of paramount importance in recouping the investment. Some argue that it is those very
technological advances that have relegated into second place other aspects of cinema, such
as the quality of plot and actors.

It would be hard to argue that cinema hadnt reached the pinnacle of its potential. But it is
equally inescapable that its contribution to culture does not match this. If the big studios were
more willing to take risks on original films, rather than tried and trusted formula-movies,
perhaps cinema could enjoy another golden age. I would prefer that Hollywood adopt a more
courageous production policy; one that we, as the cinema-going public, can support.
CPE Letter to the editor

Dear editor,
(P1- state clearly why you write/ give your point of view)
I am writing in reply to the article about dangerous sports which was published in your newspaper
on Sunday 8th July. I would definitely agree with the idea that such sports put people at risk and
that it would be infinitely preferable for the government to ban them.
(P2- support your point of view with arguments)
Having said that, it is also true that taking regular exercise is vitally important. For example, yoga,
tai-chi and other forms of gentle exercise can do wonders for our health. As for more strenuous
exercise, such as weight lifting and athletism, I believe they can be practised at gyms and other
special places where people can be supervised by trainers and experts.
(P3- support your point of view with more arguments)
The main problem with dangerous sports -yatch races, for instance- is that they happen outdoor in
remote areas where no control or supervision can be provided. Tragedies like what happened to
that yatch in Hobart not only put the participants lives at risk, but also the ones of the people in
the rescue teams. It is also important to mention that the operation to save the injured cost the state
a fortune, which might as well have been used to do some social work in favour of Hobarts
community. If we banned extreme sports we would avoid both of these problems.
(P4- same as 3)
Of course there will be sportmen who will complain when the ban is established. They will
probably claim that their freedom to choose their leisure activities is being restricted, but surely
you must understand that we would be doing it for their own safety. Others will probably state
that we need not to worry about the cost of rescues as they can be assumed by insurance companies,
but this is not necessarily true. As far as I am concerned such companies will only take
responsibility of fifty per cent of the cost of rescue operations.
(P5- conclude/ state your opinion clearly -same as P1)
To sum up, I think that it is urgent for the government to take action and ban extreme sports now
and for all. There is plenty of evidence that they are not only dangerous, but they cost us taxpayers
a big amount of money, which could be better used to improve the quality of life of people in our
city.
(polite closing)
Yours faithfully