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One of the two essays is called Analysis of an Issue. The topic
paragraph presents a subject for debate, and your job is to
select one side and argue for it. The instructions require you
to state your choice and support it by giving relevant reasons
and examples. Here's a sample: Internet-based music
distribution, in which a consumer can locate online thousands of
songs to download for free, has become a lively topic of debate
in recent years. Most record companies and many recording
artists oppose free distribution, arguing it deprives them of
their rightful income, and in so doing limits the growth
potential of individual artists and the industry as a whole. On
the other hand, many consumers and the high tech start-ups that
have pioneered this technology claim "free" distribution is
merely a symptom of problems in the industry itself. They point
to inflated prices for CDs and poor selection as reasons why
consumers reject traditional distribution. Furthermore, they
state that the income artists lose from free distribution is
more than offset by the cheaper access they have to new fans and
international markets.
Which argument do you find more convincing: that in favor
of free Internet-based music distribution, or opposed? Use
relevant reasons or examples (drawn from your reading,
observations or personal experience) to support your choice.
The surest, quickest way to fail this essay is to write off
the topic - and you'd be surprised by how many people do! Don't
touch the keyboard until you've asked yourself the same
questions journalists do: What's is the issue? (Downloading
music off the internet for free); Who's involved? (record
companies and recording artists vs. consumers and DotCom
companies); When? (now, of course); Where? (not important in
this case); Why do the two sides disagree? (loss of revenue and
growth potential vs. low prices, selection and cheap access to
new fans and markets).
Your answers to these questions form the "boundary" for what
you discuss in your essay. Don't ever stray outside! Once you've
set your boundary, you're ready to respond to two more questions
(and get a top score in the process): Which side do you support?
And, why should the reader believe you?
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