This document discusses whether students should write one-sided or balanced articles for the Cambridge English exam. It analyzes examiner reports that generally show one-sided articles are more successful. Specifically: - Examiner reports from 2015-2017 indicate students who take a clear stance and develop one side of an issue outperform those who take a balanced approach considering both sides. - For extended writing, a one-sided approach allows students to be awarded marks for original ideas and independent thought by introducing their own perspectives beyond just the prompts. - Balanced pieces require a more complex structure and language to integrate opposing views, making them more difficult for students to execute effectively.

1. One Sided or Balanced Articles
Author: Mohamed Malik

2. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
Students who write one sided articles are far more successful
than students who write balanced pieces.

3. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 The top mark band in the extended marking rubric says ‘Original,
Well Developed Ideas’. If you use any ideas from the given prompts,
marks will not be awarded from this band. It also mentions
independence of thought, which again refers to original ideas.
 The core marking rubric doesn’t mention anything about original
ideas. However, whether you write CORE or EXTENDED
development of ideas is crucial.
 Evidence from Examiner Reports indicate that students who write
one-sided articles are always more successful.
 There are CIE Examiners who back this notion, but some do prefer
balanced articles.

4. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 Here is a quote from November 2016 Examiner Report.
’It was noted that responses which developed one side of the topic
and showed clear opinions were more successful than those which
adopted the balanced argument style of writing, showing
advantages and disadvantages of each side.’

5. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 Here is a quote from June 2016 Examiner Report.
“In this final exercise candidates needed to use the prompts by
rephrasing them and adding their own opinions. Those who
introduced ideas of their own to support the arguments
expressed in the prompts gave themselves access to marks in the
top band for Content. Where there was good organisation and
cohesive argument throughout the article concluding with the
candidate's own opinion, marks in the top band could be
awarded.”

6. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 Here are quotes from November 2015 Examiner Report.
“In this exercise the candidates are instructed to give their
own views on the topic. Successful responses were those
which expressed an opinion in the opening paragraph and
developed it in subsequent paragraphs, or offered an
opinion in a concluding paragraph.”
“There is a clear distinction in style and register in this
exercise from that required in the email in the previous
exercise. In the article for the magazine, the ideas need to be
expressed and developed in a persuasive manner”

7. “Where candidates moved away somewhat from the
prompts to introduce some ideas of their own, access to
marks in the top band for Content could be considered,
whereas those who only used the given prompts without
developing them could only be awarded average marks.
Teachers may consider the use of class discussions on topical
themes to encourage candidates to consider views which may
differ from their own.”

8. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 Here is a quote from June 2015 Examiner Report.
“The most effective pieces of writing were those in which the
candidate took a standpoint in the first paragraph, and
introduced and developed one or two further ideas in
successive paragraphs, concluding with a summarising
statement in the final paragraph. This format appeared
more persuasive and had greater effect than the
responses which considered the topic from both sides.
Weaker responses were characterised by the repetition of the
given prompts, with little or no further extension and
development, and at times no final opinion.”

9. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 Here are quotes from November 2014 Examiner Report.
“There were four written prompts in this exercise, two
supporting the topic and two providing opposing ideas.
These prompts serve simply as a springboard for candidates
to think about the topic and generate their own ideas. In this
session, there was clear differentiation between the more
able candidates who used additional ideas and offered a
personal viewpoint, and those who simply reiterated the
ideas provided in the prompts, with no clear decision in
the final paragraph. Candidates will be more successful if
they introduce the topic at the start, and finish with a

10. “The vast majority of candidates responded to the topic with
a balanced argument, both for and against, but the most
persuasive and effective pieces of writing came from
candidates who took a standpoint in the first paragraph. They
then presented and developed two or three ideas which were
consolidated and summarised in a concluding paragraph.”

11. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 If an extended student is writing a balanced piece he/she will most
probably use and develop the prompts which are given in the
question. When the prompts are used, the student will not be
awarded marks for original ideas and independence of thought.
HOWEVER,
 If an extended student is writing one sided. He/she will most
probably use one of the prompts given in the question and then
come up with an original idea for the next main point; when the
student does this he/she will be awarded marks for original ideas and
independence of thought.

12. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
 Writing an effective balanced article is difficult for the following
reasons:
 It requires a clear structure: argument + refutations + taking a stand in
conclusion
 Requires a transition sentence since no stand is taken in the introduction.
 Requires language/words used to introduce opposing views such as
detractors, opponents, proponents, supporters, advocates, claimants and so
on.
 For a core candidate, writing a balanced article might seem simple,
as the examiner does not expect them to include original ideas.
 Core candidates are provided with two arguments in favour and
against. This means that they can easily paraphrase the given
prompts and use the given ideas to refute positive points with
negatives and vice versa.

13. Article Writing – One Sided or Balanced.
AND IT ALSO DEPENDS ON YOU………
• If you are writing extended you are advised to write one sided
pieces (this is not a rule)
• If you are writing core, attempt to write one sided if you can (
you do not need original ideas in core, you just need to develop
the ideas well)
• If you are weak, then you are advised to write a balanced piece
as it will be easier for you and it will make more sense.
© ibatefl.com 2017