Comparing two study-space plans

B2.1 · Develop an argument comparing solutions, using limited evidence and acknowledging a trade-off.

B1 opinion reports; B2 argument structure, concessions, evidence and qualified conclusions.

Model

La asociación está considerando dos formas de distribuir las entradas para su concierto. Reservarlas por internet permitiría conocer la asistencia con antelación, pero exigiría que todo el público utilizara la misma herramienta. Entregarlas solo en la puerta evitaría ese requisito, aunque algunas personas viajarían sin saber si quedan plazas.

Los comentarios recibidos muestran necesidades distintas. Quienes vienen de otro barrio quieren confirmar su entrada antes de desplazarse; otras personas prefieren hablar con alguien y no rellenar un formulario. No contamos con una encuesta representativa, así que esos comentarios no indican qué opción prefiere la mayoría.

Defiendo un sistema mixto: reservar una parte de las entradas de antemano y mantener otra para la puerta. La ventaja es que ofrece una respuesta a ambos grupos. Su dificultad es la gestión: si se llevan dos listas separadas, pueden darse errores en el recuento. Por eso sería necesario un registro único que el equipo pudiera actualizar.

El reparto concreto debería revisarse después de una primera experiencia. Un sistema mixto no garantiza que cada persona consiga entrada, pero permite explicar las condiciones con claridad y comprobar qué vía utiliza el público. Elegiría esta prueba antes que imponer una única forma de acceso sin estudiar sus efectos.

1. esos comentarios no indican qué opción prefiere la mayoría · The scope of informal evidence is limited.
2. Su dificultad es la gestión · A recommendation includes a real trade-off.
3. Por eso sería necesario un registro único · The argument answers the drawback with a workable condition.

Task

Write an argument for the student newsletter about the future of a study room. Plan A keeps all 40 seats silent throughout the day. Plan B makes 28 seats silent and reserves a separate room with 12 seats for group work between 16:00 and 18:00; outside those hours that room is silent too. Sound insulation between the rooms has not been tested. A voluntary survey received 30 replies: 18 wanted more group work and 12 wanted continuous silence. It did not ask when respondents would attend and cannot represent every user. The library can trial either plan for two weeks. Recommend A or B, or a justified trial sequence; use the evidence, examine a disadvantage of your recommendation and propose how to assess the trial. You are arguing about a study policy, not announcing a decision already made. This is an invented case. Write in Spanish. The word range is a guide, not an automatic pass/fail rule. Use the criteria for teacher assessment or self-assessment; there is no automatic mark.

180–240 words

Planning

1. What can the survey tell you, and which conclusion would exceed its scope?
2. What does your preferred plan gain and risk for different users?
3. Which observation during a trial would test the concern you identify?

Criteria

1. State and develop a defensible position on the proposed study policy.

   An argument needs a position, not a list of unconnected preferences.

2. Use the plans and survey accurately while explaining a relevant evidence limit.

   Limited responses cannot justify claims about all users or all times.

3. Examine a disadvantage of your position and propose an assessment linked to it.

   A reasoned trial should test the trade-off, not simply confirm the writer’s preference.

4. Organise evidence, counterargument and conclusion coherently with language that distinguishes opinion from findings.

   Readers must see why the conclusion follows and how certain each claim is.

Review

Keep your first draft. For each criterion, quote evidence from your own text and mark evidenced, partial or not yet evidenced. Revise a weak passage and explain how the change helps this reader. If all four are evidenced, justify a specific factual or language check. Compare meaning with the guide; different wording is welcome, and matching the example does not by itself prove success.

Guide and answers