Direct question 題是 Task 2 最容易誤判的題型。兩個問題彼此獨立：不能寫成 opinion 的理由配 counter-argument。本篇示範正確結構。

題目

In many countries, social media platforms have become more influential than traditional news organisations in shaping public opinion.

Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.

題型：Direct Question（兩部分）。我的立場（第二問）：largely negative, though with genuine democratising elements。

完整範文（296 字）

¹ Across much of the world, a piece of news now reaches ordinary readers more often through a social-media feed than through a morning newspaper or evening broadcast. ² This essay will first explain why this reversal has occurred so rapidly, before arguing that the shift is, on balance, a negative development — although it carries important democratising benefits that should not be dismissed.

³ The most immediate driver is the asymmetry between the platforms' business model and that of traditional outlets. ⁴ Social networks monetise engagement rather than accuracy: their algorithms systematically surface emotionally charged and personally tailored content, while newspapers rely on subscriptions and slower editorial judgement that struggle to compete for attention. ⁵ A 2023 Reuters Institute study of 20 countries found that roughly 54% of adults under 35 now name social media as their primary news source, compared with just 18% a decade earlier. ⁶ Add declining public trust in established institutions and the collapse of advertising revenue for legacy newsrooms, and the transfer of influence becomes almost structurally inevitable.

⁷ Turning to the evaluation, I view this development as largely harmful. ⁸ Algorithmic feeds amplify misleading or inflammatory content because it generates more reactions, fragment audiences into increasingly narrow information bubbles, and provide no equivalent of the editorial checks that traditional journalism, however imperfectly, imposes. ⁹ Admittedly, the same platforms have democratised participation, giving voice to perspectives that mainstream media long ignored. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, when the dominant source of public information is optimised for attention rather than truth, the long-term costs to civic life appear to outweigh these gains.

¹¹ In conclusion, the ascent of social media over traditional news is driven principally by engagement-based business models rather than superior journalism. ¹² While its democratising effects are real, the overall consequences for public understanding are more damaging than beneficial.

句句解析

§1 — Intro

  • 句 1 (Hook): "...a piece of news now reaches ordinary readers more often through a social-media feed than through a morning newspaper..." — 對比具象化 + more-often-than 比較結構。
  • 句 2 (Signpost — two tasks): "This essay will first explain why... before arguing that..." — 明說兩個動作——direct question 鐵律。

§2 — 回答第一問（Why?）

  • 句 3 (Main cause): "The most immediate driver is the asymmetry between the platforms' business model and that of traditional outlets." — 一個明確結構性原因。
  • 句 4 (Develop): "Social networks monetise engagement rather than accuracy..." — 動詞 monetise 精準。
  • 句 5 (Evidence): "A 2023 Reuters Institute study of 20 countries... 54%... compared with just 18% a decade earlier." — 機構 + 時間對比。
  • 句 6 (Compounding factors): "Add declining public trust... the transfer of influence becomes almost structurally inevitable." — imperative Add 開頭 + structurally inevitable 高階。

§3 — 回答第二問（Positive/Negative?）

  • 句 7 (Pivot): "Turning to the evaluation, I view this development as largely harmful." — 明確切第二問。
  • 句 8 (Three harms parallel): "Algorithmic feeds amplify... fragment audiences... and provide no equivalent..." — 三個 verb parallel。
  • 句 9 (Concession): "Admittedly, the same platforms have democratised participation..." — Band 7 必備。
  • 句 10 (Rebuttal): "Nevertheless, when the dominant source... is optimised for attention rather than truth, the long-term costs... outweigh these gains." — when-clause + optimised for attention rather than truth 精準對比。

§4 — Conclusion

  • 句 11 (Answer Q1): "...driven principally by engagement-based business models rather than superior journalism." — 重述第一問答案。
  • 句 12 (Answer Q2): "While its democratising effects are real, the overall consequences... are more damaging than beneficial." — 重述第二問答案 + 再承認對方一次。

四大評分項證據表

| 評分項 | 本篇證據 | Band | |--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------| | Task Response | 兩問分開回答；intro 預告兩個動作；concession 處理得當；結論兩問都重述 | 7 | | Coherence & Cohesion | 段落功能清楚（intro / Q1 / Q2 / conclusion）；pivot 明確（Turning to the evaluation）；parallel verbs | 7 | | Lexical Resource | Topic-specific（algorithmic feeds, information bubbles, editorial judgement, legacy newsrooms, engagement-based）；搭配（structurally inevitable） | 7 | | Grammar Range | Comparative（more often through X than through Y）；cleft（that of traditional outlets）；when-clause（when the dominant source is optimised）；participle | 7 |

三個可複製的 Direct Question 動作

1. Intro 預告兩個動作

"This essay will first explain why X, before arguing whether/that Y..." ——direct question 最重要的一句。沒這句，Task Response 很難到 7。

2. §2 只答 Q1，§3 只答 Q2

不要混。§2 用 driver, cause, arises from；§3 用 on balance, largely harmful, the costs outweigh。動詞選對 = 題型辨認對 = Task Response 7。

3. 結論兩問都複述

句 11 答 Q1，句 12 答 Q2。Direct question 題的結論不能只寫「正或負」——第一問（why）必須也出現。檢查清單：結論前寫 Q1 ✓ Q2 ✓ 兩勾都畫才收尾。

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