Examiner Comments
The essay presents a clear and straightforward argument about the decline of family meals and its potential consequences on communication and health.
The essay effectively employs cause-and-effect reasoning to explain the decline of family meals and the potential negative consequences on communication and health.
It also provides detailed explanations for the reasons behind the decline of family meals and thoroughly explores the potential societal consequences.
The essay employs a persuasive tone, urging readers to acknowledge the benefits of family meals and make efforts to have at least one nutritious meal together daily.
The essay uses cohesive language and transitions to connect ideas, making it easy for the reader to follow the flow of arguments.
The essay follows a logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting reasons, and a conclusion summarizing the main points.
This essay contains a wide range of appropriate vocabulary which is used accurately and naturally and demonstrates a sophisticated control of language. There are no spelling errors.
Some examples of advanced vocabulary are:
Develop unhealthy eating habits: The effects of this will be that families stop communicating, as individuals develop unhealthy eating habits which lead to societal problems.
Phased out: I believe there are a number of reasons for this tradition being phased out…
Diverse range: With a diverse range of fast food available everywhere….
Good communication skills: If family members eat alone, there is a risk of younger people not developing good communication skills.
Articulating problems: Furthermore, children may have difficulty forming close friendships with schoolmates or articulating problems to teachers or other authority figures.
This essay uses a very wide range of both complex and simple appropriate grammar structures which help to convey ideas with clarity and precision.
- Complex sentence structure: I believe this is a result of people working longer hours combined with the easy accessibility to fast food and delivery services.
- Relative Clause: The effects of this will be that families stop communicating, as individuals develop unhealthy eating habits which lead to societal problems.
- Subordinate clause: There is a long tradition in most countries of families having meals together, which, sadly, is gradually disappearing.
- Gerund Phrase: I believe there are a number of reasons for this tradition being phased out.
- Infinitives: With a diverse range of fast food available everywhere, many choose to grab a quick meal on the way home or order food to be delivered.
Useful Vocabulary
“Developing unhealthy eating habits” means eating in ways that harm your body or mind. This can include eating too much.
The effects of this will be that families stop communicating, as individuals develop unhealthy eating habits which lead to societal problems.
“Phased out” means gradually stopping or replacing something with something else. Like when a company slowly stops making an old product as they start making a new one.
I believe there are a number of reasons for this tradition being phased out, which probably stem from men and women working longer hours…
“Daily basis” just means something you do every day. Like if you walk your dog on a daily basis, you do it every single day.
…with an increasing number of women unwilling to live the life of a homemaker who cooks family meals on a daily basis.
“A diverse range” just means many different kinds of things. So, if a store has a diverse range of clothes, it means they have a lot of different types of clothing.
With a diverse range of fast food available everywhere, many choose to grab a quick meal on the way home or order food to be delivered, which they eat without waiting for other family members to join.
“To grab” means to quickly take or get something, like grabbing a book from a shelf or grabbing food to eat.
With a diverse range of fast food available everywhere, many choose to grab a quick meal on the way home or order food to be delivered, which they eat without waiting for other family members to join.
“To catch up with someone” means to reconnect with them after not seeing or talking to them for a while.
The traditional family meal generally gave families the opportunity to catch up with each other’s days and talk through both important and everyday news.
“Ripple effect” is like a chain reaction, where one thing leads to another.
This has a ripple effect into communities as people will be less likely to mix with their neighbours.
“Articulating” means expressing thoughts or ideas clearly.
Furthermore, children may have difficulty forming close friendships with schoolmates or articulating problems to teachers or other authority figures.
