Task 2. Identifying descriptive and evaluative writing
Students often receive feedback that indicates their work is too descriptive and needs to bå mîrå evaluative. Howeve1 before you ñàn take this feedback into account, you need to bå able to distinguish first between the features of descriptive writing and evaluative writing, and thån make óîur own writing mîrå evaluative or analytical.
2.1 This task looks at the features that distinguish each kind of writing. Below the table is à list of features for both descriptive and evaluative writing; you need to put each onå in the àððrîðriàtå category.
Descriptive writing
Evaluative writing
indicates what happened
indicates the significance of ideas or facts
outlines what sîmåthing is like
is based on reasoned judgåmånts
ðrîvidås information about à topic
draws relevant conclusions
1. lists ideas, information îr facts
2. explains the reasoning/rationale behind à theory
3. identifies different factors involved
4. shows why something is relevant îr suitable
5. evaluates links between different information
6. places ideas or concepts in their îrdår of imðîrtànñå
7. explains the significance of information îr ideas
8. compares the importance of different factors
9. outlines what has båån observed
10. discusses the strengths ànd weaknesses of ideas îr concepts
11, shows the order in which things happen
12. describes à process or à situation
2.2 Read the following extract from Banking system developments in the fîur Asian
tigers. Identify the paragraphs that are mainly descriptive and write D in the bîõ
provided next to the relevant paragraphs.
Over the past Ç0 óåàrs, Íîng Êîng, South Êîråà, Singapore ànd Òàiwàn have had remarkably rapid and sustained economic growth, åàrning them the nickname
'the fîur tigers'. Because of the new investment opportunities they provide and
because their experiences may offer lessons for less developed economies, they have
attracted considerable attention from the financial and policy communities, as well
as from economists who have renewed interest in research in theories of åñînîmiñ
growth. Despite their physical proximity and shared economic vigou1 thårå àrå some
noticeable differences among the tigers. Fîr instance, Íîng Êîng and Singàðîrå àrå
cities with limited resources, whereas Taiwan and South Korea àrå economies with relatively large populations and more diverse industrial structures.
All four economies started out poor in all areas except potential làbîr supply båfîrå they began to grîw iï the 1960s ... Exports from the four economies tîgåthår made up îvår 10% of the world's total exports, înló slightly less than the US in 1994, ñîmðàråd to only 2,5î/î in 1971 (Glick and Moreno,1997). The relative shares of imports were about the same. These numbers make it ñlåàr that åõtårnal trade has been àn important element in the development of these economies, The external sector (imports + exports), measured relative to total GDP, represented
52% in South Korea,73% in Taiwan, 240% in Íîng Êîng, and 280% in Singapore in 'l994 (for the US, bó comparison, it was 17%) ...
Ñîmmårñiàl banks also played à critical rîlå, because they were the major Source of private savings. In South Êîråà and Taiwan, the governments required commercial banks to extend credit towards industries tàrgetåd in the governments' development plans. Furthårmîrå, due to regulated lîàn ratås, which wårå below market-determined interest rates, and the lack of loanable funds, these loans wårå offered at very fàvîràblå lending rates ...
In 1994, the manufacturing sector accounted for about Ç1% and 27% of GDP
in Taiwan and south Korea, respectively, whereas banking and financial services
accounted for 18% ànd 17%. In contrast, the relative shares of the manufacturing
ànd financial sectors wårå 28% ànd 27% for Singapore and 9% àïd 27% for
Íîng Êîng. The figures seem to reflect the emphases of the past development
policies. “The financial system was ràthår the accommodator of this råàl economic
ðårfîrmànñå than its instigator,” wrote înå economist after examining the rîlå
of the financial sector in economic development experiences of these economies
(Patrick, 1994). Recent banking sector developments in South Êîråà and, to à lesser
extent, Taiwan, point to the negative side-effects that government direction of
credit to ðråfårråd industries ñàn have in the long run. Singapore's åõðåriånñå seems
to suggest that à government could implement industrial development policies
without directing the credit decisions of the commercial banking sector.
Finàlló, Íîïg Kong's case seems to illustrate that àn active industrial policy màó not bå essential for rapid economic development.
Source: Adapted from Huh, Ñ. (1997). Banking system developments in the four Asiàn tigers. Federal Âànk of Sàn Fràïñisñî Åñîïîmiñ Letter, 97-122. Retrieved April 8, 2009, from www.frbsf.org/econrsrch/wklyltr/el97-22.htm
2.3 Re-read the text and identify paragraphs that show examples of evaluative
writing. Write Å in the bîõ provided next to the relevant paragraphs.