City Life vs. Country Life

Primary SchoolChallengingDiscursive Writing

The Prompt

Imagine you've been given a very important choice! You have to decide whether your dream home would be in a busy, exciting city or a calm, peaceful countryside village.

Your task is to write a discussion about this big choice. You need to explore the good things (advantages) and the not-so-good things (disadvantages) about both city life and country life.

Think about these ideas when you're writing:

Opportunities: What exciting things could you do or learn in each place? (e.g., jobs, schools, clubs, museums, shops, parks)
Community: What are the people like? How do neighbours act? Is it easy to make friends?
Environment: What does it look and feel like? Is it noisy or quiet? Are there lots of trees or tall buildings? Is the air fresh?
Lifestyle: What would a typical day be like? How would you travel? What would you do for fun?

Even if you have a favourite, make sure to talk fairly about both the city and the countryside. Your writing should help someone else understand the pros and cons of each, before you tell them which one you would pick in the end!

💡 Writing Tips

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Start by brainstorming: make a list of good and bad points for the city, and another for the countryside.
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Remember to explain why something is an advantage or a disadvantage.
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Use linking words like 'however', 'on the other hand', or 'whereas' to connect your ideas when comparing.
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Try to give a fair discussion of both places, even if you have a favourite.
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Finish by clearly stating which place you would choose and briefly explain why.

📝 Sample Answer

Choosing between living in a bustling city and a peaceful countryside village is a tough decision, as both have their unique charms and challenges. In the city, there are so many opportunities. You can visit huge museums, go to the cinema, or try different types of food from all over the world. Getting around is easy too, with buses and trains always running. However, cities can also be very noisy, with traffic and lots of people everywhere. Sometimes, it can feel a bit crowded, and there aren't always big green spaces to play in. On the other hand, the countryside offers a completely different lifestyle. Imagine waking up to the sound of birds, with fresh air and wide-open fields to explore. There's often a strong sense of community, where everyone knows and helps each other. But, country life can sometimes feel a bit quiet, and there might not be as many shops or exciting clubs to join. Getting to places can also be harder if you don't have a car.

Did You Know?

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