Directed Writing
Report Writing
In the past, people always shopped in their On the other hand, shops in town centres
own towns or villages, but modern times have many advantages over out-of-town
have seen the arrival of out-of-town shopping retail parks and shopping malls. If a town is of
in retail parks. An attractive feature of out-of- historical interest, the shops there will
town shopping is that these retail parks have generate income from tourists who arrive to
plenty of parking spaces, which are generally explore its history. A town might achieve its
free of charge. Drivers are not faced with as own individual character by its types of
much congestion on the roads as they would shops. The features of a university town, a
be if they were heading for the town centre, seaside town or a town in an agricultural area
and so the travelling experience is pleasant, are all reflected in the distinctive range of
with customers arriving at the shops in a shops to be found there. However, most out-
relaxed frame of mind. of-town retail parks are boring and soulless
Because retail parks have many stores – because they are identical to each other.
perhaps a food store, a bookshop and clothes Sometimes income is derived for a town from
shops in close proximity and all in one venue occasional but planned events, from a weekly
– it is possible to shop for a wide range of market to an annual fair or festival. When the
goods in a single trip. Sometimes these out- circus comes to town, it’s not wedged in
of-town shopping opportunities are found in between the computer superstore and the
large, bright modern malls, and so shopping country’s biggest furniture store!
can be done in comfortable temperatures It’s wonderful to be part of a happy, settled
under one roof, with no need to keep the community; in affording their residents the
weather in mind when preparing for a opportunity to take an interest in what goes
shopping trip – simply get into your car and on, lively town centres promote a sense of
go! Because of the space available, and civic pride. People coming into town to shop
because the land tends to be cheaper than in will often spend more than simply the price
town centres, retailers build bigger stores out of the items bought, as they may go for
of town than in town, thus offering a greater coffee or meet friends for lunch, thus
variety of goods for sale. These big stores increasing local income. Furthermore, this
often have longer opening hours than shops social dimension of town centres is also
in towns; they will be open late into the important because many people in our
evening, and every day, while town shops modern world with its fast-paced way of life
often close early in the evening and possibly need to take time out to relax, and cafes and
one day a week. There is nothing more restaurants in town provide that opportunity,
relaxing than late-night shopping after a busy especially at weekends. Small businesses –
day in school or at the office. maybe belonging to a local jeweller, or
Because stores in retail parks and shopping dressmaker or lawyer – flourish in town
malls are bigger than shops in town and have centres.
capacity for more shoppers, they are Town centres have the advantage over out-
sometimes able to offer lower prices to their of-town retail parks, in that, as the name
customers. This might be seen particularly in suggests, they are central. This means that
huge stores, sometimes known as often local people can walk or cycle to do
hypermarkets, which sell mainly foodstuffs their shopping, or there might be local public
but also household items, electrical goods transport such as a tram or bus. By
and clothing. Sometimes multi-national comparison, getting to a retail park usually
companies are attracted to build stores in requires a car, with all the expense which that
out-of-town retail parks; these might well be entails.
big, internationally recognised furniture or
electronics stores, which pop up across
regions, entire countries and even entire
continents. Because of the vast amount of
manufacturing carried out by these multi-
national companies, goods for sale may be
considerably cheaper than the same sort of
goods in smaller shops in town.
Read both texts and answer the Question.
Write a report to the editor of a local newspaper for the local community about the
advantages and disadvantages of retail park shopping.
In your report you should:
• Evaluate the advantages and advantages of retail park shopping in both the texts.
• Give your own views.
Base your report on what you have read in both the texts but be careful to use your own words.
Address both of the bullet points.
Begin your report with ‘To the Editor’
Write about 250 to 350 words
(Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 15 marks for the
quality of your language)
