Тема 3: Москва или Санкт-Петербург - Изменения в жизни большого российского города — Edexcel A-Level Russian
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Тема 3: Москва или Санкт-Петербург - Изменения в жизни большого российского города explained
This topic requires you to discuss social problems in a large Russian city, specifically homelessness and crime, within the context of changes in Moscow or St Petersburg.
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You should be able to describe the nature and extent of these issues, explain their causes and consequences, and evaluate possible solutions. For example, you might discuss how economic reforms since the 1990s have contributed to homelessness, or how crime rates have changed in recent years. You should also consider the impact on different groups, such as young people, the elderly, or migrants. Use specific examples from Moscow or St Petersburg to support your arguments. In an extended response, you will need to structure a balanced essay that addresses both problems, shows understanding of the urban context, and demonstrates advanced language skills.
Your focus
- Analyse the causes and effects of homelessness in a large Russian city, using specific examples.
- Evaluate the nature and extent of crime in Moscow or St Petersburg, and its relationship to urban change.
- Construct a well-structured extended response in Russian that discusses both homelessness and crime, demonstrating advanced language skills.
Тема 3: Москва или Санкт-Петербург - Изменения в жизни большого российского города exam tips
Marking Points
- Demonstrates knowledge of homelessness in a large Russian city, including causes such as economic hardship, housing shortages, and family breakdown.
- Demonstrates knowledge of crime in a large Russian city, including types of crime (e.g., street crime, organised crime, corruption) and trends over time.
- Explains the relationship between social problems and urban change, such as how rapid urbanisation or economic transition can exacerbate homelessness and crime.
- Uses specific examples from Moscow or St Petersburg to illustrate the problems and their impact on society.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of measures taken by authorities or NGOs to address homelessness and crime.
- Structures a coherent and well-developed argument in Russian, using appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Plan your essay before writing: Spend a few minutes noting key points for homelessness and crime, and how they relate to urban change in Moscow or St Petersburg.
- 💡Use specific examples: Refer to real initiatives, statistics, or events (e.g., homeless shelters in Moscow, crime rate reports) to support your points and show depth of knowledge.
- 💡Develop a balanced argument: Allocate roughly equal time to homelessness and crime, and consider both causes and solutions to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding.
- 💡Revise key vocabulary: Ensure you know terms related to social issues (e.g., бездомность, преступность, уровень преступности, социальная помощь) to express ideas precisely.
Common Mistakes
- Misunderstanding the scope: Some learners discuss social problems in general without linking them to the specific context of a large Russian city like Moscow or St Petersburg. Correction: Always anchor your discussion in the named city and the theme of urban change.
- Neglecting one of the two problems: Learners may focus only on crime and ignore homelessness, or vice versa. Correction: Ensure you give balanced coverage to both homelessness and crime, as both are explicitly listed.
- Using outdated or stereotypical information: Relying on Cold War-era stereotypes about Russian cities can lead to inaccurate claims. Correction: Base your arguments on contemporary evidence and specific examples from the post-Soviet period.
- Poor essay structure: Writing without a clear introduction, body, and conclusion can weaken the response. Correction: Plan your essay to address each problem systematically, with an introduction that outlines your approach and a conclusion that summarises your findings.