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Un ensayo discursivo sobre la automatización y el trabajo
Nombre:Fecha:
Sopesa opiniones enfrentadas en un ensayo discursivo equilibrado, usando atenuación, concesión y una línea de argumentación clara.
Automation and the meaning of work
It is often assumed that the spread of automation will leave people with more leisure and, consequently, greater well-being. Whether this is so depends largely on what we expect work to provide.
Admittedly, the case for automation is strong. Machines already perform repetitive and hazardous tasks more safely and more consistently than people, and few would argue that anyone is worse off for no longer sorting parcels by hand. Were such tasks to disappear altogether, workers could, in principle, devote their time to activities that demand judgement, imagination and care.
Nevertheless, this optimistic view overlooks the fact that employment offers far more than income. For many people it supplies structure, a sense of competence and a network of colleagues, none of which is easily replaced by leisure. Indeed, research into long-term unemployment suggests that losing these benefits can be as damaging as losing the wages themselves. Not only does automation threaten particular jobs, but it may also erode the routines that give daily life its shape, and it is by no means clear that people will fill the gap with activities of equal value.
A more balanced position is therefore called for. Rather than resisting technology, societies might invest in retraining and in shorter working weeks, so that the gains are shared rather than concentrated in a few hands. It is also worth noting that the occupations most resistant to automation, such as teaching and nursing, tend to be those in which human relationships matter most, which hints at where future effort could usefully be directed.
In conclusion, automation is neither a threat nor a cure in itself. Its effect on well-being will depend on whether we are prepared to redefine work, and not merely to reduce it.
Elige la mejor opción
Elige la opción más adecuada en un ensayo discursivo formal.
- Which sentence is most suitably hedged for an academic essay?
- ___ such tasks to disappear, workers could focus on more creative activities.
- ___ the benefits are considerable, they are unevenly shared.
- Which sentence best opens a paragraph that challenges the previous one?
- Not only ___ threaten particular jobs, but it also changes daily routines.
- Which phrase best introduces a final paragraph that weighs the arguments?
- Which sentence avoids an unsupported generalisation?
Completa el lenguaje del ensayo
Escribe una palabra para completar cada frase.
- It is widely ___ (assume) that automation will give people more free time.
- ___ from income, work gives many people a sense of competence.
- This view overlooks ___ fact that work gives life structure.
- Societies might invest in retraining, ___ that the gains are shared more widely.
- Automation is neither a threat ___ a cure in itself.
- Jobs that rely on empathy are, on the ___, harder to automate.
- Whether wages will rise remains ___ be seen.
Tarea de escritura
Algunas personas sostienen que el teletrabajo hará que los centros de las ciudades sean menos importantes para la sociedad. Escribe un ensayo discursivo que analice ambos lados de esta opinión y da tu propia conclusión.
220–280 palabras
Revisa tu texto
- Expuse el tema y mi línea de argumentación en la introducción.
- Cada párrafo del desarrollo expone una idea principal.
- Concedí al menos un punto de la postura contraria.
- Atenué las afirmaciones (may, tends to, it seems likely).
- Usé conectores para mostrar contraste, adición y consecuencia.
- Mi conclusión sopesa los argumentos en lugar de repetirlos.
Respuestas
Elige la mejor opción
- c) Automation may well reduce demand for certain kinds of routine work.May well reduce es una afirmación mesurada y cauta. Las demás frases generalizan en exceso.
- b) WereWere ... to disappear es un condicional invertido (If such tasks were to disappear) para una situación hipotética. Should necesitaría el infinitivo sin to (Should such tasks disappear), y Did no puede invertirse con to aquí.
- c) AlthoughAlthough introduce una oración subordinada. Despite necesita un sustantivo o una forma en -ing, y Nevertheless empieza una frase distinta.
- a) Nevertheless, this optimistic view overlooks the importance of routine.Nevertheless señala contraste, y overlooks es una forma mesurada de criticar una idea.
- c) does automationDespués de Not only al principio de una oración se invierten el sujeto y el auxiliar: does automation threaten.
- b) On balance,On balance señala un juicio tras sopesar ambos lados. Las demás añaden o ilustran puntos.
- c) Some commentators argue that automation may widen inequality.Some commentators argue atribuye la afirmación y may widen la atenúa; las demás frases son absolutas.
Completa el lenguaje del ensayo
- assumedIt is widely assumed (o believed, thought, expected) that ... es una apertura impersonal típica que presenta una idea sin hacerla propia. La pasiva necesita el participio: assumed.
- Aside / ApartAside from y Apart from significan ambas «además de».
- theDecimos the fact that ... cuando el hecho es concreto e identificado.
- soSo that introduce una oración de finalidad.
- norNeither se combina con nor, no con not ni or.
- wholeOn the whole es una expresión atenuadora que significa «en general».
- toIt remains to be seen es una expresión fija que significa que aún no se conoce el resultado.
Respuesta modelo
It is frequently suggested that the growth of remote work will diminish the role of city centres. Whether this proves true depends on what we think centres are for.
Admittedly, the evidence is suggestive. Offices that emptied when remote work became widespread have not always refilled, and shops that relied on commuters have struggled. Rents in some business districts have already fallen, which encourages owners to look for alternative uses. Were this pattern to continue, some districts might well become redundant.
However, this argument assumes that centres exist chiefly to house workplaces. In reality they also provide theatres, markets, libraries and meeting places, none of which is easily replicated at a kitchen table. Moreover, many employees report that working alone for long periods leaves them isolated, which suggests that the appeal of shared urban space may actually increase.
It is also worth remembering that cities have adapted before. When factories moved out, former industrial districts were converted into homes and studios, and the centres that survived were those that offered something people could not find elsewhere.
On balance, remote work is likely to change the character of city centres rather than end their importance. The challenge for planners will be to encourage a richer mix of uses, so that centres attract people for reasons other than their jobs. If that succeeds, the city centre of the future may be busier at weekends than on weekdays, and none the worse for it.