June 2014 - Context 1 - Essay Model Answer:

The key here, as it always is, is to understand what the question is asking and then making sure that we answer it. An idea here would be to try to simplify the question, so that we really understand what it is asking us.

I think what is asking could be summed up with:

Should governments stop food from being used to produce biofuel.

The main starting point has to be the structure of the essay. Here the acronym DIC ED S P A C applies:

Definition
In
Context

Explained
Diagram

Solutions

Problems

Alternatives

Conclusion

The obvious definition from the question is probably Government Intervention.

Government Intervention occurs when a governing body decides to manipulate a market, usually to prevent a market failure. In this case the market failure could be seen to be poverty and inequality as there is evidence in the text that, due to rising food prices, more and more people are unable to afford food, one of the basic needs for survival.

Clearly, as I am referring back to the text, this is in context.

Next up I need an explained diagram. I need this diagram to explain why there is a problem in this market, so I will show that as more crops are being demanded for biofuels, this leaves less available for food.

It is clear that as the amount of fossil fuels reduces, but the world population increases, there is more of a demand for energy sources. This is shown in diagram 1:

Diagram 1:

From this diagram we can see that as the demand for crops such as sugar and wheat (making sure I’m sticking to this particular question and not going off on a tangent) for biofuel production increases, this causes an extension of supply, pushing the price up to P2. This means there is now further incentive for farmers to produce crops for biofuels, as the price is higher and they can receive more