📋 Written Ability Test (WAT) Essay Analysis Guide

Topic: Can We Justify the Use of Surveillance Technology in Public Spaces?

🌐 Understanding the Topic’s Importance

Surveillance technology is at the crossroads of security and ethics. This topic requires balancing societal safety with the individual’s right to privacy—an issue integral to public policy and governance.

⏳ Effective Planning and Writing

Time Allocation:

• Planning: 5 minutes
• Writing: 20 minutes
• Review: 5 minutes

Preparation Tips:

• Use examples like London’s CCTV density or India’s Safe City initiative.
• Note key stakeholders and recent global data breaches.

✨ Introduction Techniques for Essays

• Contrast Approach: “While surveillance enhances public safety, it risks creating a dystopian society akin to Orwell’s ‘1984’.”
• Solution-Based Start: “Can a balance between safety and privacy be achieved through ethical surveillance deployment?”

📊 Structuring the Essay Body

• Achievements: “CCTV surveillance in Singapore reduced street crimes by 40%, highlighting its efficacy in urban safety.”
• Challenges: “Racial biases in facial recognition algorithms undermine public trust in surveillance systems.”
• Future Outlook: “Implementing frameworks like GDPR can mitigate privacy concerns while ensuring technological growth.”

📄 Concluding Effectively

• Balanced Conclusion: “Surveillance technology must tread carefully, balancing its immense potential with ethical considerations.”
• Global Comparison Conclusion: “While China’s surveillance systems exemplify technological prowess, Europe’s GDPR underscores the importance of ethical governance.”

💡 Recommendations for Sustainable Progress

• Establish robust legal frameworks for data protection.
• Foster transparency in surveillance technology deployment.
• Encourage public-private partnerships to innovate ethical AI applications.

📝 Sample Short Essays

• Balanced Perspective: “Surveillance in public spaces enhances safety but raises ethical concerns. Striking a balance between technology use and privacy safeguards is paramount.”
• Solution-Oriented: “Developing AI systems with inbuilt privacy safeguards can address both security needs and ethical concerns.”
• Global Comparison: “China’s mass surveillance shows its potential while Europe’s GDPR highlights the need for data privacy laws.”