Compare the advantages and disadvantages of three of the following media for communicating information. State which you consider to be the most effective.

comics     books    television     radio     film    theatre	

Of the six media mentioned, books, radio and television are possibly the most widely used throughout the world so I will compare the advantages and disadvantages of these.

First of all we can consider usability and cost. Books and radio  can be carried around and used anywhere. Furthermore, you can listen to the radio while you are doing something else - driving a car, or working. Television sets, on the other hand, are usually large and can only used in one place. To enjoy TV fully, you have to sit down and watch it.

As for costs, books are comparatively cheap to produce. The number of people involved is relatively few. Radio programmes are also relatively inexpensive. TV shows, however, are extremely costly to make. A large number of skilled technicians, actors and others have to be employed and it takes a long time to produce even a short programme.

Any comparison of their effectiveness depends on  how they are used. Perhaps the most common uses are as a means of entertainment and as a source of factual information. 

As forms of entertainment, television and radio are basically passive media - you don't have to put much effort in to enjoy them. This is a clear advantage as many people simply want to relax at the end of the day.   There is also the clear attraction of moving pictures and sound.  Books, however, require a certain amount of effort and imagination to read.

As sources of factual information, however, the passivity of television and radio is less advantageous. The audience has less choice as to the content. The number of channels and programmes is limited and you can only watch the content in the order decided by the programme maker. Also, when the TV programme is over, you can't  normally go back and watch it again.
With books, however, you have an enormous choice of subject matter. You can open a book wherever you like and you can go back and re-read it as often as you like.

In conclusion, I would suggest that as a source of factual information, books have advantages of cost, usability and choice of subject  matter that make them easily the most effective. As a means of entertainment, however, TV, with  its moving pictures and sound is more effective, and this can be seen in its enormous popularity throughout the world.

General points relating usability and cost 	
Effectiveness as a source of factual information	
Effectiveness as a form of entertainment	

They are extremely costly to make. 	
A large number of skilled technicians, actors and others have to be employed 	
Books and radio  can be carried around and used anywhere. 	
It takes a long time to produce.	
Many people simply want to relax at the end of the day.  	
Moving pictures and sound are attractive	
The audience has less choice as to the content. 	
The number of people involved is relatively few. 	
They are comparatively cheap to produce. 	
They are usually large and can only used in one place. 	
They require a certain amount of effort and imagination.	
To enjoy TV fully, you have to sit down and watch it.	
When it is over, you can't  normally go back and review it.	
You can go back and review it as often as you like.	
You can listen to the radio while you are doing something else - driving a car, or working.	
You can only watch the content in the order decided by the producer. 	
You can start it wherever you like 	
You don't have to put much effort in 	
You have an enormous choice of subject matter. 	

Introduction	

Books, radio and television are widely used throughout the world so I will compare the advantages and disadvantages of these three types of media.

paragraph 1	

First of all we can consider usability and cost. Books and radio .....                                 ....anywhere. 
Furthermore, you can ....                                                                            ..- driving a car, or working. 
Television sets, on the other hand... 
To enjoy TV fully, you have to ...

paragraph 2	

As for costs, books are ...
The number of people involved ... 
Radio programmes are also...
TV shows, however, .... 
A large number of skilled technicians, actors and others ...
It takes a long time...

paragraph 3	

Any comparison of their effectiveness depends on  how they are used. Perhaps the most common uses are...

As a forms of entertainment, television and radio are basically passive 
media - you don't have to ...
There is also the clear attraction of ...  
Books, however, require a certain amount of ...

paragraph 4	

As sources of factual information, however, the passivity of television and radio is less advantageous. 
The audience has less ...
and you can only watch the content in the order ....
Also, when the TV programme is over, you can't...
With books, however, you have an enormous ...
You can open a book wherever ...
and you can....

Conclusion	

In conclusion, I would suggest that as a...                                  ..books have advantages of _______, ________ and choice ___________ that make them easily the most effective. 

As a ...                                       ...,however, TV, with its moving pictures and sound, is more effective, and this can be seen in its enormous popularity throughout the world.