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Any tips for this LNAT essay?

This is my first attempt at an essay all of it was written by myself however i did use ai for hints in regards to whether something i said was too informal or if i was stuck on a word but overall id say i wrote about 95% of the essay myself. I understand its a little short and probably needs another body paragraph, but at the moment im just looking for any tips for my writing and anything that i may have done wrong.

Question:

Should governments prioritise freedom of speech even when it allows the spread of misinformation, or should they impose restrictions to protect public order and truth?

Answer:

Extremist groups frequently create an unsafe environment for members of the public, fabricating news stories and spreading harmful ideologies whilst being protected under the umbrella of the term ‘free speech’. This poses a deeper question, should governments and other advisory bodies impose restrictions on aspects of free speech in order to protect the public order and truth?

In the modern era the rise of social media plays a significant role in the spreading of misinformation. As a whole, social media is largely unrestricted and lacks a formal regulatory body, in addition their algorithms spread content based on what provokes a reaction rather than the actual nature of the post. This creates the perfect environment for harmful and sensationalist claims to spread as they are likely to get picked up by the algorithm regardless of the content shown. As hateful media often warrants a reaction from both like minded people and individuals who seek to challenge and change the views of the original poster.

On the other hand, free speech is a cornerstone of modern democracy, which prioritises the need for everyone's beliefs to be heard fairly and to be free from judgement regardless of whether they are fact or fiction. Therefore, by restricting free speech you too are restricting the speech of the people. Preventing individuals from expressing their true opinions regarding politics, moral controversies, and high profile social events. Consequently, this aids in the production of social inequalities as those with controversial beliefs are no longer free to fully express their opinion like the rest of society. Implying that the voices of individuals that possess critical beliefs are valued less than the beliefs of others.

As discussed previously, extremist groups often fabricate news stories in order to incite hatred against certain groups. These fabricated stories can often create false impressions and negative stereotypes regarding these groups, most commonly affecting ethnic minorities and targeting individuals' religious beliefs; creating unsafe living environments for individuals that fit the description of a typical archetype. Therefore, by limiting free speech it would not only ensure that more media is factual and supported by real evidence, but also actively improve the lives of many individuals who have been incorrectly labeled to discriminatory stereotypes.

To conclude, in modern society where democracy is highly valued, free speech is an essential tool which allows individuals to freely express their own beliefs. Despite this, some abuse this tool and use it as a way to incite hatred, falsifying information and spreading harmful ideologies which directly affect the lives of others without consequence. For this reason, I believe that free speech requires stricter restrictions to ensure that whatever is being said that possibly might insight hatred is factually correct and is phrased in a way that does not attack the identities of others.

Reply 1

Original post
by tboc09
This is my first attempt at an essay all of it was written by myself however i did use ai for hints in regards to whether something i said was too informal or if i was stuck on a word but overall id say i wrote about 95% of the essay myself. I understand its a little short and probably needs another body paragraph, but at the moment im just looking for any tips for my writing and anything that i may have done wrong.
Question:
Should governments prioritise freedom of speech even when it allows the spread of misinformation, or should they impose restrictions to protect public order and truth?
Answer:
Extremist groups frequently create an unsafe environment for members of the public, fabricating news stories and spreading harmful ideologies whilst being protected under the umbrella of the term ‘free speech’. This poses a deeper question, should governments and other advisory bodies impose restrictions on aspects of free speech in order to protect the public order and truth?
In the modern era the rise of social media plays a significant role in the spreading of misinformation. As a whole, social media is largely unrestricted and lacks a formal regulatory body, in addition their algorithms spread content based on what provokes a reaction rather than the actual nature of the post. This creates the perfect environment for harmful and sensationalist claims to spread as they are likely to get picked up by the algorithm regardless of the content shown. As hateful media often warrants a reaction from both like minded people and individuals who seek to challenge and change the views of the original poster.
On the other hand, free speech is a cornerstone of modern democracy, which prioritises the need for everyone's beliefs to be heard fairly and to be free from judgement regardless of whether they are fact or fiction. Therefore, by restricting free speech you too are restricting the speech of the people. Preventing individuals from expressing their true opinions regarding politics, moral controversies, and high profile social events. Consequently, this aids in the production of social inequalities as those with controversial beliefs are no longer free to fully express their opinion like the rest of society. Implying that the voices of individuals that possess critical beliefs are valued less than the beliefs of others.
As discussed previously, extremist groups often fabricate news stories in order to incite hatred against certain groups. These fabricated stories can often create false impressions and negative stereotypes regarding these groups, most commonly affecting ethnic minorities and targeting individuals' religious beliefs; creating unsafe living environments for individuals that fit the description of a typical archetype. Therefore, by limiting free speech it would not only ensure that more media is factual and supported by real evidence, but also actively improve the lives of many individuals who have been incorrectly labeled to discriminatory stereotypes.
To conclude, in modern society where democracy is highly valued, free speech is an essential tool which allows individuals to freely express their own beliefs. Despite this, some abuse this tool and use it as a way to incite hatred, falsifying information and spreading harmful ideologies which directly affect the lives of others without consequence. For this reason, I believe that free speech requires stricter restrictions to ensure that whatever is being said that possibly might insight hatred is factually correct and is phrased in a way that does not attack the identities of others.


Hello,

The body of the essay structure is strong. It probably needs some improvements like you say as it is quite short, and likely needs more intricate detail to reinforce your arguments and counter argument.

That being said, your introduction needs to establish your main line of argument thoroughly. Ending it off with a question is great, but you need to address the question and establish your line of argument. This establishes an indefinite debate point that you will follow throughout your essay.

Your conclusion is also strong.

What universities are you considering applying too?

Reply 2

Original post
by owenmcauliffe
Hello,
The body of the essay structure is strong. It probably needs some improvements like you say as it is quite short, and likely needs more intricate detail to reinforce your arguments and counter argument.
That being said, your introduction needs to establish your main line of argument thoroughly. Ending it off with a question is great, but you need to address the question and establish your line of argument. This establishes an indefinite debate point that you will follow throughout your essay.
Your conclusion is also strong.
What universities are you considering applying too?

Im planning on going to UCL at the moment but im not 100% sure. Also thanks for the advice ill definitely take that into consideration when I try again.

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