1. Question de compréhension (Mines-Ponts / Agro-Véto)
A Cruel and Unusual Border Policy
Question de compréhension (Mines-Ponts / Agro-Véto)
LMW Chaptal

2. Question
According to the Economist journalist, why is this border policy cruel and unwise?
(80 words +/- 10% // 100 words +/- 10%))
Analyse the question
- What information do you need to pick out?
- Are there 2 parts to the question?
- Are you sure you understand all of the question?
Here
Show you understand what the border policy is
How is it cruel?
How is it unwise?

3. Important information
The border policy = detaining children of (illegal) migrants separately from their parents.
Cruel – some parents do not know where their children are or whether they will see them again.
Cruel – they may not see their children again. Some parents deported while children remain in the US.
Unwise – deporting parents while putting children in care puts a strain on the foster system.
Unwise – it’s not an effective deterrent because most migrants flee because of the unbearable conditions at home.
Unwise – countries are judged by how they treat migrants. America’s fair reputation helps attract skilled workers – if that’s no longer true, America will suffer.
Unwise – makes politics even more polarised.

4. Rank, condense and organise information
- Prioritise the information to include in your answer
- Are there any points that can be condensed / merged?
- How can you organise the information to make your answer as
clear and concise as possible?
The border policy = detaining children of (illegal) migrants separately from their parents.
 This can be absorbed into the other points.
Cruel – some parents do not know where their children are or whether they will see them again.
Cruel – they may not see their children again. Some parents deported while children remain in the US.
Condense into one point: Some parents do not know where their children are or whether they will see them again – being detained separately or even deported while their children remain in the US.

5. Rank, condense and organise information
The border policy = detaining children of (illegal) migrants separately from their parents.
 This can be absorbed into the other points.
Cruel – some parents do not know where their children are or whether they will see them again.
Cruel – they may not see their children again. Some parents deported while children remain in the US.
Unwise – deporting parents while putting children in care puts a strain on the foster system. (Practical)
Unwise – it’s not an effective deterrent because most migrants flee because of the unbearable conditions at home. (Practical)
Unwise – countries are judged by how they treat migrants. America’s fair reputation helps attract skilled workers – if that’s no longer true, America will suffer. (Practical / political)
Unwise – makes politics even more polarised. (Political)
 It’s unwise for practical and political reasons. Use this to organise the material?

6. Rank, condense and organise information
Unwise – deporting parents while putting children in care puts a strain on the foster system. (Practical)
Unwise – it’s not an effective deterrent because most migrants flee because of the unbearable conditions at home. (Practical)
Unwise – countries are judged by how they treat migrants. America’s fair reputation helps attract skilled workers – if that’s no longer true, America will suffer. (Practical / political)
Unwise – makes politics even more polarised. (Political)
 It’s unwise for practical and political reasons. Use this to organise the material?

7. Methodology points
Answer the question!!!
Answer the question!!! (All of it – both parts equally if relevant)
No intro / CCL
No opinion / additional information
No line-by-line summarising – select the important points
Be CLEAR and precise (don’t make this harder than it needs to be)
Respect word count
Mention word count clearly and accurately

8. (AGRO-VETO : 100 words +/- 10%))
QDC: According to the Economist journalist, why is this border policy cruel and unwise?
(AGRO-VETO : 100 words +/- 10%))
Example answer
According to the Economist, the policy of separating illegal migrant families (1) is cruel because (2) some parents do not know where their children are or whether they will see them again, being detained separately or even deported while their children are fostered in the US.
Furthermore, it is unwise for practical and political reasons (3). First, it puts a strain on the foster system. Second, it is not an effective deterrent because these families are fleeing home conditions not hoping for the American Dream. Moreover, treating migrants in this way will put skilled workers off going to the US. Finally, such a policy polarises American politics further.
(105 words)

9. (MINES-PONTS: 80 words +/- 10%))
QDC: According to the Economist journalist, why is this border policy cruel and unwise?
(MINES-PONTS: 80 words +/- 10%))
Example answer
The policy of separating illegal migrant families (1) is cruel because (2) some parents do not know where their children are or whether they will see them again – being detained separately or deported while their children are fostered in the US.
Furthermore, it is unwise for practical and political reasons (3). First, it puts a strain on the foster system. Second, it is not an effective deterrent because families are fleeing intolerable home conditions. Moreover, treating migrants thus will put skilled workers off the US. Finally, it polarises American politics further.
(88 words – whew!)