A bridge across the marsh

Text: an original contemporary speech-style practice extract.

A bridge across the marsh is often described as a way of joining two places. That sounds simple: one side, the other side, a line between them. But the marsh is not an empty gap waiting for a line. It is where rainwater gathers, where reeds bend and where the path changes after a storm. A bridge would connect the banks; it would also alter the place between them.

Some people ask whether we can afford to build it. I think we should also ask what we would lose by pretending that cost is the only question. A shorter walk might bring more visitors. More visitors might bring custom to the village. Yet how many feet can a wet path carry before it stops being a path for everyone?

We need not choose between keeping every inch untouched and laying boards across the whole marsh. We can listen to the people who cross it now, and learn from the ground before we draw a line over it. A bridge should meet the banks; the decision must meet the place.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to interest and engage the reader.

In your answer, consider:

• language features and techniques
• structural techniques
• the effect on the reader.

Support your views with detailed reference to the extract.