IB English HL Essay on a set of articles from the Guardian
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Course
IB English Language and Literature HL
Institution
Sixth Year / 12th Grade
This is an IB English HL essay that answers the question of "How is the topic of migrant workers in Qatar represented as a theme of a Global Issue in the Guardian?". It scored full marks in the 2021 IB session.
How is the topic of migrant workers in Qatar represented as a theme of a Global Issue in
the Guardian?
Word Count: 1500
With less than two years until the 2022 FIFA World Cup starts for millions of fans
around the Globe, Qatar is creating its very own competition for its cities’ workers—survival.
Since the beginning of the championship cites’ construction in 2009, migrant workers’ rights
have remained in the spotlight not only in the Gulf, but around the world. Working and
accommodating conditions are a threat to the workers and there is evidence of forced labour
and lack of freedom of movement.1
On the British and international arena, the Guardian has started a line of investigations on the
topic. As it has been holding a spot of left-centred, liberal newspaper since its establishment
in 1821, it utilizes its perspectives and tries to support the workers over businesses. Thus,
attracting similar audience – educated, international, and left-winged.2 Even though the
author does not state the purpose of the piece of writing, the fact that it is published in the
Guardian reveals a lot on its own. Therefore, the theme of the migrant workers in Qatar in the
collection of articles by the Guardian is discussed under the Global Issue of lack of decent
work and economic growth. Representation of events as a global issue can be seen through
articles’ message, purpose, and targeted international audience, which is inspired by the
liberal nature of the newspaper.
Awareness of the writer’s purpose helps follow where the article is leading. In the
collection of works by Pete Pattisson, the portrayed image of mistreatment is represented by
1
Pattison, Pete. “Revealed: 6,500 Migrant Workers Have Died in Qatar since World Cup Awarded,” February
23, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/23/revealed-migrant-worker-deaths-qatar-
fifa-world-cup-2022.
2
The Guardian,” March 10, 2021. https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-guardian/.
, the dual purpose of the articles: firstly, to inform readers about the mistreatment of migrant
workers, and secondly to encourage action towards stopping it. It is supported by the use of
emotional appeal, logos, and command terms.
The heavy use of logos introduces one of the main challenges highlighted by authors and the
data office—overheating:
“temperature of up to 45C for up to 10 hours a day as Qatar’s construction boom hit its peak
ahead of the Fifa World Cup 2022.”
The article from October 2019 presents evidence of the heat-related stress that workers face
daily through the use of charts, such as the one below.3
The information and concerns are reinforced by appealing to authority. In the same article,
medical personnel stated that “Working in high temperatures puts a huge strain on the
human cardiovascular system…leading to fatal attacks”.4
“Don’t read me the news, tell me the story” Is the motto that drives authors to use touching
3
Pattison, Pete. “Revealed: Hundreds of Migrant Workers Dying of Heat Stress in Qatar Each Year.” The
Guardian. Guardian News and Media, October 2, 2019.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/oct/02/revealed-hundreds-of-migrant-workers-dying-
of-heat-stress-in-qatar-each-year.
4
Pattison, Pete. “Revealed: Hundreds of Migrant Workers Dying of Heat Stress in Qatar Each Year.” The
Guardian. Guardian News and Media, October 2, 2019.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/oct/02/revealed-hundreds-of-migrant-workers-dying-
of-heat-stress-in-qatar-each-year.
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