An essay or topic in English is an important part of writing. Writing an essay helps you expand your vocabulary and practice complex grammatical structures. Essay is one of the most important and difficult tasks in English proficiency exams. It is found both in the Unified State Exam and in international exams -, etc. Writing an essay in English is more difficult than a letter or email, therefore the requirements for essays are much higher. It must correspond to the narrative style chosen in advance, cover the topic in detail and be strictly structured, not to mention the fact that grammatical errors are unacceptable in the essay. Depending on the topic and purpose, compositions or essays in English can be of several types.

Types of essays

Descriptive

Primary goal: describe the main features of an object, process, phenomenon.

This type of essay allows for an emotional, expressive style that includes a large amount of detail. When writing such a text, forget about brevity and conciseness. Use your imagination to describe exactly what you want.

Analytical

Primary goal: analyze and critically evaluate the stated topic.

Among all types of essays, this one stands out due to its increased demands on the structure of the text and the logic of the narrative. In an analytical essay, it is important to strictly organize information and present it consistently. Linking words also play an important role here, allowing the reader to follow your train of thought.

Essay-reasoning

Main goal: to present arguments for and against a position.

The features of this essay include a large number of examples given and the disclosure of different ideas and views. To write such an essay, it is important to conduct thorough research on the chosen topic.

Persuasive

The main goal: to convince readers of your point of view.

This type of essay involves a correspondence discussion with readers. The author’s task here is to argue his position as convincingly as possible so that readers agree with it. To achieve this goal, it is possible to manipulate the emotions of readers, but the main tools should be logical structure and accurate facts.

Compare and Contrast

Main Objective: Discuss the main differences and similarities between the selected objects. In this topic, the author will have to sort different things or concepts into categories. This type of essay is useful when you need to analyze the differences between objects.

Causal

Main purpose: Explain how and why certain causes will lead to certain results.

This essay suggests two options for constructing the text: one result and several reasons that caused it; or one cause that led to several results. This type of essay is often used in topics about ecology and politics.

Essay structure

A standard essay in English consists of different types of information, which are located in special sections of the text. Even in a short topic, three such sections are required: introduction, basic information or “body” and conclusion.

Introduction

The introductory paragraph of the topic should contain the formulation of the thesis and in general terms make it clear to the reader what the essay will be about. The introduction should end with a word or phrase that takes the reader into the first paragraph of the next section of the essay.

Body

First paragraph

The first paragraph of the essay should contain the strongest argument, the most expressive example, or the most suitable illustration. The first sentence of this paragraph should continue the introduction. The main idea of ​​the paragraph should be contained there or in the second sentence.

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Second paragraph

The second paragraph should contain the second strongest argument or illustrative example. In terms of content, it continues the first paragraph, supplementing it with new information.

Third paragraph

The third paragraph uses the weakest argument or illustrative example. The main information of the essay is also supplemented here, but it is no longer as important as in the first two paragraphs of the main part. The last sentence of the third paragraph should refer the reader to the conclusion.

Example in English

Translation

In a similar way, we are all like Edison in our own way. Whenever we learn a new skill - be it riding a bike, driving a car, or cooking a cake - we learn from our mistakes. Few, if any, are ready to go from training wheels to a marathon in a single day but these early experiences (these so-called mistakes) can help us improve our performance over time. You cannot make a cake without breaking a few eggs and, likewise, we learn by doing and doing inevitably means making mistakes.

In a way, we are all like Edison in our own journey. Whenever we learn a new skill—whether it's riding a bike, driving a car, or baking a cake—we learn from our mistakes. Few, if any, can go from beginner to pro, but these experiences (called mistakes) can help us improve our performance over time. You can't make a pie without breaking a few eggs, and besides, we learn by doing, and every action involves making mistakes.

Conclusion

The final paragraph is the last in order, but by no means the last in importance. This is your last chance to convey your thoughts and position to the reader, so once again try to clearly and logically formulate the main message of the essay. Don't stretch out your concluding paragraph—three or four sentences will be enough.

Useful phrases for each part

Introduction

This topic discusses– This essay examines...
The definition of… will be given– The definition... will be given...
The topic focused on– This topic is focused on...
In this essay- In this essay.
The key aspect discussed– Key aspect of the discussion.
Views on … range from– Views on... range from...
The central theme- Central theme.
Emphasised are- It is emphasized that...

Body

For example- For example
As can be seen in- As you can see in...
An illustration of- In the illustration...
As demonstrated by– As demonstrated in...
Is observed– Under consideration
Another essential point– Another important aspect
Additionally- In addition
More importantly– What’s even more important
In the same way- In the same time

Conclusion

In summary- Generally.
In conclusion- Finally.
In brief- Briefly.
To summarize- Summarizing.
To sum up- Summarizing.
To conclude- Finally
Thus- Thus.
Hence- From here.
It has been shown that- It has been shown that...
In short- Briefly.

Linking words and introductory words for essays in the table

English word/phrase	Translation	Usage
In order to	in order to	Used to begin explaining the purpose of an essay or a specific argument.
In other words	in other words	Helps to express thoughts more clearly, simply, and understandably.
To put it another way	on the other side	Synonymous with "in other words".
What is to say	that is	Allows you to add more detail to your explanation.
Moreover	moreover
What's more	moreover	Allows you to provide more arguments to support the author's point of view.
Likewise	like this	Allows you to describe something that confirms that the author is right.
Another key thing to remember	one more thing to remember	A synonym for “as well,” which can be used to add additional detail to a description.
As well as	and	A semantic synonym for the conjunction “and”, which helps add new information.
Coupled with	along with	Used when considering two or more parameters simultaneously.
However	however	Used to start a phrase that contradicts the previous one.
On the other hand	on the other side	Used to show an opposite opinion to what has just been expressed, or to look at an issue from a different angle.
By contrast/in comparison	opposite/compared	Helps to consider the similarities and differences of compared objects.
Despite this	Despite this	Used to show an opinion that exists contrary to the previous statement.
Significantly	much	Used to indicate statements whose meaning may not be immediately clear.

Criteria for assessing essays in international exams in the table

International exams (using the example of IELTS) Unified State Exam

In this exam, the essay, which is part of the Writing section, is scored on four criteria.

Do you have an exam coming up soon? Then you are probably interested in learning how to write excellent essays in English. We will tell you about the types and correct structure of essays, and give tips that will teach you how to write such works in English quickly and competently.

What is an essay in English? This is a short essay with a specific structure in which you discuss a specific topic and express your point of view on a given topic.

Structure of an essay in English

How many words should there be in an English essay? Each exam has an optimal amount of written work. Typically, the assignment involves writing an essay ranging from 180 to 320 words in length, depending on the exam. If you are going to take an English test, we recommend that you clarify the required amount of written work in advance and practice writing text of the appropriate length.

The structure of the English essay is universal for all exams. The written work consists of the following parts:

1. Title - the name of the essay, reflecting the theme of the story.
2. Introduction - 2-4 short sentences revealing the topic of the essay.
3. The main part is 2-3 paragraphs describing the essence of the essay. In them you need to reveal the topic as fully and competently as possible, present arguments and argue for them.
4. Conclusion - 2-4 sentences summing up what was written. In this part, you make a general conclusion about the topic of the essay.

Each of the paragraphs in the body of the essay begins with an introductory sentence (Topic Sentence), this is the “introduction” to the paragraph. The following sentences develop and confirm the idea expressed in the Topic Sentence.

To learn how to write an essay strictly according to plan and clearly structure your thoughts, use the website theeasyessay.com or. On this resource you can create an outline for the perfect essay, following simple instructions. Practice writing papers according to this plan, and in the exam it will be easier for you to write a good argumentative essay.

Types of essays in English and their features

The type of English essay you need to write depends on the given topic and is sometimes specified in the assignment. According to an authoritative source - the book Successful Writing by Virginia Evans - it is customary to distinguish three main types of essays:

1. Pros and cons. For and against essays

The name speaks for itself: you present arguments for and against a phenomenon. The outline of the essay in English is as follows:

• Introduction. In it, you lead the reader to the topic of discussion.
• Main part. You give arguments for and against some action or phenomenon. At the same time, there is no need to express your point of view, adhere to neutrality.
• Conclusion. Only here you express your attitude to the topic and draw a conclusion.

An example of such an essay(all examples taken from the textbook Successful Writing by Virginia Evans, Intermediate level):

2. Opinion essay. Opinion essays

You express your thoughts on a given topic. It would seem that any composition is an expression of one’s own thoughts. What is the point of this type of essay? In Opinion Essays, you need to not only reflect your point of view, but also look at the proposed topic from different angles. Consider all aspects of the issue, write your opinion and be sure to support it with strong arguments.

Plan for an opinion essay in English:

• Introduction. You indicate the topic of discussion.
• Main part. You express your opinion and confidently justify it. Here it is advisable to consider an opinion opposite to yours and explain to the reader why you do not share this point of view.
• Conclusion. You summarize, finally formulating your point of view on the proposed topic.

An example of such an essay:

3. Proposing a solution to the problem. Suggesting solutions to problem essays

In this type of written work, you will be asked to consider a global issue or issues. Your task is to offer solutions.

The plan for this type of essay is as follows:

• Introduction. You state the problem and its causes or consequences.
• Main part. You suggest ways to solve problems and the possible consequences of such actions. Be clear about why certain measures should be taken and what they will entail.
• Conclusion. Summarize your reasoning.

An example of such an essay:

Rules for writing an excellent English essay

Before writing an essay in English, familiarize yourself with some rules for writing it. These simple guidelines will help you successfully complete your written work.

1. Stick to the Essay Structure

Once you have received the assignment, determine the type of essay and the plan according to which you will write it. After that, go straight through the points: title - introduction - a few body paragraphs - conclusion. Be sure to follow this strict essay structure, otherwise your work will not be highly appreciated.

2. Use a draft

Since there is little time allocated for writing an essay in English, the draft must be used wisely. If time is short, we advise you to immediately write down your thoughts and arguments in the form of short abstracts after receiving the assignment and becoming familiar with the topic. This will allow you not to forget important thoughts while writing the final draft.

3. Prepare for any topic

An English essay shows not only your level of language knowledge, but also your erudition. Therefore, before preparing for the exam, read texts on different topics. This will help you broaden your horizons and remember new words, phrases and clichés that you can use in your written work in the exam.

4. Leave time for review.

Allocate your time so that at the end of the exam you have at least 5 minutes left to check your essay. As a rule, the grade is not reduced for accurate corrections, so this is a real chance to “save” your work by correcting detected errors.

5. Find the right style

6. Be concise

An English essay is a short written piece of work. Some students think that the “more is better” principle works and write huge opuses. Alas, the examiners will not only not increase, but will also lower your grade for not meeting the required scope.

7. Give reasons for your reasons

Every written thought should not sound unfounded. Support it with arguments, a clear example, statistics, etc. Your written work should show the evaluator that you know what you are writing about and are confident that you are right.

8. Use linking words

Introductory words for an essay are important links that connect sentences together, forming a logical chain of your thoughts. They will help to combine sentences or show contrast, indicate a sequence of actions, etc. We recommend studying such useful structures in the article “ Linking words in English".

9. Use varied vocabulary and grammar

Avoid repetition of words, use synonyms and complex grammatical structures - show the examiner that you speak English at a high level. Instead of the boring good, use, depending on the context, remarkable, gorgeous, fascinating. Use complex structures and different tenses to express your thoughts. A text in which all sentences are written in Present Simple will receive a low grade.

10. Express your thoughts correctly

An essay is a written expression of your thoughts on a specific topic. And here it is important not to forget about basic delicacy. If possible, avoid touching on politics, religion and other “slippery” topics. If the task involves the consideration of some “painful” topic, express your point of view tolerantly and politely. In this case, it is better to adhere to a formal tone and avoid violent manifestations of emotions.

11. Write softly

Although you should write your thoughts on this issue, try not to often use structures of the following type: “I am sure that...”, “I know that...”, etc. Write softer, for example , “It seems to me...”, “In my opinion...” - this will sound more formal and correct in relation to the opinions of other people.

For those who want to learn how to write better, we recommend watching the following video:

Now you know how to write excellent essays in English. In order for this theoretical knowledge to bring you practical benefit in the form of a high grade in the exam, actively use it. Practice writing essays on different topics - this will be the best preparation for the exam.

And if you need to quickly and efficiently prepare for an English exam and get a high grade in it, we suggest enrolling in English at our school.

The ability to write an essay requires a fairly high level of knowledge of the language. And few people master this art. We will give you some very useful tips on writing an essay or composition in English, which will come in handy more than once in your life.

Preparation

It's difficult, but start early. The sooner you start thinking about your essay topic, the more time you will have to collect material. When your brain is set to think about a question, the information seems to come to your attention.

The same thing happens when you learn a new word: it begins to seem that it appears in the text more often. The point is that you become more receptive to a certain type of information by paying more attention to it.

The best place to start is to sketch out what you know about the essay topic: you may know even more than you thought.

This will give you ideas on what direction to go next. To be intentional, make a plan and formulate a preliminary set of questions. When you start studying the material, you will have new, more specific questions, and you will be able to look for answers to them.

How to overcome the “fear of the blank page”

Even the most experienced writer at the beginning of work on a new work is sometimes overcome by feelings of indecision and fear. But, as they say, the main thing is not desire or ability: just start writing. It doesn't matter where you start: the main thing is not to stop writing and don't worry about style and spelling for the time being.

Make preliminary sketches of the main ideas of the story and after that proceed to designing the structure of your future creation.

If you write on a computer, it will not be difficult for you to swap fragments of what you have written, grouping them differently. If you prefer paper and pen, leave a line or two between bullet points so you can add more later.

You can even take scissors and cut the sheet into strips to make this process easier. Try to organize your future essay in order of developing the main idea. If as a result you get the “golden three”: beginning (introduction), middle (the main part of the essay) and ending (conclusion), then you did everything right.

The introduction should contain some commentary on the topic of the essay—perhaps defining key concepts or explaining how you understand the question. This section should also list which aspects of the topic you will be covering and why.

Remember that an essay is not a novel, so you need to choose only a few main arguments that develop the topic. The introduction should give a clear idea of ​​what will be discussed next, and the teacher should see that you are answering a specific set of questions.

So, a good introduction should:

• demonstrate your intention to answer the question asked;
• show that you understand the topic;
• outline the structure of your answer and the main aspects you will consider (your plan);
• acknowledge that you have done some research and cite one of your sources;
• fully correspond to the topic;
• be concise and occupy about 8-9% of the total text (for example, 120 words in a 1500 word essay).

Note: For those who find it easier to navigate not by the number of words, but by the number of characters, the following formula will be useful: one English word on average is taken as 6 characters (including spaces), that is, an essay of 500 words approximately contains 3000 characters with spaces.

Begin your essay with a key phrase that will indicate the direction of your answer. For example:

• This essay deals with... ( « This essay is dedicated... » )
• This assignment will examine... ( « This work examines... » )
• This report will analyze... ( « This report analyzes... » )

Use the same or similar wording as the essay topic. If the question sounds like “Discuss recent developments in communication technology,” then in the introduction you can write: “This essay will consider recent developments in the field of communication technology...” (“In this The essay will examine modern developments in the field of communication technology..."). Be more specific: don't leave the reader any room for doubt.

You can also use these words and expressions to highlight your work plan, for example:

• The essay is divided into four sections... (“This essay consists of four parts...”)
• It will first consider...
• It will then continue to describe... (“After which we will continue to describe...”)
• The third part compares... (“The third part provides a comparison...")
• Finally, some conclusions will be drawn as to... (“And finally, some conclusions will be drawn regarding...”)

Main part

The body should explain each of the arguments using examples and illustrations. Information must be clearly divided logically (to do this, the text is divided into paragraphs). You need to think about the structure of the essay and make sure that the main body leads logically to the conclusion.

Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize the ideas expressed. Here it is necessary to answer the question formulated in the essay topic. Or, depending on the topic, indicate the prospects or consequences of the problem being considered.

This section is also where you can formulate related topics that are worthy of further thought and express personal views - if they are supported by the arguments you made earlier.

A good conclusion is:

• not just a summary. The conclusion should be a thoughtful conclusion to the work, for example, an application of what was written to a real situation.
• quintessence, that is, a short list of main ideas. It is worth turning to the introduction and drawing parallels using the same keywords or images, but using different wording. Don't repeat yourself word for word.
• reinforcing the ideas of the main part of the work. Different types of essays require different conclusions. In a short paper there is no need to repeat the main ideas in detail, but in a longer paper this may be necessary.
• perhaps a thought-provoking question, a striking, striking image, a quote, if appropriate.
• as an option - a forecast of results or consequences, a possible solution, a call to action.

However, there are points that should be avoided in the conclusion of an essay:

• come up with completely new ideas. If they are truly important, include them in the body.
• use an apologetic tone. Be confident in your statements. Avoid phrases like “I may not be an expert” or “At least this is my opinion.”
• focus on too insignificant details.
• refute the significance of previous arguments.

According to many teachers, the conclusion is the most important part of an essay. In it, you demonstrate that you have a good command of the material and have thoughtfully approached the consideration of the problem. Don't worry if the conclusion forces you to rewrite other parts of the text. This is actually a good sign!

As a general idea of ​​the length of each section, you can use the following formula (this is a guideline, not a hard and fast rule):

• Introduction - 7-8% of the essay volume
• Conclusion - 12-15% of the essay volume

Do not overuse complex words and expressions, but avoid slang and abbreviations. In general, try to write in short, simple sentences, breaking them up with longer sentences from time to time. The goal is to present the essence clearly and clearly, so that the reader can easily follow the train of thought and not be distracted by extraneous reasoning (also read about styles in English).

There is no need to say that there should be no grammatical or spelling errors in the essay - make every effort to do so. In addition, you need to remember that you are not writing for yourself, but for another person, so punctuation, division into sentences and paragraphs, general structure - all this should help the reader.

Avoid elements of colloquial speech:

• do not use abbreviations (don't, they're, it's), always use the full form;
• do not use slang and colloquial expressions (kid, a lot of/lots of, cool);
• write to the point and do not deviate from the topic;
• try to avoid phrasal verbs (get off, get away with, put in - more about phrasal verbs), use one-word synonyms;
• avoid too general words (all, any, every), express yourself specifically and precisely;
• Do not overuse parentheses or exclamation marks.

Stick to an academic style:

• If possible, avoid first-person personal pronouns (I, my, we, our);
• avoid too categorical judgments and generalizations;
• support what is said with quotes and data indicating sources;
• In English, gender equality is important: when talking about an abstract person, use person instead of man. If possible, it is better to put the subject in the plural and use the pronoun they instead of he or she;
• If possible, use the active voice, do not complicate the sentences. For example, instead of “Crime was increasing rapidly and the police were becoming concerned,” write: “The rapid increase in crime was causing concern among the police.” police").

Strive to give objectivity to the text:

• use impersonal constructions: It is believed that... ("They believe that..."), It cannot be discussed that... ("Undoubtedly,...");
• use the passive voice if you do not want to specify the performer of the action: Tests have been conducted (“Tests were carried out...”);
• use non-categorical verbs, for example: suggest (offer, assume, express an opinion), claim (affirm, declare), suppose (consider, believe, assume);
• to show your attitude to the issue, but avoid personal judgments, you can use adverbs: apparently (obviously), arguably (probably), ideally (ideal), strangely (strange), unexpectedly (unexpectedly);
• use modal verbs would, could, may, might to soften categoricalness;
• to avoid generalizations, use qualifying adverbs: some (some), several (several), a minority of (smaller part), a few (several), many (many).

Paragraphs

Each paragraph usually touches on one aspect of the main idea. Two paragraphs may cover different aspects, but be interconnected - for example, cause and effect, positive and negative aspects, state of affairs before or after.

Sometimes the first sentence of a paragraph is introductory, that is, it explains what will be discussed.

Connectivity

The logical transition from one paragraph to another sometimes causes serious difficulties for the author. To maintain the coherence of the text, it is necessary to guide the reader and give him signals. Introductory and connecting words that perform various functions can help with this. For example:

• opposition: but, however, on the other hand, yet;
• example: for example, that is;
• addition: likewise, moreover, furthermore, in addition;
• conclusion: therefore, consequently, as a result, thus;
• listing: then, after that, ultimately.

Quotes and links

When you quote a book or other written source, or convey information in your own words, you must include the author's name and date of publication. You can do this as follows:

• According to Smith (1998), writing a good essay is difficult at times, but definitely not impossible. (“According to Smith (1998), writing a good essay is sometimes difficult, but certainly not impossible.")

• Writing a good essay is difficult at times, but definitely not impossible (Smith 1998). (“Writing a good essay can sometimes be difficult, but it is certainly possible (Smith 1998).”)

Review and Editing

“Life hack”: You can dictate an essay yourself into a recording device and listen to it. Often this is how it is possible to detect inconsistencies in grammatical structures or inconsistencies in the logical flow of things.

Be sure to use spell check in a word processor, but don't forget to proofread the text yourself.

For example, Word sometimes misses some rather curious errors that can greatly spoil the impression of your written work. If you are not sure about something, look in the dictionary.

And one more useful trick: before finishing work, put it aside for a couple of hours (even better - for a day), so that you can return to it with a fresh look. This is another reason why you need to start writing your essay early, with enough time to spare.

Hello my beloved readers.

If you are confident that you write excellent essays, forget about it!

Okay, it's kind of rough. But in reality this turns out to be true. All of us - Russian-speaking people - write excellent essays in Russian, but when it comes to essays in English for the Unified State Exam, then we start having problems (to put it mildly). The whole point is that we do not follow their rules and structure, but we should...

Therefore, today we will learn how to write an essay correctly, what requirements to comply with, and I will also give you ready-made essays so that you can clearly see how they should look. For high-quality preparation for the Unified State Exam, you need to use simulators , which bring you as close as possible to the exam situation. You can use a similar simulator here

. Practice and pass with 100 points!

What is an essay and its types Let's start with the main question. It is probably already obvious that an essay is a kind of composition on a specific topic. But it's not that simple. The first thing you need to clearly understand is the difference between the two types of essays. These include essays expressing personal opinion

, as well as essays with a “pros and cons” structure. And you should know the difference between them by heart.

Essay requirements

The main requirement for this task in 2017 is the volume of words. Alas, you are limited to 180-275 words. In addition, your essay must be grammatically correct, and the vocabulary, of course, must correspond to the language level. I do not recommend using words from the Elementary level when you are trying to pass the exam.

Style is also considered a very important element in assessing the quality of a written work. Yes, we are usually not very attentive to this aspect. With us, the “richer” and more “informal” the language you use, the better. But the British love a clear structure, so I not only do not advise you to do anything other than a formal writing style, but even forbid it!Plan

Plans for different types of essays are also different.

Pros and Cons Essay Outline

For a pro-con essay, the following structure is usually used:

• Introduction.

Start with a clear statement of the problem at hand, as well as a sentence that expresses ambivalence.

• Arguments for".

Decide on the arguments for it. Express them clearly and, most importantly, do not forget that they are still related to the problem.

• Arguments against".

Decide on the arguments against. You can even combine them with the previous paragraph. The main thing is that your thoughts are clearly defined and reasoned.

• Conclusion.

In conclusion, clearly and clearly summarize what has been said, but still repeat the controversial topic again, expressing some hope for its resolution.

What I usually recommend to my students is to outline your essay before you write it. The worst mistake is to write at random. Then you will find many mistakes, as well as complete confusion in your thoughts.

Personal opinion essay plan

If you need to express your opinion, then the structure of the text will be completely different:

• Introduction.

In this type of essay, the beginning is identical to the previous one: you just need to identify the question that interests you.

• Expressing your opinion.

Here you express your point of view and give several arguments why you think it is correct. Don't waste all your arguments on this part. One or two will still be useful to you in the future. Here you can give 2-3 arguments.

• Expressing an opinion opposite to yours.

Any point of view has arguments opposing it. So imagine them here. It is not advisable to write less than two.

• Your counterarguments.

And here you can use those couple of arguments that I advised you to save. In this case, 1-2 will be quite enough.

• Conclusion.

Words- assistants

The rules for writing an essay are an important stage, but it is equally important to use introductory structures and expressions that will show your level of language proficiency, as well as dilute the boring formal text with neutral phrases. Let's look at some examples with translation:

People say.../ It is thought... - They say...

Firstly… / Secondly… - Firstly/secondly…

To begin with... - Starting with...

In addition to… - In addition…

Besides... - Besides...

Despite… - Despite…

As a result... - As a result...

On the one hand... on the other hand... - On the one hand... / On the other hand...

The problem is/might be/seems to be… - The problem is/maybe/seems to be…

While... - While...

What is more... - Moreover...

Summing up... - Summing up...

In conclusion… - In conclusion…

Suggested Topics

Of course, I cannot say with certainty what essay topics will be this year, but from experience I can say that the topics are always of a general nature. The reason for this is that few people can write about banking, for example. But on general topics, any of us can write anything based on our own experience. Therefore, here are some suggested essay topics:

• Food - Food.
• Traveling - Travel.
• Fashion - Fashion.
• Love and friendship - Love and friendship.
• Money - Money.
• Environment - Environment.
• Family problem - Problems in the family.
• Work and career - Work and career.
• Leisure time activities - Things to do in your free time.

By the way, there is a wonderful guide that will help everyone learn to write essays perfectly! Just follow the rules and practice. The author gives here the maximum that a student can get when preparing for the written part of the exams.

Examples

Of course, I couldn’t leave you with nothing, and not even give you a template or example of how to complete this task. Read and analyze.

Have domestic appliances improved the quality of our lives?

Nowadays, many people have a great variety of devices at home that are thought to make our life easier. However, they also have some disadvantages. (Remember that you need to start with a clear definition of the problem)

On the one hand(don't forget to use introductory words ) , they definitely reduced the amount of time we spend on doing household chores. Cleaning, for example, has become much easier due to the invention of vacuum cleaner. What is more, washing clothes does not seem to be a big problem anymore. Women do it far more quickly than they used to. In addition, the process of cooking for a big family has become much easier. You can have a microwave as long as multi-cooker to prepare food in an hour insteadofspending the whole evening in the kitchen. (In this type of essay, it is important to have a clear structure: write only about the advantages right away, and then only move on to the disadvantages. Or vice versa. But never mix).

However, even though all this equipment was made to save our time, it also encourages people to work more, or spend their free time in front of television or computer. And that does not necessarily make people happier. They become lazier and in case something happens- they will no longer be able to survive without all these appliances.

Summing up, it must be said that although technology has made the life easier it should not define thequality of our lives. (Don't forget to make a conclusion at the end, but by doing so, emphasize your point).

The structure of the essay, as I already said, differs depending on the type. Therefore, I will give you an example with various clichés of the second type.

Is it better to go on holiday with family or friends?

It is usually thought that going on holidays with friends is much better than spending free time with your family. I completely disagree with it. ( Similar to the previous comment - don't forget to identify the problem and mention it).

First of all, it is much more economical as parents usually pay for their children so you do not have to spend much of your money. Secondly, it may seem that going on holidays with your parents may be boring, but the reality shows that you can have as much fun with your relatives as you could have with your friends. (We express 2-3 arguments in support of your opinion).

There is also an opinion, that spending time with your friend or without your parents makes you more responsible and confident. It is thought that you learn to live on your own. (Don't forget that it is also necessary to indicate someone else's opinion opposite to yours).

I cannot agree with this point of view as the adolescence is the process that cannot be fulfilled during your holidays. And sharing time with you family, on the other hand, strengthens your relationship and encourages you to develop core human values. (Contrast the new arguments with the counterarguments that you received).

So whether there is a question who to spend your vacation with, make sure that it will be spent with those who love you most- your family. (And, in the end, remember to make the right point when asserting your opinion).

Common mistakes

Of course, there are no mistakes. But there are mistakes that are typical for almost 50% of students taking the exam. Therefore, I want to highlight those that will be embarrassing:

• Forget about structure. Use informal words, phrasal verbs, or simply inappropriate vocabulary in style and format.
• Write abbreviations don’t, haven’t, etc.
• Do not use introductory structures.
• Write less or more than the prescribed word limit.
• Do not reveal the topic of the essay or “go away” from it, hoping that you will be appreciated for writing at least something.
• Stupid grammar mistakes. Better check and correct it 10 times.

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Well, my dears, I am sure that your essay is no worse, and maybe even better. I hope that after today’s lesson, writing will become much easier for you, and the word “essay” will move from the category of “oh, what a horror” to the category of “well, that’s wonderful.”))

And in order to improve not only your writing skills, but also everything else that you will need when passing the frightening three-letter appearance, subscribe to my blog’s mailing list. There I regularly share useful materials, tips and tricks based on personal experience.

In the meantime, I say goodbye to you.

Until next time.

P.S. If you are interested in learning about my experience passing entrance exams and just reading my thoughts on this topic, then go ahead to my article “”

Format and rules for writing an essay “expressing opinion”

The essay “expressing opinion” is written in a formal (business) style.
In this type of essay, you need to express your point of view on a given topic, as well as bring other people’s points of view opposite to yours and explain why you disagree with them. Your opinion should be clearly stated and supported by examples or evidence.
The volume of the essay is 200-250 words (minimum 180 words, maximum 275)
The essay should actively use constructions such as “In my opinion”, “I think”, “I believe”
It is necessary to use introductory words and constructions like “On the one hand, on the other hand”..., linking words (Nevertheless, Moreover, Despite...)
It is prohibited to use abbreviations such as “I’m”, “they’re”, “don’t”, “can’t” (otherwise the score for organizing the essay will be reduced)
The “expressing opinion” essay has a strict structure, changing which when writing the essay will lead to a decrease in score. The essay “expressing opinion” consists of 4 paragraphs:

1) Introduction(introduction)

In the introduction, you must clearly formulate the topic-problem, indicating that there are two opposing points of view on the problem (Some people claim that mobile phones are very useful devices while others argue that life could be less stressful without them.) and express your opinion without using too many personal constructs
However, the first sentence should not repeat the given topic of the essay word for word. Recommended ending of the first paragraph: Now I would like to express my point of view on the problem of …

2) Main part

1 paragraph. Give 2-3 arguments supporting your point of view, supporting them with examples or evidence.
In the second paragraph you should adhere to only ONE point of view, for example: Mobile phones in my opinion are very useful devices. OR I consider the mobile phone to be a harmful and useless invention.
You must provide 2-3 arguments with evidence to support your opinion

2 paragraph. Give opposing points of view (1-2), and explain why you DO NOT agree with them. Example: However, some people think that mobile phones not only keep you in touch with your relatives and friends but also provide you with a great number of facilities. I can’t agree with this statement because…
Your counterarguments to the opinions of other people should not repeat the 2nd paragraph.

3) Conclusion

It is necessary to conclude, referring to the topic given in the 1st paragraph, that there are 2 points of view on the problem, and also confirm your own point of view.
For example: “There are different points of view on this problem. I think that...” or “Taking everything into consideration, there are two different points of view on this problem. I believe that…

Useful vocabulary for composition"expressing opinion"

1 paragraph Introductory phrases

• It is popularly believed that….
• People often claim that... Some people argue that...
• A lot of people think that…
• It is often suggested/believed that…
• Many people are in favor of the idea that... Many people are convinced that...
• Some people are against…

2 paragraph. Phrases expressing your point of view:

• I would like to explain my point of view on this situation.
• I would like to express my opinion on this problem.

Phrases characterizing the advantages of the problem under discussion:

• As already stated I’m in favor of… for a number of reasons…
• There are many things to be said in favor of…
• The best/ thing about……. is...

Phrases listing points of view:

• Firstly, /First of all….
• In the first place
• To start with, / To begin with,
• Secondly, Thirdly, Finally,
• Last but not least,

Phrases that add new arguments:

• Furthermore, /Moreover, /What is more,
• As well as…. /In addition to this/that…
• Besides, /…….also….
• Not only…., but…… as well.
• Apart from this/that….
• not to mention the fact that

3 paragraph.

• Some people believe that… however they fail to understand that…
• they fail to consider that… they forget that…
• Some people argue that…. I can't agree with it as...
• I disagree with this point of view (statement, opinion) because …
• It has become fashionable for some people to argue that…
• Contrary to what most people believe, I think that…
• As opposed to the above ideas…I believe that…

4 paragraph. Closing phrases:

• In conclusion,
• On the whole,
• To conclude
• To sum up
• All in all,
• All things considered
• Finally,
• Lastly
• Taking everything into account,
• Taking everything into consideration

Expression of personal opinion:

• In my opinion this subject is very controversial
• In my view…
• To my mind...
• To my way of thinking…
• Personally I believe that…
• I feel strongly that...
• It seems to me that...
• As far as I am concerned…

Criteria for assessing the completion of tasks C2

	Solving a communication problem (CONTENTS)	ORGANIZATION OF THE TEXTS		Grammar	Spelling and punctuation
	The task is completed in full: the content reflects all aspects specified in the task; the style of speech is chosen correctly, taking into account the purpose of the statement and the addressee; The norms of politeness accepted in the language are observed.	The statement is logical: the means of logical connection are chosen correctly; the text is divided into paragraphs; the format of the statement is chosen correctly	The vocabulary used is appropriate to the task at hand; There are practically no violations in the use of vocabulary. (1-2 errors)	Grammatical structures are used in accordance with the task at hand. Virtually no errors. (1-2 errors)
	The task is completed: some aspects specified in the task are not fully disclosed; there are individual violations of the stylistic design of speech; the norms of politeness accepted in the language are generally observed	The statement is basically logical; there are some disadvantages when using logical communication means; there are some disadvantages when dividing the text into paragraphs; there are some violations of the format of the statement	The vocabulary used corresponds to the task, however, there are some inaccuracies in the use of words or the vocabulary is limited. But the vocabulary is used correctly (3-7 errors)	There are a number of grammatical errors that do not impede understanding of the text (3-7 errors)	There are practically no spelling errors. The text is divided into sentences with correct punctuation (1-2 errors)
	The task has not been completed completely: the content does not reflect all aspects specified in the task; violations of style are common; generally the norms of politeness accepted in the language are not observed	The statement is not always logical: there are shortcomings or errors in the use of means of logical communication, their choice is limited; division of text into paragraphs is illogical or absent; there are numerous errors in the format of the statement	An unreasonably limited vocabulary was used; There are frequent violations in the use of vocabulary, some of which may make it difficult to understand the text	Either elementary-level errors are common, or errors are few in number but make it difficult to understand the text. (8-12 errors)	There are a number of spelling or punctuation errors that make the text significantly more difficult to understand (3-10 errors)
	The task was not completed: the content does not reflect the aspects specified in the task or does not correspond to the required volume (200-250 words) Note: the minimum number of words is 180, the maximum is 275. If the essay has 179 words - “0” for content, if there are more than 276 words, then only 250 words from the beginning are checked.	There is no logic in the construction of the statement; the format of the statement is not respected	Extremely limited vocabulary does not allow you to complete the task (cannot be placed if there is no “0” for content)	Grammar rules are not followed (more than 12 errors)	Spelling and punctuation rules are not followed More than 10 errors

Essay sample

Many cities in Europe do everything to promote bicycles as an ecologically clean type of transportation; however the governor of St. Petersburg signed a decree according to which bicycles will not be allowed in the city centre.

Do you agree that bicycles should be banned in the center of St. Petersburg?

Write 200-250 words

Use the following plan:

1. Introduction. (State the problem)

2. Express your opinion and give reasons for it.

3. Give other people's arguments and explain why they are wrong.

4. Make a conclusion

In European cities people ride bicycles a lot because they are aware that bikes help to save fuel and reduce pollution in cities. However, the governor of Saint-Petersburg decided to ban bicycles in the city center and I fully agree with it. I would like to explain my point of view on it.

In my opinion, the governor is absolutely right. In the first place, our roads are not adapted for biking as in Europe; they are too narrow and there are no separate lanes for bicycles. Moreover, bikes do not help the traffic situation but even sometimes make it worse as bicyclists often break traffic rules and cause accidents. In addition, the weather in St. Petersburg is not good for bicycle commuting. In winter roads are covered with ice, in autumn and in spring rains are frequent and roads are wet, so it is very difficult for cyclists to move.

On the other hand, some say that bikes are undoubtedly useful for our health, I can not agree with it completely as there are a lot of road accidents where cyclists are injured. Some people may argue that bikes are ecologically clean, but you can also put special purifying facilities on cars which are faster and more comfortable as transport.

To sum up, there are different points of view on this problem. I believe that bicycles should be banned in the city center where streets are not specially created for them. As I see it, a bike is a kind of transport for short trips in the countryside.

Unified State Exam in English. Letter. Task C2. Video tutorial.