ESSAY

WRITING
L. I{aruatizte
EssaY
Narrative essays may describe real or fictional events and can be rendered in the
first person
(I
/
'we)
ot itt th" third person
(he/she/1h"y). It must be exciting,
strange or fuotty in order to stir the interest of the reader and be successful.
Both
f"girfrit"rgr and ends are important parts as the former stimulate the interest of the
reader and the latter satisfy i'ris curiosity and expectations. Keep in mind that a bor-
ing or even too predictable ending can spoil a good story'
In narratives we use a wide range of pist tenses as well as both direct and report-
ed speech. Descriptiors of people and places can also be included in narrative essays.
STRUCTURE
Introduction:
. paraqraph 1 -
You set the scene
(describe the time, place weather, atmos-
-
irnu.E,
people involved, possible feelings)
Body:
.
paragraph
2 - before the main events >incidents leading to the main,event
.
iru.u[ruirn
3 - the main event
(s): describe the events, the people involved in,
give details
Conclusion:
.
firrul paragraph - end the story referring t9 the resolution of the conflict,
moodi, consequences,
people's reactions, feelings etc'
LINK WORDS
o
to show time: when, then, after, before, during, meanwhile, as soon as, nou) that, the
moment that, as, no'sooner...
thor-, hardly... when, immediately, since, while, until,
by the time, as long as
.
to order or list e'ients /points:
firstly, first
of aII, in the
first
place, to start with, to
begin with, secondly, thirdly,
finally
.
t;d more points, what ii more, moreoaer,
furthermore,
apart
from
this, in addition
to this, besides, not only... but also
.
to conclud e:
finally,
all in ati, on the whole, taking eaerything into account, all things
considered,
to sum uP, in conclusion
EXAMPLES
OF NARRATIVE
ESSAYS
Example
L.
Narrate
a scaring
event:
'A Dreadful
Experience'
'
. ., .,'
:
Essav bv SAnziana
Finicd,
graduate'student
of
'Mihai Viteazul'
National
College,
int-ensive
English
class'
(Introduction)
Mr. soames
woke up with a start and was surprised
to find the gailery
so
quiet and almost
Jark.'just
in front of him, on the wall, there was a forgotten
painting
uy ,o*"
orJ',Muster.
As he looked at it, he suddenly
remembered
where he was. rt dreadful
realisation
came over him all at once:
he had been
locked
uP in the museum!
tuoutit
,n that realisation
it also came
into his mind the purpose
of his being-there:
t henewspaperhadsent hi mt oi nvest i gat easeri esof i nci dent st hat hadbeen
disturbing
th" p";";f
the town
for sJme
time. He was standing
now in the
middle
of the .oltia-
trying
to figure out where the mysterious
perpekator
could
have been-hiilg
T'he
iaintinlg
in front of him reprejented
an old warlock
that was g.i*irfl""iiirt
ry rt"* t"enina his crystai
glole.
Mr. soames'
atten-
tion was drawn
to the painting
that aPPealed
to comeio
life, steP by step.,
whiie
a strange
*1tirpl,i"g'sot"td
i""o'^a"a
the room;
'Thy' thy' deus' baladeus'
bring
me to life''
Mr.SoameswasVeryaf' rai d,hehadbeenofthedarkandthesupernatural al l
hi sl i f e, but bei ngarePort erwa. : l l swayof deal i ng-. wi t ht hi sprobl em. Sohe
pressed
the
,recoiding,'button
of his tape'recorder
as the-incantation
grew
loud-
er. Come,
Master of ba*n,
free me from my prison'
d1u1'!alad:":-}::I"t
of the painting
,iui
"a
to glow-as
mist was covering
it. Cold sweat
was runnlng
down Mr. Soames,
spine
and his pulse starting
rislng..He
screamed:
'No!',
just
as he felt u r,u"iio,iJi.rg
his shoulder,
he bJgan to fignt it, and"
{1k1e9s'
Soon after,
"
b;J oi *u!"t
woke him up, dotin to Eart"h' in the middle of the
main
hall of the museum
There
was a grouP
of tourists
staring
at him'
(Conclusion)
I t wasnowmor ni ngandMr ' soameshadsl ept t hr oug- Lt h: ni Sh1- l l | +e
gladly
left the ,r,*"rr1rtl
when
he reached the newspaper
office
he saw
that
t hebat t er i esof hi st aper ecor der wer el ow; hechu' . gedt hemandpl ayedt he
tape.
There
*u, ,rottiir.rg
but a continuous
'whoosi'. In the end,
just as he
hadgi venuphope, Mr . Soamescoul dhear af adi ngbackgr ound. . . , deus,
bal adeus' . . .
ExamPle
2.
Narrate
about a heroic
deed:
'A Heroic Act''
Essay by Diana
Jdranu'
12th F Intensive
English class
(Introduction)
The cool of the August morning gave way to unbearable heat as the sun rose
higher and began to beat down relentlessly. David and his older brother, Steven,
headed to the kitchen to ask their mother if they could go play by the riverside.
she let them. go, but not before making them promisJttrey
wouldn,t go any-
where near the water. Even if the river didn't seem wild at ihe surfa.", ih" bot-
tom was stirred by strong currents, which had claimed the lives of many over
the years.
(Body)
The boys,had hardly reached the soothing shadow of the trees along the
river when Steven took off his clothes and headed for the river. He had"just
turned 11, but he seemed older and was stronger than the other children his age.
David tried to stop him from going in deeper than up to his knees, but his broih-
er ignored him. Not even being reminded by the promise he had made could
stop Steven from distancing himself from shore. But j:rst
iE he was calling out
for his brother to join him, a powerful current swept his feet and began Jut y-
ing him downstream.
No matter how hard he tried, he just
couldn't regain his balance and main-
tain himself afloat, so his head would come out of the water and then disappear
again for a matter of seconds. David was now running along the shore, desper-
ately calling for help. No one seemed to hear, until a tall, well-built man sud-
denly.appeared and without a second thought plunged into the fast-moving
river. After a few moment! of-desperate struggle wltn ine unbelievable strengtf,
of the current he managed to bring steven to iurface and then to shore.
The man laid the boy's body on the soft grass and turned him on his side.
This made Steven cough and spit out all the water he had swallowed. As he
slowly
lugutl
recovering from the shock of being so close to drowning, hE
brother found out that the man who had saved his Steven's life was just
strSlling
along the riverside when he heard the cries for help. He was almoit fiftv. but i-t
had been only a few months since he hacl retired from the
police
and he hadn,t
lost his strength and physical shape.
(Conclusion)
As soon as he came back to his senses, Steven thanked the man and the three
of them made their way back to the boys' home. After the incident, Steven
never found the courage to bathe in the river again although he became a very
good swimmer.
Example 3.
Imagine a fantastic story: 'Late night's story'.
Essay by Alexandra B6leanu, l-1th grade intensive English class
(Introducti on)
It was a fine, calm winter nighl, though very cold. while I was enjoying the
smell of burning woods drifting from the chimney, the moon, pale is a ci"oud,
was.sending
uP a blue smoke over the empty streets of our city. Although I tried
hard to fight the tiredness, my eyes slowly closed as I was ruidi.,g a n6vel, but
I was not asleep for a long time.
10
(Body)
When I woke up, apparently
not after a long sle-ep' everything
3ro.11d
,""*ua
prt u tittffii different.
At first I was intrigued as I could not find the
end of the blanket.
I knew it must have been becauie of my feeblemindedness,
f"l fn" piece of fabric covering
me didn't look like the blanket I used to put
over. It looked more like a paiiof trousers...
my trous-ers!
I didn't have much
time to understanJwhat
was happening
because t
g-uide4y fgTd rnyself slip-
pi ng
through
a never-endi ng
channel .
when I fi nal l y reached the tl oor, wnl cn
";;r%;;;;lt *ur*, rt"uhz#
t had been travelling through my own pants' And
this was
just the beginning
of my adventure!
No sJor. e.
di Ji i and"on
t he col d parquet , I st art ed t o f eel col d' And t he
.orlffi-"
t t*d ieft some moments
Uifote was too high for me to climb back
io-'fuiy problem
^o*
*u, that the clothes I used to wear before had become
ioo ru".g", so I had to find something
else to put on. But what could fit a 5 cen-
timetres tall creature?
Maybe a hanikerchiei
grasped with a safety pin would
;;k" lhe perfect outfit f-or me. Luckily for me, I came across my cousin's
dolls, which were lying on the .utp"t, b"uutifully dressed'
with great difficu-l-
ties I'manag"a
to
"'"Jr""r,
orr" of them, and put on-its pink blouse and purple
pants.
I felt"ridiculous
in these vivid colours, but there was not time for com-
;i;i;* i;;Ji;l*d
the way to talk to someone who could get me out of this
terrible situation.
I headed
fo, *y room, which seemed miles away' hgging someone
would
run into me. As soon as I arrived in the hallway,Iheard
the key turning nolsl-
ly and th" fror*-doorlrddenly
openecl
while a harsh, winter draught came from
outside
almost flo*i.rg
*". Th"t-t, my parents_ entered
the house, but they
seemed
too absorbed
Ui their cor,rretsuiiot
and did not notice me' Little things
are never important!
I couldn't
give up, so I followed them to the kitchen'
what
before seemed some stePs away,now^took
me a couple o{ minutes of sustained
effort to reach. when i finally arrived at the destination,
{Y
parents.
were
.rr,puckir,g
tt
"
rmffig.
I tried to talk to them, but the plastic bag's rustle was
louder than mY voice.
suddenly
i r"rt u great sadness
because nobody cared about me. I felt so
alone in tnis enormou"s
world. There was nobody to protect me from the dan-
g",s t was facirrg. Euch u'-'d single thing in my own house was now a threat.
I
lould easily get"stepped
on by-the cat, or thrown out by mistake' How can a
poor little .r"itor"
fui" u giant when he is so vulnerable? I had no more energy'
I leaned on a piece of furiiture,
but as I was barefoot and the floor was cold,
I
started shivering'
,tt"tt#*:l',
*ou"
"n,
a voice was ter]ing me:.,sweeti":.rlv
don,t you go to bed?
It,s late and look alyou,
you must be iold!' I was still drowsy,tut
when I saw
her, I started
to glanie ardund and I could not believe my eyes. It was *"
lqu.t"!
No more pink c"l'othes,
no more dangers'.no
more never-"iq1"q
l?:-:L:y:.:-:1"
kitchen.
But that little world definiteiy
exists in our minds' Haven't youever
felt
miserable compared
with the outstanding
beauty of a mountain or helpless
in
this enormous
world? The secret is to tiust yolr qualities
and strength
and
never gi ve uP'
11
Example 4.
Remember one of your birthday parties: 'The mysterious gift'.
Essay by Teodora Beleagd
(Introduction)
The morningafter,I woke up and there it was: shinning as if the suns rays
were reflecting themselves of the surface of a lake. It was the most precious gift
I've ever received and it was all minel It's still fresh in my mind the felling that
I had the other day when I got it.
(Body)
My family and I were preparing the celebration of my eighteenth birthday. I
was helping my mother in the kitchen while my father was out shopping for the
event that was about to take place that night. Out of the blue, mom rushed out
of the kitchen as if she suddenly remembered to check something eise. I fol-
lowed, only to find her secretly hiding something in the drawer. I was very
intrigued, thinking that was a present for me. However, when she tumed and
faced me she gave me that look as if everything was just in my mind.
The party began at 9 o'clock p.m. All was perfect! Everything from the music,
that everyone enjoyed even though the DJ was a bit young, to the balloons that
were in place, with the big jumbo balloon ready to gush out confetti and other
little balloons. After the cake, it was the time for opening presents. I was so
excited! I got everything a girl could ever dream of, but still there was no gift
from my parents which let me to believe that everything was just in my mind.
However, I couldn't be more wrong! My mother took me aside and told me a
short fascinating story about this gift I was about to receive on their behalf. I was
blown away! After the party, it was hard for me to'sleep that night, constantly
thinking about what a precious gift I have been given.
(Conclusion)
And now it's morning! I find myself looking at it, still mesmerized by both
its beauty and the story behind it. Something priceless, that has been passed
down from generation to generation, linking the past with the present and the
future, still looking as if it were brand new. It's the most beautiful ring that I've
ever seen!
2. Descriptizte Essay
STRUCTURE
Introduction:
.
paragraph 1- give general information about the person
/
place saying when,
where you saw them for the first time, reasons for the choice
Body:
.
paragraph 2-4: you describe the physical appearance, qualities,
hobbies/interest, character, behal'iour; you start a new paragraph for each
new topic. When you describe a place, you should mention what you can see
and do there, buildings details, historical facts etc.
12
Conclusion:
.
paragraph 5 - includes your comments/feelings about the person
/
place.
EXAMPLES OF DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
Example 1-.
Describe a place you visited or you would like to: 'A Spot of Heaven'.
Essay by Alexandra vlaicu, 12t1a E, intensive English class, 'Mihai viteazul'
National College
(Introduction)
This was IT. Her perfect place, where no one ever disturbed her peace, where
she could relax and have a good time ever since she discovered it years before
while she was still a child going on holidays at her grands'.
(Body)
The meadow was sprinkled with beautiful multi-coloured flowers whose
petals felt so soft and friendly against the skin. There was white, and red, and
yellow, in the trees and on the ground as well. The grass went halfway up to her
knees, gently stroking her feet as she walked. She could feel the welioming
scent in the air, the smell of flowers and trees and birds and fresh air combined-.
Further away there were trees full of fruit: apples, plums, cherries. She
always smelt the jam that was to be made of the round, luscious, ripe fruit in
front of her. The trees were old and strong - she could relax in their big wood-
en arms, where she she felt safe and loved.
(Conclusion)
And finally, the birds - beautifully coloured birds with light wings. Their
songs were sweet, enchanting, spell-like, and that was, undoubtedly the best
thing about that heavenly place that almost bewitched her and made her float
in the world of dreams.
Example 2. Narrative-descriptive essay
Describe a character of a book/story you have read: 'Deceiving Appearance'
(the portrait of the killer in'Tell-Thle Heart'by E.A. Poe).
Essay by Alexandra Ioan, 12th grade intensive English class
(Introduction)
Thick fog was covering the still town which looked almost frightening in the
dim light of the cold moon. It was getting really quiet, as if life had ceased to
visit the streets and houses of this place, as if it refused to submit to the deep,
cruel night that settled in.
(Body)
Suddenly, the ripple of a puddle broke the deaf silence. More confident, loud
steps followed and a tall man appeared in the shivering light of a tired street
lamp. He was holding a small suitcase in one hand and had a whitish piece of
paper in the other. Wearing a long, brown raincoat which matched the beige
suit, made his slender figure stand out. His face was covered in darkness, most-
ly because of the khaki hat on his head. He lifted his round chin looking around
13
and let his angelic face be caressed by the shy light. His short, straight, chestnut
hair outlined the round, clean shaven face, contrasting with his fairiompiexion.
A snubby nose unveiled a well-shaped mouth settled in a gentle smile. But
maybe his most dominant feature were his big, round eyes. Their strong hazel
colour made the depth of his stern look give you chills.
The young man crossed the street calmly, with no rush, looking carefully
around. He was a person built for details, you could see with how much intei-
est he measured everything he encountered. Paying attention, being in a con-
stant state of tension, he was secure and confident. His appearance betraved his
organized style, the order he was used to, maybe even tire obsession for it.
He knocked on one of the old wooden doors and an old man let him in. It
was obvious from their reactions and
gestures
they didn't know each other and
surprisin-gly enough, the old man allowed him to come in quickly. The mystery
surrounding the young man was dominant, making you wonder who he wai,
where he was coming from and most of all what was he planning to do while
living in this empty, dull town.
(Conclusion)
still, the whoie perfection he was showing was making you wonder if
maybe, justmaybe,
there was more about this person. His certiinty was intrigu-
ing especially since he was a stranger. Those eyes, that sharp, deep gaze could-
n't have been all pure and innocent, behind the hazel vale there waJsomething
more/ something that nobody could name precisely... was it possible that hii
appearance was meant only to hide something, to deceive?
Example 3.
_
Make the portrait of an imaginary character integrated in a story: 'The tod-
dler and her apprentice'.
Essay by Oana Andreescu, lltL grade intensive English class
(Introduction)
{n lhe
foggy, damp weather her small onix eyes were like two twinkling coals
in the hectic city street. I had only seen her for a second that I already knew that
those eyes were there to tell a story.
(Body)
She was a tiny creature of half a metre lost in the midst of the passing crowd.
11h9r dingy blue clothes she resembled a big unsteady bubble. Coming out of
the far too long sleeves, fingers with a desperate desire to clutch the air held on
to the unseen. Surprisingly enough, her eyes were not dim with tears but
enlightened by a somehow inexplicable ray of hope: she was hobbling on her
own towards the end of the grey alley. Her brown hair with tight curls framed
the joyful
expression of her face as she hobbled on the grey pavement. she was
2 years old and was now learning how to walk, ail on her own in the middle of
the street. She knew no helping hand nor relied on anyone's encouragements:
she was all aione and needed no support in tackling life's first tasks.
After a fen'seconds of staggering she, all of a sudden, coilapsed; some man
had given her a slight push. Already unsteady, she found herself lying on the
T4
pavement. Somewhere
in the crowd a husky voice could be heard:
"Up! Get
uD! ".
I
'
Orr." again the little girl rose on her 2 feet, in the middle of the city, agarn
ready to rnake other steps on the same
road'
(Conclusion)
I have never met her since. But the toddler passed on more than
just a sim-
ple story of bravery-her
attempts of rgalkin$
Siye
more.advic" t\1n any other
teacher. One shoul i al ways be i eady to stand agai nst the tempest al l on hi s own'
Life itself is harsh and most of the times there is no one there to hold your hand:
Lr.u .nutg" and lead your own way. And that is the knowledge i gained by
being aZi,ear old girl'i apprentice.
And, trust me, this is one of the most impor-
tantl essons you shoul d l earn i n order to survi ve'
Example 4.
Describe an event, celebration,
festival etc': 'Fireworks''
Essay by Oana Andreescu
(Introduction)
The colour bornb exploded.
Now the darkened skyline is overp-owered
by
*yriuat of flashing, differently
hued rays of light. It truly is a holiday in the
piich dark outskirts of the dormant city'
(Body)
"
The sky is invaded. It is all about the turmoil of firecrackers, the flabbergast-
ing mix of rackets, the deafenilg.luTlu
of the rockets. Light overcomes darkness
un? it is, once again,day. Day full of blasung colours: scarlet and bright orange/
ftooay red and"yellow iatch fire on the widely.spread prairies of the close astro-
logic rlniverr". 81.r" and red turn into a wild lily mauve that spreads its tenta-
cles over the twinkling stars. Everywhere some mind boggling crackers ignite
every second.
Just
for i couple of seconds. Then they fade and turn by leaps. and
bounds toward.s the ground. The light and sound show turns the stronghold
of
the aquamarine
vauf above the rotten, sloping roofs into a fireplace.
The performance
is stunning,
mind twisting. Children stare from skylights
and doimers, fascinated.
ThosJwho
were arguing stop. Enchanted, they
turn
from their petty arguments and take in the excitement of the
iiqlt,
Lovers' kiss'
Tonight they cio not have the moon as a guardian but the plethora ot roanng
celestial flames.
(Conclusion)
As the last fading flames embrace the silent houses, night gives in to time'
And so do the firewirks. It ends here. Maybe another time it will carry on but
tonight it's over. Dawn slowly approaches'
Example 5.
Build the portrait of an imaginary character integrated into a story:
'Mind's
maze'
Essav bv Alexandra Baleanu 11th grade intensive English class
15
(Introduction)
One indelible memory of that cold, harsh, winter day stiil lingers in my
mind! I had been asked, together with another officer, to make a short visit
to that house and check whether or not everything was all right.' There had
been snow some hours before, lying not particularly deep, but frozen. We
walked down the tranquil, narrow street in the suburbs of London as the
brisk wind was biting it my face. The place we had to reach was the old
housri in the corner of the street, with gables and lattice-windows. I knocked
gently at the door and a slender woman, apparently scarcely past girlhood,
opened. We explained to her that what we had come for and she asked us to
come ln.
(Body)
I was impressed by her appearance, which looked even more delicate in the
comforting glow spread around the living room by the wooden lamps.,She wore
a long green dress and a low, black, silk frock, with short sleeves. She had an
admirable form and the most exquisite little face that I had ever had the pleas-
ure of beholding. Moreover, her countenance was absorbing due to the perma-
nent smile playing on her lips. On the other hand, what struck rne was her
small, piercing eyes, and thin, hawk-like nose, which gave her an aura of alert-
ness and decision. Even her chin had a square-like prominence that made her a
woman of distinction.
From the moment we entered the house she proved to be a very welcoming,
qentle-pqzpu.
with a very considerate way of treating us. She was charming, not
only because of her pleasant look,,but also because of her soft voice and her
polite manners. In the beginning,I was delighted to have had the opportunity
to meet such a brave,young woman.I even appreciated
her
for the courageous-
, ness she displayed while staying home alone during the' old man's absence.
.After
having conversed with her, she also proved to be a sensible person. Only
later did I realize that she had started to feel nervous and was no longer relaxed,
as if a strong and penetrating.imaginary force was haunting her, causing her to
burst out and confess her crime.
(Conclusion)
.
I used to think that a person's character could be known by his conversa-
tions, but that experience made me realize that there is an enormous discrepan-
cy between reality and appearance.'The angelic look of that'murderer didn't
reveal the true demon she was inside. I was shocked to see somuch cruelty hid-
denbehind her immaculate look.
Example 6.
Describe a place you liked very much: 'Spain'.
Essay by Ioana Niculescu, 12ft grade intensive English class
(Introduction)
I went to Spain in the summer of 2005 and since then, all kind of memo-
ries corne flashing back, reminding me of the wonderftrl experience that I,
together with my parents, have lived. Like the Arabs wisely said, it was heav-
en on earth.
T6
(Body)
we landed in Barcelona, capital of the region of Cataluniar
!9re,
people
always seem to be in a rush. From old men and women, to little children, every-
body'has something
to do. Nonetheless,
its beauty resides in these ever busy
streets, with memoiable
Ettractions,
most of them art of Antonio Gaudi' Both
Barcelona and Valencia sebm to attract more and more people, mainly because
of the ideal position next to the Mediterranean Sea. But the breeze is best in
Palma de Millorca. Here there's always enough inspiration for everyone, like
the artists and writers of the past have all found out'
As we headed south we hoticed quite a few changes in temperature and
atmosphere.In
this area, also known as the province.of Andalucia, people tend
to be more communicative
and polite towards tourists. Moreover,
Pe-oPle 9l1
find themselves following the same road as Christopher Columbus did in1492.
First comes Granada, at'to=ther of history's most successful piece of art. The gar-
dens of Alhambra rise frombehind the hills, offering a splendid view, quite sim-
ilar to the one in "1001 Arabian nights". Second on my list of favourite places
comes the city of Tarifa, in the extreme south of Spain..Situated
next to the
Gibraltar Strait, the area reunites both Spanish and North-African
influences,
mainly because of the Moroccan shore only a few kilometres away.
Tuining north, Castilla-la
Mancha welcomes its viewers with large hills cov-
ered in riind-mills, one of the biggest enelgy resources in this area' Going
through Toledo, the religious centre
-of
the country, we finally reached the capi-
tal, M;drid. It is famouifor its old neighbourhoods and the perfect blue of the
sky. It hosts speakers of all languag!9, so you
Tugt
not be afraid of not being
understood
h6re, even if you speak Chinese or Turkish'
Once we got out of itsiively air, we turned our eyes_towards
what historians
call "the 8s ionder of the *oild", the Escorial Palace,30 km from Madrid' Built
by
phillip
II, the palace also includes large inner courts,
_calle
d 11
!onj\,
while the
east and'south wing offer a great panorimic view over Madrid. With over l'600
paintings, it keeps i"ts simpliiity
and makes you want to stay forever and never
fly back home again.
(Conclusion)
All in all. it was one great trip I won't forget in the near future. Be sure there
is a person out there wf,o is *itting to shar-e with you-his own experience of
spain. And it sure is a place where you want to be 365 days per year.
Example 7.
Describe a character of a book you've recently read or a movie you've seen:
'Jean Valjean
(Les Miserables by Victor Hugo)''
-
Essayby Ioana Nicolae, 12tt' grade intensive English class
(Introduction)
One of the most remarkable characters ever to leave a writer's
Pen/-
an
impressive person of great moral virtue ull u personality
which has marked
geierations'of
readers-and other writers alike and will continue to do s9
{9_.
u
iong time still to come, is
Jean
Valjean, the main character of Victo-r
!18o's
"Les
Miserables".
From the point of view of both an accurate portrayal of the French
17
out that Valjean does not participate in the battle, but instead helps those who
have fallen, culminating in his rescue of Marius. Valjean does not have the arro-
gance to participate in a fight, which would involve the imposition of his will
upon others. In the end, unknown and soon forgotten, stepping for a brief
moment into the light, and then quickly withdrawing back into the shadows
from where he came,like a Specter of divine forces, he is the sole hero of the bat-
tle at the barricades, controversial, yet sublime, disputed at first, but indebted in
the end, one that is beyond being mere human, but still who thinks, feels and
suffers just like a mere human.
The tragedy is that Valjean does not appear to recognize the merit of his
own actions, or at least that they do not compensate for what he "nearly"
became. He is driven by the guilt he felt on stealing from the Bishop and the
chimney sweep. He is ashamed not so much of the 19 years he spent in prison,
but rather that on his release he was willing to prey upon those who were
weaker than him in order to survive. He works endlessly to compensate for
his "misdeeds" and shows himself little of the sympathy and understanding
he is willing to bestow on others. While he recognizes that the structure of
society was partly responsible, he has learned the importance of humility and
accepting responsibility for one's actions, learning from it, and then setting
about rectifying the situation.
At the end of his life Valjean tells Cosette and Marius that the only thing that
really matters is love. It is tragic, then, that Valjean appears to have found love
and forgiveness in his heart for nearly everyone except himself.
More than a tragic romantic hero,
]ean
Valjean stands throughout the book
as a symbol - a symbol of salvation, of one's ability to liberate one's soul
through the sheer power of one's will and of the innei strength that is in each
man to choose the path that he will walk and overcome all hardship that he is
faced with, so that in the end, he can look back on his life and know that he has
made the best of himself that he could.
(Conclusion)
In conclusion, I can affirm that
]ean
Valjean was the voice and means of what
Victor Hugo once stated: "I condemn slavery, I banish poverty, I teach igno-
rance/ I treat disease, I lighten the night, and I hate hatred. That is what I am,
and that is why I have written Les Miserables. "
3 . Argurnentatio e Ess aY
This type of essay are also called 'for and against' essays as you are to discuss
the advaniages and disadvantages of a specific topic. They should be written in for-
mal style, therefore you should avoid using strong language (I know, I am sure),
colloquial or idiomatic expressions,
STRUCTURE
Introduction:
.
paragraph 1.- you present the topic, making a general remark about it without
giving your opinion about it.
Body:
.
pa-ragraph 2 &3 - the number of paragraphs in the body depends on the word
limlt and on how many arguments for/against you may find to bring; each argu-
ment or counter argument has to be supported by examples or
justifications.
Conclusion:
.
paragraph 4 - includes your opinion or a balanced summary of the topic.
LINK WORDS
.
to generalise: people say that, it is common lcnowledge thnt, it is a
fact
that, it is con-
sidered that
.
to list points:y'rsf ly, to begin with, secondly, last but not least
.
to ad more points: what is more, moreoTJer, in addition to that, besides,
furthermore
r
to show cause /
effect: As, becat$e, since, therefore, thus, subsequently
.
to give examples:/or example,
for
instance, such as like, especially
o
to show contrast: hozaeaer, but, although, on the other hand, in contradiction to
.
to conclude: to sum up, to conclude, all in all, aII things considered
EXAMPLES OF ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Example 1.
Give arguments for and against the statement: 'Fame - A Blessing or a
Curse?'
Adapted after Virginia Evens &
]enny
Dooly
(Introduction)
At some point in their lives most people have daydreamed about the
joy of
being famous. One must wonder, however, if being famous is an achievement
o, uirrrre - as Fred Allan said,
'A celebrity is somebne who works hard all his
life to become known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognised
'.
(Body)
On one hand fame tends to go hand in hand with being rich, and despite the
clich6 that money cannot buy happiness, famous people can, at least be miser-
able in comfort.
Moreover, fame also brings adoration, meaning that famous people will
always be surrounded by people who want to be with and be seen with them.
21.
This means that they are welcomed wherever they go, surrounded by the best
things in life and protected from the bad.
However,
there are drawbacks to being famous, the most obvious being a
complete lack of privacy. Nowadays, celebrities are followed ever5rwhere they
go by photographers, paparazzi, and their lives are scrutinised in detail by
newspapers and magazines. Furthermore, a famous person can never be sure
whether people like him/her for the persons they are rather than their fame.
Consequently, this can lead to a sense bf isolation.-
(Conclusion)
All
Jhings
qonsidered.
as appealing as fame, wealth and adoration may
seem, the cost that one has to pay is too great and also involves the people they
love.
Example 2.
Give arguments for and against the statement: 'Work
can be fun'.
'Work and Entertainment'
Essay by Alexandra loan, 12th F intensive English class
(Introduction)
Work and entertainment have always been the two combined aspects of
one's activity,yetthe 21,"t century man is being forced to choose between the two
time and time again. While some individuals prefer relaxing and derive pleas-
ure from simply taking a long walk, others might choose threading on the pres-
sure the job brings.
(Body)
To begin with. work generates a sense of achievement and fulfilment which
motivates one to keep on developing, both on a personal level and on a
professional one. This eagerness to become more accurate in the field leads to
an immense satisfaction when succeeding. For instance. Bill Gates is one of the
few businessmen who have managed to remain on the market permanently. Not
only is windows the most widely used system of operation, but it is also
improved regularly introducing revolutionary technology.
secondly. one's employment involves a great deal of imagination most of
the times, if not for the job itself, at least for tackling problems that might occur.
Unexpected situations occur all the time and these are what keep employees on
the edge. A good example of innovation might be Madonna, an artist who
keeps,reinventing herself in the most unpredictable ways. This is what makes
her go on and what makes fans ask for more.
However, from a psychological standpoint, people also need some time-off
in order to avoid exhaustion. As much as they enjoy their professional ventures,
everything has a limit. This was the case of Celine Dion, another well-known
singer who decided to have a two-year break from show business so that she
could rejoice among her family and friends whom she has missed over the
years.
Furthermore, one cannot objectively compare the amount of energy and
involvement invested in the profession to the time spent in off-work
environments. As rewarding as the job
might be, one must not overlook the fact
22
that it is equally stressful, whereas free time activities are not. For example,
Macaulay Culkin is much more in the public eye at the moment due to his
eccentric lifestyle rather than to his on-screen performances and he seems to
persevere in indulging himself.
(Conclusion)
All in all, job-related activities cannot make up or replace the free time one
justifiably needs and vice-versa. Although fun and work may appear as serving
two different purposes, the known fact is that one cannot separate them entirely,
nor can one simply disregard one of them. Each individual has the possibility
though to establish his or her own limits and decide where the work ends and
where the fun begins.
Example 3.
Give arguments for and against Romania's joining
the NATO group.
'Romania-NATO Relationship'
Essay by Alina Cirstescu, l"1th F intensive English class, member of the
Romanian team in NAIO competition 2006
(Introduction)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) embodies the transatlantic
link that binds Europe and North America in a unique defence and security
alliance. NATO's essential and enduring purpose, set out in the Washington
Tieaty, is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political
and military means. To this end, NATO has provided for the collective defence
of its members since its foundation in 7949.1t has also acted as an essential
forum for consultation on security issues of interest to its members, and as an
essential pillar of peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.
(Body)
Romania joined the Alliance on March 29,2004, following the decision taken
during the Prague Summit, in November 2002. For Romania, this has
represented a major step forward, with decisive influence on the foreign and
domestic policy of the counky. Euro-Atlantic integration has represented an
objective of the Romanian foreign policy, which has been pursued steadily by all
the governments succeeding as of 1990. In order to become a NATO member
state-, Romania
joined the Pirtnership for Peace (a programme aimed at Euro-
Atlantic co-operation on security matters, with a major role in the process
of including new members of NATO), drafted its own national annual Plan
for
preparation of accession (PNA) and cooperated with other candidate states for
accessi on.
An outstanding element of the integration was the series of accelerated
reforms that Romania has undergone in the following aspects:
Firstly. the political and economic aspects: Romania continued the fight against
corruption, ensuring the sufficient administrative capacity to sustain reforms.
The pbfiUcal aspect focused on taking measures to solve community issues and
also on ensuring that public opinion is sufficiently well informed and
supportive of NATO membership and the Objectives of the Alliance;
23
Secondly, the military and defense issuesz Romania has undergone military
reform and restructuring, improving the interoperability of the Romanian forces
participating in NATO or coalition-led operations.
Furthermore, resourcesi Romania ensured a constant percentage (2. 38%) ot
the GDP for defence until 2007 and is also committed to and interested in
contributing and participating in the NATO Investment Security Program
(NSIP)
Moreovel, security of information: Romania focused on making operational a
specialised institution managing NAIO classified information
Last but not least. the legal aspects: Romania adopted by referendum the Law
on revising the Constitution
The successful integration of Romania in NATO was facilitated by aCalendar
for finalization
of reforms.
Another aspect of the topic is represented by the BENEFITS FOR ROMANIA
To begin with. NATO membership represents the guarantee for security and
external stability, which is vital for ensuring the prosperous development of the
country;
Secondly. it confirms the place of the Romanian state within the westem family;
Thirdly. it ensures the Romanian access to the process of reaching major
decision on European and Euro-Atlantic security;
Moreover. it gives Romania the opportunity to demonstrate the capacity of
coping with the demands required by the member status and to contribute to
promoting the values and the objectives of the Alliance by both participating in
the operations and missions of the Alliance and involving in lfs conceptual initiatiaes
and eoolutions;
Furthermore, NAIO membership represents an exercise of democratic
values;
Last
but
not least. NATO membership also represents an economic boast as
it contributes to the development of the Romanian inJrastructure and to the
progress and advancement in the technological field.
The last aspect that must be mentioned are BENEFITS FOR THE WORLD
Firstly. The guarantee for national security also represents the guarantee for
the security of the neighbouring countries and therefore stability in the world;
Seco4dly, Romania, due to its geographical position and improved
capabilities plays a major role in establishing stability at the Eastern borders of
Europe contributing to the world's security;
Thirdly. NATO membership represents sharing common values,
cooperation and joint future plans;
Moreover. Romanian prosperity, as a NATO member, may contribute to the
prosperity of the neighbouring countries;
Furthermore, NATO membership contributes to the spread of democratic
values.
(Conclusion)
Tir sum up. I believe that at the beginning of the 21"t century, Romania is part
of an Alliance that sustains the fundamental mission of collective defence,
permanently improving its capabilities in order to face the new threats of the
24
security environment. Being a member of the Alliance represents the guarantee
of security and external stability, in a world where national security is backed
by cooperation, common values and active involvement. NATO membership
represents a major step forward considering the complex reform process that
Romania has undergone and also an important role on the Euro-Atlantic
political scene. Romania, due to its geographical position and improved
iapabilities plays a major role in establishing stability at the Eastern borders of
Europe contributing to the world's security.
Example 4.
Comment about the statement:
'If this world is full of beauty - bad, or ugly
the man himself will make it so.'
(William Saroyan) - give arguments
for/against.
Essay by Georgia Ciobdnescu
,7/th
$
(Introduction)
We can comment upon William Saroyan's quotation by observing the
relations between man and nature and among people.
(Body)
First of all lhe man has changed nsture in a bad way causing the
disappearance of some species of plants and animals and putting others_ in
danger of extinction. Species have become extinct or endangered for a-number
of reasons: the destruition of the habitat (ex.: cutting and clearing of forests,
especially in the Tropics), urbanization and subr.rrbanization. Another reason is
the humln actions: the commercial exploitation of animals for food and other
products
(ex.; the slaughter of great whales for oil and meat, the African
ihinoceros, killed for their horns are in danger of extinction; the great auk
became extinct in the lgtL century because of over huniing).
Nevertheless, man has also tried to keep the beauty of nature by the naming
national parks and nature reserves. These are areas selected by governments or
private organizations for special protection against damage or degradation.
They are ihosen for their butstanding natural beauty, as areas of scientific
inteiest, or as forming part of a country's cultural heritage, and often also to
provide facilities for public recreation. In addition to the original purp.oses of
iandscape conservation and public recreation many parks have been established
to protect endangered species of animals or plants and to promote scierrtific
research. Hunting and other disruptive activities are limited or banned and
public
access is oiten strictly controlled or even forbidden. Ex.: Kanha National
i'ark, northern India, in Amazon the National Park, Brazil, Retezat Park in
Romania.
Secondly man transformed the world into a negative way by polluting it.
Pollutionis the contamination of air, water, or soil by materials that interfere
with human health, the quality of life, or the natural functioning of ecosystems.
For examole air Pollution is the contamination of the atmosphere by
gaseous, liquid, or solid wastes. Each year industrially developed countries
generate bi[lions of tons of pollutants. Sources of major air pollutants inciude
individual actions, such as driving a car, and industrial activities, such as
25
manufacturing products or generating electricity. The major effect of air
pollutants are, tlie acid rain (because of it the entire fish populations have been
destroyed in different lakes from Britain in Norway and Sweden) and
"greenhouse effect"
(which allows solar energy to enter the atmosphere but
reduces the reemission of infrared radiation from the earth).
Water Pollution is the contamination of water by substances such as micro-
organisms, chemicals, industrial or other wastes, or sewage. Notable effects of
witer pollution include those involved in human health. Chemical polluting
elements in drinking water or food can cause diseases that sometimes results in
death. Inorganic substances have also a harmful impact on human health and
nature. Lakes are especially vulnerable to pollution (when lake water becomes
artificially enriched with nutrients, causing abnormal plant growth).
Another cause of pollution is the nuclear energy. The principal issue is not so
much the present danger as the danger to generations far in the future. Many
nuclear wistes remain radioactive for thousands of years, beyond the span of
any human institution. (Chernobyl)
Solid wastes also affect human life and nature. They may be classified as
follows: garbage, rubbish, ashes, dead animals, sewage-treatment solids,
industrial wastes, mining wastes and agricultural wastes.
Thirdly regarding the relationships between peoples another negative thing
except pollution would be the conflicts. The most dramatic conflict is the war
(arrned- conflict between two or more governments or states). Wars can be
unleashed from a various number of reasons: political, religious, civil, etc. When
such conflicts expand to global proportions, they are known as world wars:
World War I (1914-1918) and War world lI (7939-7945). Except the people from
the army, civilians had also suffered. Civilians in the vast war zones became
Part
of the fighting fronts, and suffered from disease, malnutrition, and often actual
starvation, destruction of their towns and cities, and appalling injuries and
death.
Furthermore, good things for people made by people are the rewards and
prizes granted bylaw for their performance. These are giving people-trust and
make them huppy and more determined to persevere in their work. Ex.: an
important re*Lid is the Nobel prize. Noble prizes are the awards granted
annually to people or institutions for outstanding contributions during the
previou! year in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine,
iiterature,- international peace, and economic sciences.
(Alfred Bernhard
Nobel -1901).
]V[ore.@, another noble attitude of some people is the philanthropy, spirit
of goodwill towards humanity, usually expressed in activities that promote.
huian welfare. In this spirit there has been founded an elaborate network of
almshouses, hospitals, and orphanages for supporting and aiding the infirm,
the poor, and the disadvantaged. Also there have been established different
institutions like International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In time
of war these are alleviating the sufferings of wounded soldiers, civilians, and
prisoners of war and in time of peace they are rendering medical aid and other
irelp to people afflicted by major disasters such as floods, earthquakes,
epidemici, and famines, and performs other public service functions. Another
26
institution is the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO).
(Conclusion)
-
All
thing! considered. even though at the beginning man did a positive thing
for him by the induskialization he didn't thinl aboit effects that this woulX
cause so it ended in alegative way. But now he has realized and is finally taking
care to maintain a balance between human life and nature.
Example 5.
Talk about the advantages and disadvantages
of being A
prime
Minister.
Essay by Ioana Niculescu, 12th grade intenJive Englisi class
(Introduction)
Studying politics offers people the chance to understand the mechanism
around and behind the powerful leaders of a country and one day even become
one of them. But do we-really feel up to it? Is it realiy worth trying to apply for
a job
such as the Prime Minister?
(Body)
Tq
begin
with. the best advantage of being a Prime Minister is the financial
one. No more unpaid bills or parking tickets. You can afford buying a new car
from your first salary and even face with major help requests froniall of your
neighbours.
Furthermore,
!9i.g
the Prime Minister automatically means that you are
known to the public and to major institutions
Therefore, it can deprive ylu o! "sticky"
situations, such as waiting fir line
or entering restricted areas.
Also,
the connections you establish are seitled for
life and come in handy whenever you need to have something done before
somebody else.
However, the feeling of. being on_ top of everybody else can have negative
repercussions
on a person's state of mind. Power attracts even more power,
which often leads to^insanity or a society full of chaos and anarchy.The opposite
Tgnt
happen too. Some might back off and resign, due to lack bf contrbi over
the situation.
(Conclusion)
Tb conclude, being a Prime Minister takes a lot of talent and leadership,
combined with confidence in one's own actions, health of mind and bodv and
the will to stay on track no matter what.
\
4. Opinion Essays
They are a variant of the argumentative ones in which you can apProach the
topic fiom a personal
(not general) angle, being allowed to use from the start
expressions like: I think,I cansider,l strohgly belieae thnt, my opinion is, as
for
myse,If,
fro*
*V point of ttiew etc. Your atguments can incline towards the 'for' or the
''againsi''side
as long as they are suPported by examples or
justifications. It's a
personal argumentation of a statement.
JJ
EXAMPLES
OF OPINION ESSAYS
Example 1.
-
fTpt"l-r
your opinion about the staternent: 'Things go wrong because people
bui l d wal l s i nstead of bri dses' .
Essay by Georgi a Ci obi nescu. 12th B grade
(Introduction)
we can comment upon thi s
,quotati on
by observi ng the di pl omati c
relationships between countries and personal relationships
b"etween people.
(Body)
Firstly, I conside{ that the diplomatic relationships are among presidents of
various countries, between governments, ministers, senatori or different
members of parliaments. These are important for all peoples because they are
influencing their future in different ways from standard of life to a man
freedom.
or
jhe.wly
that dipiomatic relationships affected people
lives is Beriin wall. The Berlin Wall was a between and East Germanv.^which
closed the border between and West Berlin for 28 years. It was built during the
post- period of . The purpose was to stop the drain of labor and econ6mic
output associated with the daily migration of huge numbers of professionals
and skilled workers from East to West Berlin, and the attendant, *hi"h hurt the
economically and politically.It decreased emigration. By the end of 20tL century
Germany was reunited and the wall was pulled
down.
9eeonaty,
another reason I believe people had to suffer from was the
difference made by the leaders who believed that their races, their religions,
their ethnic differences are the most important factors. For example in Arierica
until the l$th 6gnls1y black people were considered inferior 6"curs" of the
colour of their skin.'They were disadvantaged,
they had no and they were hold
against their will. Also they had no individual freedom and they weie exploited
for their labor. In the end, slaverv in the United States was ab'olished aiter the
at a cost of millions of lives. Also another discrimination in the
past
was made
especially by the Germans. They thought that
|ewish
people were inferior to
them because of their race. The Holocaust is the most ho.iifylr,g event which
ended with the deliberate murder of millions of
]ewish
men, women, and
children.
.
I am slrgngllr coqvincg-dthat, If peopie weren't so selfish, proud and ignorant
they would realize that all these actions have negative effects on themseives and
on their habit. Ali this things make people to suifer frorn diseases, malnutrition,
and often actual starvation, destruction of their towns and cities, and appalling
i nj uri es and deat h.
Thudly,
as
Joseph
F. Newton said
"People
are lonely because they build
walls instead of bridges."
Eor
exatnplg if somlone is demanding, criticaljneedy,
ungratefui, boastful, nosy, hurtful, spiteful, stingy, and selfish, Is it any wonder
that he hasn't friends? oftgn
people
blame pbverty, lack of educaiion, age,
illness, and other whims of fate for their lack oi friends. From m)' point of vilw
this is a false charge. Regardless of one's disadvantages
and handicaps, th;re are
34
al ways others that are worse off, yet successful . So, i t i s not peopl e
circumstances, but their attitude that decides their fate. And it is always within
their power, rich or poor, young or old to change their attitude. If you are good
and do good than you will feel good. And feeling good is just a way towards
happiness and self-contentment. For exampie volunteering is a wonderful way
to end loneliness. There are a lot of lonely people in hospitals and old age homes
that would be delighted to spend time with someone. Besides offering the
opportunity of making new friends and learning new things, volunteering
makes you feel good about yourself.
(Concl usi on)
All things considered I can' but agree with the wise saying the English
Mathematician and Physicist Isaac Newton who said that "We build too mantl
walls and not enough bridges."
Example 2 on the same topic.
'Things go wrong because people tend to build walls instead of bridges'.
Essay by Cristina Coman, 12tL grade intensive English class
(Introduction)
Ever since the world began, people have been living together, sharing both
huppy and sad moments with each other, laying bridges, setting up walls,
constructing shelters or houses, establishing family ties and building their
future together. Man was created as a social being that can only evolve by
coexisting with the others and basing all his actions on relating to his
neighbours.
(Body)
Fi rst of al l . the key to every success man has ever achi eved i s
communication. Magnificent and grand things are carried out with talent and
team work. It is the law of nature that made man start building bridges and
reach out for help. It is the same common sense that made others hold his hand
and respond to his calling by offering their help. Moreover, we all know that a
good and healthy social life is based on our own connections with the world
outside and that is why people lay bridges in their surroundings - because the
only way they can reach success is by building their own ways towards it.
Second of all. we can see for ourselves that problems tend to occur when,
instead of building bridges, people keep back behind high walls and have the
wrong belief that isolation can be the answer to whatever is bothering them. By
hi di ng of our probl ems we hi de of oursel ves, by bui l di ng wal l s we
automatically break every single foot bridge that can be built to save us. The
higher is the wall, the harder it can be climbed and the thicker is its structure the
harder it can be pulled down. Besides, we must remember that people are often
selfish when it comes to critical conditions and,
just
like an innocent child may
have an egotistic conduct that can be improved by means of educafiorl, *urlts
native selfishness can be held under control by interacting with other people
and leaming the value of sharing. You can set up a wall by yourself, while
building a bridge is a bilateral agreement: it implies piecework and also other
person's assenting,
35
]Ioweve.t,
we should take into consideration the fact that walking on a
bridge can be done both ways: if you are too willing to help others and reach for
their hands, they might just invade your privacy. People build bridges, but they
don't necessarily walk on their owns... Another aspect is that thin or weak
bridges can be easily flooded by angry waters, that is why our projects and
plans involving the future should be as strong as we can make them, especially
if there are also other people depending on our help.
(Conclusion)
In conclusion. building bridges or walls is a free choice for every single one
of us. As moral individuals, we are supposed to look for a certain social stability,
we are supposed to combine our forces and build these bridges in order fo
establish a better communication among us. what should we do if we are
already surrounded by walls?... Some of them may be very difficult to be dealt
with; we can't always start laying bridges above them.
"But
we do have the
opportunity to build some door ways for these walls...
Example 3.
Thinking of cultural stereotypes. which, in your opinion, would be three
stereotypical features attributed to the Romanians? Give reasons.
Essay by Piha Zoia Alexandra, 12tL S
(Introduction)
During the time, Romanians have created different images among the other
nations. Nowadays, at the path between an ex-communist country toa member
of European Union, Romania has collected both positive and negative opinions
regarding us.
(Body)
First of all, it is important to reveal the approach of foreigners on the process
of emigration from Romania to West-European
countries or USA. This process
caused by the poverty in our country involved incidents and crimes, especially
theft. These crimes took place in several countries- like France or Italy- and
certain categories of people stained this way the image of Romanians. In some
newspapers Romanians are even called "thieves".
Moreover. a newspaper from italy had an article in October 2006 which
presented Romanians like "the most violent and dangerous race, capable of
mrrrdering for a handful of change". Romanians monopolize even the cloning
of credit cards, among other crimes. In France were also registered a few
incidents which caused a negative image: Romanians are again called "thieves".
But major parts of the thefts were made by gipsy-people from Romania who
were identified with Romanians. Therefore. despite of the fact that Romanian
people stole too, I consider there shouldn't exist this bad image at such a big
level. Unfortunately, this stereotypical feature exists.
On the other hand, Romanians are considered intelligentpeople. Romanians
are known for their abilities in informatics and also for their great results at
international contests in general. Not only at this level is the intelligence of our
people known, but also the intelligence of our people known, but also in jobs
of
the ones who emigrated in West and are living and working there, where their
36
work is rewarded properly. The ability in informatics is used both in a positive
and negative way. Some of the most known hackers are Romanians. For
example, in February 2006 some hackers -who were proved to be from
Romania- got into all Apple Macintosh computers from Arizona University, and
this is just one small example. But 2006 is also the 4th year when a team of
Romanian students wins 1't prize at a NASA project-contest.
Moreover, Romanians who emigrate in West of Europe are quickly
promoted in important
jobs also for their intelligence and perseverance.
Therefore,I can say this is another important feature attributed to Romanians
and mostly a positive one.
Last but not least, Romanians are known for their hospitality. Each year,
tourists come in Romania being attracted to the beauties of our country.
Although in some hotels, motels and houses there is rough accommodation,
tourists are happy about the hospitality and kindness of Romanians. They
always said we are friendly and warm people.
(Conclusion)
To sum up, in my opinion, there are three major stereotypical features
attributed to Romanians: on one hand, theft - regarding people from the lower
lairs of society, and, on the other hand, intelligence and hospitality. But, it
depends on each of us the way we prove our affiliation or not to this features,
which are
just
stereotypical ones.
Example 4.
Express your opinion on juvenile delinquency.
Essay by Adrian Baciu, llth
p
infsnsive English class
(Introduction)
Juvenile
delinquency is a massive and growing problem all over the world.
A multitude of factors exist thai contribute to the understanding of what leads
someone to engage in delinquent behaviour. While biological and psychological
factors hold their own merit when explaining crime and delinquency, perhaps
social factors can best explain
juvenile delinquency.
(Body)
To begin with, most adolescent delinquents are extremely dependent upon
their peer groups, primarily because they have no functioning families, effective
parenting, nurturing, or positive adult role models to rely on. These young
people come from all ethnic backgrounds and live in middle- and upper-class
neighbourhoods as well as in ghettos. We hear most about black, gipsies, and
homeless people running drugs, stealing, and mugging; but there are also white
gangs, such as neo-Nazis and skin-heads, that for adults may take on the
functions of survivalist or paramilitary groups, political parties or lobbying
organizations, while still maintaining their essential character and intent.
Unfortunately, police alone cannot solve these problems because crime is not
their real cause and because police under increasing stress or frustration may
contribute to crime with racism and excessive violence.
Moreover, very little is yet known about biological causes of delinquent
behaviour, such as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). How many young people
' a
currently in detention camps, being processed through juvenile courts, or
serving time for crimes of violence are actually suffering the results of fetal
alcohol syndrome? No one knows. But FAS may be one explanationfor the high
incidence of seemingly
{'senseless"
delinquent behaviour in affluent
neighbourhoods; for a pregnant woman in a wealthy suburb can be just as
addicted to alcohol as her sister in the slums or working in an office.
Furthermore, running away from home is sometimes considered delinquent
behaviour in children, but "throwing away" children
(not permitting them to
live at home while they're still underage) is not considered delinquent
behaviour in parent adults. No reparation to the children is required from the
parents and no shelter is provided for them by authorities unless they resort to
committing crimes in order to support themselves.
Last but not least, media, although thought to have a positive effect on...
everything, in this case it somehow encourages it by showing more and more
violent movies, news related to his subject and so on.
(Conclusion)
To sum up,I firmly consider that juvenile delinquency has powerfully taken
its toll upon today's society especially because of the social factors such as lack
of effective parenting. Dealing with this kind of felonies it shouldn't be only
policemen's problem but ours too.
Example 5.
Express your opinion about the statement: 'Violence in the media increases
violence in society'.
Essay by Ciurescu Sergiu, 12fl'F intensive English class
(Introducti on)
The subject of media influencing people has always been a topic for debate.
However, no other topic is as controversial as the one trying to establish
whether violence in the media leads to the increase of violence in society. It is
my opinion that media violence does indeed increase violence in society for
three strong reasons.
(Body)
First of all, broadcasting real violence has an emphasising effect to violence
in society. People who witness a lot of violence have developed a form of mass
paranoia, thinking the world is a much more dangerous place than it really is.
This statement is backed up by George Gerbner, whose research shows that
people exposed to violence become more anxious and fearful. This leads to a lot
of people buying weapons for self-defence. These very weapons are the means
through which the violence they feared will be increased.
Moreover, people become used to violence. Studies in the I970's showed that
people exposed to media vioience were less disturbed when wihressing'real
violence and had less sympathy for victims. Although violence is part of our world,
seeing it as common is an undesirable effect. Along with the fear of violence, this
indifference leads to passiveness, which implicitly encourages violence.
fuey.g,
the most unwanted effect is rendered by fictional violence
exposed by the media. People often identify themselves with main characters in
3B
movies, the same characters that use violence as a solution for every problern.
Fo'r.instance, a research conducted on the inhabitants of an African village told
that after children saw a show in which a character joined a gang, students of
the local school split into two rival gangs which fought each other. Violence is
often presented as a funny way to get what you want, without consequences.
What should worry us most is that the most susceptible to this aspect are
children who sometimes begin watching television before they can walk, and
long befoie they can build aiet of persoial values to filter the.information they
receive. A relevant example would be the widely known Tom &
]erry
series
and a study that showed4l% of the violence in cartoons'is accompanied by
humour.
(Concldsion)
AII thines considered, I believe there can be no doubt that media violence Ieads
to m" itriGilr" of uioience in society. Perhaps a more suitable topic for debate is not
whether this effect exists, but how it can be stopped or at least reduced.
j_