EXAM FILE: WRITING

Essay useful language

Example task introduction
In your English class you have been talking about whether museums are Is this really true?
important today. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay
for homework. There are arguments for and against the idea.
Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view. It’s a difficult question to answer.
‘Museums are not necessary nowadays because we can find all the information There may not be an easy answer to the
we need on the internet’. Do you agree? question.
Notes introducing ideas
Write about: One benefit of … is …
• bringing history to life
An advantage of … must be …
• school trips
On the other hand, …
• (your own idea)
Of course, not all museums …
Write your essay in 140–190 words.
Another potential advantage is …
Example answer Introduce the
topic and catch expanding points
It’s sometimes said that museums are not necessary the reader’s One reason for this is that …
interest with
nowadays because all the information is on the internet, but This is because …
a rhetorical
is this actually true? There are arguments on both sides. In fact, …
question.
Firstly, museums give visitors the opportunity to see and Without a doubt, …
touch real things from the past, and it’s impossible to get Start each new Clearly, this is …
the same experience from looking up facts online. Clearly, point clearly.
museums bring history to life. There are also museums about
adding and contrasting ideas
science, space travel and so on where visitors can touch Moreover, …
interactive exhibits and get a real understanding of things Organise ideas In addition to this, …
that affect life today. and paragraphs However, this is not always true/the case.
well using
In addition to this, teachers often organise school trips to linking words
Although it seems that …
museums. Obviously, this is a very valuable experience for and phrases. Despite this …
students, as they are learning outside the classroom with
their friends, and talking about the trip is very motivating. writing a conclusion
To sum up, …
On the other hand, it can be expensive to visit museums, Make sure you
include an idea On balance, …
although some are free. However, they are good value for
of your own In conclusion, …
money, as they provide more accurate information than
in a separate
the internet, which can be unreliable.
paragraph.
Exam help
On balance, I would say that museums are not only
• Start your essay with a short paragraph
necessary nowadays, but are enjoyable places to visit. Give your own
introducing the topic. End with a conclusion that
We would miss them if they disappeared. opinion in the
follows your argument logically.
conclusion.
• Focus on one idea in each of the three middle
paragraphs. Make sure you include a new idea of
Over to you your own.
Now write your own answer to the task. Make sure that you include everything • Use a formal or semi-formal style, with a range of
required in the task and use the Exam help to check your work. vocabulary and linking words.
• Don’t write fewer than 140 words because you
won’t be able to include all the ideas you should.
Don’t write more than 190 words because you
may include ideas that are not relevant.
• Make sure you read your essay through to check
that it makes sense, and that you haven’t made
any grammatical or spelling mistakes.

167
EXAM FILE: WRITING

Essay useful language

Example question introduction
In your English class you have been talking about whether museums are Is this really true?
important in life today. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an
essay for homework. There are arguments for and against the idea.
Write your essay using all the notes and giving reasons for your point of view. It’s a difficult question to answer.
‘Museums are not necessary nowadays because we can find all information we introducing ideas
need on the internet.’ Do you agree?
One benefit of … is …
Notes
An advantage of … is …
Write about:
On the other hand, …
• bringing history to life
• school trips Of course, not all museums …

• (your own idea) Another potential advantage is …

Write 140–190 words. expanding points
Introduce the One reason for this is that …
Example answer
topic and catch This is because …
the reader’s
Some people say museums are not necessary nowadays In fact, …
interest with
because all the information is on the internet, but is this
a rhetorical Without a doubt …
true? There are arguments on both sides. question. Clearly this is …
Firstly, museums give visitors the opportunity to experience adding and contrasting ideas
Start each new
real things from the past, and it’s impossible to get the
point clearly. Moreover, …
same benefit from looking up facts online. Without a doubt,
museums bring history to life. There are also museums about In addition to this, …
Organise ideas
science, space travel and so on, where visitors can touch However, this is not always true.
and paragraphs
interactive exhibits and get a real understanding of things
well using Although it seems that …
that affect life today. linking words
Despite this …
and phrases.
In addition to this, teachers often organise school trips to writing a conclusion
museums. Clearly this is a very valuable experience for
Make sure you To sum up, …
students, as they learn a lot outside the classroom with their
include an idea
friends, and talking about the trip is very motivating. On balance, …
of your own
in a separate In conclusion, …
On the other hand, museums can be expensive to visit,
paragraph.
although some are free. However, museums are obviously
good value for money, as they provide more accurate
Give your own Over to you
information than the internet, which can be unreliable. opinion in the Now write your own answer to the task. Make sure
conclusion. that you include everything required in the task
On balance, I would say that museums are not only and use the Exam Help to check your work.
necessary nowadays, but are enjoyable places to visit. We
would miss them if they disappeared.

Exam help
• Start your essay with a short paragraph introducing the topic. End with
a conclusion.
• Focus on one idea in each of the three middle paragraphs. Make sure you
include a new idea of your own.
• Use a formal or semi-formal style with a range of vocabulary and linking words.
• Don’t write fewer than 140 words because you won’t be able to include all
the ideas you should. Don’t write more than 190 words because you may
include ideas that are not relevant.
• Make sure you check your work for grammar or spelling mistakes.

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WRITING FILE 2ND EDITION B2+

Essay Exam help

• Start with an introduction and end with a conclusion.
Example task • Focus on one idea in each main body paragraph.
Your class has watched a studio discussion about ways that people can be Only talk about two ideas – no more.
persuaded to recycle more. You have made the notes below: • You can use your own reasons and examples to
• using the media develop the two ideas given in the question or
• education in schools use the ideas in the notes. If you use the latter,
paraphrase them.
• financial penalties
• Use a formal academic tone, which means more
Some opinions expressed in the discussion:
formal vocabulary and no contractions.
‘TV channels can make documentaries about the effects of not recycling that
• Write between 220 and 260 words. Make sure
everyone can watch.’
that everything you write is relevant and avoid
‘Schools can educate young people on the importance of recycling.’ repetition.
‘The government can introduce fines for people who don’t recycle.’
Write an essay for your teacher discussing two of the ways for persuading useful language
people to recycle in your notes. You should explain which way would be more
effective, giving reasons in support of your answer. introduction
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion, but you This essay will suggest two key ways/factors/
should use your own words as far as possible. Write your essay in 220–260 words. reasons/etc.
There are two key ways/factors/reasons etc.
Example answer
Two potential ways/factors/reasons are …
Recycling has become important in recent decades In your introducing ideas
as we gain a greater understanding of our impact on introduction,
introduce the One option/approach is to …
the environment. However, not everyone understands
topic and state A second option is to …
how important recycling is and as a result, they do not
the two ideas
recycle consistently. This essay will suggest two key ways The first idea is to …
you’ll talk about.
that these people might be persuaded to recycle more: Another potential idea is to …
education in schools and introducing fixed penalties for
non-recycling.
making a point
In your main Above all, …
The first method, through schools, means providing paragraphs,
introduce the It is worth bearing in mind that …
lessons for children about recycling. The reason for this is
that education opens people’s minds and such lessons will
main idea, give giving reasons
reasons and/or
hopefully encourage young people to get into the habit One reason for this is that …
examples, and
of recycling from an early age. They may also teach their say the effect of This is due to (the fact that) …
parents to do so. Once children start recycling, the habit this or why it’s because/since/as …
will continue into adulthood and they will teach their own important.
children to recycle. explaining the effect of
something
The second method of fixed fines provides a punishment
for people who do not recycle. While this sounds negative, … lead to/result in …
punishment can often be a deterrent for undesirable As a result,
Link ideas with
behaviour. If people think they may lose money if they do As a consequence, …/Consequently, …
linking words
not recycle, it might influence their decision to recycle or and phrases.
not. As a result, more people will recycle their waste.
linking ideas
However, …/On the other hand, …/Although …/
In conclusion, both education and fines are likely to have Despite the fact that …, While …
a positive impact on the numbers of people recycling. In your
In addition, …/Furthermore, …/Moreover, …/
In my view, education in schools is the one which will conclusion,
Besides …,/Alternatively, …
have the greatest impact. This is because research shows summarise the
main points This underlines the fact that …/ What it has
education has changed people’s behaviour for the better
so that they shown us is that …/ In view of this …,
in many areas of life and it is therefore very likely to be
logically lead
effective in the area of recycling too. to an idea or
writing a conclusion
suggestion for To sum up, …/ To conclude, …/In conclusion, …
the future.

166 © Pearson Education Limited 2018

EXAM FILE: WRITING

Essay useful language

Example question introduction
You have listened to a radio discussion on how to get communities more Many people today think …
involved in environmental issues. You have made the notes below:
Nowadays there is a problem with …
Ideas for making communities more aware of environmental issues
It could be said that …
• easy recycling system • leaflets • ‘clean-up’ groups
Some opinions expressed in the discussion: presenting an argument
‘The recycling system is so complicated at the moment. If the council could For this reason, …
make it easier to follow, …’ As a result, …
‘I think distributing advice leaflets to people’s homes is the best system.’
This is due to …
‘Surely, we need something active to appeal to young people like small groups
who could become leaders in schools and colleges.’ On the other hand, …

Write an essay for your tutor discussing two of the ideas from your notes. You In contrast, …
should explain which idea would be more effective in making communities Although …
more aware of environmental issues, giving reasons to support your opinion.
While …
You may make use of the opinions expressed in the discussion,
but you should use your own words as far as possible. Some people say …
Write 220–260 words. Read the task Many people feel …
carefully. Be According to …
Example answer careful to
include the conclusion
Everyone is very concerned about the environment correct number I am in favour of …
nowadays, but people do not always go about their everyday of points from
It seems to me that …
lives in a way that helps the environment. In fact, sometimes the notes
On the whole, …
it is quite the opposite, so we need to look at how we can get
everyone more concerned and engaged with environmental Use your Overall, …
issues. introduction to
explain what the
I think there is some action we can take to try and essay will discuss
Exam help
make it easier for people to contribute to helping in general terms.
• Remember you can use the opinions given to
improve their environment. Firstly, I believe it would be a support your answer, but you must use your own
good idea to create very straightforward leaflets with some Remember words.
clear and simple advice that everyone can follow. These to use topic
sentences at • Plan what you are going to write before you
could be dropped directly into people’s homes. In start and check you have followed all the content
the beginning of
this way they will definitely see them and may even, points given in the instructions in the last
each paragraph.
for example, keep the leaflet in their kitchen as a checklist paragraph of the task.
to follow. • Make notes in your plan for the reasons you will
give to support your opinions, together with any
I think another immediate way to get communities examples to justify your argument.
involved would be to set up ‘clean-up’ groups. These
• Think carefully about the organisation of your
groups could not only do occasional cleaning of
essay so that the separate points in the task are
neglected areas such as parks and rivers, but the well balanced in the answer.
members could help each other train as mentors or
• Use linking expressions to connect ideas within
leaders to go into schools and make students aware of When you are
and across paragraphs.
how they can help. explaining why
your chosen • Use a range of semi-formal or formal language.
Overall, I would suggest that having clean-up idea is the • Try and make your conclusion persuasive.
groups may be the most effective route to involving most effective, Remember to refer back to the main purpose of
people more widely in environmental issues because it remember not the essay outlined in the task.
is something that is very active and so the best way to get to repeat the
young people involved. And these people will be the next same points you Over to you
made about this Now write your own essay for the exam task above.
generation who will be responsible for the environment, so to
idea in earlier
train them is very important.
paragraphs.

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