ESSAY WRITING.

General Advice

!!! THE MOST IMPORTANT STARTING POINT is to listen carefully to what the essay
title is telling you. Take into consideration the following:
 Think of relevant information and write down all the ideas and key words about your topic.
 Look over your Summary of ideas and key words.  Organize them into groups.  Make sure
that each group reflects the topic or question that you’re writing about.
 Sort out your ideas using your initial plan.
 Find the convincing arguments.
 Bring RELEVANT examples.
 Avoid slang and abbreviations.
The main objective is to be clear and concise so that your reader can follow your
argument. Generally, stick to shorter sentences, but remember to vary these with some longer
ones occasionally.
Your essay should follow this pattern:
   An introduction. (1 paragraph).This section should state which aspects of the topic you
intend to deal with and why.
 The body of the essay. (NO MORE than 2 paragraphs). It will take each of the main
points and develop them with examples and illustrations, using clearly defined paragraphs.
 Your conclusion (1 paragraph) will summarize your main ideas. It might also be
appropriate to give a firm or tentative answer to the question. You could also suggest areas
worthy of further consideration. It is in this section that you can introduce your own views - as
long as they are based on the arguments you have developed earlier.
REMEMBER, your words express your thoughts and if you have got a clear plan and a real
grasp of the material, then you will have very little trouble writing with clarity and coherence.

English linking words and conjunctions are essential, since they not only connect ideas,
but also can introduce a certain shift, contrast or opposition, emphasis or agreement, purpose,
result or conclusion, etc. in the line of argument. 
For this reason study the following list and examples.
Listing Giving examples Generalising
first, second, third for example in general
first, furthermore, finally for instance Generally
to begin, to conclude as follows: on the whole
Next that is as a rule
Reinforcement in this case for the most part
Also Namely in most cases
furthermore in other words Usually
moreover Result/consequence Highlighting
what is more So in particular
in addition Therefore Particularly
Besides as a result/consequence Especially
above all Accordingly Mainly
as well (as) Consequently Reformulation
in the same way because of this/that in other words
not only ... but also Thus Rather
Similarity Hence to put it more simply
Equally for this/that reason Expressing an alternative
likewise so that Alternatively
similarly in that case Rather
correspondingly under these circumstances on the other hand
in the same way Deduction the alternative is
Transition to new point Then another possibility would be
now, in other words Contrast
as far as x is concerned in that case Instead
with regard/reference to Otherwise Conversely
as for ... this implies that ... on the contrary
it follows that if so/not in contrast
turning to Stating the obvious in comparison
Summary Obviously Concession (sth unexpected)
in conclusion Clearly however
to conclude Naturally even though
in brief of course however much
to summarise as can be expected nevertheless
Overall Surely still
therefore after all Yet
A.Here are just a few examples of some of the linking words in action:
1. Many of us follow the same traditions, but the times, nevertheless, have changed.
2. Prices fell by more than 20% last year. As a result, sales increased by 15%.
3. On the whole, his speech was well received, despite some complaints from new members.
4. The South East of the UK often has the coldest weather in winter.  Conversely, the North West
of Scotland frequently has the mildest temperatures.
5. He left early so that he would arrive on time.
6. Even if I earned a big salary I wouldn't buy a car. 
7. Nowadays television is one of the most popular forms of entertainment. In addition to this it
provides us with the most recent news. There are many different kinds of programs on TV. For
example there are sports programs, children’s programs and various types of comedy
entertainment. Watching TV has become the main evening activity in many house-holds. As a
result many hobbies, such as model-making or dress-making, are not as popular as they used to
be. In parts of the USA, there are about 150 channels to choose from. In comparison the 4
channels available in Britain seem a very narrow choice. Many people feel that TV takes up far
too much of
young people’s time. Besides this, they argue that the quality of the programs is poor, and there
is too much violence.
8. I love burgers and chips although it is not healthy.
9. While computers have provided many benefits, they have created the potential for disaster.
10. Work has become a lot more efficient since computers are now widely used.
11. Medical service has become a lot more efficient in the world due to the widespread use of
modern technology.
12. Listen, the message, nevertheless, is sound.
13. He has over a million pounds in his bank account. Yet, he still gets up at six o’clock every
morning to go to work.
14 Astronomy has been an interest of human beings for centuries; consequently, our curiosity
has led to a better understanding of our place in the solar system and human space exploration.
15. Desktop computers are cheaper and more reliable than laptops; furthermore, they are more
flexible.
16. It was a very expensive holiday, the weather was bad and the people weren’t very
friendly. Nevertheless, we would probably go back to the same place.

B. Fill the gaps with one of the linking devices given below:
(personally/however/for example/first of all/at the moment/besides this/ on the other
hand /especially/furthermore.)
Living in a small town has a number of advantages. 1__first of all________________ there is
no pollution, the air is fresh, and you can even grow your own vegetables. 2____Furthermore/
besides this_____________ there is peace and quiet, and less stress than in a big city. 3
______However/ on the other hand _________________, there are several problems to take
into consideration too, 4 _____especially___________________ if you have a family. If the
town is too small and far from other cities, it might be hard to find health care and good schools.
5 ____on the other hand_______________ , there won’t be a great variety of entertainment. The
city has its good points too. 6 _____For example_________________ ,there are more job
opportunities, better schools, medical institutions and lots of entertainment in the city. 7 ____
______However____________________ , the bad points outnumber the good ones when you
think in terms of the quality of life you have, in terms of your physical and mental health. 8
________Personally_________ , I think, I would prefer to live in a nice little town on a beach,
but that will have to wait until I retire. 9 ____At the moment____________________ , I have an
office job and a promising career ahead of me.

Keys.1 first of all, 2 besides this, 3 on the other hand, 4 especially, 5 furthermore, 6 for example,
7 however, 8 personally, 9 at the moment.
What are the advantages of not living in a city?
What can be hard to find in a small town?
Why do the bad points outnumber the good ones?

C. Read the following sentences and decide their correct order so that you can make a
short text. Underline all the linking devices.

1. As a result, there are traffic jams which block the streets and cause problems for both the
drivers and pedestrians 2.
2. Besides this, parking has become more difficult and the streets are blocked by parked cars.3
3. Nowadays people prefer to use private cars to go downtown because it is more convenient. 1
4. First of all, public transport(s) should be improved and made cheaper.5
5. Still, there are solutions to this problem, which would improve the quality of life in our
cities.4
6. In addition, lots of free parking should be built outside the city. 6
7. Thus drivers will be encouraged to park where there is room, and go downtown by bus.7.

Nowadays people prefer to use private cars to go downtown because it is more convenient. As a
result, there are traffic jams which block the streets and cause problems for both the drivers and
pedestrians. Besides this, parking has become more difficult and the streets are blocked by
parked cars. Still, there are solutions to solve this problem, which would improve the quality of
life in our cities. First of all, public transport(s) should be improved and made cheaper. In
addition, lots of free parking should be built outside the city. Thus drivers will be encouraged
to park where there is room, and go downtown by bus

ESSAY SAMPLES

1. Express your opinion on the following: “Education is not preparation for life; education is
life itself.” Bring arguments and at least one example.

I. 1. In such a competitive world, education has become a necessity for human beings.
One cannot make his/her good image in the society and live a prosperous life without getting
appropriate instruction.
B. 1. To begin with, everything in life is based on the knowledge and skills which ultimately
come from education/schooling. Moreover, it is the one and the only way to acquire knowledge
and improve any of the abilities in any particular field according to one’s needs. For instance,
with the advancement of science and technology, our requirements have increased.
Consequently, schooling/training enables us to earn our livelihood. Besides the basic needs of
life such as food, shelter and clothing, we also demand other comforts such as mobile phones,
air-conditioners, car, etc. So, education/teaching/learning is not limited to lessons from
textbooks. Also, life practice teaches us the right behavior and good manners, thus making us
civilized. Real education is obtained from the lessons taught by our experience, our own failure
and success.
2. Obviously, our knowledge feeds our intelligence, and since we want to be intellectuals, we
have to follow regular experiences. To my mind, it creates awareness and enables people to
know the world beyond their own surroundings. As an illustration the Japanese
education system believes that requiring students to clean up after themselves teaches them to
work in a team and help each other. Besides, spending their own time and effort sweeping,
mopping, and wiping makes kids respect their own work and the work of others. In addition, we
should never forget that our education begins at home.
C.1. Overall, schooling makes us self-confident, clears our path to success and develops our
abilities to think and take the right decisions. Education makes people capable of doing new
interesting things that can go a long way to improving human living conditions and standards.
Our education is really worth investment.  Only if you believe and work hard you can achieve
anything.

2. Express your opinion on how we should raise our self-esteem. Give an example when
you raised your self-esteem.
Taking into account the challenges of the world, healthy self-esteem is of paramount importance.
In order to succeed, everyone should be proud of their talents, skills and abilities.
LW. Some people have so much confidence that they are not afraid to do anything. Others are
the complete opposite, and are scared of being judged or ridiculed. Self-confidence cannot be
taught, but is reached by the individual when they decide to believe in themselves. Acting will
transfer into truly being self-confident and having high self-esteem. For example Albert
Einstein was considered a slow learner and may have had dyslexia. He was shy and quiet. He
started speaking at age 2, and he rehearsed what he wanted to say, which was interpreted by
some people as an indication of stupidity. At the age of 42 He received the Nobel Prize in
Physics in 1921 for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.

Another way to gain confidence is by talking to other people or follow your favorite people’s
experiences. My example of gaining confidence is a true testament that this works.
Recently, I have struggled with confidence in one of the most important aspects of my life:
volleyball. I have been displeased and uncomfortable with my performance. It has been hard for
me to find out how gain and reach confidence. So, I continued to follow my coaches° advice and
study the best volleyball players practice. Finally, I believe that I am a good enough player. I
have learned that you, first of all, must consider yourself being able to do something.
In essence, confidence is a characteristic that everyone struggles with at one point, but can be
achieved by trusting one’s abilities and speaking with others that are supportive.

3. Choose the invention that you think has had the most negative impact on our world and
explain why you chose that invention.
Every invention leads us to evolve in one way or another. However , those inventions that
detract us from normal cohabiting, conversation and interplay between us as family or friendly
groups is not always good or evolutionary.
As for me, one of the most negative impact on our world is the invention of the cigarettes. First,
any sort is highly addictive, contain a whole slew of chemicals and post serious risks to those
who smoke and anyone around them. So, the dependence on nicotine grows quickly and this is
one of the worst effect of cigarettes on human body. Also, cigarette smoking harms nearly every
organ of the body and affects a person’s overall health, ultimately, it increases risk for death.
Second, we should not forget about passive smoking. Some scientific studies reveal that passive
smoking may be even more harmful that the active smoking, hence, the cigarettes not only affect
the smokers but also the non-smokers. As far as more and more people tend to have a healthy
lifestyle, I think it is very important to take into account the risks mentioned above.
As a result, we should pay attention and find the best solutions in order to reduce any kind of
smoking in the society. Governments should take care of their people and promote a policy that
discourages people to smoke.

4. Real learning comes about when the competitive spirit has started. Do you think
competition is good? Bring arguments to support your opinion.
From very young ages, little children are put in sports programs and arts lessons and are asked
to perform their very best. Undoubtedly, schooling helps anyone explore potential, improve
abilities and increase motivation. We are all different and competition is a part of life that
cannot be avoided. It allows children to focus on an activity or a set of skills and become better
than they were when they started, and better at it than other children
.
To my mind, competition has positive effects among people. Even when we don't realize we are
doing it, we all try our hardest at what we do often trying to rise above everyone else. Moreover,
it is a must in order to progress and evolve in any spectrum of life, because striving for a
particular outcome, despite troubles or setbacks along the way, competition encourages
perseverance and persistence, or stick-to-it-iveness.
One of the key benefits of competition is that it advances the human civilization. As a race, we
owe so much of our current advancements to competition between people, between companies,
and between countries. As people compete, they create and the whole world grows as a result. If
there was no competition we would never had things like the iPhone, computers, or automobiles.
There just wouldn’t be the need to develop new things and go out in new directions if
competition wasn’t a factor.
To conclude, life works if we have goals and a sense of competition, both within ourselves
driving us to be better than we are. Competition pushes forward the civilization, and if
everybody gave up their competitive spirit this world would be a very different place.

5. Help someone, you earn a friend. Help someone too much, you make an enemy.
Do you agree or disagree? Bring reasonable arguments.
Many young people fall into the trap of focusing exclusively on their own needs. This
tendency is a breeding ground for depression or anxiety. Altruism breaks through the hard shell
of self-absorption by nurturing compassion for others.
As for me, happiness begins from the moment you do something for others. For years,
I’ve witnessed my relatives and friends’ sense of personal identity fortified and strengthened
when they helped others. Helping a friend, family, a neighbor, or even a stranger does not
necessarily mean fixing their car, or buying them lunch. It could be as simple as waving or
smiling when walking past them, listening to their problems or offering support and advice. In
such a way altruism helps us develop a more positive relationship with reality.
For example, it leaves me feeling energized and happy when I encourage and praise other
people, call them or just send a card, give advice or any support I can.
Anyway, by focusing on the problems of other people, we often become less obsessed with our
own difficulties. Acting in a loving way to others will often mean they respond in a loving way
(although not always).
Surely, helping people improves our relationships with others – kind people are just nicer to be
around and it means you develop a better attitude towards yourself.
Mostly, however, one small act of kindness can change a person’s life and its path. It can lead to
good decisions.

6. Machines have always played an important role in most people’s lives. Computers, cars,
and household machines have become very common. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of having so many machines in people’s lives? Use specific examples in your
answer.
Nowadays almost everybody has some sort of machine at hand, be it computers,cars, or even
washing machines. But although machinery was devised to benefit mankind, it has also brought
along many flaws to match.
Firstly, when it comes to computers, family traditions may be destroyed. Disruption most often
arises between the person using the computer, and the household he or she is surrounded by. For
example, many old family traditions such as eating meals with relatives at the dining table
seldom take place now , because any of the family members might be too busy working on his
Mac, laptop or texting on iphone.
Secondly, almost all kinds of machinery are harmful to our environment. Many people are
careless about allowing their car engines to run haphazardly, or leaving their laptops on for long
periods of time.
However, technological equipment was never programmed to damage nature, but to help people
all around the globe. Now that families aren’t as closely intact as in the past, technology has
given almost everybody the possibility to keep in touch with friends and relatives far from us
thanks to computer and phone applications.
Summing up, machinery has most definitely done wonders in our lives, but we must take under
control all advantages and disadvantages for not harming our environment.

7. When visiting a new city or country, some people like to go on groups tours led by
professional tour guides. Others prefer to explore new places on their own. Which do you
prefer? Give reasons and examples to support your opinion.

Traveling and visiting new countries can be an extremely thrilling experience. I usually prefer
to take guided tours to explore a new destination.
Upon joining professional excursions, tourists discover the prominent cultural and historical
buildings in the cities, such as churches, monuments, parks, and palaces. The tours are usually
organized to cover most of these important places. For example, when I visited Dubai last year, I
joined the “Big Bus Tour” to explore this amazing city. While visiting the Dubai Museum, I
learned that this chief city was only built sixty years ago. Haven’t I taken such a guided tour, I
wouldn’t have known this fact about this metropolis city.
The other reason to prompt me in joining tour groups is the opportunity to meet other tourists.
Sharing the experience and spending time together gets you close to other people from different
parts of the world. This in return provides you with the chance of learning about other cultures
and maybe building friendships with them.
In brief, taking professional excursions is worth the cost of it. You get to visit all the salient
landmarks, learn more about other cultures and get new friends from different countries.

8. According to your point of view, does school prepare children for life? Give reasonable
arguments to support your answer.

In our life we never stop learning, either from our mistakes or from somebody’s advice. The
stages that we pass through life make us wiser, stronger, and more disciplined. Undoubtedly, that
school is one of the important stages in our life that influences our further development.
As for me, school teaches us self-discipline. We learn to keep to a schedule and to adhere to
the timetable. Secondly, school helps to fortify our determination and perseverance. By trying to
overcome the challenges given us by school, we learn to face stress and different challenges.
Students with strength of character will be well-prepared to deal with the difficulties of work and
life in the future.
Furthermore, school is a micro-society. The everyday social interaction is an excellent
preparation for life in the society outside. Being involved in a great variety of school activities,
students have all the opportunities to interact with other students or adults from varied
background. Indirectly, they explore their own personality, learn tolerance, acceptance and
understanding. This can help to foster an open mind and promote unity.
In short, school does prepare us for life. It prepares students with the necessary ‘tool’ so that they
can fit into society and contribute positively to the nation and people in future.
9. Some people think only Talent will carry one so far; others consider Hard work the key
to success. What do you think? Prove your point of view.

From the very past people try to get success in their life and fulfill their needs. The path to
success has two important elements: talent and hard work, without them it would be almost
impossible to achieve our goals.
There is no denying that some of the best athletes and musicians have natural talents that help
them to be better than most, but is that the main reason why? Talent does help them to be some
of the best, but it is their hard work added to their talent that separates them from everyone else.
As for me one could never know about his talent without making efforts and things do not go the
way you would expect to be. Therefore, if talent and hard work go hand in hand it provides
better results.
You can consider talent as fuel for the fire that will kick-start you towards success. It makes
things easier for you to get going from the start.
Just think about Einstein who undoubtedly had talent. But would this talent give results if he had
sat around all day? 
In conclusion, if you really work at something you can do it up to a point. That is why people
who work hard without the talent can succeed more than talented people who only praise their
talent..

10. Perseverance makes people stronger. Do you agree or disagree with the following
statement? Bring 2 arguments and examples to support your answer.

Even if a person is not very talented, nor highly knowledgeable, but of an average merit, still he
can succeed in life simply by his perseverance. Without it, no great achievement is possible.
First of all, doing things or going through things that are not particularly enjoyable has a
world of benefits for the average individual. Immediately, the fortitude produces character
leading to self-improvement and a comfortable lifestyle.
Constantly conquering the daily routine establishes an inner strength. This creates a foundation,
making everything that is laid on top seem much easier and more beneficial. For example, few
students like studying after classes with little sleep or entertainment. Nevertheless, over time,
from repeatedly doing what one hates to do, for the sake of future success, he starts to reap his
harvest from all of the seeds of hard work. This may be experienced in a number of ways,
namely a better job, more money, a nice house, etc. In addition, the constant application
produces a force that moves problems and barriers.  
A persevering person is one who has tremendous self-confidence, indomitable determination,
and a natural urge towards hard labour, and untiring energy to continue till the last, without
expressing dissatisfaction.
Therefore, perseverance must be practised from the very childhood so that the noble habit
becomes a part and parcel of one's life.
.