Essay Writing
Scroll down for further teaching material and practice exercises.
Video
You may be asked to write an essay and you will not know the topic prior to the exam. When writing an essay it is important to relax, take your time, and organize your thoughts prior to writing. Things that you have to keep in mind for your essay include:
- The essay is relevant to the question and makes logical sense.
- Each paragraph contains one main thought.
- There is some depth to your thought.
- Ideas (both original and routine) are expressed in an orderly and coherent way.
- Language is concise and appropriate.
- Sentences are structured correctly, basic punctuation is used correctly and there are few spelling errors.
The essay will have to be handwritten so the speed and the penmanship of your handwriting will count towards the mark. Your essay could be brilliant, but if the person marking your exam is unable to read the paper, then you will receive a failing mark.
Common Mistakes
These are some of the most common mistakes applicants make during the essay component.
- The essay is not relevant to topic.
- There is lttle logical structure to the essay.
- Paragraphs are too long and complex or lack depth are are only one sentence long.
- Language is too wordy.
- Sentences are incomplete or poorly structured, basic punctuation is consistently misused, or spelling errors are frequent and hamper ideas.
After receiving your writing topic you should attempt to organize your thoughts. The best way to do this is to come up with a list of arguments or points that you wish to make in the essay. During the test you should have some scrap paper, which you should use to organize your thoughts. You should come up with 3 – 4 solid thoughts for your essay and write each thought down on the scrap paper. Each thought represents a paragraph in your essay.
Example 1:
What is really important to you?
Rough Ideas:
- Relationships
- Exercise / sports
- Financial / work
- Education / learning
After writing down your main ideas, begin putting a couple of ideas about why each section is important to you.
Relationships
- Friends / family support me when I'm upset
- Help me enjoy my leisure time
Exercise / sports
- Helps me maintain my health and improves my energy
- Helps me deal with stress
Financial / work
- Helps me support my family and contribute to society
- Makes me feel good about myself
Education / learning
- Allows me to continually improve
- Keeps life interesting and exciting
Structure
Now that you have several points down, you have the outline of an essay formed. The essay should be formatted in the following manner:
1) Introduction
Should briefly explain what you are talking about, and briefly mention the main points of each paragraph. (3 – 5 sentences)
2) Paragraphs (1 - 4 or however many you decide to make)
Each paragraph should mention your topic and explain why it is important and why you are discussing it.
3) Conclusion
The conclusion should briefly wrap up your main thoughts, and briefly summarize your ideas. (again 3 – 5 sentences)
Example 2:
Man’s inventions are killing society. Is it too late to stop?
Rough Ideas #1
Pollution is rampant throughout the world due to machines invented by man.
- Ozone depletion due to CFC’s and air conditioners.
- Health risks and asthma are rampant due to motor vehicles.
There is less social interaction due to machines, which entertain people.
- Television has replaced dialogue with people.
- People interact more with computers, and reduce social interaction.
Machines are replacing workers, and making humans obsolete at work.
- Machines replace workers, which increases unemployment.
- Simplifies tasks, making people feel useless, and unmotivated.
Many inventions are lethal, and threaten the lives of entire populations.
- Weapons cause a great deal of harm. Thousands of murders a day due to guns.
- The invention of lethal mass destruction weapons is a serious threat to global survival.
Rough Ideas #2
Inventions are simplifying processes to increase efficiency.
- Computers simplify processes that allow people to improve quantity and quality of work.
- The same work can be performed in less time, which allows more to be done.
Inventions bring together more cultures, to improve society.
- Transportation and communication allows different cultures to interact.
- Allows individuals to travel more, and spend time with distant relatives.
Keeping people alive longer, and improving the lives of injured people.
- Inventions have prolonged lives of all humans.
- Have also improved the quality of life of injured people.
Society isn’t being killed, it is adapting and changing, as it always has.
- Society has always evolved throughout time, and will continue to evolve in the future.
As you can see it is possible to take either side while writing an essay. There is no one correct answer, and different points can be made on both sides of an issue, which can be incorporated into a strong essay. You can even combine points from both sides of an issue in your essay. It is extremely important to practice organizing your thoughts and writing out a rough draft of points, before you begin constructing the essay.
Practice Essay Questions
Below are some excellent essay questions to practice with. Try and see both sides of the argument. Because of the time constraints it is usually easier to pick one side of the argument to write about.
1) Does the average person have much influence on how the country is run?
2) I can’t wait until the year 2020.
3) Should the Internet be better censored to prevent violent and pornographic images?
4) Students should be trained in high school on parenting techniques.
5) The most pressing problem facing society is…
6) Is jogging a fad, or a very healthy sport?
7) Does T.V. create a more violent society?
8) Should police officers carry firearms?
9) Should the legal age for driving be reduced to 16?
10) Should the legal drinking age be increased?
11) Is nuclear war inevitable?
12) Is winning everything? Discuss.
13) Marijuana should be legalized. Dicsuss.
14) Police should not have the power to search people in the street. Discuss.
15) How can police change to keep up with the times?
16) How can violence be prevented in sports?
17) Should Olympic athletes be tested for drugs?
18) Capital punishment should be mandatory for murder.
19) What are the most important lessons you learned in life?
20) How will you spend your summer?
Summary Tips