Writing an essay (C2)

1. Argumentative essays or “For”

and “Against” essays

2. Opinion essays



Use 5 ways to correct a run-on sentence

.

Some students prefer living in the hostels some students

prefer living in the apartments.

1. Make two sentences.

2. Use a coordinating conjunction (for, and, but…) or a

transitional adverb (however, therefore, consequently…)

3. Use a semicolon (;)

4. Use a dash (-)

5. Make one a dependent clause.


KEYS:
1. Some students prefer living in the hostels. Some students prefer living in the apartments. 2. a) Some students prefer living in the hostels, and some students prefer living in the apartments. b) Some students prefer living in the hostels; however, some students prefer living in the apartments. 3. Some students prefer living in the hostels; some students prefer living in the apartments. 4. Some students prefer living in the hostels – some students prefer living in the apartments. 5. Although some students prefer living in the hostels, some students prefer living in the apartments.

Insert the necessary punctuation.
1. I like red and I wear red clothes a lot. 2. Mr. Brown who lives next door is my best friend. 3. Because I arrived on time I could live early. 4. I am an early bird therefore I get up early in the morning. 5. Although I am an early bird I can work round the clock. 6. Peter who comes from the USA stayed at the hotel. 7. I arrived on time for the interview however I forgot my papers. 8. After Mary left home she never appeared there again.

Read the paragraph below and say what

reasons the writer gives to support his/her

opinion.
Few people would dispute that this is the Age of Communication. More than at any time in history, you are judged on your communication skills, both in speech and in writing. The successful development of your personal life, your relationships and your career now more and more depend on the way in which you express your thoughts into language. How well do you do this depends, in its turn, upon your understanding of grammar. So in many ways you as good as your grammar. That’s why grammar should be taken seriously.

Comment on the following statement:
“Some people say that the inventions of e- mail and text messaging have been wonderful for communication between people. However, some people say that this kind of communication has disadvantages as well as advantages.” What can you say for and against the use of email and text messaging?

Read the phrases below and tick those you’ll

include into your essay
1) The speed of communication 2) Comparison with other forms of communication 3) The use of email at work 4) Lack of face to face communication 5) The cost 6) Contact with people anywhere in the world 7) The language used in text messaging 8) Contact at any time 9) Time spent text messaging 10) Communication between friends

Now think over the main part of your essay,

enumerate advantages and disadvantages. You

may use phrases given above and you may add

your own ideas. Some of them can be both

positive and negative.
ADVANTAGES ( +) DISADVANTAGES (-)

Read words and expressions about reality TV shows.

Look the unknown words up in the dictionary.

Make notes in the plan below.

Use as many given words as possible.

Fame; entertainment; show off; rubbish; educational;

ordinary; fascinating; ridiculous; amusing; serious;

weird; dull; controversial; attention-seeking; a fad;

disapprove; preference; temporary; privacy; addictive.
Introduction “For” reality TV shows “Against” reality TV shows Conclusion

Read the paragraph below and single

out arguments for and against

moving into suburbs.
In recent decades, people have been moving out of the city centres into suburbs, new towns, smaller towns and the country. On the one hand, it seems to be a logical thing to do, as cities become more and more overpopulated and unsuitable for healthy living with all their emotional and physical stress, hustle and bustle and growing population. On the other hand, villages and isolated farms and cottages, which used to be full of agricultural workers, are now the homes of people who drive to their offices in town and the whole pattern of life in the country is changing dramatically. If this process goes on, won’t we lose our countryside with its quiet unhurried way of life, wild nature and clean air?

Look at these two opinions:
A. It’s important to keep post offices open. B. The Internet is more useful than post offices .
I.

Now read the nine statements below and decide if you think they

support opinion A or opinion B.
1. Email is very popular these days. 2. Post offices are important in the community. 3. Many people don’t have computers. 4. If you buy goods from websites, somebody has to deliver them. 5. Emailing saves paper and petrol – it’s good for the environment. 6. Internet communication is cheap or free and it arrives immediately. 7. There are more postal services than the internet can provide. 8. You can have access to the Internet at any time and at any place. 9. Post offices belong to the past, not the present.

II

. Think about the two opinions and the list of

statements in exercise I. Decide if you agree more with A

or B. try to think of ways of arguing against the points

you don’t agree with. Write three more statements, using

your own ideas

.
________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ III . Look again at the statements you agree with in exercise I, and your own counter-arguments in exercise II. What is the most logical order for these arguments? Which point should be made first, then second, and so on? Number the statements 1, 2, 3 etc.

The following methods will help you

to make your introduction more

unusual:
 A Funny Story  A Pun  A Question  A Quotation

54-year-old Tony Lines was taken to

hospital after a violent argument

with his neighbor, because of the

loud music coming from downstairs.

In a fit of rage, Lines leaped off his

bed with intention of making a loud

banging noise on the floor.

Unfortunately, he jumped so high,

and landed so hard, that he broke

both his legs.


No gain without pain.- No game

without pain.

Don’t trouble trouble, and no trouble

troubles you. – Don’t trouble the

environment, and the environment

never troubles you.

To be or not to be? – To eat or nor to

eat?


How do you think it feels for

celebrities to read false stories

about themselves?

Is there such a thing as the

perfect face? Is beauty

something you can measure?

Recent scientific evidence

suggests that the answer is

“yes”


Turn the following introductions into corresponding

conclusions, that is, restate the main thesis using different

words.

Introduction
: Have you ever thought that natural resources are in danger of disappearance? Could you imagine the life on the Earth without coal, oil or iron? The threat of their extinction is obvious not only in the whole world, but also in Russia. I am sure one of the effective solutions of this problem should be construction of a new research institute.
Conclusion:
Take care of environment, and the environment will take care of you. If sustainable use of raw materials were under control of the government, we would provide the future generations with all the necessary things. The responsibility is ours, today and tomorrow.

Put these linking words and phrases

into the correct groups 1-6
However; to sum up; in contrast; but; on the one hand; in addition; such as; as far as I am concerned; for one thing; in other words; in fact; furthermore; in my own experience; conversely. 1. Introducing an argument 2. Introducing a counter-argument 3. Giving an example 4. Counting an argument 5. Summarizing/concluding 6. Giving a personal view

Complete these words and phrases

Introducing examples:
1____ example 2. _____ instance 3. Such ____
Introducing your first point:
4. To begin ____ ,… 5. First ____ all, …
Introducing further points:
6. ____ addition to that, … 7. As well ___ this, …
Introducing contrast:
8. On ___ other hand, … 9. In spite ___ this, …
Introducing your

conclusion:
10. ____ conclusion, … 11. To sum ___, …

Read this part of an essay. Choose words and

phrases from the list to fill in the gaps.

Thus; The result of: Moreover; In

contrast; This is; However.
It may be useful to remind ourselves of one perhaps rather obvious point. 1)___ that the people who begin software and think up new applications for IT within the workplace are experts. 2)___, the vast majority are enthusiasts. 3)___ they feel comfortable and happy with technology. 4)___ to them, the average person, say an office worker who has to learn a new software package, lacks confidence. 5) ___ this distinction is that developments are driven by the minority. 6) ___, it is the majority who feels the effects.


Complete the phrases with the verbs given below. Put the

verbs into the correct form. You should use one of the verbs

twice.

Make; cause; commit; do; take; deal; have; run;

get.
1. Are ___ damage to the environment 2. Must ___ with these problems 3. Can ___ serious problems 4. Will ___ out of resources 5. Are ___ difficulty in surviving 6. Must ___ something about these problems 7. Is not ___ better 8. Will___ a long time to repair the damage 9. Are ___ people suffer 10. Are ___ terrible crimes



Read the sentences taken from essays about family and

friends. Fill in the gaps with a suitable word from the list

below. Use each word only once. There are two gaps in

each sentence.

Answer; think; factors; considering; reasons;

conclusion; importance; refer; ever; look.
1. When ___ family and society, there isn’t a simple right or wrong ___ . 2. When we ___ about this subject, it depends on which society we ___ to. 3. There are number of ___ why I believe that the family is still as important as ___ . 4. If we ___ at the issue of education, the ___ of the family is clear. 5. Taking all these ___ into account, my ___ is that the role of family is changing, but it remains highly important.



Look at the pairs of sentences. Use the prompts

to rewrite them as one sentence.
A. Many people prefer to drive to work. B. People often spend a long time sitting in traffic jams. Many people ___, despite the fact that ___ . C. People spend large sums of money on cars. D. Many people want to have status and privacy. People ___ in order to ___ . E. Many people don’t believe how bad the environmental situation is. F. Green activists don’t understand it. Green activists ___ that ___ . G. People often prefer to use their cars. H. Public transport is slow and uncomfortable. ____ with the result that ____ cars. I. The transport situation will get worse. J. The government could take action. Unless ___, ____ worse.