Writing Essay

STRATEGIES
The best way to improve writing skills is practising writing essays using the Plan, Write,
Check approach and time it at 40 minutes. You should spend 5 minutes on the planning, 30
on the writing and 5 minutes checking. Let’s look at an example. Here is a Part 1 Essay
question:
In your English class you have been talking about the Internet. Now, your English teacher
has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view. Write 140-190
words.
Essay question: Do you think the Internet has had a positive or a negative effect on our lives
today?
Notes
Write about:
1. Relationships
2. Leisure time
3. ....................(your own idea)
Planning
For the planning stage you could divide your time like this:
• Spend 1 minute reading the question and underline key words.
• Spend 1 minute deciding your opinion and which model you will use: 2 or 3 paragraphs in
the middle.
• Spend 1 minute adding an extra point in the notes.
• Spend 2 minutes writing ideas and synonyms for the key words in the question, plus good
formal linking words.
There are 2 typical models you can use to structure your essay: the 2-paragraph and the
3-paragraph models.
There are actually 5 paragraphs: 1 for the introduction, 1 for the conclusion and 2 / 3 in the
middle.
Essays can have a balanced opinion which introduces both positive and negative aspects.
This is usually made clear in the introduction. Here is a typical plan if considering both points
of view with the 2-paragraph model:
• Paragraph 1: a general introduction stating the advantages
and disadvantages
• Paragraph 2: state the reasons in favour of the proposition in the question
• Paragraph 3: state the reasons against the proposition
• Paragraph 4: a conclusion, summarising your opinion
Alternatively, essays can take one point of view and this can be stated clearly in the
introduction. Here is a typical plan if considering one point of view:
• Paragraph 1: a general introduction stating your opinion
• Paragraph 2: first reason with a clear example using point 1 of the notes
• Paragraph 3: second reason with a clear example using point 2 of the notes
• Paragraph 4: third reason with a clear example using your idea
• Paragraph 5: a conclusion, summarising and restating your opinion
Checking
You should use a checklist to help you self-assess your work. After writing your essay you
should spend 5 minutes checking it and this can really help improve your score. Below you
will find 2 checklists you can use.
Essay writing checklist:

Have you started and finished in an appropriate way?
Have you included all your notes written on the question material?
Have you given reasons for your opinion?
Have you started your sentences in different ways?
Have you tried to use paraphrasing and not to repeat too many words?
Have you used linking words and phrases?
Have you used paragraphs?
Have you written the essay in an appropriate formal style?
Have you written the correct number of words (140-190)?
Do you think that you have answered the question?
General language checklist – 12 typical errors!
Have you checked your spelling?

Have you used the correct punctuation?
Have you used any false friends?
Have you used the correct tenses? (Last year people don’t go)
Do the subject and the verb agree in your sentences? (people is)
Have you put an “s” on adjectives? (differents cars)
Have you put an “s” on uncountable nouns? (informations)
Have you used any double negatives?
Have you used an article before a general idea? (the money talks)
Is the subject missing? (because is very important)
Have you put a noun before an adjective (the man tall)?
Have you used the right prepositions? (it depends of)
Useful expressions
Keep a list of useful expressions that you will be able to use in the Part 1 Essay and any
other formal writings in Part 2. You can do it as a table like this:
As I see it,... • However, … • I partly / fully agree that… • Although… • In addition,… • Firstly /
Secondly / Thirdly … • Moreover, … • Finally… • Consequently… • To sum up… •
Furthermore, … • Last but not least, ...• All in all… • I firmly believe that… • What is more, …
• As a result… • I personally feel that… • First / Second of all,...
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing means to express something in a different way, using other words or a

different word order, but with the same meaning. It is a key exam skill.
Here are some examples of paraphrased words or expressions connected with the words:
Important: crucial, essential, it’s the crux of the issue, the cornerstone
Good: great, second to none, outstanding, brilliant
Bad: appalling, dreadful, nasty, horrible
People: individuals, the average person, ordinary people, humanity / humankind, citizens
Children: kids, youngsters, under-18s, offspring
Teenagers: teens, adolescents, the youth, youngsters, young people
Older people: the elderly, over 65s, retired individuals
Country: a nation, nationwide.
The world: worldwide, globally, around the world, on planet Earth, on the Earth
Work: employment, being employed, being at work, a job, earning a salary, being out of
work / unemployed, being made redundant, being sacked / fired, being on the dole
Boss: employer
Worker: employee, co-worker, colleague
Studies: education, studying for a degree, higher / further education, being taught, learning,
picking up, a teacher / tutor / educator
How about adding some more interesting ways of saying typical words or phrases?
For example: For instance, such as, like

Quite: rather, fairly, somewhat
In conclusion: To sum up, All in all
Using the passive

One way to show the examiner you know how to write formally is by using the passive. Find
or write sentences in the active and change them to the passive.
Task
In your English class you have been talking about work. Now, your English teacher has
asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your point of view. Write 140-190
words.
Essay question: Is it better to spend your working life in one organisation or in many different
ones?
Write about:
1. Job security
2. Opportunities
3. …................. (your own idea) variety means experience
Sample answer 1:
It has often been said that being employed by one corporation is an improvement on working
in several different firms. Nowadays, this is considered a more old-fashioned view by
younger employees.
On the one hand, those who believe it is a good idea to spend your career path in one
multinational say job security is second to none. They suggest that staying in the same
company offers economic stability and helps make work easier because you know your
colleagues and being fired is less likely.
On the other hand, however, the more modern viewpoint is that changing your place of work
gives chances which would be impossible to find by staying in the same place. Moreover,
working for different employers makes the employee's CV look better and provide further
chances to gain employment. It has also been suggested that a varied career path means
experience working with different people and consequently the individual becomes a more
flexible person.
All in all, I believe the benefits of working for a variety of companies, such as experience and
perks, outweigh the drawback of having less job security, because better employment is
more likely due to the fact that you are a more flexible worker. (202 words)
Content
The reader is fully informed and the essay answers the question. 4.5/5
Communicative Achievement
Easy and more complex ideas are well communicated with appropriate, formal style. 4.5/5
Organisation
Good paragraph structure, coherent flow to the essay. A well-organised essay. 5/5
Language
Accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar: good linking words (moreover, all in all, on
the one hand, on the other hand) and passives (it has often been said, this is considered, it
has been suggested), good paraphrasing of key words of the question. 5/5
Sample answer 2:
Many people says it is better to be in the same place when you work, but I am not agree
because there are more opportunities when you work for differents organisations.
First, job security is very important to many people, but it is not the most important thing.
Working in different places means you get more opportunities and the experience you get
means you are a more flexible person and therefore a better worker.
Other people say working in one place is the better because you will keep always your job
and you will have no problem with the people you work with, so it is better. They say job
security is the most important thing.
In my opinion, to work for diferent people is much better, because you have more
oportunities and you are a better worker if you work for different places. (145 words)
Feedback
Content
Although the essay keeps to the question, it does not fully inform the reader. For example, it
simply says that one aspect is better, but not why. The arguments are not developed. 2.5/5
Communicative Achievement
It is easy to understand the essay but the reader's attention is not held and there are no
complex ideas. Even the easy ideas are not developed. 2/5
Organisation
The text is coherent, but with few linking words and cohesive devices. Also, the introduction
should not give the writer's opinion in a 2-paragraph essay. 2/5
Language
No wide range of words, but a repetition of key words: important, opportunities, work,
people, better, organisation. No wide range of grammar: present simple tense throughout the
essay. Quite a lot of basic errors…
Paragraph 1:
• Many people says... Correction = Many people say (people = countable).
• I am not agree... Correction = I do not agree.
• many differents organisations... Correction = many different organisations (adjectives are
never plural).
Paragraph 3:
• working in one place is the better... Correction = is the best (superlative, not comparative).
• You will keep always your job... Correction = You will always keep your job (word order).
Paragraph 4:
• to work for... Correction = working for (when you use a verb as a subject, use the gerund)
• diferent… Correction = different (spelling)
• oportunities... Correction = opportunities (spelling) 2/5

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STRATEGIES

Essay writing checklist:

General language checklist – 12 typical errors!

Have you checked your spelling?

Paraphrasing means to express something in a different way, using other words or a

For example: For instance, such as, like

Using the passive

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