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you wish. You must discuss two of the . educdion
Some opinions expressed in the
three points in your essay, giving your
discussion:
opinion on which you think is more
importanVeffective/ beneficial, etc. "Grandparents can give parents that
vital night off once a month."
One way to write an essay of this kind is to
have: "Grandparents have gathered a lot of
o an introduction, which gives the reader wisdom."
an outline of the topic
"The world is changing too fast for
. a main body consisting of two
gandparents to keep up."
paragraphs (one paragraph for each of
the points)
. a conclusion giving your opinion about
which point is more important, effective Wnte an esvy discussing two of the ways in your notes
etc. grandparents can help in the raising of children. you should
Note: your conclusion should include a which way is more important, giving reasons to support
direct comparison between the two pointV opinion.
issues, etc that you discussed along with a
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed in
clear statement regarding which of the two
discussion, but you should use your own words as far as
is more important, effective, etc.
Write your essay in 220-260 words in an appropriate style.
The essay should be written in a formal or
semi-formal style and should use a variety of 1 Where did your notes come from? , -
contractions (He s), colloquial expressions 5 Should you use the quotes given? What do you need to be careful of?
and slang (once in o blue moon, whot it oll boils 6 Do you need to give an opinion?
down to). 7 How long should your essay be?
6B
3 Structuring an Essay
An essay is a piece of writing that aims to persuade a reader about an issue. ln order to do this, it needs an effective structure. To give
:^ essay such a structure, we use:
a a thesis statement, usually the last sentence in the introductory paragraph, which gives the main idea or opinion of the essay
o topic sentences, usuallythe first sentence of the paragraph, which gives the main idea of the paragraph.
a supporting sentences that support the topic sentence and make up the rest ofthe paragraph.
a linking words and phrases to introduce points, add reasons, examples and resuits, show contrast, etc.
2 Read the essay and choose the correct thesis statement and topic
3 Linking Words & Phrases
sentences (A-F) from below.
Most people have happy memories of visiting their grandparents. These are introduce reosons, examples ond
:he people who thought everything we did was wonderful, and who would results? conclude? show controstT
always let us do whatever we wanted, But that's not all grandparents have to
offer FTI b. Replace the linking
wordsiphrases in bold in the
lTl ruowadays, when both parents work, they can easily become exhausted essay in Ex. 2 with appropriate
and grandparents can offer them a much-needed break. For example, children ones from the Useful language
.night spend the night with their grandparents once or twice a month. This is a box.
great option because parents can feel relaxed in the knowledge that their
children are safe and secure with close relatives.
JTI fn.ir life experience and accumulated knowledge make them ideal
r to introduce and add points: ln the first
advisors. Moreover, they can often be more objective than parents, who place, To starVbegin with, First of all, Firstly,
sometimes worry about everything that bothers their child. Thus, a child has Secondly, Thirdly, Also, Finally, Lastly, ln
somewhere else to turn if they are not comfortable sharing a problem with addition (to thi$, Additionally, Furthermore,
:heir mother or father. lVoreover, Besides, etc.
. to introduce reasons, examples and
lTl fn.y can offer parents time away from their children every now and results: For exanrple/instance, such as, like,
:hen, but I think the most important thing they can do is to provide invaluable because, as, since, In particular, Therefore,
advice to a child. This is because any good babysitter can look after a child, but For this reason, This would mean (that), As a
grandparents are an incomparable source result, Thus, Consequently, In this way, etc.
of life lessons and wisdom. As Alex
ilaley wrote, "Nobody can do for iittle children what grandparents do. "
. to show contrast: On the other hand,
However, yet, still, but, Nevertheless,
Nonetheless, Although, Even so, Even
ln addition, grandparents can be there to offer their guidance when though, Despite/ln spite of (the fact that) ...,
the child needs it, etc.
However, grandparents sometimes have trouble keeping up with . to introduce a conclusion: ln conclusion, To
the quickly changing world. conclude, To sum up, All in all, All things
It can be said that grandparents have an essential contribution to considered, On the whole, Taking everything,
make towards bringing up a child, into consideration, etc.
On the whole, grandparents clearly have a lot to contribute to
bringing up a child.
E First of all, grandparents can help by grving parents the occasional
night off.
F What is more, children are at a disadvantage when both parents
work,
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3 Techniques for lntroductions and Conclusions
ln order to persuade readers to continue reading, an effectrve f fort with a problem that needs a solution. e.g. There are over
introduction needs to grab their attention. To do this, an 60,000 children tn core in the IJK ond oll of then ore in need of a
introduction can use one or more of several techniques. lt can: gmd hone.
a start with an objective statement. e.g. )ur first impression af An effective conclusion summarises the points made and provides
someone is usuolly correct. a satrsfactory end to the essay. To do this, a conclusion can use one
b make reference to a surprising scene or situation. e.g. Medicol or more of several techniques. lt can:
technology will soon enoble us to choose our boby's eye colour, hoir
g give the reader something to consider. e.g. lf oll porents hod just
colour or even whether they ore o boy or o gul.
one child, the populotion would halve in jun one generotion.
c address the reader directly. e.g. Hove you ever wondered why some
h end with a quotation or saying e.g. As JosEh Addison soid, 'The
of your friends nre more successful than others?
grffit sv'/eetener 0f humon life rs friendship."
start with a quotation or saying, e.g. ln the seventeenth century,
end with a rhetorical question. e.g. lf we don't look ofter the aged
John Donne wrote, "No msn is on island," ond this is still true ova
nan4 who wrll look ofter us in the years to come?
three hundred years later.
end with an objective statement. e.g. After oll, olthough divorce is
start with a rhetorical question. e.g ls it reolly possible to live in
on the rise, most marrioges still do not end in o breok-up.
society without hovrng close relotionships with ony other people?
4 Match the introductions to the conclusions. Which technique (a-j) from the theory box is used in each?
FTI nn extraordinary 74o/o of the population have made a I A All things considered, I believe it is better for us to com
donation to charity in spite of the fact that the country is coming I fetoface since this is more personal than just sending messages
out of the worst recession in modern history. But charitable I fie lfiternet. Every day, I become more concerned that the lnternet
giving is just one way of helping society. ls donating to cfrarry rSacing most forms of human interaction. lf we stop talking
Jsx*gs
|
hc, tte only way we'll be speaking to each other is through a screen
ZTI
I fne poet Alexander pope wrote: "To err is human;
-J to I
B All in all, it seems to me that trying to see things from the
forgive divine." Pope recognised that forgiveness was of vitd peson's penpective is the better way to help us forgive our friends
I
importance despite its difficulty. Making mistakes is part of I famit- This is because it is much easier to gain a fuller understanding
being human, but luckily there are several ways to make it the situation in this way than by simply speaking our mind. However,
*_ J
I
.'Hl*5::::::":X:3r*:',1 all ebe fails, we can always turn to the words of Oscar Wilde: "
forgirre your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. "
FTl fne lnternet has revolutionised the way we
communicate. We can send emails, tweet our latest news or post C To sum up, I think that the support and understanding
an update on Facebook. But is the lnternet really the best way people get from their families is more important since these are
to
stay in touch with friends and family or would it be better for more prrious than the setting of rules. After all, everywhere in our
us
to return to more traditional forms of communication? we find rules. but it is very rare to find others who know us well
accept us for who we are.
5 Which expressions for giving opinions have been used in conclusions A-D in Ex. 4? Replace them with suitable
alternatives from the box.
5 a. Read the rubric and the model essay. Find the family. By ooing this, they can live in the comfort of a
opinion which has been paraphrased in the essay loving home environment and, as a result senror citizens
and underline it. would not feel at the mercy of an impersonal care home.
Furthermore, they can help with household tasks or
* Your class has attended a discussion group about lookinq after their grandchildren and in this way they can
$ where elderly relatives can live. you rave made the
both keep a sense of self-worth and help the family as well.
! notes below.
Alternatively, the elderly could stay in their own homes.
Where elderly relatives can live: While they might need regular visits from friends and
. with their own family famrly or even a professional carer, they would cerlainly
. in a care home have a more positive approach to life as they preserve some
"Care homes are the only realistic Takinq everythinq into account, I believe that it is better for
option for many." elderly people to stay in their own home for as long as
"Elderly people who have some
possible. This is because I think that a sense of
independence is the most important thing for the well-
rndependence often feel happier.,'
being and happiness of an elderly person. As the saying
goes, you are only as old as you feel.
Write an essay discussing two of the places where elderly
relatives can live. You should explain where you think is
better for an elderly relative to live, giving reasons in
support of your answer.
b. Rewrite the opinions below in your own words.
You may, if you wish, make use of the opinions expressed
in the discussion, but you should use your own words as far 1 "Having a good social life is the best way to cope with
as possible, Write your essay in 220-260 words in an
problems. "
appropriate style. "When you live alone, you are free to do whatever you
want whenever you want."
"My older brothers really influenced me a lot when I was
growing Lrp. "
"l couldn't live without a pet because it just wouldn't
seem like a family home."
"Living with lots of brothers and sisters means I don't
have any privacy,"
71
Iiscuss,*,66 'l What are you writing?
2 ln which style should you write your
essay?
7 Look at the writing tasks below and, for each one, answer the
How many facilitieVways in
questions that follow.
friendship is important are you goi
to write about?
4 How could you introduce your essay?
Ag Your class has listened to a radio discussion about which facilities the 5 How would you paraphrase the
! local council should build in your town. you have made the notes opinions?
i b.to*. 6 How could you conclude your essay?
r ayouth club
. a librarv
Some opinions expressed in the discussion:
Bw* Your class has watched a televjsion programme about why fiiendship
ll is important. You have made the notes below.
t
I
Conclusion: state your opinion
seemed to vanish just when I needed them When you finish writing your essay,
most.o' check for the following:
o'At
some point, I got bored doing the same a word length
things with the same people all the time." I inclusion of all main points from the
prompt in clearly laid out paragraphs
o appropriate formal style
Write an essay discussing two of the reasons why friendship is a correct grammar, spelling and
important. You should explain which is more important, giving
punctuation
reasons in support of your answer. Write your essay in 220-260 o use of persuasive Ianguage
words rn an appropriate style. a use of topic sentences to start body
paragraphs
use of examples/reasons to justify each
point
7)