TIPS TO WRITE AN ESSAY

Writing an Essay at the CPE Cambridge exam:

-   Read both pieces of text.

-   Underline the 2 key points in each paragraph , points 1+2 and 3+4.

-   Decide how far you agree with these points.

-   List some relevant ideas.

-   Plan your answer in 4 or 5 paragraphs.

Layout of an essay :

-          Introduction ( short summary of both pieces of text)

-          Paragraph 1 summarising points 1 and 2

-          Paragraph 2 summarising points 3 and 4

-          Conclusion 

Sentence openers :

-          The first text suggests that…..

-         
The second text raises the issue of …..

-          The writer is of the opinion that….

-          Additionally, it is ragued that…..

-          The two texts contrast differing views of…..

-          According to the first passage…….

-          Personaly, i …………….

-          The second text put forward……

-          I believe that………

-          In conclusuon , it is my opinion that……

Linking points and arguments

-          As opposed to

-          In the sense that…..

-          For this reason……..

Making generalisations :

-          On the whole….

-          In general…..

-          For the most part….

-          As a rule……

-          It is often that….

-          It is usually the case that…..

-          People to regard…..

-          The reality is that…..

Being specific:

-          With respect to...

-          In the case of...

-          As regards...

-          In terms of….

-          With the exception of…..

-          From the ….. point of view….

-          They are seen as…..

-          As far as ……are / is concerned……

Raising an argument:

-          Considering…..

-          On the question of….

-          No one would dispute…….

Giving one side:

-          One argument in favour of this is ….

-          In support of…..

-          It is true that……

Giving the other side:

-          At the same time….

-          In actual fact…..

-          On the other hand….

-          In contrast to….

-          Set/ weighed against this is…..

Attitude :

-          Personally...

-          Unfortunately...

-          Obviously...

-          Evidently...

-          Presumably...

-          Naturally...

-          fortunately..

Quantity:

-          a great deal of...

-          to some / a large extent...

-          a large number of….

By SYB