Writing an essay in English, ready-made essays. Learning to write an essay for the exam correctly - tips and examples

Writing an essay in English is a standard task on the exam. It is for this work that the most points are awarded, because. The task itself is not easy. Even in their native language, not everyone will be able to competently and consistently express their thoughts on a particular topic. What can I say if you have to do it in English.

So what is an essay? An essay is a short essay, the purpose of which is to convey individual impressions and thoughts on a specific issue. It is such a creative task as writing an essay that makes it possible to characterize you as a person, to show your worldview, your knowledge, your potential.

As you already understood, to write an essay in English, you need a fairly high level of language proficiency, and since. this task can be called creative, you must learn to express your point of view and develop a given thought. This art is quite possible to master, especially if you follow the plan, which we will discuss below. I will give you a couple of very useful tips for writing an essay in English, which will help you more than once.

Essay structure

An essay in English should include three semantic parts: introduction, main part and conclusion.

Introduction

In the introduction, you should clearly identify the key topic-problem, which in fact you will discuss further. That is, to begin with, you must inform the topic of the essay, paraphrasing it with the help of synonyms keywords. You must show that you understand and comprehend the topic.

It is also necessary to indicate that there are opposing views on this issue, and indicate exactly what position you take. In this case, it is best to use impersonal constructions to emphasize objectivity.

The introduction may contain some commentary on the topic. This could be the definition of a key concept or your explanation of how you understand the topic. You can list which aspects of the topic you will consider and why.

So, a well-written introduction should give a clear idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat will be discussed in the main part. To beautifully and correctly formulate it, use the following phrases, which indicate the direction of your thoughts:

• Now I would like to express my point of view on the problem of …
• This essay deals with ... - This essay deals with ...
• This essay will examine ... - This essay explores ...
• This essay will analyze ... - This essay will analyze ...
• Many people think ... but others do not agree - Many people think that ..., but others do not agree
• Let us consider what the advantages and disadvantages of ... are - Consider what the advantages and disadvantages of ...
• Let's consider some pros and cons of it − Let's consider some pros and cons of (this)
• Let us start by considering the facts − Let's start by considering the facts
• Let us start by considering pros and cons of it − Let's start by considering the pros and cons of (this)
• It is generally agreed today that …

You can also use expressions that define your work plan:

• The essay is divided into three main sections - The essay is divided into three main sections
• The third part compares ... - The third part compares ...
• Finally, some conclusions will be drawn as to ... - At the end, certain conclusions will be drawn about ...

Main part

In the main part, you should also give a few opposing opinions that differ from your personal opinion, and tell why you do not agree with them. Everything should be reasoned and supported by examples.

All information in the body should be logically divided (i.e. the text is divided into paragraphs). You must think carefully about the structure of your essay and correctly bring the main part to the conclusion.

The following phrases can be used in the main body when reflecting on a problem and arguing your point of view:

• To begin with ... - Let's start with the fact that ...
• You can ... - You can (You can) ...
• Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ... - Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ...
• The first thing that needs to be said is ... - First of all, it should be said that ...
• One argument in support of ... - One of the arguments in support of ...
• One should note here that ... - It should be noted here that ...
• First and foremost ... - First of all ...
• It is often said that ... - It is often said that ...
• It is true that ... / clear that ... / noticeable that ...
• The second reason for ... - The second reason ...
• Another good thing about … is that … - Another positive thing about … is that …
• For the great majority of people ... - For the vast majority of people ...
• We live in a world in which ... - We live in a world in which ...
• It is a well-known fact that ...
• It is undeniable that… − It cannot be denied that…
• A number of key issues arise from the statement. For instance, … - This statement raises a number of key issues. For example, …
• First of all, let us try to understand ... - First of all, let's try to understand ...
• One of the most striking features of this problem is … − One of the most striking features of this problem is …
• What is more, … - Moreover, …
• The public in general tends to believe that ... − The public in general tends to believe that ...
• Besides, ... because it is ... - Besides, ... because ...
• Doubtless, … - Undoubtedly, …
• It is (very) clear from these observations that ... - It is (absolutely) clear from these observations that ...
• One cannot deny that ... - One cannot deny that ...
• Another way of looking at this question is to ... - To look at this problem from the other side, one must ...
• On the other hand, we can observe that ... - On the other hand, we can observe that ...
• If on the one hand it can be said that ... the same is not true for ...
• The other side of the coin is, however, that ... - However, on the other hand, ...
• One should, however, not forget that ... - Nevertheless, one should not forget that ...
• One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle
• On the other hand, … − On the other hand, …
• Although ... - Although ...
• Besides, … - In addition, …
• Moreover, … − Moreover, …
• Nevertheless, one should accept that ... - Nevertheless, it should be recognized that ...
• Furthermore, one should not forget that ... - In addition, one should not forget that ...
• In addition to ... - In addition to ...
• However, we also agree that ... - However, we also agree that ...

Phrases expressing personal opinion:

• In my opinion this subject is very controversial - In my opinion, this issue is controversial
• In my view … - In my opinion, …
• To my mind … - In my opinion, …
• To my way of thinking … - In my opinion, …
• Personally I believe that ... - Personally, I believe that ...
• I feel strongly that ... - I firmly believe that ...
• It seems to me that ... - It seems to me that ...
• As far as I am concerned ... - As for me, ...

You can support your opinion with the opinion of some experts:

• Experts believe that ... - Experts believe that ...
• … say that … − … say that …
• ... suggest that ... - ... suggest that ...
• … are convinced that … − … are convinced that …
• … point out that … − … note that …
• ... emphasize that ... − ... emphasize that ...
• Perhaps we should also point out the fact that ... - Perhaps we should also point out the fact that ...
• According to some experts … − According to some experts, …
• One must admit that ... − It must be admitted that ...
• It would be unfair not to mention that fact that ... - It would be unfair not to mention the fact that ...
• Which seems to confirm the idea that ... - Which, apparently, confirms the idea (that) that ...
• We cannot ignore the fact that ... - We cannot ignore the fact that ...
• From these facts, one may conclude that ... - From these facts, one can conclude that ...
• One cannot possibly accept the fact that ... - It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that ...
• The most common argument against this is that ... - The most common argument against this is that ...
• Thus, ... / Therefore, ... - Thus, ... / Therefore ...

Conclusion

The conclusion is the final part of your essay. In conclusion, you must summarize the arguments expressed, that is, draw a conclusion and confirm your point of view. Depending on the topic of the essay, it may be appropriate to give a solid or streamlined answer to the question asked by the topic. Or, you can clarify the perspectives and implications of a given problem.

In conclusion, you must express your opinion, which is supported by the arguments considered earlier. In conclusion, it is usually appropriate to list the main ideas of the essay. In this case, you need to turn to the introduction and draw parallels. But do not repeat word for word, use a different wording.

In the conclusion, there may be a question leading to further reflection, a quote, a bright spectacular image (of course, if it is appropriate). Alternatively, in conclusion, you can offer a solution to the problem under discussion, make a forecast of the results or consequences, call for action.

The conclusion is the most important part of the essay. After all, it is in the conclusion that the whole value of your work lies, where you sum up your reasoning. In it, you demonstrate how seriously you approached the consideration of a given topic and how much you are generally capable of independently reasoning and drawing conclusions.

You will be helped by special phrases that will help you consistently express your thoughts:

• In conclusion ... - In conclusion ...
• On the whole ... - In general ...
• To conclude ... - In conclusion ...
• To sum up ... - Thus ...
• All in all … − In general …
• All things considered ... - Considering all the circumstances ...
• Finally ... - Ultimately ... (In conclusion ...)
• Lastly… - In conclusion…
• In conclusion, I can say that although ... - In conclusion, I can say that, although ...
• Taking everything into consideration…
• Taking everything into account ... - Taking everything into account ...
• So it’s up to everybody to decide whether … or not −
• The arguments we have presented ... suggest that ... / prove that ... / would indicate that ...
• To draw the conclusion, one can say that … − Summing up, we can say that …
• From these arguments one must ... / could ... / might ... conclude that ...

If you have already written the main part of the essay, then drawing up a conclusion should not be difficult. At the same time, I would like to list the most gross mistakes that simply cannot be made in the conclusion of the essay:

1. You can not put forward completely new ideas in the conclusion. It's just not logical. If they are really important, they should be included in the main body.

2. Never use an abusive tone. You must be confident in your statements. Don't use phrases like:

• I may not be an expert
• At least this is my opinion - At least I think so

3. Do not focus on too small and insignificant details. Your task is to summarize and draw conclusions.

4. In no case should you refute the significance of the previous arguments from the main part.

Volume of partitions

The volume of each of the sections may vary depending on the task and the topic of the essay. In any case, at least half of your essay should be the main body. The following ratio can serve as a general idea of ​​the volume of each section:

• Introduction - 10 - 25% of the total volume
• The main part - 50 - 80% of the total volume
• Conclusion - 10 - 25% of the total volume

Useful introductory phrases

• Moreover… − Moreover…
• Most of all ... - Most of all ...
• It is important to note that ... − It is important to note that ...
• It is important to remember that ...
• An important point is that ...
• At the moment, ... - At the moment, ...
• In conclusion, ... - In conclusion, ...
• After all, … − In the end, …
• In any case, ... / Anyway, ... / Either way, ...
• Actually, ... - Actually, ...
• Firstly, … - Firstly, …
• Instead of ... - Instead of ...
• In the first place, ... - First of all, ...
• From time to time, … − From time to time, …
• As a result of ... - As a result ...
• Indeed, … - Indeed, …
• In order to ... - In order to ...
• I must admit, ... - I must admit, ...
• In other words, … − In other words, …
• It makes sense (to) … − It makes sense …
• It seems that ...
• In short, ... / In a nutshell, ...
• Besides, … - In addition, …
• Luckily, ... / Fortunately, ... - Fortunately ...
• Unfortunately, … - Unfortunately, …
• In addition, … − In addition, …
• By the way, ... - By the way, ... / By the way, ...
• I should ... / I had better ... - I should ...
• It may seem that ...
• Finally, ... - Finally, ...
• In fact, ... / Actually, ... - In fact, ...
• As far as I know, ... - As far as I know ...
• As far as I can judge, ... - As far as I can tell, ...
• It doesn't matter that ...
• It is not surprising that ... / It is no great surprise that ... − It is not surprising that ...
• But other than that, ... - But other than that ...
• However, ... - However, ... / Nevertheless, ...
• It turned out that ... - It turned out that ...
• Frankly speaking, ... / To tell the truth, ... - Frankly speaking, ... / Honestly, ...
• In my opinion, ... - In my opinion, ...
• To tell the truth, … − In truth, …
• As a matter of fact, ... - As a matter of fact, ...
• First of all, ... / Above all, ... - First of all, ...
• It is self-evident that ... - It goes without saying that ...
• It goes without saying that… - It goes without saying that…
• It should be noted that ... - It should be noted that ...
• I advise you (to) ... - I advise you ...
• On the one hand, …, on the other hand, … − On the one hand, …, on the other hand, …
• Also, ... - Also ...
• As well as ... - As well as ...
• Meanwhile, ... / Meantime, ... - In the meantime, ...
• It is well known that ...
• As for ... / Concerning ... - As for ...
• It can mean that ...
• I would rather ... - I would rather ...
• I would like to ...
• I think, ... / I believe, ... / I guess, ... - I think ... / I believe ... / I believe ...

In order not to worry about the clarity of your essay, you must have a clear plan and a deep understanding of the material. Try to use simple phrases, without abstruse expressions. This way you can avoid a lot of mistakes in English. While not overusing complex expressions, you should also avoid abbreviations or slang.

Be aware of the difference between written and spoken language. Use as many adjectives and adverbs as possible to make your essay colorful and expressive. In general, you should state the main ideas and problems of your essay clearly and clearly so that the reader can follow the course of your thought without being distracted by unnecessary reasoning.

Ideally, you should aim for total absence grammatical and spelling errors. General structure, paragraphing, punctuation - everything must be done correctly to help the reader feel your reasoning. Here are some tips for writing an essay:

1. Use Academic Writing

• Avoid very categorical judgments and generalizations.
• If possible, avoid personal pronouns.
• Prove what has been said with quotes and data, indicating the source.
• Observe gender equality: when talking about an abstract person, use person instead of man. It is also better to use the pronoun they instead of he or she.
• Try to use phrases that are based on a noun rather than a verb. For example, instead of "Crime was increasing rapidly and the police were becoming concerned", write "The rapid increase in crime was causing concern among the police".

2. Don't use colloquial elements

• Always use the full form instead of don't, they're, it's, etc.
• Eliminate slang and colloquial expressions. For example: kid, a lot of/lots of, cool.
• Don't deviate from the topic.
• Instead of phrasal verbs (get away with, get off, put in), use one-word synonyms.
• Avoid overly general words (all, get, thing). Be precise and specific.
• Do not abuse exclamation marks, parentheses, avoid direct questions.

3. Strive to give the text objectivity

• The use of impersonal constructions is encouraged (It is believed that ., it can be argued that ...).
• Use the passive voice if it is not necessary to indicate the performer of the action (Experiment had been conducted).
• Use non-categorical verbs (suggest, claim, suppose).
• To avoid personal judgments, but to show your attitude to the issue, you can use adverbs: apparently, ideally, arguably, unexpectedly, strangely.
• To soften the categoricalness, use the modal verbs could, would, may, might.
• To avoid generalizations, use qualifying adverbs: some, a minority of, several, many, a few.

4. Connectivity of the text

In order for your essay to be pleasant to read, in addition to the fact that the thoughts in it must be expressed sequentially, the transition from one thought to another should be smooth, one should seem to follow from the other. You must keep the text coherent and guide the reader. The introductory and connecting phrases discussed above will help you with this. they can perform various functions. For example.

There are several types of essays that are written as part of assignments or exams in English. All of them have common features, which we have already discussed in detail in the article "". In this article, I will tell you about the specifics essay for and against in English (For and Against Essay).

Below you will find everything you need to write a pro and con essay correctly in English. We will look at what constitutes an essay "for and against", we will analyze its characteristic features and structure, and I will also give some tips on writing an essay. And in this article you will find.

From the article you will learn:

What is a For and Against Essay?

Essay "for and against" in English- one of the most common types of essay, and it is also one of the most difficult. In such an essay, you will have to consider some phenomenon of the surrounding world and analyze its positive and negative sides. Of particular difficulty is the fact that you must be objective in considering the issue. Both the arguments "for" and the arguments "against" in such an essay should be approximately equivalent, and there should be an equal or at least comparable number of them.

You can express your personal attitude to the issue only in the conclusion, and it is desirable that it is not visible in the main part of the essay. It is also important to include those arguments that you yourself do not consider valid or true, but others do. In this case, you can challenge them, but you must do this by citing objective arguments or data. Directly expressing your disagreement is not worth it - for this there is an essay-opinion (Opinion Essay).

The structure of the essay "for and against" in English

Essay for and against spelled the same plan, like the rest of the essay, and consists of a title, introduction, body and conclusion. The main difference between an essay of this kind and all others is in the main part or “body” of an essay, which can be of two types. Below we will look at what are the features of each element of the pros and cons essay structure.

header

The title contains the topic of the essay, so he usually names the phenomenon that will need to be considered in it. It is often clear from the title that it is the pros and cons essay that is expected from the writer - for example, the expressions “the pros and cons of”, “advantages and disadvantages of” are used (“positive and negative sides”, “merits and demerits”) , as in "The Pros and Cons of Wearing a School Uniform" or "Advantages and Disadvantages of a Mandatory Retirement".

In other cases, the title is designed as a question, on the basis of which you can write both an essay "for and against" and an essay-opinion. You need to find out in advance if any specific of these two types of essay is required from you, or if you can write any. Examples of such headlines are "Should Sport Hunting be Banned?" or “Should Kids under the Age of 13 Have a Phone?”

Introduction

The introduction of an essay "for and against" in English is written in the same way as the introduction of any other essay. In it, you name the phenomenon, the advantages and disadvantages of which you will consider, and give some information about what it is. Also in the introduction, you can briefly outline the plan of the main part.

Main part

In the main part of the pros and cons essay, you should describe the positive and negative aspects of the phenomenon to which the essay is devoted, and give pros and cons arguments. This can be done in two ways.

The first way, the most common one, is to divide the “body” of the essay into two parts. One of the parts will be devoted to the merits of the phenomenon, the other to its shortcomings. Each of the parts in this case begins with a new paragraph; they, in turn, can be divided into even smaller paragraphs, if the composition of the essay requires it.

The second way is to consider the issue from several aspects and for each aspect, give the argument (s) "for" and the argument (s) "against", placing them next to each other in the form of opposition. This method is good for topics that can be broken down into several narrower subtopics. For example, if you are faced with the task of analyzing whether animals can be used for entertainment, you can separately analyze the types of entertainment in which animals are used (movies with animal actors, keeping in zoos, circus performances, equestrian sports, etc.), and give reasons for each. In this case, each new subtopic would require a new paragraph.

Conclusion

The conclusion of an essay “for and against” in English is of two types, which, however, can be combined with each other:

1. In the first type of conclusion, you weigh the pros and cons given and decide which of them seem more compelling to you. Here you can express your personal opinion, indicating the point of view on the issue that you adhere to.
2. In the conclusion of the second type, you summarize by briefly listing the key arguments that sounded in the "body" of the essay. In this case, you do not stop at any of the positions, leaving the question open, and remain impartial to the very end.

Remember that the conclusion of the essay "for and against" applies to everything that is true for the conclusion of any other essay. In particular, it may succinctly restate what was said above, but should not repeat any of it verbatim. Also, the conclusion should not introduce new ideas and expand or narrow the topic that was originally set.

When writing an essay "for and against" the same rules must be followed as when writing any other essay: you can not use colloquial vocabulary and abbreviated forms of words and expressions; semantic parts should be interconnected with the help of well-established cliché phrases (here), characteristic of the academic style; do not enter information off topic; it is not recommended to express your thoughts too emotionally and categorically.

There is no consensus on whether to use rhetorical questions in an essay. According to recent reports, they are highly discouraged in an essay that is part of USE in English. In other cases, you can enter them, but at your own peril and risk, and if it is possible to avoid them or convert them into an indirect question, it is better to do so.

You should also not use words and expressions denoting personal opinion ("I guess", "I believe", "I feel", "In my opinion", etc.), except for the conclusion - even if you do not intend to express through them their position on the issue.

Some recommend including quotes in essays. famous people who spoke on the issue in a positive or negative way. Such quotes can serve as an excellent complement to the arguments for and against, or to illustrate one of them. However, this is not always appropriate. You can quote one or two quotes if you are writing a voluminous essay as part of an English assignment, but you should not do this on an exam. Without relying on the text, you can distort the quote; besides, the given quote will leave less room for objective arguments.

There are tips that are of particular relevance for an essay "for and against" in English. For example, such an essay benefits more than others from the inclusion of statistics and research results in the text; therefore, if you have the opportunity to prepare for the topic and study the issue, be sure to do it. In search of information, you need to rely on reliable sources. This will help you not only write a great essay, but also form an informed opinion on the subject at hand.

Also, in the process of studying the topic, you will become familiar with many different points of view and can get an idea of ​​​​the reasons people use to justify them. If you make similar arguments in an essay, it will make it comprehensive and balanced.

In addition, a pro and con essay will benefit if you take a few minutes before writing it to briefly list the arguments you are going to use in a draft and organize them structurally. Due to the fact that the arguments of each type are given a strictly defined place in the composition of such an essay, you will not be able to add a new argument "for" if you have already begun to state the arguments "against".

And in all kinds of competitions, there is a task according to which you must submit your essay to the jury or evaluation commission. It is this work that should characterize you, your perception, your worldview, your knowledge and your potential.

What is an essay? An essay is a prose piece of small volume and free composition that conveys individual impressions and thoughts on a specific occasion or issue. Initially, your own essay is not positioned as a defining or exhaustive treatment of this subject. This is just purely your vision of the issue, which is indicated by the topic of the essay.

A ? The essay can be written on a topic that you are offered, or on a free topic that you choose yourself, if the task does not strictly define the topic. If you have to write on a given topic, there’s nowhere to go - you need to try to reflect all your knowledge and worldview in this small piece of text! It seems to me that an essay on any topic of your choice is somewhat easier, since in this case you are free to decide on which issue or problem you understand best, and express your opinion in the proper form.

How to write an essay in English?

Answering the question “how to write an essay in English”, it is worth recalling that any essay consists of several parts. I would identify the top three: introduction, main part And conclusion. In the introduction, it is necessary to indicate the key thought, idea or problem that you will talk about in the main part. It is best if it sounds in the form of some short, but concise, complete statement. By the way, it can be if you manage to pick it up in accordance with the semantic content of this essay in English.

In the main part of the essay in English, it is supposed to present any arguments, evidence or refutation of your main idea, which would express your personal opinion on this issue. You can give examples that will illustrate your point of view. When writing an essay in English, try to avoid abstruse or bookish phrases that will turn your work into a boring creation. In this case, the reviewer may refuse to read this work at all. It is better to use simple, but at the same time good, competent, high-quality English. Use more adjectives and adverbs, but the main advantage of written English in this case is the synonyms of verbs and words in general. Your essay will become memorable, and "beautiful". And yes, mistakes are not welcome!

In conclusion, complete all your reasoning and draw conclusions, which will be the final part of your essay in English. All parts of the essay should flow smoothly into one another, all thoughts should be logically connected. This will help you with special vocabulary, which exists so that you consistently express your thoughts.

For example, when adding, you can use words such as more over(besides, more than that) as well as(same as, as well as) furthermore(besides, besides). If you want to display a contrast or opposition, please refer to but(But), however(however), on the other hand(on the other side), yet(even, yet, already), on the contrary(actually, the other way around). Limit with words despite / in spite of(despite), express the cause or result of something using the following vocabulary: therefore(for this reason, for this reason) so(so, therefore) as a result(because of this, thus), consequently(hence therefore) this results in(as a result) this leads to(it turns out). Pay attention to adverbs of order and sequence - then(Then), next(then, next time) after(after), finally / lastly(finally).

The main problem in determining the key point is " how to write an essay in english”is the inability to briefly but competently state one's thoughts. As a rule, we try, as they say, "to spread our thoughts along the tree" or "to pour water." This is just not worth doing, since a large amount of unnecessary information in your essay in English will not become a virtue of your work, but will be its disadvantage. If you are not writing an essay for an exam, but just preparing for something, ask friends and family to read it and rate it. You yourself also re-read it several times to see if you made semantic or grammatical errors, and if present, safely get rid of them.

Are you having an exam soon? Then you are probably interested in learning how to write an essay in English perfectly. We will tell you about the types and correct structure of essays, give you tips that will teach you how to write such works in English quickly and correctly.

What is an essay in English? This is a short essay with a specific structure in which you talk about a specific topic and express your point of view on a given topic.

Essay structure in English

How many words should be in an essay in English? Each exam has an optimal amount of written work. Typically, the assignment involves writing an essay between 180 and 320 words, depending on the exam. If you are going to take an English test, we recommend that you clarify in advance the required amount of written work and practice writing a text of the appropriate length.

The structure of an essay in English is universal for all exams. Written work consists of the following parts:

1. Title - the title of the essay, reflecting the theme of the story.
2. Introduction - 2-4 short sentences that reveal the topic of the essay.
3. The main part is 2-3 paragraphs describing the essence of the essay. In them, you need to fully and competently reveal the topic, bring arguments and argue them.
4. Conclusion - 2-4 sentences summing up what has been written. In this part, you make a general conclusion on the topic of the essay.

Each of the paragraphs in the body of the essay begins with an introductory sentence (Topic Sentence), this is the “introduction” to the paragraph. The following sentences develop and confirm the idea expressed in Topic Sentence.

To learn how to write an essay strictly according to plan and clearly structure your thoughts, use theeasyessay.com or. On this resource, you can plan the perfect essay, guided by a simple instruction. Practice writing papers according to such a plan, and it will be easier for you to write a good reasoned essay during the exam.

Types of essays in English and their features

The type of English essay you need to write depends on the given topic and is sometimes indicated in the assignment. According to an authoritative source - the book Successful Writing by Virginia Evans - it is customary to distinguish three main types of essays:

1. For and against. For and against essays

The name speaks for itself: you give arguments for and against some phenomenon. The outline of the essay in English is as follows:

• Introduction. In it, you bring the reader to the topic of discussion.
• Main part. You give arguments "for" and "against" some action or phenomenon. In this case, you do not need to express your point of view, stick to neutrality.
• Conclusion. Only here you express your attitude to the topic and draw a conclusion.

An example of such an essay(all examples taken from Successful Writing by Virginia Evans, Intermediate level):

2. Essay-opinion. Opinion essays

You express your thoughts on a given topic. It would seem that any essay is an expression of one's own thoughts. What is the point of this type of essay? In Opinion Essays, you need to not only reflect your point of view, but also look at the proposed topic from different angles. Consider all aspects of the issue, write your opinion and be sure to support it with confident arguments.

Essay-opinion plan in English:

• Introduction. You indicate the topic of discussion.
• Main part. You express your opinion and confidently argue it. Here it is also desirable to consider an opinion opposite to yours, and explain to the reader why you do not share this point of view.
• Conclusion. You sum up, finally formulating your point of view on the proposed topic.

An example of such an essay:

3. Offer a solution to the problem. Suggesting solutions to problem essays

In this type of writing, you will be asked to consider some global problem or problems. Your job is to suggest solutions.

The plan for this type of essay is as follows:

• Introduction. You specify the problem and its causes or consequences.
• Main part. You suggest ways to solve problems and the possible consequences of such actions. Explain clearly why certain actions should be taken and what this entails.
• Conclusion. Summarize your reasoning.

An example of such an essay:

Rules for writing a great essay in English

Before writing an essay in English, read some rules for writing it. These simple guidelines will help you succeed in writing.

1. Stick to essay structure

Once you have received the assignment, determine the type of essay and the plan according to which you will write it. After that, go straight to the points: heading - introduction - several paragraphs of the main body - conclusion. Be sure to follow this strict essay structure, otherwise your work will not be highly appreciated.

2. Use a draft

Since there is little time for writing an essay in English, a draft should be used wisely. If time is running out, we advise immediately after receiving the assignment and getting to know the topic, sketch out your thoughts and arguments for them in the form of short theses. This will allow you to not forget important thoughts while writing a clean copy.

3. Prepare for any topic

An essay in English shows not only your level of knowledge of the language, but also erudition. Therefore, before preparing for the exam, read texts on various topics. This will help you broaden your horizons and memorize new words, phrases and clichés that you can use in your writing on the exam.

4. Leave time for review

Allocate time so that at the end of the exam you have at least 5 minutes left to check your essay. As a rule, the mark is not reduced for careful corrections, so this is a real chance to "save" your work by correcting the errors found.

5. Determine the right style

6. Be concise

An essay in English is a short written work. Some students think that the principle “the more the better” works and write huge opuses. Alas, the examiners will not only not increase, but will also lower your grade for not meeting the required volume.

7. Argue your arguments

Each written thought should not sound unfounded. Support it with arguments, a vivid example, statistics, etc. Your written work should show the reviewer that you know what you are writing about and are sure that you are right.

8. Use link words

Introductory words for an essay are important links that connect sentences together, forming a logical chain of your thoughts. They will help to combine sentences or show contrast, indicate the sequence of actions, etc. We recommend that you study such useful constructions in the article "Linking words in English".

9. Use a variety of vocabulary and grammar

Avoid repetition of words, use synonyms and complex grammatical constructions - show the examiner that you speak English at a high level. Instead of the boring good, use, depending on the context, remarkable, gorgeous, fascinating. Use complex constructions and different tenses to express your thoughts. A text in which all sentences are written in Present Simple will receive a low mark.

10. State your thoughts correctly

An essay is a written expression of your thoughts on a particular topic. And here it is important not to forget about elementary delicacy. If possible, do not touch on politics, religion and other "slippery" topics. If the task involves consideration of some “painful” topic, state your point of view tolerantly and politely. In this case, it is better to keep a formal tone and avoid a violent display of emotions.

11. Write softly

Although you should write your thoughts on this issue, however, try not to use structures like this often: "I am sure that ...", "I know that ...", etc. Write softer, for example , “It seems to me ...”, “In my opinion ...” - this will sound more formal and correct in relation to the opinions of other people.

For those who want to learn how to write better, we recommend watching the following video:

Now you know how to write an essay in English perfectly well. In order for this theoretical knowledge to bring you practical benefits in the form of a high mark on the exam, actively use it. Practice writing essays on different topics - this will be the best preparation for the exam.

And if you need to quickly and efficiently prepare for an English exam and get a high mark on it, we suggest enrolling in English at our school.

Format and rules for writing an essay “expressing opinion”

The essay “expressing opinion” is written in a formal (business) style.
In this type of essay, you need to express your point of view on a given topic, as well as bring other people's points of view that are opposite to yours and explain why you do not agree with them. Your opinion should be clearly articulated and supported by examples or evidence.
Essay size 200-250 words (minimum 180 words, maximum 275)
The essay should actively use constructions like "In my opinion", "I think", "I believe"
It is necessary to use introductory words and constructions like “On the one hand, on the other hand”…, linking words (Nevertheless, Moreover, Despite…)
It is forbidden to use abbreviations, such as “I’m”, “they’re”, “don’t”, “can’t” (otherwise the score for organizing the composition will be reduced)
The “expressing opinion” essay has a strict structure, changing which when writing an essay will lead to a decrease in the score. The essay “expressing opinion” consists of 4 paragraphs:

1) Introduction(introduction)

In the introduction, it is necessary to clearly formulate the topic-problem, indicating that there are two opposite points of view on the problem (Some people claim that mobile phones are very useful devices while others argue that life could be less stressful without them.) and express your opinion without using too many personal designs
However, the first sentence should not repeat word for word the given topic of the essay. Recommended end of the first paragraph: Now I would like to express my point of view on the problem of …

2) Main body

1 paragraph. Give 2-3 arguments supporting your point of view, supporting them with examples or evidence.
In the second paragraph, you should stick to only ONE point of view, for example: Mobile phones in my opinion are very useful devices. OR I consider the mobile phone to be a harmful and useless invention.
It is necessary to give 2-3 arguments with evidence to support your own opinion

2 paragraph. Give opposing points of view (1-2), and explain why you do not agree with them. Example: However, some people think that mobile phones not only keep you in touch with your relatives and friends but also provide you with a great number of facilities. I can't agree with this statement because…
Your counterarguments to other people's opinions should not repeat the 2nd paragraph.

3) Conclusion (conclusion)

It is necessary to conclude, referring to the topic given in the 1st paragraph, that there are 2 points of view on the problem, and also to confirm your own point of view.
For example: “There are different points of view on this problem. I think that…” or “Taking everything into consideration, there are two different points of view on this problem. I believe that…

Useful vocabulary for composition"expressing opinion"

1 paragraph Introductory phrases

• It is popularly believed that….
• People often claim that... Some people argue that…
• A lot of people think that…
• It is often suggested /believed that…
• Many people are in favor of the idea that... Many people are convinced that...
• Some people are against…

2 paragraph. Phrases expressing your point of view:

• I would like to explain my point of view on this situation.
• I would like to express my opinion on this problem.

Phrases characterizing the advantages of the problem under discussion:

• As already stated I’m in favor of… for a number of reasons…
• There are many things to be said in favor of…
• The best/thing about……. is…

Phrases listing points of view:

• Firstly, /First of all….
• In the first place
• To start with, / To begin with,
• Secondly, Thirdly, Finally,
• Last but not least

Phrases that add new arguments:

• Furthermore, /Moreover, /What is more,
• As well as…. /In addition to this/that…
• Besides, /…….also….
• Not only…., but…… as well.
• Apart from this/that….
• not to mention the fact that

3 paragraph.

• Some people understand that… however they fail to that…
• they fail to consider that… they forget that…
• Some people argue that…. I can't agree with it as...
• I disagree with this point of view (statement, opinion) because …
• It has become fashionable for some people to argue that…
• Contrary to what most people believe, I think that…
• As opposed to the above ideas…I believe that…

4 paragraph. Closing phrases:

• in conclusion,
• on the whole,
• to conclude,
• to sum up,
• all in all,
• All things considered
• finally,
• lastly,
• taking everything into account,
• Taking everything into consideration

Expression of personal opinion:

• In my opinion this subject is very controversial
• In my view…
• To my mind…
• To my way of thinking…
• Personally I believe that…
• I feel strongly that…
• It seems to me that…
• As far as I am concerned…

Criteria for assessing the performance of tasks С2

Essay Sample

many cities in Europe do everything to promote bicycles as an ecologically clean type of transportation; however the governor of St. Petersburg signed a decree according to which bicycles will not be allowed in the city centre.

Do you agree that bicycles should be banned in the center of St. Petersburg?

Write 200-250 words

Use the following plan:

1.Introduction. (state the problem)

2. Express your opinion and give reasons for it.

3. Give other people's arguments and explain why they are wrong.

4. Make a conclusion

In European cities people ride bicycles a lot because they are aware that bikes help to save fuel and reduce pollution in cities. However, the governor of Saint-Petersburg decided to ban bicycles in the city center and I fully agree with it. I would like to explain my point of view on it.

In my opinion, the governor is absolutely right. In the first place, our roads are not adapted for biking as in Europe; they are too narrow and there are no separate lanes for bicycles. Bikes do not help the traffic situation but even sometimes make it worse as bicyclists often break traffic rules and cause accidents. In addition, the weather in St. Petersburg is not good for bicycle commuting. In winter roads are covered with ice, in autumn and in spring rains are frequent and roads are wet, so it is very difficult for cyclists to move.

On the other hand, some say that bikes are undoubtedly useful for our health, I can not agree with it completely as there are a lot of road accidents where cyclists are injured. Some people may argue that bikes are ecologically clean, but you can also put special purifying facilities on cars which are faster and more comfortable as transport.

To sum up, there are different points of view on this problem. I believe that bicycles should be banned in the city center where streets are not specially created for them. As I see it, a bike is a kind of transport for short trips in the countryside.

USE in English. Letter. Task C2. Video lesson.