Essays or compositions in English are one of the main tasks in exams. It is written year after year as part of the Unified State Examination, and will be written by new generations of graduates. According to rumors, big changes in certification in foreign languages ​​are approaching: in 2020, all Russian schools are going to conduct a trial Unified State Examination in the Chinese language. But there are no plans to cancel the English essay, so let's focus on writing it in 2018.

English-speaking countries have their own analogues of the Unified State Exam: in the UK these are A-level exams, in the USA - SAT and ACT. The tests are not easy, but quite doable. Before writing an essay on the English language, read this article - we tried to make it as useful and practical as possible. And if you had to take a break from learning English, by all means.

Structure of an English essay

Is writing essays easy for you? Unfortunately, this will hardly help you in writing an English essay. On the other hand, this is not bad, because you do not have to show creative originality at all costs - it is much more important to know and follow the rules and criteria for writing an essay in English. And the structure, or, more simply put, the outline of an essay in English is known:

Heading. Title of the essay. Directly depends on the topic given on the ticket. The title of the essay should be short, but expressive and succinct. Practice using previous years' English essay topics.

Introduction. The introductory part of the essay, the task of which is to briefly describe its essence. Briefly - this is usually from 2 to 4 simple sentences.

Main part. The most voluminous and meaningful part of the essay. This is where the main objectives of the essay are revealed. The main part assesses your ability to develop a topic using logical arguments. The approximate volume of this part is 2-3 paragraphs of 3-4 sentences each.

Conclusion. The finale of the essay, in which you need to draw conclusions based on the reasoning of the main part. A couple of sentences are enough to summarize and end the text beautifully.

An essay outline is a written reflection of the structure of an essay. Just next to each item, from 1 to 4, write the appropriate name for this section. And in writing, separate structural parts into paragraphs. Write the title in the center of the sheet; start the introduction on a new line; divide the main part into 2-3 paragraphs according to the meaning; state the conclusion in the last paragraph of the text: For example:

(colored markers are used for clarity; they do not need to be used in the exam paper).

Topics and types of essays in English with examples

Types of essays in English are, in essence, their styles. Typically, the exam paper contains a detailed description of the task: the topic and style of the essay. There are three possible styles, and we will consider each of them in detail.

Opinion essays, or opinion essays.

The main feature of this text is a first-person narration, during which you must defend your specific point of view on the subject with arguments. The main task is to demonstrate your own thoughts and the ability to justify them.

For and against essays, or essays “for and against”.

This is the same type of essay that in Russian we are used to calling “discussion essay.” Its main feature is the presence of arguments that reveal the topic from different (preferably opposing) points of view. The plan is:

Suggesting solutions to problem essays, or solution to a problem.

The simplest and at the same time complex type of essay in English. Its task is to test your vocabulary. The topic of such an essay is some global, well-known problem. You need to tell how you can solve it and/or how to live with it. In terms of plan it looks something like this:

Even if the exam task does not directly indicate the style of the text, you will immediately understand how to write an essay, depending on the topic. For example, for a topic about sports, an essay may contain arguments for (health) and against (injuries). A topic related to ecology will be explored as much as possible in a problem-solving essay.

Speech clichés for essays in English

There are certain phrases, even phrases, that help you write an essay in English. Their first advantage is that you have certain “support points”, guidelines for constructing sentences. And secondly, they make it clear to the examiners that you are proficient in these speech structures and can correctly apply them in the text. Here are examples of basic verbal cliches for essays in English:

This essay deals with... (This essay is dedicated to...)

This assignment will examine... (This work examines...)

This report will analyze... (This report analyzes...)

First(ly) ... second(ly) ... third(ly) (Firstly ... secondly ... thirdly / first ... second ... third)

To begin with... then... to conclude (To begin... then... finally)

Owing to/owing to the fact that (Thanks/owing to the fact that)

It is believed that... (They believe that...)

It cannot be discussed that... (Undoubtedly).

Try not to repeat the same words. It will be great if you can enrich the synonymic series. Even if the sentences are similar in structure, use synonyms. For example, for contrast: but, however, on the other hand, yet; for examples: for example, that is; for additions: similarly, moreover, furthermore, in addition; for enumerations: then, after that, ultimately; in conclusion: therefore, consequently, as a result, thus.

And remember - clean and concise speech is always preferable to florid and complex speech in which you yourself are confused. First, think and structure to understand exactly how to write an essay in English. Then on paper the text will turn out coherent and without errors. Good luck on the exam!

The assignment contains a certain statement. You need to write an opinion essay in which you express your own opinion regarding this statement (opinion essay).

WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each starting with a new paragraph):

1. Introduction. Here you must identify the problem specified in the assignment. It is important to paraphrase it and not rewrite it word for word. For example, task “In order to get a good adecation one should go abroad” can be reformulated as follows: “Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy” . This thesis should also be supplemented with a small commentary explanation. You can end the introduction with a rhetorical question.
2. Expressing your own opinion. In this paragraph it is necessary to briefly reflect your personal attitude to this problem and support it with 2-3 detailed arguments. It is important that the arguments are convincing, succinct and logical. Arguments are introduced using universal linking words and phrases.
3. Expressing an opposing opinion. The third paragraph of the essay should contain the opponent's point of view. This thesis also needs to be supported by 1-2 arguments. It is important that the opponent has 1 fewer arguments (i.e., if you have three arguments in the 2nd paragraph, there should be two in the 3rd), because our goal is to prove our own rightness.
4. Disagreement with the opinions of opponents. Here you should refute your opponent’s opinion, express your disagreement and support it with 1-2 counterarguments. Remember that you provide counterarguments to your opponent’s arguments, their number should be the same (2 opponent’s arguments = 2 of your counterarguments).
5. Conclusion. The last paragraph should contain a general conclusion regarding the issue under discussion, which is also supplemented with commentary. You can use a universal phrase that will make the reader think about the problem.

Below is a table with examples of introductory words and phrases.

STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

Unified State Exam 2017 IN ENGLISH. UNIVERSAL ESSAY TEMPLATE

Nowadays, the problem of … causes great argument and controversy. Some people believe that ... while others think ... . Who is right?

In my opinion,…. To begin with, … . What is more,… . Additionally,….

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all, … . Besides...

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because… . … .

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of … is still to be discussed. As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

SAMPLE TASK AND READY ESSAY FOR USE IN ENGLISH

• Comment on the following statement:

In order to get a good adecation one should go abroad.

What is your opinion? Write 200–250 words. Use the following plan:

− make an introduction (state the problem)

− express your personal opinion and give 2–3 reasons for your opinion

− express an opposing opinion and give 1–2 reasons for this opposing opinion

− explain why you don’t agree with the opposing opinion

− make a conclusion restating your position

Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy. Some people think that one can get a better education only in another country, others believe that it is possible to study at home. Where is the truth?

In my opinion, studying abroad is more advantageous because one can gain useful experience. To begin with, it can have a positive impact on students’ self-discipline as youngsters become more initiative and acquire quickness in comprehension. Moreover, it gives them a chance to learn more about the culture of the other country and improve their language skills. Additionally, it is a splendid opportunity to make new friends.

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all it is very expensive to study abroad. Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that, children have to adapt to many things, thus, it can be stressful for them.

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because there are a lot of exchange programs wich are funded by government, therefore, students can study abroad for free. Besides, a person should learn to cope with stress if he or she would like to go the university to broaden their mind.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of studying abroad is still to be discussed. I believe that one should analyze and compare all pros and cons before making a proper decision where to get an education.

RULES FOR WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE Unified State Exam

• Count the words

It is imperative to keep within the specified volume: 200-250 words (a deviation of 10% in both directions is allowed, i.e. 180-275 words). If the essay contains ≤179 words, then the assignment will receive 0 points. If ≥276 words, then only the first 250 words are checked. Remember that 1 word is everything between two spaces. Hyphens (-) and apostrophes (’) are not spaces, so words like world’s, open-minded, UK are counted as one word. Practice writing letters on exam forms - this way you will learn to determine the number of words by eye and will spend less time counting them.

• Write in a formal style

Abbreviations cannot be used (full forms only) I am, cannot), as well as starting sentences with informal linking words well,also, but). Use impersonal verb forms ( one should). A rich vocabulary and variety of grammatical and syntactic structures demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the English language.

• Get your timing right

Give yourself 40 minutes to complete this task: 20 minutes for the draft, 15 minutes. for a clean copy and 5 min. for word counting and checking. Be sure to check your essay before submitting it!

Believe in yourself and everything will work out! We wish you good luck!

The assignment contains a certain statement. You need to write an opinion essay in which you express your own opinion regarding this statement (opinion essay).

The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each starting with a new paragraph):

1. Introduction. Here you must identify the problem specified in the assignment. It is important to paraphrase it and not rewrite it word for word. For example, task “In order to get a good education one should go abroad” can be reformulated as follows: “Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy” . This thesis should also be supplemented with a small commentary explanation.
2. Expressing your own opinion. In this paragraph it is necessary to briefly reflect your personal attitude to this problem and support it with 2-3 detailed arguments. It is important that the arguments are convincing, succinct and logical. Arguments are introduced using universal linking words and phrases.
3. Expressing an opposing opinion. The third paragraph of the essay should contain the opponent's point of view. This thesis also needs to be supported by 1-2 arguments. It is important that the opponent has 1 fewer arguments (i.e., if you have three arguments in the 2nd paragraph, there should be two in the 3rd), because our goal is to prove our own rightness.
4. Disagreement with the opinions of opponents. Here you should refute your opponent’s opinion, express your disagreement and support it with 1-2 counterarguments. Remember that you provide counterarguments to your opponent’s arguments, their number should be the same (2 opponent’s arguments = 2 of your counterarguments).
5. Conclusion. The last paragraph should contain a general conclusion regarding the issue under discussion, which is also supplemented with commentary. You can use a universal phrase that will make the reader think about the problem.

Below is a table with examples of introductory words and phrases.

STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2018 IN ENGLISH

UNIVERSAL ENGLISH ESSAY TEMPLATE

Nowadays, the problem of … causes great argument and controversy. Some people believe that ... while others think ... . Who is right?

In my opinion,…. To begin with, … . What is more,… . Additionally,….

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all, … . Besides...

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because… . … .

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of … is still to be discussed. As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

107 words

SAMPLE OF READY USE ESSAY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

• Comment on the following statement:

In order to get a good education one should go abroad.

What is your opinion? Write 200-250 words. Use the following plan:

− make an introduction (state the problem)

− express your personal opinion and give 2-3 reasons for your opinion

− express an opposing opinion and give 1-2 reasons for this opposing opinion

− explain why you don’t agree with the opposing opinion

− make a conclusion restating your position

Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy. Some people think that one can get a better education only in another country, others believe that it is possible to study at home. Where is the truth?

In my opinion, studying abroad is more advantageous because one can gain useful experience. To begin with, it can have a positive impact on students’ self-discipline as youngsters become more initiative and acquire quickness in comprehension. Moreover, it gives them a chance to learn more about the culture of the other country and improve their language skills. Additionally, it is a splendid opportunity to make new friends.

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all it is very expensive to study abroad. Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that, children have to adapt to many things, thus, it can be stressful for them.

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because there are a lot of exchange programs wich are funded by government, therefore, students can study abroad for free. Besides, a person should learn to cope with stress if he or she would like to go the university to broaden their mind.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of studying abroad is still to be discussed. I believe that one should analyze and compare all pros and cons before making a proper decision where to get an education.

241 words

RULES FOR WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE Unified State Exam

• Count the words

It is imperative to keep within the specified volume: 200-250 words (a deviation of 10% in both directions is allowed, i.e. 180-275 words). If the essay contains ≤179 words, then the assignment will receive 0 points. If ≥276 words, then only the first 250 words are checked. Remember that 1 word is everything between two spaces. Hyphens (-) and apostrophes (’) are not spaces, so words like world’s, open-minded, UK are counted as one word. Practice writing letters on exam forms - this way you will learn to determine the number of words by eye and will spend less time counting them.

• Write in a formal style

Abbreviations cannot be used (full forms only) I am, cannot), as well as starting sentences with informal linking words well,also, but). Use impersonal verb forms ( one should). A rich vocabulary and variety of grammatical and syntactic structures demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the English language.

• Get your timing right

Give yourself 60 minutes to complete this task: 10 minutes for the plan and write straight to the final copy for 40-45 minutes, 5 minutes. for word counting and checking. Be sure to check your essay before submitting it!

Believe in yourself and everything will work out!

Based on materials from the site: https://godege.ru/blog/angliyskiy-yazyik/ege-po-angliyskomu-yazyiku-esse.html

The New Year holidays have passed and it’s time for everyone who studies in grades 9 and 11 to think about the upcoming exams. The time to start preparing for them is now. The first thing you need to do is to repeat the vocabulary you have learned, that is, the completed topics in English.

So, the main task for the next six months is to transform all the vocabulary that lies passively in the head from passive to active.

Passive vocabulary- words that you understand by reading texts and listening to audio recordings.
Active vocabulary– words that you know how to use in oral and written speech.

We present to your attention list of topics in English, vocabulary for which must be activated in order to pass the Unified State Examination well. Although this year the format of the oral exam has changed (see), the essence remains the same: you need to know the words and be able to speak on given topics: ask questions, describe photographs, analyze, compare, find differences, argue, etc. Presentations Below they contain tasks on all types of speech activity and will help you prepare and successfully pass the Unified State Examination in English. Here is the content of the article:

The designation in brackets (for example, letter - 13, 18) means that the corresponding topic can be repeated by writing a letter (task No. 13, 18), which are given in the presentation “Personal letter”.

Topics in English in grade 11 when completing tasks in the oral and written part of the Unified State Exam (based on materials from FIPI)

A Everyday life and everyday life, distribution of household responsibilities in the family. (writing - 13, 18) Shopping (writing -5, speaking -3)

B Life in the city and countryside. Problems of the city and the village (speaking - 23)

IN Communication in the family and school (writing -11), family traditions (speaking -18), interpersonal relationships with friends and acquaintances (writing - 8,14, 16,17,20, speaking -21)

G Health and care (letter - 10, essay - 3) well-being, medical services. Healthy lifestyle (writing -7, speaking - 6, 22)

D The role of youth in modern society (essay-7), their interests and hobbies (speaking -6, 10, writing-4, 6, 12)

E Leisure time for young people: visiting clubs, sports sections, interest clubs (essay -15, speaking -9,). Correspondence

AND Home country (speaking -11) and countries of the language being studied. Their geographical location, climate, population, cities and villages, attractions(separate article COMING SOON).

Z Traveling in your country and abroad, sightseeing (essay - 16)

AND Nature and environmental problems (essay -9)

K Cultural and historical features of your country and the countries of the language being studied(separate article COMING SOON).

L The contribution of Russia and the countries of the language being studied to the development of science (essay-1) and world culture (speaking -13)

M The modern world of professions, the labor market (speaking-19)

N Opportunities for continuing education in higher education (essay - 10)

ABOUT Plans for the future, the problem of choosing a profession (speaking -19, writing -19)

P The role of foreign language proficiency in the modern world (letter-9)

R School Education (Essay-11). Subjects studied, attitude towards them. Holidays (speaking -5, 20)

WITH Scientific and technological progress, its prospects and consequences (essay -20)

T New information technologies (essay -20)

U Holidays and significant dates in various countries of the world (speaking -4, 14)

Source: Codifier of content elements and requirements for the level of training of graduates of educational organizations for the Unified State Examination in ENGLISH in 11th grade in 2015

Personal writing in English in 11th grade. Topics

Below we offer 20 topics that correspond to the specifications from the FIPI website. Pay special attention to the highlighted topics that are included in the content of the substantive speech. You will find assignments for these topics in the presentation below.

1. Teenage Jobs
2. Fashion
3. Hobbies. Music
4. Pets
5. Clothes
   
6. Parties
   
7. Keeping Fit
8. Family Relations
   
9. Learning English
   
10. Health
    
11. Teenage Problems with parents
    
12. Birthday Party
    
13. Household Chores
    
14. Teenage Problems with friends
    
15. Exams
16. Teenage Problems with friends
    
17. Teenage Problems
    
18. Household Chores
19. Future Profession
    
20. Teenage Problems with parents

Personal writing in English in 11th grade. Quests

Essay on English in 11th grade. Topics

Below we offer 20 topics that correspond to the specifications from the FIPI website. Pay special attention to the highlighted topics that are included in the content of the substantive speech:

1. Space Exploration
   
2. Teenagers Today
3. Healthy and Unhealthy food
   
4. Watching TV
5. School Trips
6. Stray Animals
7. School Management
   
8. Car as a means of transport
9. Environmental Problems
   
10. Higher Education
    
11. School Education
    
12. Teenage Jobs
13. Appearance and Fashion
14. Pocket Money
15. Free Time
    
16. Traveling
    
17. School Magazine
18. Homework
19. Experiments on Animals
20. Technology and Science
    

Essay on English. Quests

Below we offer 24 speaking topics, which correspond to the specifications from the FIPI website. Pay special attention to the highlighted topics that are included in the content of the substantive speech:

Topics in English for preparing for the Unified State Exam (intensifying monologue speech)

• TV Programs (1,2)
• Clothes & Fashion (3)
• Holidays (4)
• Favorite Subject (5)
• Sports (6)
• Favorite Film (7)
• Favorite Book (8)
• Free Time (9)
• Hobbies (10)
• The Place Where I live (11)
• Weather (12)
• Famous Person (13)
• Public Holidays (14)
• Mobile Phones (15)
• My favorite place (16)
• Pets (17)
• My Family (18)
• My Plans for the Future (19)
• My School (20)
• My Best Friend (21)
• Healthy Food (22)
• City Life and Country Life (23)
• Mass Media (24)

You will find tasks to activate your speaking skills in the presentation:

Thus, you can repeat the learned vocabulary on all topics in writing (in the form of a letter or essay) or orally (in the form of monologues) and thus successfully pass the English language exam. Good luck in learning English and preparing for the Unified State Exam!

Preparation for the OGE and the Unified State Exam

Secondary general education

Line UMK M.V. Verbitskaya. English language "Forward" (10-11) (basic)

Line of teaching materials of O. V. Afanasyeva, I. V. Mikheeva, K. M. Baranova. "Rainbow English" (10-11) (basic)

English language

We analyze the Unified State Examination in English: section “Writing”

Jalolova Svetlana Anatolyevna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Winner of the competitive selection for the Moscow Grant in the field of education in 2010. Senior expert of the State Examination Agency Unified State Examination in English. Winner of the All-Russian Olympiad of English Language Teachers “Profi-Kray” 2015. Certificate of honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation 2014, Certificate of winner of the competition for the best teachers of the Russian Federation 2007, Diploma of the winner of the competition for the Moscow Grant 2010. Work experience - 23 years.

Nedashkovskaya Natalya Mikhailovna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Winner of PNPO 2007. Winner of the competitive selection for the Moscow Grant in the field of education 2010. GIA OGE expert in English. Conducted a pedagogical examination of educational publications at the Russian Academy of Education 2015-2016. Certificate of Honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation 2013, Certificate of the winner of the competition for the best teachers of the Russian Federation 2007, Diploma of the winner of the competition for the Moscow Grant 2010. Work experience - 35 years.
Podvigina Marina Mikhailovna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Winner of PNPO 2008. Winner of the competitive selection for the Moscow Grant in the field of education 2010. Senior expert of the State Examination Agency Unified State Examination in English. Conducted a pedagogical examination of educational publications at the Russian Academy of Education 2015-2016. Certificate of honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation 2015, Certificate of winner of the competition for the best teachers of the Russian Federation 2008, Diploma of the winner of the competition for the Moscow Grant 2010. Work experience - 23 years.
Trofimova Elena Anatolyevna, English teacher of the highest qualification category. Senior expert of the State Examination Agency Unified State Examination in English. Certificate of honor from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation in 2013. Work experience - 15 years.

39. Task 1. Let's get straight to writing. It is better to write the letter straight away: this will avoid wasting time and energy. To correctly formulate answers to questions, you can make preliminary sketches in the form of keywords that can be easily converted into a complete thought, for example:

Russian cuisine, healthy and delicious, pancakes and cabbage soup called shchi, pancakes

When preparing answers to questions, it is important to remember that your real opinion on a particular issue does not matter in the exam. If you have forgotten how this or that Russian word is translated into English, simply answer the question differently, the main thing is that your answer sounds clear and believable. The beginning of the letter is the same for all letters, so you just need to memorize it. We write a short address in the upper right corner. There is no need to write the street and house number - no one will appreciate our wasted efforts. In addition, stupid mistakes are possible. Let's just limit ourselves to Moscow, Russia (separated by a comma) or without a comma under each other.

Under the address we write the date, simply 04/17/17 (you can use words, but there is no need for this, and the risk of stupid mistakes increases). What follows is a typical homework for the first paragraph (let’s first take a look at the task and remember the friend’s name):

Dear Stuart, (can be without a comma)

Thank you for your letter. I was very happy to hear from you again.

You can also start the second paragraph with a fairly typical, but nevertheless winning phrase, which will serve as a kind of “bridge” before moving on to the main part of the work.

In your letter you asked me some questions about the food I like (or the cuisine I prefer) and now I"m ready to answer them.

Let's take a quick look at our notes and answer the first question, which consists of two parts. For example, I prefer Russian national cuisine because it's healthy and delicious.

There is no need to give long and lengthy explanations of the reasons here. This can be done if you are sure that you write absolutely correctly, have a good supply of time, and also that you will not exceed the established word limit. Otherwise, save your energy for the essay. The answer to the second question can be preceded by an introductory word, for example,

As for my favorite dishes, I love pancakes and cabbage soup called shchi.

And finally, the answer to the third question. Note that the question is simply about what kind of dishes you generally know how to cook, which means that the dishes definitely need to be mentioned. You can do this: Unfortunately, I can't cook very well. I can only fry potatoes and make a sandwich.

Alternatively, you can link the answer to the previous statement: I can cook pancakes very well. Also I can fry potatoes.

Of course, we can say that we don’t know how to cook at all: I can't cook at all.

So the second paragraph of the letter might look like this:

We take a look at the task and make sure that we have answered all the questions asked. Now you can move on to the third paragraph: questions for a friend. You can start a paragraph with a pre-prepared phrase: Now I want to ask you some questions about the cooking camp.

Or you can simply use the conjunction by the way before the first question. For example, Wu the way, where is the camp located?

Now let's get to the questions. According to the assignment, we have to ask a friend about the culinary camp. To avoid a typical mistake (off-topic questions), you can simply ask questions where the phrase cooking camp will be the subject, for example, Where is it located? What facilities has it got? Is it a popular among teenagers? How big is the camp?

There is no need to try to ask different types of questions. The type of questions does not affect the score. Please note: questions that are only indirectly related to the camp will not be accepted. For example, Who recommended the camp to you? (This is not about the camp itself, but about where you got the information) How long are you planning to spend there? (This is more about the author's plans than about the camp).

The third paragraph might look like this: Now I want to ask you some questions about the cooking camp. Where is it located? What facilities has it got? How big is the camp?

We end the letter with standard phrases:

Write back soon.

Best wishes,

Misha

Our finished work looks like this:

Thank you for your letter. I was very happy to hear from you again.

In your letter you asked me some questions about the food I like and now I"m ready to answer them. I prefer Russian national cuisine because it"s healthy and delicious. As for my favorite dishes, I love pancakes and cabbage soup called shchi. Unfortunately, I can't cook very well. I can only fry potatoes and make a sandwich.

Now I want to ask you some questions about the cooking camp. Where is it located? What facilities has it got? How big is the camp?

Write back soon.
Best wishes,
Misha

Methodical hint

All that remains is to check. In order to do this in the most effective way, I suggest imagining yourself in the place of an expert who will check the work. The first thing the expert will do is count the words. It can be very disappointing when a competent and interesting piece of work loses points because the author got too carried away and wrote a letter that was too long. It is important to remember that the maximum length of the letter should not exceed 154 words. If the letter is longer, then the expert counts 140 words, and everything else is not taken into account. Most often, in such cases, the author’s signature, the final phrase, mention of subsequent contacts, and even 1-2 questions are not taken into account. In this case, the author loses points for the content, logic, and design of the letter. In our case, the letter contains 109 words. The expert cannot have any complaints about the volume of the letter. Next, we check the letter according to the criteria.

It is important to remember here that the work is assessed according to three criteria: in terms of content, logic and linguistic design. As for the content, we tried to check everything paragraph by paragraph. You can take another look at the assignment and the letter and make sure that it contains answers to all the questions asked (there is an answer to the question of what national cuisine we prefer and why, an answer to the question about our favorite dishes and an answer to the question what we can do prepare). All three questions are about the camp. We did not forget to thank our friend for the letter, mention previous contacts, and express hope for future ones. The letter contains the correct form of addressing a friend (by name), the correct closing phrase and signature (name only). Thus, we have every chance to believe that the score for content will be maximum (2 points).

We evaluate the logic and structure of the text. The text is correctly divided into paragraphs (classic division: introduction, answers to questions in one paragraph, questions in a separate paragraph). Address to a friend and the author's signature on a separate line. The letter contains linking words (and, because, as for), and they are used appropriately. There are logical bridges between paragraphs, there are no violations of logic. The score for this criterion is 2 points (maximum). Thus, even with very superficial knowledge of grammar and not having a large vocabulary, you can get at least 4 points out of 6 for this task if you follow these simple recommendations.

The last criterion is language design. Here, the most typical errors are the absence of an article before a countable singular noun (a sandwich), the word order in questions (should be reversed, except for dividing questions), and the absence of auxiliary verbs in questions. Also often forgotten are the endings –s in 3rd person singular verbs and the plural endings of nouns.

You also need to check your spelling. Some mistakes can be avoided if you look at the assignment carefully. For example, the word cuisine can simply be copied from the assignment. Our task is to reduce the number of possible errors to a minimum, remembering that according to the criteria, if there are no more than two grammatical or lexical errors and/or spelling and punctuation errors, the highest score is given for this criterion (2 points out of 2).

40. Task 2. Essay expressing your opinion on the topic: “Playing videogames is a complete waste of time”.

Just like a letter, it is better to write an essay straight away, having first drawn up a detailed plan. The outline for the plan might look something like this:

In addition to the “content” column, where we write down ideas regarding what to write in the paper, the plan must include the “vocabulary” and “communications” columns. In the vocabulary column we will write down interesting lexical units and expressions that we will later use in the essay. This is very important, since in an essay, unlike a letter, the vocabulary used is assessed. The “means of communication” column will contain the conjunctions necessary to present our ideas logically. A detailed plan will allow us to think through the essay in advance, concentrate on important points and avoid going off topic.

As for dividing the essay into paragraphs, it is better to follow the plan given in the assignment. In accordance with this plan, in the first paragraph it is necessary to state the problem. It would be more logical to start the essay with an introduction to the topic, and then write about the two existing views on this issue. The topic is what we will write about (in this case, we should write about video games). The problem is the existing disagreements on this issue. One of the opinions is given in the assignment; all we have to do is paraphrase it, i.e. express using other lexical means (synonyms, antonyms) or grammatical structures (other parts of speech, passive instead of active). Another opinion must be formulated carefully and precisely, making sure that it is exactly the opposite of the first. This is very important, since inaccurately wording opinions can later lead to a deviation from the topic.

Paragraph: Introduction
Content: Theme: playing videogames. Opinion 1: a waste of time. Opinion 2: a useful activity
Vocabulary: Nowadays, become popular, useless, leisure-time activity, a lot of benefits
Communications: Think, believe

The next paragraph should contain our own opinion on this issue and arguments proving its correctness. Our opinion must coincide with either the first or second opinion from the first paragraph. It is absolutely forbidden to write something compromising, for example: “It depends on the person,” or “It depends on the video game the person plays.” The essay requires you to take one side and defend your position. At this stage, we need to clearly decide which opinion we will defend. Of course, nothing prevents us from writing what we really think about this issue. However, the most important question we will have to answer is: “Which position is easiest for us to formulate arguments for?” Sometimes the argument for one position looks much stronger and more interesting than for another, and it will be easier for us to defend this particular point of view. When it comes to argumentation, we must remember that a strong argument consists of two parts: the idea and its evidence. To prove an idea, you can use the following methods: give an example, refer to existing statistics, explain the reason, or describe the consequences. In accordance with the plan, we must give 2-3 arguments. Experience shows that two arguments in this paragraph are quite enough, since we will need another argument later to dispel the opposing opinion.

Paragraph: 2 (my opinion and arg)
Content: Opinion: disagree (it is useful), arg 1: entertaining, reason: good plots, arg 2: helps make friends, statistics: popular activity
Vocabulary: Can hardly be called, gripping, good for uplifting, socialize, the majority of
Communications: In my opinion, firstly, this is because, secondly, according to statistics

Next, we proceed to the formulation of the opposite point of view and the argumentation of its supporters. It is important to remember that we are not writing about the pros and cons of video games, but we are writing about two opposing points of view on this activity. The opposing point of view should correspond to that stated in the introduction. Since we have given two arguments to defend our point of view, here it will be enough for us to have one argument supported by evidence.

Paragraph: 3 (opposing opinion+arg)
Content: Opinion: absolutely useless. Arg: not educational. Example: shooting, chasing
Vocabulary: A way to kill time, do not do any good, do not lead to developing skills
Communications: However, other people are convinced, they say, because

In the fourth paragraph, our task is to disagree with the opposing point of view and refute the argument given in the previous paragraph. We should start with the fact that we do not agree with the opinion of the opposite side, and then choose an argument that will repel the argument of our opponents.

Paragraph: 4 (explain why we disagree)
Content: Arg: a lot of games, which teach players take decisions, coordinate their actions, consider possible solutions to the problem
Vocabulary: A lot of upsides, come in handy
Communications: Nevertheless, I still argue, for instance

And finally, we formulate a conclusion. The main thing in the fifth paragraph is to once again confirm your conviction that you are right. However, it will not be enough if we limit ourselves to just one sentence stating our opinion. A conclusion containing a link to the opposing opinion and a sentence summarizing our main arguments will look much more interesting.

Paragraph: 5 (conclusion)
Content: My opinion
Vocabulary: Approve of, not only…, but also, amusing, exciting
Communications: In conclusion, although, I am still in favor

Another erroneous approach when completing this task is to write the essay first in a draft, and then rewrite it into a clean copy. This is very labor-intensive work, and during the exam there is often no time for this. In addition, rewriting is often done in a hurry, which leads to numerous errors. It is much more correct to plan your essay by writing down key words, as we did. Thus, as a result of detailed planning, we receive a carefully thought-out draft of the future essay, containing not only outlines of ideas, but also useful vocabulary. Unfortunately, many people skip this important stage of work, believing that it takes too much time and effort, and that it is much easier to write right away, without a preliminary plan. This kind of approach leads to various kinds of errors, such as avoiding the topic, weak argumentation, and logical errors. It happens that, under the influence of stress, by the middle of the essay the author of the essay forgets what position he defends and switches to the position of his opponent. Correcting such errors in the finished work takes much more time than planning.

Now, based on the template, we write an essay. We should not forget that the essay is written in a more formal style, one of the features of which is the absence of short forms with an apostrophe (for example, don"t). The finished work might look something like this:

Nowadays playing videogames is becoming a popular leisure-time activity. Some people think that it is a useless way to spend free time. Others believe that this hobby has got a lot of benefits.

In my opinion, videogames are worth playing. Firstly, they are very entertaining and can be used for uplifting. This is because their plots are often gripping and one cannot help feeling amused playing them. Secondly, this activity helps people socialize. According to statistics, videogames are enjoyed by the majority of teenagers, which means that adolescents can easily make friends among those who share their interest.

However, other people are convinced that playing videogames is just a way to kill time. They say that videogames are not educational and do not do any good because most games are based on chasing or shooting which do not lead to developing any useful skills.

Nevertheless, I still argue that videogames have got a lot of upsides. Plenty of modern videogames help develop different skills which will come in handy in real-life situations. For instance, one can practice taking decisions in stressful situations, or coordinating their actions with actions of other players, or considering possible solutions to various problems which they face in games.

In conclusion, although there are people who do not approve of playing videogames, I am still in favor of this pastime activity. Not only are they highly amusing and exciting but also make people more skillful in certain spheres.

After finishing the work, you need to count the number of words. The minimum allowed number of words is 180 (minus 10% of the lower limit indicated in the assignment), and the maximum allowed is 275. The resulting essay contains 242 words, which indicates correct preliminary planning of the work. After counting the words, you need to check your work for grammar and spelling.