Your introduction should state what p_____ you are going to discuss.
Points
Why is repetition particularly annoying for the reader?
It's boring and leaves a very bad impression on the reader.
Name 3 things you should never use in an essay. e.g., contractions (informal language) phrasal verbs, you/ your,…
informal puncuation including contractions, informal language including phrasal verbs, you/ your/yours
In a Cambridge advanced writing exam, who do you usually write an essay for?
a teacher
Think of 2 alternatives for the word ‘good/great.’
This will depend on the context. Exceptional, extraordinary, fine, of high quality, of a high standard, superb, significant
What should an essay physically look like?
It should be divided into clear paragraphs.
You are given 3 opinions in the essay task. Is it obligatory to use them?
NO
Name 2 ways to introduce the topic.
It is often claimed that, It is a commonly held view that, It is often said that, Many people feel that, We live in an age when, More and more,
Think of 2 alternatives for the phrase ‘a lot of.’
This will depend on the context. Considerable, abundant, ample, several, numerous, myriad
How many areas are you given in an essay task?
THREE, but you should only discuss TWO.
If you decide to use the opinions given in the essay exam task, just copy them. True or False?
FALSE. Use your own words.
Name 2 ways to give examples.
one example of this, for instance, take for example
Which category does this fall under? ✔ The writing is appropriate for the task. The candidate used a style which is appropriate for the specific communicative context.
COMMUNICATE ACHIEVEMENT
Which category does this fall under? x They have written in a way that is not suitable-for example, using a very formal style in an email to a friend or ending an article with ‘Best wishes’.
COMMUNICATE ACHIEVEMENT
Is an essay formal or informal? Why?
Think of who you are writing to.
How many areas should you discuss in an essay?
TWO
How much time should you use to WRITE your essay?
25 minutes
Which category does this fall under? x The candidate did not include everything they were asked to do. They have written something irrelevant.
CONTENT
Will you be penalized if you write too many or too few words?
YES
Why is it important to know who you are writing to?
to know if the writing should be formal or informal
Name 2 ways you can contrast an idea or argument.
In contrast,On the other hand, Alternatively, However,
Which category does this fall under? x It is difficult for the reader to follow. It uses elements of organization which are not appropriate for the genre.
ORGANISATION
Name at least 1 way to express a general view.
It is often said/felt/thought that, It is widely agreed/believed that,
What pronouns should you avoid using in an essay? Why?
you, your, yours Think of who you are writing to.
Which category does this fall under? x There are mistakes that could make the text difficult or confusing for the reader.
LANGUAGE
Name 4 ways to conclude an essay.
On the whole, To conclude, To sum up, On balance, All things considered, Taking everything into consideration, there are many good arguments for, All things con
Name 2 ways to refer back to something.
as mentioned earlier, as previously discussed,
What is a run-on sentence?
a sentence that goes on and on and on
Name 2 ways to give reasons for your opinions.
This is because, The main reason for this is, due to, because (of)
Which category does this fall under? ✔ The writing is put together well. It is logical and ordered.
ORGANISATION
Name 5 more alternatives for the phrase ‘I think.’
I am inclined to think that, As far as I am concerned, It is my contention that, In my view, As I see it
It’s ok to introduce a new argument in the conclusion. True or False?
FALSE.
Which category does this fall under? ✔ The candidate answered the task. They have done what they were asked to do.
CONTENT
How much time should you use to CHECK your writing?
10 minutes
Why is writing a plan helpful?
you do most of the hard lifting there and when it comes to writing the ESSAY, your job will be much easier
What are the categories Cambridge uses to assess you marking?
CONTENT, COMMUNICATIVE ACHIEVEMENT, ORGANISATION and LANGUAGE
Name 5 alternatives for the phrase ‘I think.’
As far as I can tell, In my opinion, In my view, Personally speaking, From my perspective, From my point of view, From my perspective, It is my belief that,
Why is a run-on sentence particularly annoying for the reader?
It's hard to follow, confusing for the reader and annoying in general.
Which category does this fall under? ✔ There is a good range of vocabulary and grammar. They are used accurately.
LANGUAGE
How much time should you use to PLAN your writing?
10 minutes