FCE exams - handy check list for writing the essay

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Important: Use Capital letters when writing your answers on the answer paper for the "real" exam

This is a remark made by the invigilators in last year's exams.  Please remind students to use capital letters. 

Quick check for the Writing Paper

• Read through the booklet you were given at the start of the year that explains how to do the writing tasks.
• Look at the feedback and corrections on the written assignments that you have done in class
• Use this lesson up  to refresh your memory on how the written tasks should be done

Choose the best option: You must write an essay of between

1. 120 - 180 words
2. 140 - 190 words
3. You can write as much as you can in 40 minutes
4. Write as much as you can in 60 minutes

Choose the best option: In Part One of the exam (Essay) you

1. can write whatever you want.
2. must deal with three points given in the task
3. must deal with 3 points, one of which is your own idea

Choose the best option: In Part One of the exam you should...

1. write a plan first
2. just start writing your answer

Choose the best option: In Part One of the exam you

1. should check your answer carefully when you finish
2. won't have time to check your answer

Part One - An essay

In Pairs: Read the task on the slide below and the ESSAY QUESTION  on the next slide underline the points you must deal with. 

In your English class you have been talking about how much teenagers should help with housework.

Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your points of view

Use the worksheets in the email attachment. Get students in to small groups and ask them to complete the Brain storming activity at the bottom half of the worksheet: (this creates the framework for their essay plan for the body paragraphs.

FCE: Essay writing task

In Pairs: Read the task on the slide below and the ESSAY QUESTION on the next slide underline the points you must deal with.

In your English class you have been talking about how much teenagers should help with housework.

Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay.

Write an essay using all the notes and give reasons for your points of view

Teenagers and young people should share housework equally with their parents. Do you agree?

Notes

Write about:

1. who has more time for housework

2. who does housework better

3. ...............(your own idea)

140 - 190 words

BRAIN STORMING ACTIVITY:

Get in to small groups:

Discuss the task and try to find two or three things you can say about each of the notes 1-3

1. who has more time for housework

2. who does housework better

3. ...............(your own idea)

Essay Question

Teenagers and young people should share housework equally with their parents. Do you agree? 

Notes

Write about: 

1. who has more time for housework
2. who does housework better
3. ...............(your own idea)

Suggested underlining: Teenagers and young people, share housework equally with their parents, agree, who has more time for housework, who better, own idea. 

Work in groups

Discuss the task and try to find two or three things you can say about each of the notes 1-3

Things students should come up with are: TIME: young people studying, parents working, chores finished more quickly

 BETTER; get practice, you improve (GIVE EXAMPLES)

 OWN IDEA; Life is more enjoyable doing things together

Complete the plan for the essay by matching the notes (a-e) with the paragraphs (1-5)

Para 1: intro .....................

Para 2: ..............................

Para 3: ...............................

     Para 4: ..................................

    Para 5: conclusion.............

a.  life more enjoyable doing things together

b. time: young people studying, parents working, chores finished more quickly

c. get practice, you improve

d. sharing work together and better family life (my opinion)

e.  parents do most of it 

1:e  

2: b 

3: c  

4: a

5: d

Answers: 

Slide 8: Suggested underlining: Teenagers and young people, share housework equally with their parents,  agree, who has more time for housework, who better, own idea. 

Slide 10: Para 1:e -Para 2: b - Para 3: c - Para 4: a - Para 5: d

Remember:

No subheadings in essay

Language is semi-formal

Use words such as, Firstly, Secondly, Finally to lead in your ideas.

Use language that expresses your opinion: I believe, In my view, In my opinion, I think

How to write the essay.

• Read the essay question and prompts VERY carefully. Then you will know what you have to do. (25% of the marks!!!!)
• It is important to keep the focus of the question and that ALL your ideas and opinions are relevant to the question.
• Support your opinions with reasons and examples.
• Think of a third idea of your own.
• Ideas need to be expressed in a clear and logical way.

It is advisable to use 5 paragraphs

Introduction (Don't express your opinion here. Maybe use a rhetorical question. Keep the intro very short)

Topic sentence 1 + reason(s)/example(s) 

Topic sentence 2 + reason(s)/example(s)

Topic sentence 3 + reason(s)/example(s) (own idea)

Conclusion: sumarise your ideas and you  should include your opinion here

Remember: 140 - 190 words

Sample layout

(Introduction)  Current research shows that in most households parents are doing most of the housework. However, nowadays both parents are likely to be working outside the home,  so is this really fair? 

(Topic sentence 1) TIME:  young people studying, parents working, chores get finished more quickly if everyone mucks in. 

(Topic sentence 2)  BETTER; get practice, you improve (GIVE EXAMPLES)

(Topic sentence 3)  OWN IDEA;  Life is more enjoyable doing things together

(Conclusion:) sharing work together and better family life SAY WHETHER YOU AGREE here

Remind students that a title is not obligatory for the Essay writing task but it does help the reader know what the essay is going to be about, so it is a good idea to give their essay a title. Might be easier to think of a snappy title after they have finished writing the essay. Try not to forget!