English exam essay samples. Writing an essay in English, ready-made essays. Space. Pros and cons of space exploration

In 2018, 80% of graduates from the Sverdlovsk region received 0 points for an essay from the Unified State Examination in English. According to FIPI, students traditionally perform the written part of the exam worse. And it is she who gives the most points - 14 for the error-free task No. 40, the essay "My opinion". In the material, we share tips that will help you avoid stupid mistakes when writing an essay with elements of reasoning.

Stick to the plan

In 2019, graduates will be given two statements to choose from. On one of them you need to write a written essay with elements of reasoning.

The essay must strictly comply with the plan:

1. introduction - paraphrase the selected statement;
2. your opinion on the topic and 2-3 arguments in its defense;
3. opposite opinion and 1-2 arguments in its defense;
4. an explanation of why you disagree with the opposing opinion;
5. a conclusion in which you rephrase your position from point 2.

Each part of the text should begin with a new paragraph, as a result, the essay should have 5 paragraphs.

A problem when writing an essay can be not only poor knowledge of a foreign language, but vice versa - too good. A graduate can write an essay in a freer form and move away from the template, but the commission will not appreciate such an impulse. Therefore, we advise you to write an essay strictly according to the plan and in accordance with the criteria.

Let's take a look at the mistakes graduates made in the past and how to avoid them.

Keep track of volume

The text of the answer must contain at least 200 and no more than 250 words, a deviation of 10% is allowed. According to the rules, if the volume of the essay is less than 180 words, 0 is set for the entire work, if more than 275 - they check the part of the essay up to the 250th word.

How to avoid mistakes:

• Write your essay at home on an unlined piece of paper. After 10-20 essays, you will understand what part of the sheet is occupied by the required amount of text. This will help you navigate the exam.
• Count words correctly. One word counts:

1. short forms: can "t, didn" t, isn "t, I" m;
2. prepositions, articles, particles;
3. numerals expressed in numbers: 25, 2006, 1000000;
4. numerals with percentages of 25%;
5. compound words: well‑being, good‑looking, twenty‑five;
6. abbreviations: UN, e‑mail.

Write on the topic

If the reviewer considers that the essay does not correspond to the chosen topic, he will immediately put 0 points. So the simpler the better. Do not invent anything, do not indulge in lengthy reflections. Give direct opinions and arguments clearly on the topic.

FIPI experts give such an example from the options of previous years. The saying was given: "One should read about historical sites before sightseeing - One should read about historical sites before visiting them."

Graduates made the following mistakes in essays:

1. They did not know the meaning of the words: they mistook the word sites for websites.
2. They were inattentive: instead of sites they saw cities and wrote about cities.
3. They missed the meaning of the statement: they forgot about the word read, that is, they ignored reading about sights, and wrote only about visiting them.

Another topic from the USE 2018 caused difficulties: “An early choice of a career path is the key to success - An early choice of a career is the key to success.”

Many graduates did not read the statement carefully and built their essay around the phrases “early choice” and “career path”. As a result, they wrote about their choice of profession and when to choose it. The meaning of the statement was that an early choice of a profession ensures further success in life. Accordingly, the arguments "for" should have been about why an early choice of a profession contributes to success, and "against" - why it can lead to failure.

How to avoid mistakes:

• Read both statements several times. Choose the one in which you understand all the words and the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
• During the preparation period, read the training texts for the high level (B2) and learn the vocabulary from there.
• Before writing an essay, answer the questions: what is the meaning of the statement? What do you have to agree or disagree with?
• Visualize the answer with a mind map. Designate a topic, lower 2 arrows from it - one with your opinion, the second with the opposite. From your opinion, drop 2-3 arrows and in a few words indicate the arguments in his defense, from the opposite opinion, pull down 1-2 arrows and briefly write down the arguments in support of them below.

Paraphrase the topic in the introduction

In the introduction to task No. 40, graduates most often made the following mistakes:

1. Literally repeated the topic from the assignment. For example, to the statement “ Friendship is the greatest gift of life” wrote a speech that completely duplicates the phrase: “Some people believe that friendship is the greatest gift of life. Others don't think so.
2. They expressed their opinion on the topic. For example, the following introduction was written to the topic “Science is the first thing to be financed in the modern world”: “Modern science helps human progress, that is why it should be financed before other spheres”.
3. They did not indicate the debatable nature of the topic.
4. Rhetorical questions were used.

How to avoid mistakes:

• The introduction should not contain your opinion. The first paragraph is as neutral as possible.
• The topic should be retold, that is, expressed with synonyms and phrases that are close in meaning. You can start with cliché phrases:

1. Nowadays people are getting more and more concerned about…
2. It is generally accepted that…
3. A common opinion is that ... - According to the general opinion ...

• To indicate the debatability of the topic, you can use cliché phrases:

1. There are two points of view on… - There are several points of view on….
2. Some people are convinced that...and others believe that… - Some people are convinced that…., others believe that…

• Don't use rhetorical questions. For example: Who is right? Which is true?

Arguments must match opinion

In one of the essays, behind the opinion: “I think that it is better to read some historical information before visiting historic places”, there were such arguments: “Firstly, you can find a lot of information in the Internet. Secondly, it may help you in your future life.” They do not correlate with the statement, since they do not directly answer the question: why is it worth reading the information before visiting historical places?

How to avoid mistakes:

• Formulate your opinion on the topic of the statement, clearly define whether you are for or against.
• Use cliché phrases to express your opinion:

1. My personal view is that… - My opinion is that...
2. In my opinion / judgment / view ... - In my opinion / judgment / In my opinion ...
3. I completely agree/disagree with this statement… - I completely agree/disagree with this statement...
4. I don't support the idea of… - I don't support the idea that...

• Explain why you are right in 2-3 arguments that follow from your opinion.
• Use bindings to list arguments:

1. Firstly/ first and foremost/ first of all…
2. Another (positive/negative) aspect of …
3. Finally/ Lastly

• Imagine how you might be objected to in response to your opinion. Formulate a completely opposite opinion.
• Start expressing someone else's opinion with cliché phrases:

1. However… - Although…;
2. On the other hand - On the other hand ...
3. There is another side to the question of ... - There is another side to the question ...

• Come up with arguments to support your opponent's point of view.

Refute counterarguments

In the fourth paragraph, you need to explain why you do not agree with the opinion of the opponent. This must be done by refuting the counterarguments from the third paragraph.

For example, in the second paragraph you support the opinion "One should read about historical sites before sightseeing" and as an opposite in the third paragraph you cite "I think that it is better to visit historical places than to read information" with the counterargument "The guide will tell you everything during the excursion". In the fourth paragraph, you should refute the opposite side's counterargument from the previous paragraph, and not come up with another one to prove your case.

In the example, you need to answer the sentence: "The guide will tell you everything during the excursion". For example, the answer is: "If you read about sights in advance you will save money because excursion may be expensive".

How to avoid mistakes:

• Answer only the counterarguments from the third paragraph. If you gave two counterarguments, you must refute both.
• Use cliché phrases:

1. I strongly disagee with...
2. I am afraid I cannot agree with the opinion that...
3. Despite my respect for the opinion that..., I cannot share it because…

Confirm your opinion in conclusion

In conclusion, graduates most often made the following mistakes:

1. Departure from the topic. At the end of the essay they forgot about the topic of the statement and in the conclusion they wrote about something completely different. For example, a student ended an essay on the topic “One should read about historical sites before sightseeing” with the following words: “To sum up, I would like to say that sightseeing is wonderful. And we should cherish the memories about those nice places we have visited.” The conclusion does not correspond to the main topic, since it talks about visiting attractions, although it was necessary to reason about whether or not to read about them.
2. They didn't state their opinion. In conclusion on the previous topic, the student leaves the problem unresolved: “In conclusion, I want to say, that it is a debatable issue. Everybody must decide themselves if they need to find some historical information before sightseeing.”

How to avoid mistakes:

• Keep the topic of the essay constantly in front of your eyes.
• Rephrase your opinion, which you wrote about in the second paragraph.
• Use cliché phrases to express your opinion in the conclusion:

1. On this basis, I can conclude that… - Based on this, I can conclude that…
2. In conclusion, I would like to stress that… - In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that…
3. All in all, I believe that… - In the end, I believe that…
4. To sum up… - Summing up...

Learn the meanings of introductory words and conjunctions

To build a competent and coherent statement, it is necessary to use introductory words and conjunctions correctly. Most often, graduates confuse the meanings of these parts of speech and pointlessly add them to the text in a chaotic manner.

How to avoid mistakes:

• Learn by heart the meanings of introductory words and conjunctions so as not to confuse their meanings. Remember the meanings of the most common of them:

1. in addition - besides,
2. moreover - moreover,
3. furthermore - furthermore
4. however - nevertheless,
5. thereby - in connection with this,
6. therefore - therefore
7. though - though, however,
8. although - although.

• Do not use more than one introductory word at a time. Do not try to write everything you know at once, for example, like this: “To my mind, personally, I think that it is better to visit historical places at first. To begin with, firstly, it will be a surprise and you will better remember it.” You don’t write in an essay on the Russian language like this: “Personally, in my opinion, it’s better to visit a historical place first.”

Keep it neutral

The text of the essay should be in a neutral style. That is, you cannot use:

• rhetorical questions;
• colloquial vocabulary:

• colloquial constructions like let's;
• short forms of verbs: I "m, he's, don" t, didn "t, haven" t. Exception: needn't.

What exactly will be given 0 points

1. The volume of the essay is less than 180 words.
2. Plagiarism - more than 30% or 10 words in a row from the essay coincide with someone else's text.
3. Departure from the topic.
4. Non-compliance with criteria. The criteria are presented in detail on the FIPI website in the demo version of the written part of the exam in English.

The requirements for knowledge of a foreign language are put forward at the faculties of many prestigious universities, so an increasing number of graduates choose to pass the exam in English. The exam consists of several parts, and the most difficult part is the final section - writing an essay. So today in the article we will help graduates and give advice on how to cope with writing the text part of the exam. In the material we will show the work plan, we will give an essay on English (USE) clichés for writing an essay and tell you the tricks for typing the required amount of words. Join the reading if you want to seriously prepare and show the best of your abilities on the exam.

Let's start with a brief digression, which will help us to form a clear idea of ​​the topic of the article. So, what exactly are speech clichés for an essay in English? To answer this question, let's compare exams in Russian and foreign languages.

Look, the exam in the Russian language also ends with a mandatory written part. The only difference is that it is written on the basis of a large author's text. At the same time, students need to voice the problems of the given text, express their opinion on this matter and support their position with arguments. So, teachers, already knowing all the criteria for evaluating such an essay, teach schoolchildren to correctly express their thoughts during the year. So, to disclose each item, students are offered to use standard phrases, like:

• I agree/disagree with the author…;
• This problem is very relevant today, because ...;
• An example would be…;
• This text makes you think about...

Such expressions help to easily formulate an idea, correctly connect all the points in one text and type the required amount of essay.

We also suggest using these techniques, but already when compiling an essay for the state exam in English. Why not? Moreover, such a technique greatly simplifies the writing of the exam, and increases the chances of passing it successfully. And all you need to do is learn speech clichés for an essay in English, i.e. remember the same standard phrases and expressions, only characteristic of British speech. Do you want to write essays in English easily? Try this technique!

Essay plan for the exam in English 2020

So, we figured out what role speech clichés play for an essay in English, and it's time to move from theory to practice. Now we will consider popular phrases and expressions for composing a text, but we will do it in a systematic way. Any example of an essay in English on the exam is drawn up according to a standard plan, which we will study at the same time as speech clichés. Thus, by the end of the lesson, we will have a complete understanding of the structure and content of the English essay for the state exam.

Introduction

As in the case of Russian examples, an essay in the English language of the USE requires you to start with an introductory speech. To complete the written part of the exam, students are given 2 theses to choose from: accordingly, the disclosure of the selected statement is the topic of the essay. In the introductory part of the text, students are only required to slightly reformulate the original thesis in their own words and emphasize its significance. This will help to make introductory phrases for an essay on the exam in English.

So, for the introduction, 2-3 detailed sentences will be enough. At the same time, the exam regulations do not allow the use of colloquial vocabulary and abbreviated forms ( I'll,can't, doesn't, etc.). It is also inappropriate to use rhetorical questions.

Your point of view on the problem

The introductory part brings us to the next section - the formulation of one's own opinion. This paragraph English essay template suggests starting with the following combinations.

Arguments for"

In the third paragraph of the essay on the exam in English, we write arguments that support our point of view. These can be life situations, logical reflections, links to expert opinion or statistical data.

Note that according to the approved regulations for the examination essay, it is necessary to provide at least 2-3 arguments in support of your position. On the one hand, this moment complicates the preparation of the text, but on the other hand, it allows the widespread use of enumerations and introductory constructions. For example, here are some English speech clichés for the Unified State Examination (USE) that can be used in this part of the essay.

Arguments against"

Writing an essay in English for the USE 2020 also implies the obligatory indication of the opposite point of view. In this part, you should look at the problem from the other side and formulate the possible arguments of the opponents. Here we propose to resort to the following phrases and expressions for an essay in English.

Personal explanation

It is not enough to give examples of “for” and “against” in an essay in English, you also need to clearly justify why the arguments “against” are unconvincing for you. How to write this part of an essay in English? To this question, English also suggests using speech clichés in the composition of the exam. Consider examples.

Now, with the help of cliches, we almost got a finished essay for the exam in English. It remains only to correctly draw up the ending, which we will now deal with.

Conclusion

And our essay template for the exam in English ends with a brief summary of all of the above. This means that it is necessary to bring the main idea of ​​your essay to its logical end. In fact, in the final paragraph, we reiterate our opinion, only with slightly modified wording. For example, graduates of previous years were helped to beautifully complete an essay in English with examples of phrases and expressions given in the table below.

This is how we got a template for writing an essay. Agree, with speech clichés, an essay on the exam in English is written much easier. It remains only before the exam to choose the phrases you like and memorize them. But this is also not so difficult, because before the day of delivery, schoolchildren will have to test their strength more than once in writing test and practice essays. The main thing is that the preparation template is always at hand, so we advise you to print all the tables above.

Small tricks for typing the right amount of words for an English essay on the exam

Well, we have considered all the speech clichés for writing an essay in English, but for particularly inquisitive schoolchildren, we have one more trick in store. As you know, exam essays are written according to strict regulations, and, in particular, there is a requirement for text volumes. For the written assignment for the USE in English 2020, the requirements remain the same: the essay must be within 200-250 words. In this case, the -10% down rule applies, i.e. Work is counted if it has at least 180 words. If your text has crossed the bar of 250, then everything after this figure will not be taken into account for the assessment.

But we will now consider the reverse situation. How to write an essay in English, when even with clichés there are not enough words to the required volume? Indeed, not all schoolchildren are verbose and like to share their thoughts. If you have counted the words and understand that your sample essay for the exam in English does not reach the required volume, do not rush to panic and rewrite the text. Better remember such a useful thing as introductory words. These expressions can be added to almost any story without distorting its meaning and style. Consider a list of such words.

We also recommend that you look at the material about 1000 words in English that you need to know, it will definitely come in handy when preparing for the exam and just learning English!

Break a leg!

This is the only step that helps a person to achieve perfection. Interestingly, the word "essay" came into Russian from French, but has a Latin history. The French word "essai" can have several translations, "experience", "trial", "essay".

So, an essay is an essay of a given volume and often a free composition, but if we are talking about an essay in English, then you need to adhere to a clear plan, it all depends on the type of essay. The main features of the essay are the availability of comprehensive information on a specific topic, the expression of an individual opinion, as well as counterarguments.

It is important for schoolchildren to learn how to write an essay in order to easily cope with the tasks on the exam, and later be able to present themselves and describe their achievements to a potential employer.

The main purpose of the essay is to develop the skills of independent creative thinking and written expression of thoughts.

And if you have already learned how to correctly express thoughts, then it is quite difficult to structure information, as well as highlight connections and illustrate everything with examples. That is why such an essay as an essay in English is submitted to the exam.

Essays in English examples

Electronic books versus printed books. Who will be the winner in the future?

Recent researches have shown that the quantity of readers of printed books is constantly reducing. Electronic books are becoming the most popular way of getting information. But despite their certain advantages many of us prefer acquaintance with fresh printed volumes. Will electronic books replace printed ones?

I am convinced that the growing number of readers will be absolutely happy to get an e-book as their birthday present. First of all, electronic versions can store thousands of books at the same time. Besides, there will be no need to go shopping for every new book because people can do buy it at one click.

On the other hand, there are a lot of people who are not ready to replace printed books because they are better for human eyes. printed books are much easier to read because of no need in addition to electricity supply. Nowadays less people are ready to buy books because of its expensive price but printed books are still the reminding of a miracle that each of us can easily touch and breathe in.

Summing up all the above, I think both books variants will happily coexist in the future, it means that it will be possible to enjoy fresh printed books as well as easily download electronic ones into your gadget.

E-books vs. printed books. Who will be the winner in the future?

Recent studies have shown that the number of readers of printed books is constantly decreasing. Speaking of e-books, they are becoming the most popular way to get information. But, despite their certain advantages, many of us prefer to get acquainted with freshly printed books. Will e-books replace print books?

I'm sure a growing number of readers will be absolutely delighted to receive an e-book as a birthday present. First, electronic versions can store thousands of books at the same time. In addition, there will be no need to go shopping for each new book, because it can be bought in one click.

On the other hand, there are many people who are not ready to replace printed books because they are better for the eyes. Also, printed books are easier to read because they don't need power. Today, fewer people are willing to buy books due to the high price, but printed books are still a reminder of a miracle that each of us can touch and breathe.

Summing up the above, I believe that both versions of books can coexist happily in the future, which means that it will be possible to enjoy printed books as well as easily download an e-book to your gadget.

Essays for and against in English

As for the pros and cons essay, it is important to clearly express two opposing opinions - as well as express your own opinion about the problem. For example, if we are talking about learning several foreign languages ​​at school. Let's start by stating the problem:

Nowadays people are keen on many different languages ​​to survive in the fast moving world. Therefore people send children to schools to learn as many languages ​​as possible. However, is it good to get knowledge of several languages ​​at the same time?

The problem is clear - is it good to learn several languages ​​at the same time. Next, we express our own opinion regarding the situation. Firstly, foreign languages ​​broaden our world view giving us the opportunity to speak without fears. Secondly, every new language is the perspective to know a new culture and to find a good job. Every new language helps to think more quickly and to learn faster.

Now we need to emphasize that there are also negative aspects of learning several foreign languages ​​at the same time.

On the other hand, learning several languages ​​can be confusing, especially if talking about languages ​​of the same group. Some languages ​​contain many rules while others have many exceptions. All this can lead to misunderstanding of new languages ​​as well as the native one.

Now is the time to sum up. Being a person of a modern society, I would like to say that the knowledge of many languages ​​is a beneficial advantage. However, people should learn their native language first before starting several ones at the same time.

This is how an example of an essay in English for the exam might look like.

Learn English with an online service Lim English and write an essay for you is not difficult. You can start learning.

Are you waiting for the international exam TOEFL, IELTS or others, where one of the stages is writing an essay? Or maybe you are applying for admission to a university and you need to tell about yourself, your achievements and plans in an essay? Either way, your goal is to write a great essay in English. This is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance, and we will help you figure it all out.

This article will tell you how to write an essay in English, what types of essays are in English, how to write an introduction to an essay, and what linking words to use in the text.

What is an essay?

Essay (Essay) in English is a short essay in which you express your point of view on a given topic. Writing a quality essay in English requires a high level of language proficiency, a rich vocabulary and the ability to clearly and concisely state your thoughts.

The formal style of narration is one of the features of the English essay, which distinguishes it from essays on a free topic, which we are used to in Russian. The English are serious about the style of presenting thoughts in an essay, so it is not recommended to use abbreviations and, in general, allow yourself to be frivolous in the text. Also, any essay, regardless of the topic, has a certain structure. But first things first.

Essay types

There are three main types of essay in English:

For and against essay (essay "for and against")

The name of this type speaks for itself: in it you need to give arguments “for and against” on a given topic.

Writing plan: in the introduction, you lead the reader to the problem; in the main part, you neutrally describe the arguments “for and against”, without expressing your own opinion; in conclusion - express your opinion about the problem and draw a conclusion.

Opinion essay (opinion essay)

Unlike “pros and cons”, an opinion essay is designed to express your thoughts on a topic. The peculiarity of the opinion essay is that you need not only to express your own opinion on the problem, but to reflect other points of view in the essay. So to say, look at the topic from a different angle.Writing plan: in the introduction, indicate the topic of the discussion; in the main part - express your opinion on the problem, supporting it with confident arguments, and also describe what other points of view there are; in conclusion, you summarize the results that support your opinion on the problem.

Suggesting solutions to a problem essay

Usually in such essays you are given some kind of global problem, and your task is to offer the most possible and relevant ways to solve it.

Writing plan: introduction describes the problem and its causes; in the main part, you need to offer several options for solving the described problem and the possible consequences of each of them; the conclusion summarizes the results and the final decision or recommendations.

Typically, the type of essay depends on the chosen topic and is often indicated directly in the assignment. If there are no type recommendations, then use any one that, in your opinion, is best suited to a given topic.

The above types of English essays are the most common, but there are others. Sometimes you need to write about your achievements and plans for the future (for example, when applying to a university or college), and sometimes a free-form essay about what excites you right now (that is, without a given topic).

Whatever the topic of the essay, when writing it, it is worth adhering to a certain generally accepted structure.

Structure

Usually, an examination essay should be 180-320 words long, but this framework is not rigid and must be indicated in the assignment along with the topic.

Before writing, it is worth remembering that an essay is not a detailed essay-reasoning on a free topic, but only a clear and concise expression of thoughts on a given problem. Therefore, all essays in English have a common structure:

header

The title of the essay, which reflects the topic or problem that will be revealed in the text. The title should be as concise and clear as possible. In fact, the title of the essay is similar to the title of the article: it should contain the main idea, which will be further disclosed in the text.

Introduction

It should indicate what the main part will be about. The introduction should explain the topic of discussion and how you understand it, be concise (occupy about 5-10% of the text), briefly outline the outline of the essay and refer to sources or other data if necessary. Main part

This is the main part of the essay in English, which reveals the problem and your opinion on it, depending on the chosen type of presentation. It provides arguments and examples, as well as other points of view on the topic. At the end of the main body, the text should smoothly lead the reader to the conclusion.

This part of the essay occupies approximately 75-85% of the total text.

Conclusion

At the end, you need to summarize all the thoughts revealed in the main part of the essay.

A good conclusion is not just a dry enumeration of all the above facts, but a well-reasoned conclusion on the topic. It may echo or refer to the introduction, but in different wording. In conclusion, you should not put forward completely new ideas or refute those already expressed, and also, use an apologetic tone for your opinion. Be confident in your point of view and simply state it again. The acceptable amount of text in the conclusion is 10-15%.

If you have an exam on the horizon, then our recommendations and tips on how to write an essay in English will come in handy.

Adviсe:

1. Sketch a draft

If time for writing is limited, then use a draft. Throw a plan on it and write down the main ideas. This will help you write an essay faster and not make mistakes in the final version.

2. Stick to structure

3. Be concise

Express your thoughts briefly, without delving into reasoning.

4. Argue

Give clear support to the words when expressing your own or someone else's point of view on the topic. Draw conclusions based on these arguments.

5. Stick to a formal style

The formal style of presentation is the best option for an essay, unless otherwise indicated. Do not use abbreviations, slang and colloquial expressions.

6. Use link words

Special words will help you consistently express thoughts, lead the reader to a conclusion and build the correct structure in the text.

7. Diversify vocabulary and grammar

Despite the fact that the essay is written in a formal style, it does not hurt to add a little brightness to it to give the text personality. If thisappropriate, use synonyms for and .As for grammar and compound sentences, use them only if you are confident in your knowledge. Otherwise, mistakes or misuse of time will play into your hands.

8. Be correct

Often the topics for an essay are acute social issues, the opinion on which can be sharply polarized. When expressing your thoughts on ambiguous occasions, you should be as correct as possible and do not forget about elementary delicacy, tolerance and politeness.

9. Check for errors

Obvious but extremely important advice. Take a look at the finished essay to check it for all sorts of errors and typos.

• Remember that you are writing an essay for another person who is not your friend or colleague, which means stick to neutral expressions, use standard speech patterns, write to the point and do not deviate from the topic.

• Do not abuse adjectives, exclamation marks and avoid common words (all, any, every). Also, do not use phrasal verbs (put it, get off, etc.) and abbreviations (can't instead of cannot, don't instead of don't, etc.). Adhere to an academic-informational style of presentation: avoid personal pronouns (I, my, we, our) and give preference to the active voice over the passive voice.

• To give the text objectivity, express your opinion on the topic using impersonal constructions (It is believed that…; It cannot be argued that…, etc.) and non-categorical verbs (suggest, suppose, claim, etc.). Words such as apparently (obviously), arguably (probably) and other adverbs will help you correctly express your opinion on the issue.

• Divide the body of the text into paragraphs according to their meaning, which can be interconnected and complement each other. Do not overload paragraphs with sentences and make them all about the same length. At the beginning of a paragraph, it is better to use linking words that will help to continue the thought expressed earlier.

• If you cite examples or quotations in texts, refer to the source and date of publication of the statement. This can be done in parentheses, indicating the author and year.

Useful words for an essay

Introductory words

Introductory phrases for an essay in English are universal and suitable for any type of essay.

This essay deals with... - This essay deals with...
This assignment will examine… - This work examines…
This report will analyze... - This report analyzes…
This essay will consider… - This essay will consider…
It is believed that ... - It is believed that ...

Some phrases that will help outline the outline of the essay and clarify the content:

The essay is divided into four sections... - This essay is divided into four parts…
It will first consider ... - First considered ...
It will then continue to describe… - After which we will continue to describe…
The third part compares… - The third part compares…
Finally, some conclusions will be drawn as to...

Linking words

Linking words or linkers (linking words) will help you not only express your thoughts logically in an essay, but also make the text easy to read and structured. Take note of these words for everyday speech, because the ligaments make it more logical and bring it as close as possible to the speech of the native speakers themselves.

Linkers for sequencing ideas(linking words to organize thoughts)

Finally - finally, in the end
First(ly)... second(ly)... third(ly) - first (first)... second (second)... third (third)
Lastly - finally, at the end
The first point ... the second point ... the third point - firstly (first point) ... secondly (second point) ... thirdly (third point)
The former... the latter - the first... the last
To begin with... then... to conclude - to begin... then... finally

Linkers for expressing opinions(linking words to express opinion)

According to… - According to…
It cannot be denied that… - It cannot be denied that...
It is said / believed that ... - They say / believe that ...
Some people say that… - Some people say that...
There is no doubt that… - Without a doubt…
We must admit that… - We must admit that...

First person:

As far as I am concerned - As far as I know...
From my point of view - It seems to me that ...
I agree - I agree
I am in favor of - I am a supporter of ...
I am against the idea of ​​- I am against the idea ...
I believe that - I believe that ...
I disagree - I disagree
In my opinion - I believe that ...

Linkers for giving examples(linking words for examples):

As follows - next, as indicated next
For example For instance - for example
Namely - namely
Such as - such as

Linkers for giving reasons(linking words to explain why):

As - since
Because - because
Because of - due to the fact that
Due to - according to
Owing to - thanks
Since - since

Linkers for contrasting ideas(linking words for opposition):

Although / even though - although, even if
But - but
Despite - despite
However - however
In comparison - in comparison
In contrast - unlike
In spite of - despite
In theory - in theory
In practice - in practice
Nevertheless - in spite of, nevertheless
Nevertheless - nevertheless
On the contrary - on the contrary
On the one hand - on the one hand
On the other hand - on the other side
Unlike - unlike
Whereas - then how
While - while

Linkers for adding information(linking words for more information):

Also - also
And - and
Apart from - apart from, along with
As well as - just like ...
besides - besides, besides
Furthermore - more than that
In addition to - in addition to
moreover - in addition, moreover

Linkers for summarizing information and showing the result(linking words for summing up)

As a consequence - as a consequence
As a result - as a result
consequent - consequently
Hence - hence
In brief In short - in a nutshell
In conclusion - in conclusion
In summary - in the end, summing up the above
Therefore - therefore
Thus - thus
To conclude - drawing conclusions
To summarise - summing up

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 a global issue or issues. 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.