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 2018 IN ENGLISH
The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each starting with a new paragraph):
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Work plan for task No. 40
I. Read the stimulus phrase carefully
II. Paragraph 1: introduction to the problem See 2 opposing points of view in the task Rephrase the phrase Write 3 sentences Paragraph 2: your opinion 2-3 arguments Paragraph 3: opposing opinion 1-2 arguments Paragraph 4: counterarguments DO NOT list your arguments already named Paragraph 5: conclusion Paraphrase 1 paragraph
III. Connect paragraphs using introductory words.
V. Check spelling and punctuation (be sure to highlight introductory words with a comma)
Below is a table with examples of introductory words and phrases.
STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2018 IN ENGLISH
| Paragraph | Offer | Sample | ||||
| 1. Introduction | Problem Identification | Nowadays, | the problem of … causes great argument and controversy. | |||
| In today's world, | ||||||
| the issue of … is considered to be a matter of common concern/the main concern of … | ||||||
| Comment on the issue | Some people believe that… while others think… | |||||
| On the one hand, … on the other hand … . | ||||||
| A rhetorical question | Where is the truth? | |||||
| Who is right? | ||||||
| 2. Expressing your own opinion | Thesis | In my opinion,… | ||||
| As for me, I believe that… | ||||||
| My personal view is that… | ||||||
| 1 argument | To begin with, | |||||
| To start with, | ||||||
| Firstly, | ||||||
| 2 argument | What is more, | |||||
| Furthermore, | ||||||
| Secondly, | ||||||
| 3 argument | Finally, | |||||
| Additionally, | ||||||
| thirdly, | ||||||
| 3. Expressing an opposing opinion | Thesis | However, there exists another point of view on this issue. | ||||
| Nevertheless, one can consider this problem from another angle. | ||||||
| 1 argument | First of all, | |||||
| The first thing to be considered is… | ||||||
| 2 argument | Another fact is that... | |||||
| Besides | ||||||
| 4. Disagreement with the opinions of opponents | Thesis + 1st counterargument | Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because … | ||||
| Nevertheless, I cannot agree with this statement, because… | ||||||
| 2nd counterargument | Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that… | |||||
| Finally... | ||||||
| 5. Conclusion | Conclusion | In conclusion, | I would like to say that | the problem of… is still to be discussed. | ||
| Taking into consideration all mentioned above, | It is impotant to understand… | |||||
| A comment | As far as I am concerned, the point is to… | |||||
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…
Another template:
Opinion essay pattern
What can be written in each paragraph (sample template):
1) The problem of _____ (subject) ______ has always aroused heated debates. Some people are convinced that ___________. However, the others believe ___________. Let us speculate what makes them think so.
2) I cannot but agree that ______ (opinion with which you agree) _____. Firstly, _____(first argument)______. Secondly, _____(second argument)______. Thirdly, _____(third argument)______.
3) Some opponents might argue that ______ (opinion with which you disagree) ______. They suggest that ______(first argument of opponents)______. Moreover, ______(second argument of opponents)______.
4) Nevertheless, I do not support the above mentioned ideas . One should take into account the fact that ______( destruction arguments opponents) ______. Besides, ______(destruction of opponents' arguments)______.
5) All in all, ______ (opinion with which you agree) ______. Despite the arguments of various skeptics I am convinced that our ______(SOCIETY / PLANET / FAMILIES / CHILDREN / ENVIRONMENT / SENIORS / SOULS)______ need(s) ______( briefly opinion, With which Youagree) ______.
Thus, we already have 76 words, and they seriously facilitate the work on the essay!
SAMPLE OF READY USE ESSAY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
- 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
Examples of ready-made ESSAYs:
A single language for the entire planet. Pros and cons
No doubt that learning languages takes up a lot of time. That is why some people think that it would be better to have only one language on our planet. But will it be really beneficial for mankind?
In my opinion, the reduction of the number of languages is a disaster because it will totally destroy our great cultural heritage. With each loss of a language comes a loss of a culture, a loss of a way of life that deserves to be protected and treated as valuable. I also believe that leaving one language for communication will greatly reduce the linguistic diversity of our planet, which is the key to our survival. What is more, it will be rather difficult to choose which language to use and it may even lead to wars.
Many people think that if we have only one language, communication will become easier and there will be no need to learn foreign languages. I cannot agree with them because knowledge of foreign languages makes a person educated and well rounded. You cannot broaden your mind if you see the world only from the perspective of your own culture. Besides, people are a lot more helpful if you speak their language.
In conclusion, I would argue that we should try our best to preserve the linguistic diversity of our planet. I think that larger cultures should have a respect for minority languages, but first of all the younger generation must want to preserve their native language.
Animals in the zoo. What do you think about it. Is this fair?
There are a lot of zoos in the world and millions of people visit them every year. But are zoos harmful or helpful to animals which are caged there?
I strongly believe that we should not keep animals in zoos because captivity is not natural for them and it is a constant stress to a wild animal. Keeping animals in zoos harms them by denying them freedom of movement and association. What is more, zoos are like prisons for animals as they live in small cages and do not get necessary food. In addition, animals become very aggressive and unpredictable as they get older and often attack zoo keepers and other people.
However, most people think that zoos help endangered species survive. But this is not true because most rare animals are extremely difficult to breed in captivity. Besides, in zoos, it is almost impossible to meet the animals’ natural needs. Another argument for keeping animals in zoos is that people learn something new about these animals. Actually, zoos do not teach us much because animals do not act the way they would in the wild. I think we can learn more about animals by watching wildlife programs on TV.
In conclusion, I would argue that zoos do not seem to help endangered species and keeping animals behind bars only for the sake of our entertainment is not quite fair. In my opinion, people must create nature reserves, where wild animals will be able to live in their natural environment.
Banning cars in big city centers. For or against
There is no doubt that the invention of the car changed the world and nowadays we can hardly find a family without a car. However, some people are against cars, especially in the centers of big cities.
In my opinion, cars should not be allowed into the city centers as they add to pollution and poison the air we breathe. We must also think about the people who live in the center and suffer from the noise made by cars. Moreover, the streets in the center are usually narrow therefore people are often stuck in traffic for many hours and, as a result, arrive late at their destination. Finally, with ho cars in city centers, there would be no need for large ugly car parks, which would allow more space for parks.
However, many people believe we would not be able to survive without cars because most of the products for shops and other businesses are transported by cars. Besides, they are afraid that public transport would be overloaded. I am sure it is possible to solve these problems by introducing a reliable high frequency tram service as well as developing the underground. As for goods, we could use electric vehicles for their delivery.
To sum up, I believe that a clean, reliable and environmentally friendly public service would encourage people to use public transport and help smooth the transition to a car-free zone.
Learning a foreign language is the best thing to do, learning it in the country where it is spoken. Do you agree
Nowadays people spend lots of money in order to go to an English-speaking country to improve their language skills. But is it really the most effective way of learning a language? In my view, studying in a foreign country has certain drawbacks.
Firstly, this way is very expensive as the tuition fee for overseas students is rather high. Besides, when you study abroad, you have to adapt to a very different way of life, which can be quite stressful. What is more, English teachers do not speak Russian so if you don’t know English well, you will not understand their explanation.
It is often assumed that it is better to study a language abroad because you can always use it speaking with native speakers. However, I doubt that we will have lots of opportunities to speak abroad as we do not know many people there. It is also believed that Russian teachers are not as qualified as those in England. I totally disagree with this opinion because Russian teachers can compare two languages and explain grammar rules better.
To sum up, I would argue that the best way to learn a language is to study it in your native country because you can always get the necessary help from your teachers. Moreover, today we have lots of opportunities to improve our skills such as communicating with English pen-friends over the Internet. I think that we should travel abroad so as to practice a language but not to study it.
Foreign languages. Nowadays 2-3 languages are taught in schools. Pros and cons
Most people understand that without knowledge of foreign languages it is difficult to survive in the modern world. Therefore they send their children to schools where they can study two or even three foreign languages. However, is it good to study several languages simultaneously?
On the one hand, foreign languages are the main part of our culture so they help us to expand our outlook. We cannot broaden our minds if we see the world only from the perspective of our own culture. In addition, learning languages is a good exercise for the intellect. Moreover, if pupils know at least one foreign language, they learn new languages much faster.
On the other hand, many pupils find it confusing to learn two or three languages at a time, especially languages that are similar, because children usually mix up lots of words. Besides, some languages are tricky enough to learn. For example, in English there are more exceptions than rules. In this case, children can be overloaded with homework. More than that, some pupils do not know their native language well and learning several foreign languages could prevent them from mastering their own language.
In conclusion, I want to say that learning languages is extremely beneficial and I would like to know different foreign languages. However, I believe children should not learn too many languages at the same time so as not to get confused. They ought to get a solid base in one language before they start learning a new one.
Internet. Pros and cons
We live in the age of information technology and nowadays the Internet is nearly as common as the telephone. No doubt that it is a unique invention, which has influenced all areas of our lives. However, some people consider the Internet one of the greatest evils of our time.
On the one hand, the Internet is very useful, because it lets us access a world of facts, figures and knowledge. In addition, with the Internet, it is now possible to speak to friends and relatives any-where in the world cheaply and quickly. Other services are also available through the Internet such as booking tickets or buying things. Moreover, the Internet allows a lot of talented people to show the world their achievements and makes it easier to find a job.
On the other hand, the Internet can become a disaster for our society, because people spend hours in front of their computers and neglect their everyday duties. Another worry is the activities of cybercriminals. For example, hackers can steal your money or even your property while cyberterrorists may ‘attack’ the world’s computers, causing chaos, and making planes and trains crash. What is more, leaders of different terrorist or oppositional organizations can use the Internet to find new followers.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that despite the criticisms by some and the fears of others, the Internet seems to have changed our world to the better and we must try to make the best use of it.
Cloning. Pros and cons
Recent advances in genetic biology have led us to quite a doubtful situation. People all over the world argue whether human cloning research should be controlled by the government as solving problems connected with human cloning is definitely not a piece of cake.
In my opinion, human cloning experiments are extremely dangerous because there are huge risks of abnormalities in human clones. Moreover, if clones have been made, they will obviously have serious psychological problems connected with their unusual birth. Finally, there is no doubt that human cloning will change our perception of what is the value of a human life as we might change from having children to manufacturing them.
However, scientists claim that human cloning could be very beneficial as therapeutic cloning could provide stem cells for regenerative medicine and tissues for transplantation. Besides, re-productive cloning will probably give parents who are both infertile an opportunity to have children. I am afraid that this technology is not safe enough to use on humans. It is also possible that clones will age quicker since the cell used in the cloning procedure has already been used in a real life individual.
To sum up, we must question whether human cloning is really worth it when weighed against the problems it raises. From my point of view, human reproductive cloning should be under the tight control of the government and the UN because it is dangerous to interfere with nature and the consequences can be really disastrous.
Books or computers. Who will win in the future
The latest advances in information technology make people think that schools of the future will use computers instead of printed books. Although electronic books have not been widely accepted yet, they have certain advantages over traditional paper volumes. But will they be able to replace printed books?
In my opinion, students will be widely using computers for studying in the future. To begin with, computers can store lots of books in their memory and modern software allows us to quickly find the necessary information. Besides, with the interactive programs on computers studying will be much more exciting. What is more, electronic books will not degrade overtime like their counterparts printed.
On the other hand, lots of disbelievers argue that computers will not replace printed books because a printed book is better for human eyes than a computer screen. In addition, books are cheaper and easier to use since they do not need electricity or the Internet connection. I cannot agree with this because modern computer screens emit no radiation and allow us to read even in low light conditions. Of course we will have to pay for electricity but I think it will be cheaper than to pay for printed books, which are very expensive nowadays.
To sum up, I think computers and printed books will peacefully coexist for years to come, but in the future technological progress will make it possible for students to carry laptops or even palmtops instead of traditional bags with lots of heavy books.
Computer games. Pros and cons
People have always had different hobbies but technological progress has caused the appearance of computers and computer games, which can keep a child occupied for hours. However, adults consider computer games a complete waste of time.
As for me, I believe computer games are more than mindless entertainment. To begin with, computer games can teach people to achieve their aims as they regularly put obstacles and traps in the way of players which are necessary to overcome in order to progress through the rest of the game. Additionally, computer games can be a valuable source of accidental learning that can be applied to school, home, and social events. Moreover, teachers have also started to appreciate educational games as an opportunity to make their lessons more exciting.
Nevertheless, quite a few people are against this activity as they find it rather addictive and harmful for children’s health. They argue that computer games make students neglect their school work. However, if we learn to control our computer use and play games for an hour just to relax after a hard day at school, this will not do us any harm. What is more, modern technology made it possible to eliminate the bad effect of computers on our eyes.
To sum up, I believe that computer games have more advantages than drawbacks. They make us persistent, develop our logical reasoning and help us to escape from everyday problems. The thing is to find a right balance between virtual reality and everyday reality.
Space. Pros and cons of space exploration
Space exploration can mean a major leap for mankind. However, it is often criticized because the price for these space experiments is too high, especially while poverty still exists in many parts of the world.
On the one hand, space research is extremely beneficial as it advances technology. As a result of this work, we have lots of inventions, which have made our lives much more comfortable. In addition, through the exploration of space, we could find new elements, minerals or even discover new laws of physics and eventually learn more about ourselves. What is more, space exploration will allow us to establish a human civilization on another planet as a hedge against the catastrophe that might occur on the Earth.
On the other hand, the benefits of space exploration are not self-evident, no matter how real they are. It costs billions of dollars to fund the projects of space science whereas this money should rather be spent on meeting the needs of the underprivileged. Besides, some of the technology we develop through space science can be used in a destructive manner if it is in the wrong hands. Finally, a travel to space can be dangerous as we may discover something that is extremely harmful for the living beings on Earth.
To conclude, I want to say that space exploration satisfies the human desire for adventure therefore most people are interested in space research. Nevertheless, I believe our governments should find the right balance between social and space programs.
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 count 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! Good luck with exams!
The Cossacks, who in this picture are writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan, could not imagine that their descendants in the 21st century would experience no less difficulties when writing an essay in English for the Unified State Exam.
How to get around all the pitfalls and write task 40 for the treasured 14 points– in my article!
general information
Task 40 on the Unified State Exam in English is a task of an increased level of complexity and is officially called “an extended written statement with elements of reasoning (your opinion).” For the sake of brevity, our sister, in the article I will simply call this beast “essay” or “composition”.
Here's what it looks like:
| Comment on the following statement: |
| Making. |
| What is your opinion? Do you agree with this statement? Write 200-250 words. |
An essay is a tasty task because it can bring 14 points on the exam. And if I recommend writing straight to a draft in order to save time, it is better to plan out the essay and write it as a draft, and then transfer it to the answer form (you can download one here -).
From the demo version of the Unified State Exam 2019 from the FIPI website, it is clear that now the student can choose any of the two proposed essay topics!
Criteria for evaluation
To understand how to write need to, let's get acquainted with the assessment criteria for task 40 from the FIPI website.
Solving a communication problem
As you can see, according to the criterion “solving a communication problem” you can get the maximum 3 points. I’ll decipher what they are given for:
- Essay written according to plan
- In an essay enough words
- Style neutral
Writing Plan essays are carefully given in the assignment itself (see above):
– 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
Word count required to obtain the maximum score is also indicated - “Write 200-250 words”. A deviation from the specified volume of 10% is acceptable. That is, you can write from 180 to 275 words. Achtung! Attention! If you write less than 180 words, the essay will not be checked - the expert will give 0 for solving a communicative task, and 0 for this item means 0 for the entire task. And the satisfied teacher checks one less essay. And if a student exceeds the threshold of 275 words, the expert will cross out the 250th word and simply won’t check further. That is, if there are counterarguments or conclusions left behind 250 words, they simply will not be counted and you will not see the maximum for this criterion.
About word count criteria. When determining whether the scope of the submitted work meets the above requirements, all words are considered, from the first word to the last, including auxiliary verbs, prepositions, articles, and particles. Wherein:
- numerals expressed in numbers, i.e. 1, 25, 2009, 126 204, etc., are counted as one word;
numerals, expressed in numbers, together with the symbol of percentages, i.e. 25%, 100%, etc. are counted as one word;
- numerals expressed in words are counted as words;
complex words such as good-looking, well-bred, English-speaking, twenty-five are counted as one word;
abbreviations, for example USA, e-mail, TV, CD-rom, are counted as one word.
Neutral style is met if task 40 contains no abbreviations (I’m sure/ doesn’t matter/ wasn’t stated) and colloquial vocabulary (it is stupid to think so/ this opinion sucks/ the people wearing such clothes are mad).
Even when writing an essay, I strongly advise you to avoid rhetorical questions (But have you ever wondered...?), because Ms. Verbitskaya’s opinion on their use is inconsistent - one year they can be used, another year they cannot be used. Also, I would not recommend writing a phrase that begins with Let’s.... It can be regarded as colloquial. Better safe than sorry.
One more note in the paragraph about the communicative task - about plagiarism. If more than 30% of the answer coincides with the published source, then 0 points are assigned according to the criterion “Solving a communicative problem”, and, accordingly, the entire task is assessed at 0 points. So there is no point in memorizing excerpts from topics; you will have to think on your own.
Organization of text
The maximum for this criterion is also 3 points. You can get them if:
- the essay is correctly divided into paragraphs
- the essay is logical and has means of logical communication
It is clear that you need to write as many paragraphs as are in the plan ( five paragraphs!) and everyone must convey a thought corresponding to this point of the plan.
Below is more information about what to write in these five paragraphs and what means of logical communication use in them.
Introduction (paragraph No. 1)
The “correct” introduction consists of 2-3 sentences and paraphrases stated topic, and also shows the existence two opposing points of view on the problem.
Let's take the topic from the assignment above - Makinga good salary is more important than job satisfaction.
The introductory paragraph below paraphrases the theme ( career choice is one of the most important decisions in our life; it is essential to love what you do; whereas others focus on high salary while choosing a future profession) and indicates the existence of different points of view ( Some people believe that …, whereas other focus on …).
To join, I would recommend using the following tools: logical connection:
- Some people think/believe/consider that …, whereas other think/believe/consider that …
- The problem / issue / question of… has always aroused heated / sharp disputes / debates / discussions / controversy
- Our modern world is unthinkable / unimaginable / inconceivable without... However, there are plenty of people who believe that it is not necessary / doubt the necessity / importance / use / benefit / good of...
- …gaining increasing popularity today, many still dispute / doubt / challenge / bring into question / cast doubt on its use for the society
- It is often difficult to decide which position to take whenever there is a debate regarding a choice between… and…
In the essay plan, in the second paragraph the student is asked to express his opinion and give 2-3 arguments in support of it. I would stop at two arguments in favor to fit into the required number of words. And the arguments “for” should be detailed - that is, we don’t just say “I think so,” but explain the point of view.
I also advise you to rush to prove not your point of view, but to defend a position for which you can come up with more arguments. At the training stage to plan the structure of an essay, it would be good to draw mind maps:
This thing will also come in handy during the exam. Helps to gather thoughts together before writing a draft.
In the topic about working for an idea or money, it was easier for me to find arguments about the superiority of the spiritual over the material:
Ligaments to express your opinion:
- I believe/ I consider that…/ I am convinced that…
- I personally favour…
- To my mind…/ In my opinion…/ It seems to me that…
- I can't but agree that...
- I am against…/ I don’t approve of…/ I don’t support the idea of…/ I personally frown on…
- It is said/believed that…
- It goes without saying that…
Ligaments to express arguments:
- Firstly / first and foremost / first of all ...
- A major benefit is that…
- To begin/start with, it is important to emphasize that…
- Furthermore/ Moreover/ What is more/ Besides, …
- A further convincing argument is that…
- Another (positive/negative) aspect of…
- Finally/Lastly
Opposite point of view (paragraph No. 3)
In paragraph 3 you need to state that there is an opposing point of view and support it arguments. There can be 1 or 2 of them (arguments) - it all depends on the number of pluses in the previous paragraph. I adhere to the rule “3 pluses in the 2nd paragraph - 1 minus in the third paragraph”, “2 pluses in the 2nd paragraph - 2 minuses in the 3rd”, otherwise you may not fit into the amount of words. Personally, I prefer the scheme in the evening - money, in the morning - chairs 2 arguments for - 2 arguments against.
Here's what I got with the opposite point of view.
Connectives for expression opposite opinion.
- However, not all people share my point of view. They say that...
- They assume/suppose…
- They are in favor of... / They approve of... / They favor...
- There is another side to the issue/question of …
- There are people who have the opposite opinion./ Not all people share my viewpoint.
Counterarguments (paragraph No. 4)
This is one of the most problematic parts of the essay. The arguments “for” and “against” are invented; need more refute the arguments against, which were presented in paragraph 3. And do it neutrally. That is, write in the style of a troll from the forum: “Look, give him a good salary too!” You can’t sit on two chairs!” it is forbidden. =(
At the planning stage of drawing mind maps, you should think about which argument is best suited for counterargumentation and do not write it in the paragraph with your opinion, but save it “for dessert” - that is, for the fourth paragraph.
Let me emphasize once again that in the fourth paragraph we are precisely we refute the arguments of the third paragraph, and let's not come up with any more arguments“to the heap.” The opposite opinion in paragraph 3 talked about the importance of money to satisfy material needs and improve the standard of living. Let us object that pleasure from work and, as a result, professionalism are directly related to the size of the salary.
Connectives for expression counterarguments.
- To a certain extent it is right, but we should not forget that… / we should consider the fact that… / one should not disregard… / one should take into account …
- However veracious it sounds, I would not agree with the above mentioned idea.
- However, I disagree with these contentions.
- I am afraid I cannot agree with these people here as I think …
Conclusion (paragraph No. 5)
At the end of the hard-won essay, you need to do it again declare the problematic nature of the topic(indicate two points of view) and your opinion. It is important here not to repeat yourself in wording and thoughts.
In conclusion I would like to state that work occupies a great part of everyday routine. Evidently, it is more logical to choose an occupation you fancy over the one that brings in only money.
Expressions for the final paragraph:
- To conclude/ sum up/ summarise
- All in all…
- All things considered…
- Taking all this into account/ consideration…
- In short/conclusion…
Vocabulary, grammar, spelling and punctuation
Now that we’ve sorted out the plan for writing an essay, let’s move on to the grammatical, lexical and spelling and punctuation of the essay. The table below explains the criteria for evaluating these parameters:
Lexical errors
Let's look at what errors are proudly called “Lexical”. This:
- incorrectly used word in context (I would not speak so instead of I would not say so)
- compatibility error (make homework instead of do homework)
- omitting a word if it does not affect the grammatical structure of the sentence (My parents are very well familiar (missing the preposition with) the topic)
- errors in word formation if the part of speech does not change (for example, unresponsible instead of irresponsible)
- error in phrasal verb (give in smoking instead of give up smoking)
- a spelling error that changes the meaning of a word (thing instead of think, whether instead of weather)
But you not only need to avoid making mistakes, you need to remember that vocabulary in the essay should correspond to the task. That is, if the essay is about food, all sorts of synonyms and expressions on the topic “food” should be used. The lexical composition of the essay should be varied. If the author uses simple words and expressions (I think, I need to say, It’s good/bad to) or repeats vocabulary, the wedding will not receive a maximum score for the “vocabulary” criterion. To get the coveted point, you need to use collocations (start doing – take up), phrasal verbs (meet friends – meet up), and tricky vocabulary (think – consider). For example, the essay given as an example is replete with set expressions ( fulfilling job, be of primary importance, sooner or later), it contains a phrasal verb ( bring in) and synonymous chains career-job-work-occupation/ love – be keen on – be fond of – fancy/ satisfying job – fulfilling job – favorite job/ high salary – material aspect – well-paid job.
Grammatical errors
When checking task 40, the expert puts a grammatical error in the margins if the error:
- in any grammatical form, be it the form of a verb, plural noun, degree of comparison, and in any topic from the “Grammar Topics” section of the codifier
- in the order of words in a sentence (for example, I don’t know what they are thinking about. – In the second part of the sentence, the word order is reversed, although there is no question mark)
- there is a missing word that affects the structure of the sentence (for example, These people are wrong. – The linking verb “are” is missing)
- in word formation, if the part of speech changes (for example, they wanted to write “politician” (politician), but they wrote politic (political)
Also, if a student makes do with simple sentences, points are deducted. The essay welcomes complex structures, modal verbs, phrases with the passive/infinitive/participles, conditional sentences, the main thing is not to overdo it and “do not write everything beautiful at once”, to the detriment of the meaning. For example, in my essay, in addition to all sorts of complex sentences, there are degrees of comparison ( the most important, higher), modal verbs ( can't, have to), passive ( are underpaid or underestimated), conditional sentence ( If a person is fond of his work, he will eventually become a professional in his area), construction with comparative adjectives ( The more money you have, the better life you can afford).
Spelling and punctuation errors
The following are considered spelling errors in an essay:
- All errors that do not change the meaning of the word (for example, collegue, becouse, languaege)
(If an error changes the meaning of a word, it becomes lexical - for example, thing instead of think, whether instead of weather) - If a word in a work is written correctly once, but the rest are written incorrectly, this is considered an error.
- If a letter or word is written illegibly, the word is considered incorrectly written
In the entire written part of the exam, the student can choose either the British or American spelling of the word - favorite / favorite, colour / color, drugstore / pharmacy, crisps / chips. And stick to the chosen option until the end. That is, if color is written in one sentence and favorite is written in another, such variability will be recorded as an error.
Now about punctuation. Forget about abbreviations in essays (don’t/wouldn’t/mustn’t) - they will take away points from you. They can and should be written in a letter to a friend (), but not in an essay.
And if the work is written “like a chicken with its paw” (hello to our Russian language teachers =)) - that is, there will be a lot of strikethroughs in it - the expert has the right to reduce the grade by half a point.
Essay example
Makinga good salary is more important than job satisfaction.
It is common knowledge that career choice is one of the most important decisions in our life. Some people believe that it is essential to love what you do, whereas others focus on high salary while choosing a future profession.
In my opinion, a satisfying job is a better option. It fills life with positive emotions giving the energy to accomplish different tasks as we manage our daily routine. Another positive aspect of a fulfilling job is that your performance and, consequently, results are higher if you are keen on the task you are doing.
There are people who have the opposite opinion, for them the material aspect is of primary importance. The more money you have, the better life you can afford. Besides, money means opportunities – opportunities for better housing, education, entertainment and simply higher quality of life.
However veracious it sounds, I would not agree with the above mentioned idea. If people are fond of their work, they will eventually become professionals in a chosen area, and specialists are rarely underpaid or underestimated. A favorite job becomes well-paid sooner or later.
In conclusion, I would like to state that work occupies a great part of everyday routine. Evidently, it is more logical to choose an occupation you fancy over the one that brings in only money.
Attention! When you rewrite your answer on the exam form, do not forget to write the task number at the beginning - Task 40. Also, from this year you cannot write on the back of form 2 (that is, the one where you need to write the essay). If something doesn’t fit in you – and it won’t fit, I guarantee you that – ask for the next form. I advise you to ask for the next form in advance, because the exam assistants may run out of them, and searching for new ones may take some time, which is so important.
And organize your time so that during the exam you have time to rewrite the entire written task on the form. An essay written as a draft is not checked.
Algorithm for writing an essay for an exam
- Allow 60 minutes to write.
- Read the topic and draw a mind map on the topic. After drawing, make sure that all the arguments given are clearly on the topic (not on a similar one that you have already written). Every year the exam writers come up with something new, so don't expect to get a topic you're already familiar with and don't slip into another one that's similar. This is fraught with a score of “0” for the CP criterion, that is, a score of “0” for the entire task 40.
- Read your arguments again and select the most appropriate arguments in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs - that is, arguments against and a counterargument to it.
- Write a draft essay. If you have little time left, write to the final copy right away.
- Check for errors. Here I advise you to remember your typical “blunders” and check your work on them.
- Rewrite it as a clean copy. Check for mistakes, check that you wrote “Task 40” before the essay.
P.S. – If you are reading a topic for an exam and realize that you don’t know a word in the topic, don’t panic! Calm down and try to guess how this word can be translated.
Preparation
I would advise preparing for task 40 when the student’s level corresponds to at least B1 (ideally B2, because it is stated as the key to success on the Unified State Exam).
With level B1, I start preparing for this task about 6 months before the exam - first we analyze the assessment criteria, then we read and analyze essays from previous years, and at the end we try to write our own essays.
For practice, I would recommend purchasing Khotuntseva’s book; it is the most useful of all the manuals that claim to help you prepare for the written part. The other books presented below are also good, but Khotuntseva’s book is the best.
Buns
I will leave here the essay assessment scheme that the expert uses when checking assignment 40.
It is useful to show this chart to the student during preparation and fill it out together, using it first to evaluate the essays of previous years, and then the student’s own essay.
Please note that this article is current for the Unified State Exam 2018. In subsequent years, the requirements for writing this assignment may change and my advice will no longer be relevant.
Materials used when writing this article from fipi.ru– the most reliable source for preparing for the Unified State Exam and the Unified State Exam. Anything you read on other sites may contain incorrect information - be careful! (Yes, I've seen a few of these sites with incorrect information and bad essay examples!)
I recommend looking at examples of examination essays with analysis in the article about.
Hello my beloved readers.
If you are confident that you write excellent essays, forget about it!
Okay, it's kind of rough. But in reality this turns out to be true. All of us - Russian-speaking people - write excellent essays in Russian, but when it comes to essays in English for the Unified State Exam, then we start having problems (to put it mildly). The whole point is that we do not follow their rules and structure, but we should...
Therefore, today we will learn how to write an essay correctly, what requirements to comply with, and I will also give you ready-made essays so that you can clearly see how they should look.
For high-quality preparation for the Unified State Exam, you need to use simulators, which bring you as close as possible to the exam situation. You can use a similar simulator here . Practice and pass with 100 points!
What is an essay and its types
Let's start with the main question. It is probably already obvious that an essay is a kind of composition on a specific topic. But it's not that simple. The first thing you need to clearly understand is the difference between the two types of essays. These include essays expressing personal opinion, as well as essays with a “pros and cons” structure. And you should know the difference between them by heart.
Essay requirements
The main requirement for this task in 2017 is the volume of words. Alas, you are limited to 180-275 words. In addition, your essay must be grammatically correct, and the vocabulary, of course, must correspond to the language level. I do not recommend using words from the Elementary level when you are trying to pass the exam.
Style is also considered a very important element in assessing the quality of a written work. Yes, we are usually not very attentive to this aspect. With us, the “richer” and more “informal” the language you use, the better. But the British love a clear structure, so I not only do not advise you to do anything other than a formal writing style, but even forbid it!
Planessay
Plans for different types of essays are also different.
Pros and Cons Essay Outline
For a pro-con essay, the following structure is usually used:
- Introduction.
Start with a clear statement of the problem at hand, as well as a sentence that expresses ambivalence.
- Arguments for".
Decide on the arguments for it. Express them clearly and, most importantly, do not forget that they are still related to the problem.
- Arguments against".
Decide on the arguments against. You can even combine them with the previous paragraph. The main thing is that your thoughts are clearly defined and reasoned.
- Conclusion.
In conclusion, clearly and clearly summarize what has been said, but still repeat the controversial topic again, expressing some hope for its solution.
What I usually recommend to my students is to outline your essay before you write it. The worst mistake is to write at random. Then you will find many mistakes, as well as complete confusion in your thoughts.
Personal opinion essay plan
If you need to express your opinion, then the structure of the text will be completely different:
- Introduction.
In this type of essay, the beginning is identical to the previous one: you just need to identify the question that interests you.
- Expressing your opinion.
Here you express your point of view and give several arguments why you think it is correct. Don't waste all your arguments on this part. One or two will still be useful to you in the future. Here you can give 2-3 arguments.
- Expressing an opinion opposite to yours.
Any point of view has arguments opposing it. So imagine them here. It is not advisable to write less than two.
- Your counterarguments.
And here you can use those couple of arguments that I advised you to save. In this case, 1-2 will be quite enough.
- Conclusion.
Words- assistants
The rules for writing an essay are an important stage, but it is equally important to use introductory structures and expressions that will show your level of language proficiency, as well as dilute the boring formal text with neutral phrases. Let's look at some examples with translation:
People say.../ It is thought... - They say...
Firstly… / Secondly… - Firstly/secondly…
To begin with... - Starting with...
In addition to… - In addition…
Besides... - Besides...
Despite… - Despite…
As a result... - As a result...
On the one hand... on the other hand... - On the one hand... / On the other hand...
The problem is/might be/seems to be… - The problem is/maybe/seems to be…
While... - While...
What is more... - Moreover...
Summing up... - Summing up...
In conclusion… - In conclusion…
Suggested Topics
Of course, I cannot say with certainty what essay topics will be this year, but from experience I can say that the topics are always of a general nature. The reason for this is that few people can write about banking, for example. But on general topics, any of us can write anything based on our own experience. Therefore, here are some suggested essay topics:
- Food - Food.
- Traveling - Travel.
- Fashion - Fashion.
- Love and friendship - Love and friendship.
- Money - Money.
- Environment - Environment.
- Family problem - Problems in the family.
- Work and career - Work and career.
- Leisure time activities - Things to do in your free time.
By the way, there is a wonderful guide that will help everyone learn to write essays perfectly! Just follow the rules and practice. The author gives here the maximum that a student can get when preparing for the written part of the exams.
Examples
Of course, I couldn’t leave you with nothing, and not even give you a template or example of how to complete this task. Read and analyze.
Have domestic appliances improved the quality of our lives?
Nowadays, many people have a great variety of devices at home that are thought to make our life easier. However, they also have some disadvantages. (Remember that you need to start with a clear definition of the problem)
On the one hand(don't forget to use introductory words ) , they definitely reduced the amount of time we spend on doing household chores. Cleaning, for example, has become much easier due to the invention of vacuum cleaner. What is more, washing clothes does not seem to be a big problem anymore. Women do it far more quickly than they used to. In addition, the process of cooking for a big family has become much easier. You can have a microwave as long as multi-cooker to prepare food in an hour insteadofspending the whole evening in the kitchen. (In this type of essay, it is important to have a clear structure: write only about the advantages right away, and then only move on to the disadvantages. Or vice versa. But never mix).
However, even though all this equipment was made to save our time, it also encourages people to work more, or spend their free time in front of television or computer. And that does not necessarily make people happier. They become lazier and in case something happens- they will no longer be able to survive without all these appliances.
Summing up, it must be said that although technology has made the life easier it should not define thequality of our lives. (Don't forget to make a conclusion at the end, but by doing so, emphasize your point.)
The structure of the essay, as I already said, differs depending on the type. Therefore, I will give you an example with various clichés of the second type.
Is it better to go on holiday with family or friends?
It is usually thought that going on holidays with friends is much better than spending free time with your family. I completely disagree with it. ( Similar to the previous comment - don't forget to identify the problem and mention it).
First of all, it is much more economical as parents usually pay for their children so you do not have to spend much of your money. Secondly, it may seem that going on holidays with your parents may be boring, but the reality shows that you can have as much fun with your relatives as you could have with your friends. (We express 2-3 arguments in support of your opinion).
There is also an opinion, that spending time with your friend or without your parents makes you more responsible and confident. It is thought that you learn to live on your own. (Don't forget that it is also necessary to indicate someone else's opinion opposite to yours).
I cannot agree with this point of view as the adolescence is the process that cannot be fulfilled during your holidays. And sharing time with you family, on the other hand, strengthens your relationship and encourages you to develop core human values. (Contrast the new arguments with the counterarguments that you received).
So whether there is a question who to spend your vacation with, make sure that it will be spent with those who love you most- your family. (And, in the end, remember to make the right point when asserting your opinion).
Common mistakes
Of course, there are no mistakes. But there are mistakes that are typical for almost 50% of students taking the exam. Therefore, I want to highlight those that will be embarrassing:
- Forget about structure. Use informal words, phrasal verbs, or simply inappropriate vocabulary in style and format.
- Write abbreviations don’t, haven’t, etc.
- Do not use introductory structures.
- Write less or more than the prescribed word limit.
- Do not reveal the topic of the essay or “go away” from it, hoping that you will be appreciated for writing at least something.
- Stupid grammar mistakes. Better check and correct it 10 times.
Guys, if you seriously want to structure your knowledge and improve your skills for the Unified State Exam 2017 under the guidance of a great teacher:
Quicker sign up for a free introductory lesson at the EnglishDom online school. There will determine your level language proficiency, learn weak sides, will pick up the most suitable a teacher for you, and you can study individually through a convenient online platform at the optimal time for you and for a reasonable fee.
Well, my dears, I am sure that your essay is no worse, and maybe even better. I hope that after today’s lesson, writing will become much easier for you, and the word “essay” will move from the category of “oh, what a horror” to the category of “well, that’s wonderful.”))
And in order to improve not only your writing skills, but also everything else that you will need when passing the frightening three-letter appearance, subscribe to my blog’s mailing list. There I regularly share useful materials, tips and tricks based on personal experience.
In the meantime, I say goodbye to you.
Until next time.
P.S. If you are interested in learning about my experience passing entrance exams and just reading my thoughts on this topic, then go ahead to my article “”
Knowledge of a foreign language is one of the key functional competencies that a graduate should have today. Regardless of whether a person plans to continue his studies abroad and find a job in a large international company, or wants to stay in his hometown, knowledge of a foreign language will be a significant advantage and will open a variety of doors for the graduate.
It is possible that in 2018 foreign language will become a compulsory subject of the Unified State Exam. But, while the decision regarding the third compulsory subject has not been approved, the right to choose remains with the graduate.
In 2017-2018, a high score in English will allow you to apply to listed universities in the Russian Federation in a variety of areas:
- philology;
- linguistics;
- journalism;
- pedagogy;
- management;
- international relationships;
- world economy;
- sociology;
- hotel business;
- regional studies;
- anthropology…
In fact, the range of areas is much wider, because even many universities provide their applicants who want to enter technical specialties with a choice between taking physics or a foreign language.
Schedule of the Unified State Exam 2018 in a foreign language
Early period |
|
Reserve day (oral part) | |
Main period |
|
Main exam (oral part) | |
Main exam (written part) | |
Reserve day (written part) | |
Reserve day (oral part) | |
Reserve day (all subjects) | |
Changes in the Unified State Examination in English in 2018
Due to the fact that in the 2016-2017 season, significant changes were made to KIMs of various subjects, many graduates and teachers are closely following the news.
We are in a hurry to formulate – in 2018 the structure of exams in foreign languages will not change. Only minor amendments and clarifications will be made to the content of the CMM.
Like last year, the structure of the 2018 Unified State Exam in English will consist of two blocks:
- written part;
- oral part.
The oral and written exams will take place on different days!
Structure of the written part
The written part of the Unified State Exam consists of 40 tasks, divided into 4 sections:
- listening (questions 1-9);
- reading (questions 10-18);
- writing (questions 19-38);
- vocabulary and grammar (questions 39-40).
180 minutes are allotted to complete the work.
It is worth considering that the new tickets do not include tests. The simplest questions now are those with a short answer (indicating a number, letter or word).
The tickets are structured on a multi-level basis and include tasks that correspond to the three main levels of English proficiency for non-native countries:
The high level (B2) includes tasks that require a complete understanding of the text read, as well as item No. 40 from the “Writing” block - a short essay with a reasoning on a given topic.
Structure of the oral part
The oral part of the exam (speaking) takes place in specially equipped language laboratories or computer classrooms, where each place is equipped with a special headset. The test takes only 15 minutes. During this time, the student must demonstrate understanding of spoken language and the ability to conduct dialogue.
Calculation of Unified State Examination points in English
For successfully passing the written part, a graduate can score a maximum of 80 primary points. For passing the oral part - another 22 points. When calculating the total score, the results are summed up.
In 2018, when grading the Unified State Exam in English, the primary scores will be converted to a five-point system according to the table:
It is worth considering that the minimum passing threshold (22 points) does not provide the opportunity to enter a university, but is only a necessary condition for obtaining a certificate. For information about the minimum passing scores in subjects required for entry into a specific department of the university of your choice, look for information on the official website of the educational institution.
Dates for the Unified State Examination in English
A draft schedule for final tests for 11th grade graduates has already been drawn up. If no changes are made to the established calendar before the start of the Unified State Exam 2018, the exams will be held on the following dates:
Oral part | Written part |
|
Early period | (Monday) | (Wednesday) |
(Monday) | ||
Main period | (Wednesday Thursday) | (Monday) |
(Tuesday) |
||
(Friday) |
||
Additional period | September 2018 |
|
Graduates of 2017-2018 can focus on the main period of the Unified State Examination.
Graduates of previous years and those who have a valid reason for postponing the test date can apply to take the exam early.
The September stage is the last retake, which is open to persons whose result was not accepted for technical reasons (not through their fault) and those who were unable to take part in the main session of the Unified State Exam for a valid reason.
Preparation for the Unified State Exam in English
Most teachers encourage high school students to decide on their future specialty and choose their desired university in the 10th grade. This approach makes it possible to find out in advance which subjects need to be emphasized in order to successfully pass the Unified State Exam.But, even if the decision to take the English language test was made not so long ago, you have every chance to be well prepared for the final test, because there is still more than half of the academic year ahead.
Where to begin?
- Familiarize yourself with the structure of tickets and typical tasks.
- Find your weak points and educate yourself.
- Practice and practice again.
You can find many manuals online that will help you repeat the basic rules and prepare well for the written part. Trial versions of this year and last year’s assignments will be indispensable in preparation, because in 2018 the structure of Unified State Exam tickets in English will not change.
Practice is required to pass the oral exam. You can get it by signing up for group courses to prepare for the Unified State Exam or simply by communicating a lot with native speakers. But keep in mind that the exam will offer a classical version of the language, and friends on the Internet may turn out to be native speakers of different regional dialects.
Grammar (tasks 19-25):
How to write an essay in English:
Oral part: