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Writing Paper
You will have to write a discursive essay in which you have to summarise
and evaluate the key points contained in two texts of approximately
100 words each. Candidates must integrate a summary of these key points,
an evaluation of the abstract arguments involved and their own ideas
on the topic in a coherent essay.
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General Advice
Content
Your piece of writing has to cover all the points mentioned in the task.
Everything that you write needs to be relevant to it. You will need to follow the
instructions you are given as to what you have to write about making sure that you
keep to the word limit.
Organisation
You have to organise your writing logically and with clear sentence structure so that
it is easy to follow your points. Moreover, you should remember to organise your
writing into clear paragraphs. Your text has to flow well from paragraph to paragraph
(using conjunctions, adverbial conjunctions and other connectors). Every paragraph
should be a clear idea. Many sentences linked together building an idea from its
beginning to its conclusion, and then each paragraph linked together so that the
whole piece of writing feels as if it flows.
It is also important to use different sentence lengths to make your writing more
interesting and easier to read. If every sentence you use is very long, your writing
will come across as very dull. Short punchy sentences are sometimes very useful.
Language
A range of vocabulary (adjectives, adverbs, nouns, etc.) must be used as well as a
range of grammatical forms (perfect tenses, conditional tenses, passive sentences,
modal verbs, inversions, etc.). Once youve finished your piece of writing, it would be
a good idea to go back through it checking for common grammar mistakes such as
unnecessary articles, verb tense disagreement, subject-verb disagreement,
misplaced prepositions, etc.
Although spelling errors and faulty punctuation are not specifically penalised, they
can sometimes impede communication. (N.B. American usage and spelling are
acceptable.)
Communicative Achievement
You will have to use the right format of the task to communicate your message.
For example, if you are writing a report you should use headings, since thats part of
the style of that format. Make sure you dont write one piece of writing in the wrong
style, i.e. a report in the style of a letter, an essay in the style of an article,etc.
Your message should be communicated clearly and using the appropriate register
(formal, semi-formal or informal).Introducing some simple and complex ideas will
also help you to get good marks.
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ESSAY MODEL 1
TITLE (OPTIONAL)
Introduction : Explain what the essay is about.
First paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text one. Give
your opinion.
Second paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text two.Give
your opinion.
Conclusion: Restate your previous arguments, sum up and relate to a broader context.
ESSAY MODEL 2
Find the common theme between the two input texts.
Example: The over-arching theme of these two texts is
First paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text one.
The first considers the fact that/ adopts a more viewpoint on
In my opinion there is little to disagree with in the first text.
the first text does not consider
Give your opinion
Second paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text two.
The second text is possibly more
Conclusion: Restate your previous arguments, sum up and relate to a broader context.
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FIRST STEP:
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EXAMPLES
Write an Essay summarising and commenting on the two texts. 240-280 Words
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ESSAY MODEL 1
TITLE (OPTIONAL)
Introduction : Explain what the essay is about.
First paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text one. Give
your opinion.
Second paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text two.Give
your opinion.
Conclusion: Restate your previous arguments, sum up and relate to a broader context.
Essay on Motoring and Traffic Congestion
The need of motor vehicles in the modern world is undeniable. But although the benefits of
owning a four-wheeled transportation device are numerous, cars can also generate a lot of
problems.
On the one hand automobiles are absolutely necessary for some people. For instance, in the
USA, everybody needs a car to go to school or to go to work. With public transport being
slow or simply non-existent, having a car gives people a transport solution. Furthermore,
travelling by car also helps people avoid stressful situations. Owning a car means no more
standing in crowded buses or fighting with people in the subway.
On the other hand, all those cars in the streets mean facing traffic jams and of course
pollution. They create congestion and are one of the principal sources of contamination in
the cities. As a respond to this situation, governments are implementing a series of strategies
to motivate people not to use their cars so often.
Some of these government strategies involve car sharing and using bikes, while others fine
drivers who use their vehicles on certain days or at certain times; but this strategy does not
seem to be so efficient. Probably because doing something to avoid a fine, does not involve
really understanding the nature of the problem.
All in all, I am of the opinion that cars are indispensable in the current lifestyles and living
standards. We cannot disregard the impact they had on facilitating our existence,
nevertheless it is irrefutable that their numbers have reached levels where we must not
hesitate to act in downsizing them.
270 words
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ESSAY MODEL 2
Find the common theme between the two input texts.
Example: The over-arching theme of these two texts is
First paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text one.
The first considers the fact that/ adopts a more viewpoint on
In my opinion there is little to disagree with in the first text.
the first text does not consider
Give your opinion
Second paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of input text two.
The second text is possibly more
Conclusion: Restate your previous arguments, sum up and relate to a broader context.
The over-arching theme of these two texts is the use of cars in our society.
The first one adopts a more practical viewpoint on this subject, discussing different
alternatives to reduce a very common problem that many big cities have to deal with
nowadays, namely traffic congestions. This text makes the point that it is important to find
ways to tackle this increasing problem; whether it is through raising peoples consciousness,
setting speed limits, or even using congestion charges.
The main point made is that it is important that citizen not use their cars so frequently.
In my opinion, it is very important to try to reduce traffic congestions. However, the first
text fails to take into consideration reducing the price of public transport. This would enable
people to travel with ease and may encourage them to stop using their vehicles as much as
they do now.
The second text is possibly more descriptive. It discusses how people use their own car with
complete disregard for the drawbacks that this may bring. People accept drawbacks, such as
ever-increasing petrol prices, expensive insurances, traffic jams, etc. However, these
negative aspects do not discourage them from getting behind the wheel. The benefits of this
far outweigh the drawbacks.
Expensive though it may be, using their own car gives people the freedom and
independence that they would not be able to have otherwise. In addition, for some people
their car is not just a means of transport, it is also, somehow, an extension of their
personality.
I am of the opinion that because of our fast pace of life, we have become very dependent on
our cars to take us everywhere. This is simply where evolution is taking us.
291 words
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