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 language for the Unified State Exam - this is where problems begin (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 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 excellent essays! 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 weaknesses, 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 “”

In task 40 of the written part of the Unified State Exam in English, a certain statement is given. You need to write an opinion essay in which you express your own opinion regarding this statement (opinion essay).

The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each starting with a new paragraph):

1. 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 education 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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.

Structure of an essay in the Unified State Examination in English

Paragraph	Offer	Sample
1.Introduction (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 … .
	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 the opposite 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…
	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…

Rules for writing essays in the Unified State Exam

1. 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 from the category world’s, open-minded, UK are counted 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.

2. 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.

3. 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!

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Natalya Glukhova

How to write an essay in English

12/11 2018

Hello, dear friends!

Today’s article will be useful to a wide range of people: from schoolchildren to adults. Do you want to take the IELTS or any other international exam? Do you need to prepare your child for the Unified State Exam or Unified State Exam? In this case, you just need to learn how to write an essay in English.

From this article you will learn:

Types of essays

The structure and content of an essay partly depends on its type. There are several varieties:

1. Agree/Disagree. It is also called Opinion. Here a certain statement is given, and you need to use arguments to prove your agreement or disagreement.
2. Advantages/Disadvantages. A certain fact is stated here. Your task is to describe its good and bad sides. An example of such a task:
3. Computers are becoming an essential part of school lessons.
4. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your own opinion.
   (Computers are becoming an important part of school lessons. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages and give your opinion).
5. Problem and solution. Here a specific problem is given, it is necessary to identify the consequences arising from it and provide possible ways to solve it.

Remember the scheme

There are three integral parts of any essay plan:

1. Introduction.
2. Body paragraph.
3. Conclusion.

Essay outline

In the first part, you are required to rephrase the task and write what will be discussed. Note what exactly to paraphrase, say in your own words. If you copy the question completely, the scores will be lower. If this is an opinion essay, then you can indicate here what position you adhere to. Do you know sentences in English?

Let's say the task sounds like this:
Nowadays many jobs are more stressful and the working day is longer.
What are the reasons for this? What can employers do to help employees?

(These days, work is becoming more stressful and working hours are longer. What could be the reasons? What can employers do to help their employees?)

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I offer you an example of an introduction to such an essay:
Two ways in which the workplace has changed in the modern era are that employees are
required to work longer hours and there is more pressure on them than in the past. In this
essay, I examine how competition is the main reason for this and suggest how employers
can improve their employees' working conditions (Two changes that have occurred in modern times are that employees are required to work longer and that they are under more pressure than in the past. In this essay I will discuss how competition is this is the main reason, and I will advise how employees can change their employers for the better).

Subscribe to my blog. Find even more useful articles and rules, and you will also receive as a gift - a basic phrasebook in three languages, English, German and French. Its main advantage is that there is Russian transcription, so even without knowing the language, you can easily master colloquial phrases.

As we can see, the author described the problem in his own words and briefly described what will be discussed next.
The body should consist of two to three paragraphs. It will help you about transliteration into English - sometimes this is very important.

If this is an opinion essay, you should first indicate the reason why you agree or disagree with the statement and support it with arguments. You can specify two. Be sure to cover the opposing view as well. Tell us why another point of view is also valid. Typically, such tasks do not have a clear answer, so it will not be difficult to find arguments in support of two positions. Repeat the previous one about infinitive forms, if you have questions, ask in the comments.

If your task is to write a problem and solution essay, then you can first talk about one problem, then offer a solution, then do the same with the second problem. Or you can first list all the problems and then offer solutions.
And at the end there is a conclusion. Here you are required to summarize everything that has been said and once again express your opinion.

Sample IELTS exam task

The key to a good essay is a varied and relevant vocabulary. Therefore, I advise you to memorize clichés that will always come in handy:

Phrase	Translation
Expressing your opinion
In my opinion	In my opinion
In my view
From my point of view	From my point of view
I imagine	I represent
It seems to me	It seems to me that
Give examples
For example	For example,
For instance
In other words	In other words
To illustrate	For illustration
Opposition
However	However
On the contrary,	Vice versa
On the other hand	On the other side
Add information
In addition	In addition
Moreover	Moreover
Besides	Besides
Also	Also
Draw conclusions
To summarize	Let's summarize
Finally	In the end

Useful phrases

What to pay attention to
In addition, learning how to write an essay in English correctly, some more tips will help you:

1. Pay attention to spelling and punctuation.
2. Make sure your speech is varied, try to avoid repeating the same words, choose synonyms.
3. Follow the regulations strictly. If you are told to write 250-280 words, you should not reduce or increase it.

What else is important for a good essay? Coordinate times correctly. I talked about how to do this in one of the.

The most common essay topics

To give you a more complete picture of how to write an essay in English, I offer a sample:

Modern lifestyles mean that many parents have little time for their children.

Many children do not get as much attention from their parents as children did in the past.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

One common concern nowadays is how modern lifestyles can have a negative effect on family life.

A particular worry is that parents are no longer able to provide sufficient care and support for their children.

In my opinion, this is generally true, but not always so.

If we look at the past, the traditional family structure was the husband was the head of the family and his duty was to provide for his immediate family by going out to work.

His wife’s role was to stay at home and bring up the children. In this situation we should note that the children frequently did not see much of their father during the working week.

In the present day, the traditional structure has changed in many cultures.

One reason for this is that it is more and more common for the wife to go out to work because it is now accepted that woman have as much right to work as men.

As a result many children do not see their mother as often as they would have done in the past.

A second reason is that divorce has increased and in single-parent families children only ever see one parent.

We should also consider, however, that these changes are not the same for all families.

In low income families, for instance, it has always been normal for both parents to work.

Likewise, if the family is close-knit, the parents will still spend time with their children even though they both work.

To conclude with, generally most children see less of their parents and this is due to changing lifestyles.

Let me remind you that the proposed presentation is suitable for both academic exam modules and others. I wish you success in passing. Subscribe to the Viva Europe blog, where you will find even more useful information about English.

(2 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)

Do you know how to write an essay in English correctly? No? Then we suggest you read our useful article. How to write an essay? Where to start? What phrases to use? Let's start in order...

An essay is a type of creative work that has an arbitrary composition and reveals the author’s opinion on a particular problem.

Where will you have to write an essay in English?

Most often, an essay is required in three cases:

• When passing school exams (USE);
• for passing in English (for example, TOEFL or IELTS);
• when hiring (before).

Essay writing structure

In any written performance, structure, clear sentence construction and logical organization are important.

An essay usually consists of the following parts.

Maintaining

In this part you need to state the problem, clearly articulating it and the degree of its relevance.

Main part

Here you highlight several arguments and reasoning, supporting your point of view in detail with evidence (from statistics, your own experience, etc.).

You also need to state that there is an opposing point of view and explain why you do not agree with it.

Conclusion, conclusion

The conclusion must be formulated in accordance with the problem expressed; it must contain the point of view that you adhere to, the main idea that you came to in the process of reasoning.

Where to start writing an essay?

• Make an essay plan - briefly formulating the problem in the introductory part, highlighting several arguments “FOR” and “AGAINST” in the main part and a brief conclusion;
• think about what arguments you can give in support of your arguments;
• now expand on each of your thoughts, add descriptive elements to sentences, add reasoning;
• add phrases characteristic of the essay;
• check literacy (spelling, punctuation, grammar, writing structure, logic, how fully the communicative task is completed).

Main types of essays

Let's look at the main types of essays. Most often the following can be distinguished:

• For and Against Essays
• Opinion Essays
• Points to consider (Problem and solution)

For & Against Essays

A “Pros and Cons” essay is an essay whose main task is to consider two points of view.

Before you start writing this type of essay, you need to write down all the arguments for and against on a separate piece of paper.

Also, try not to use an informal style. Express your opinion without emotion. Use words like “ It seems that" or " I therefore feel“.

Useful Expressions

At the beginning of your essay you can use phrases such as:

• Firstly;
• First of all;
• In the first place.

When specifying benefits:

• One/Another/An additional advantage of … is…
• The main advantage of… is…

When pointing out deficiencies:

• One/Another/An additional disadvantage of … is …
• The greatest/ first disadvantage of … is …
• Another negative aspect of…

When reasoning:

• One argument in favor of/against
• It could be discussed that...
• Some people/experts/scientists claim/argue …
• Support / oppose the view that ...

To link sentences:

• In addition;
• Furthermore;
• Besides;
• What is more;
• There is another side to the argument of…

For contrast:

• However;
• On the other hand;
• Nevertheless;
• In conclusion;
• To conclude/to sum up;
• All in all.

Opinion Essays

An opinion essay expresses your personal point of view on some issue. The main goal of this type of essay is to prove that your position is correct.

To write a good opinion essay, you need to carefully choose the topic and conduct research on the issue.

Useful Expressions

Give the opposite point of view:

• Some people think that...
• It is claimed that...

You can also use phrases such as:

• Although many people think that…., I feel that…
• While it is true that… … I believe…
• It is undoubtedly true that... ...However...

Points to consider essay

Useful Expressions

To explain the situation:

• Because
• In order to...
• Subsequently
• So that...

To express probability:

• It can/might/could…
• It is possible.
• Unlikely

Some more phrases (clichés) for writing an essay

Phrases for the introductory part

• There is a growing debate about…;
• It is a well known fact that...;
• For the great majority of people…;
• A number of key issues arise from the statement…;
• The public in general tends to believe that…;
• People often claim that….

Phrases for listing multiple arguments.

• Firstly, secondly, thirdly;
• To begin with / to start with;
• Finally/Eventually;
• Last but not least.

Phrases that add arguments

• Moreover, furthermore, in addition, besides;
• “Not only...”, “but...”, “as well.”

Phrases to introduce an opposite (contrasting) idea

• But, however, whereas, nevertheless

Phrases expressing the advantages of a point of view, giving arguments

• One of the most important fact in favor of….is;
• It is undeniable that;
• The first thing that needs to be said is…;
• One argument in support of…;
• We must distinguish carefully between…;
• The second reason for…;
• An important aspect of the problem is…;
• It is worth stating at this point that…;
• To illustrate this point we need to refer…;
• It is noticeable that;
• One should note here that;
• This leads us to believe that…;
• In view of these facts it is quite likely that...;
• Doubtless,..;
• It is generally agreed that….

Phrases expressing personal opinion

• In my opinion;
• In my view;
• To my mind;
• As far as I am concerned;
• It seems to me that;
• I feel strongly that;
• Personally, I believe that….

Phrases for conclusion, summing up.

• In conclusion;
• To sum up;
• On the whole;
• To conclude;
• Taking everything into account.

Essay evaluation criteria

• Compliance with grammatical norms of the language;
• Spelling and punctuation;
• Maintaining style;
• Construction logic and writing structure;
• Vocabulary. (Rich vocabulary, correct use of words in context);
• Solving a communication problem. (The content reflects all aspects, the conclusion corresponds to the task at hand).

Example of a good essay (sample)

Topic: IELTS Essay, topic: Computers instead of teachers.

As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom.

There is no doubt that education and the learning process has changed since the introduction of computers: The search for information has become easier and amusing, and connectivity has expedited the data availability. Though expert systems have made computers more intelligent, they have not yet become a substitute of the human interaction in the learning process. In my opinion what can be expected is a change of the teachers’ role, but not their disappearance from the classroom.

Nobody can argue that the acquisition of knowledge is more fun and easier with computers. The mere activity of touching and exploring this device constitutes an enjoyable task for a child. This, accompanied by the relaxing attitude and software interactivity, usually contributes to a better grasping of new knowledge. At a higher educational level the availability of digital books, simulators and other academic materials provide the student with an ever accessible source of information, that otherwise would not be at hand.

But, besides the increasing complexity and behavior of intelligent software, which is usually embedded in the academic digital material, the need for human interaction in the learning process will always be present, at least in the foreseeable future. There is the necessity for a human being to be able to determine what the specific needs of each individual are. The expertise of a teacher in how to explain and adapt complex concepts to different individuals can hardly be mimicked by a computer, no matter how sophisticated its software is.

As computers are becoming a common tool for teaching, teachers should be more aware of their role as guides in the acquisition of knowledge rather than transmitters of facts. They have to be open minded to the changes that are taking place, keep updated and serve as problem solvers in the learning process, thus allowing students to discover the facts for themselves.

To summarize, in my personal view, teachers play and will continue to play an important role in the classroom, especially at the primary level. No matter how complex computers become, there will be no replacement for the human interaction, but in the way this interaction takes place.

Now you know how to write an essay in English.

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The structure of an essay in English has some peculiarities. Before writing an essay on the English language, it is very important to familiarize yourself with some basic rules for writing such exam paper. Following fairly simple recommendations will allow you to successfully cope with the written exam and get a high final score.

How to write an essay in English - features of preparation for the Unified State Exam 2018

An essay is a composition with a small volume and free composition, expressing the individuality of impressions and thoughts in accordance with the specific question posed. It should be noted that the essay obviously does not imply an exhaustive interpretation, therefore when writing it is necessary to rely on the expression of one’s own thoughts and point of view.

Thus, the main features of writing an essay in English are presented:

• the presence of a specific topic or clearly formulated question;
• expressing one’s own impressions or thoughts;
• assessment of the author’s personality in the content, including his worldview, feelings and thoughts.

Currently, the essay is the most frequently offered examination task and allows you to get an idea of ​​​​the student’s level of preparation in the subject. The purpose of this work is to test a specific set of skills represented by independent creative thinking and the ability to express one's own thoughts in writing.

Essay structure and content

• the presence of the author's thoughts on the issue, presented in the form of brief theses or statements;
• the presence of the author's thoughts, supported by evidence, when using theses with subsequent argumentation.

Argumentation in the form of listing events and facts, phenomena of social life or personal experience, should be presented with two or three examples. At the moment, there are several main forms of writing an examination essay in English.

The first option is an essay in the “For and against essays” format.

In this case, first a translation of the topic of discussion is given, then several arguments

The introduction provides a smooth transition to the topic of discussion, and the body provides several arguments. In the final part, you should definitely express your personal attitude to the topic, as well as draw a small conclusion.

The second option is an essay in the Opinion Essay format.

The “Opinion Essay” format implies a topic of discussion with a personal point of view and its argumentation

The introduction indicates the topic of the discussion, and the main part should be supplemented with personal opinion with confident argumentation. The final part necessarily summarizes the results, and also gives the final formulation of a personal point of view on the proposed topic.

The third option is an essay in the format “Suggesting solutions to problem essays”

The introductory part of the essay describes the problem and its causes, followed by a personal opinion with possible consequences actions

The introduction indicates the problem, as well as the reasons for its occurrence and consequences, and the main part should be filled with personal opinion on any methods of solving the problem and the possible consequences of actions with clear argumentation. In the final part, it is necessary to summarize personal thoughts related to the topic.

Structure, content and design

It is important to remember that before starting to write an essay, it is necessary, adhering to the structure, to decide on the type of text and writing plan according to the points represented by the title - introduction - several paragraphs of the main part - conclusion, and also pay attention to proper formatting:

• in the introduction and conclusion it is necessary to focus the main attention on the problems of the topic, in the first case by posing it, and in the second by summing up the results;
• it is very important to follow the rules for highlighting paragraphs and using a red line, and also pay attention to the logical connections of all paragraphs, achieving the integrity of the work;
• in the style of presentation of the text, it is important to use emotionality and artistry, without neglecting short and simple sentences that are as varied in intonation as possible;
• When formatting, you do not need to use slang or abbreviations of words, replacing can not with the short form can’t.

The style of the essay should not be “dry”, clerical or official, therefore, when writing, preference should be given to reflecting personal characteristics.

Cliché phrases

To get a complete and high-scoring essay written in English, it is quite possible to use several standard and competent phrasal cliches.

Standard templates for the introductory part:

• It is popularly believed that…. (People believe that...);
• People often claim that... Some people argue that... (People often claim... Some people argue that...);
• A lot of people think that... (Many people think that...);
• It is often suggested /believed that... (It is often suggested /believed that...);
• Many people are in favor of the idea that... Many people are convinced that... (Many people are in favor of this idea... Many are convinced of this...);
• Some people are against... (Some people are against...).

Standard templates for expressing a personal point of view:

• I would like to explain my point of view on this situation. (I would like to clarify my point of view on this situation);
• I would like to express my opinion on this problem. (I would like to express my opinion on this issue).

Standard templates characterizing the problem under discussion:

• As already stated I’m in favor of... for a number of reasons... (As already stated, I’m in favor... for a number of reasons...);
• There are many things to be said in favor of... (There are many things that need to be said in favor of...);
• The best/ thing about……. is...

Standard templates listing a personal point of view:

• Firstly, /First of all…. (First of all, / first of all....);
• In the first place (First of all);
• To start with, / To begin with, (Let's start with / to start with,);
• Secondly, Thirdly, Finally, (Secondly, thirdly, finally);
• Last but not least, (Last, but not less).

Standard templates for adding new argumentation:

• Furthermore, /Moreover, /What is more, (In addition, /besides, /that);
• As well as…. /In addition to this/that... (And also.... / In addition to this / that...);
• Besides, /…….also…. (Except.……/ ,also.…);
• Not only…., but…… as well (Not only.…, but...... also);
• Apart from this/that….(Besides this/this....);
• not to mention the fact that (Not to mention that).

Standard templates for the third paragraph:

• Some people believe that... however they fail to understand that... (Some people believe that... however they do not understand that...);
• they fail to consider that... they forget that... (they do not consider that... they forget that...);
• Some people argue that…. I can not agree with it as …(Some people argue that.... I can’t agree with this because...);
• I disagree with this point of view (statement, opinion) because ... (I do not agree with this point of view (statement, review) because ...);
• It has become fashionable for some people to argue that... (It has become fashionable for some people to argue that...);
• Contrary to what most people believe, I think that... (Contrary to the fact that most people believe so, I think that...);
• As opposed to the above ideas…I believe that… (In contrast to the above ideas... I believe that...).

Standard templates for closing phrases:

• In conclusion, (In conclusion);
• On the whole, (In general);
• To conclude, (Completing,);
• To sum up, (Summing up,);
• All in all, (In general,);
• All things considered (Taking into account all the circumstances);
• Finally, (Finally);
• Lastly, (Finally);
• Taking everything into account, (Taking into account everything);
• Taking everything into consideration (Taking into account everything).

Standard templates expressing personal opinion:

• In my opinion this subject is very controversial (In my opinion, this topic is very controversial);
• In my view... (In my opinion...);
• To my mind... (In my opinion...);
• To my way of thinking... (In my opinion...);
• Personally I believe that... (Personally, I believe that...);
• I feel strongly that... (I feel that...);
• It seems to me that... (It seems to me that...);
• As far as I am concerned... (As far as I can tell...).

Criteria for assessing essays in English

The current criteria for assessing the completion of an examination task in the form of an essay in English are shown in the table.

Table: essay evaluation parameters

K4, K5, K6, K7, K8 / Number of points	0 points	1 point	2 points	3 points
Communication solution in content	The task is not completed. The aspects specified in the assignment are not reflected or do not fit into the required scope.	The task is not completely completed. The aspects specified in the assignment are not reflected. There are violations in style, and all language norms of politeness are not observed.	The task is fully completed, but there is no full disclosure of some aspects of the task, there are violations of style in the design of speech, but generally accepted language norms of politeness are observed.	The task is fully completed, the content reflects all aspects of the task and there is a correct style of speech, taking into account the goals and norms of politeness.
Text organization	There is no logic in the construction of all statements, there is no adherence to the format of statements.	The statements are not always logical, there are shortcomings or errors in logical connection, or their choice is limited, there is no logic in the division into paragraphs, there are numerous errors in the format of the statement.	The statements are mostly logical, but there are some shortcomings in the means of logical communication and in the division into paragraphs. There are violations in the format of statements.	The statement is logical with the correct means of logical connections, dividing the text into paragraphs with the correct format of the statement.
Vocabulary assessment	Significantly limited vocabulary, which does not contribute to the completion of all assigned tasks.	The presence of an unreasonably limited vocabulary with violations in vocabulary that make it difficult to understand the text.	Correspondence of vocabulary to the assigned tasks with some inaccuracies in the use of words. There is correct vocabulary used.	Correspondence of vocabulary to all assigned tasks with an almost complete absence of errors.
Grammar assessment	There is no adherence to grammatical rules.	Very common errors at the elementary level, not very numerous errors that will complicate the overall understanding of the text.	There are a number of errors in grammar that do not impede the overall understanding of the text.	Grammatical structures correspond to the assigned tasks. Virtually no errors.
Spelling and punctuation assessment	The rules of punctuation and spelling are not followed, there are more than ten errors.	Spelling or punctuation errors that significantly impair the overall understanding of the text.	Almost complete absence of spelling errors. Dividing text with good punctuation.	There are no errors.

The minimum text length is 180 words, and the maximum is 275 words. If the essay consists of more than 275 words, then only the first 250 words are subject to verification.

Assessment Additions:

• K6 and K7 with one or two errors - 3 points;
• K6 and K7 with three to seven errors - 2 points;
• K8 if there are one or two errors - 2 points;
• K7 if there are from eight to twelve errors - 1 point;
• K8 if there are from three to ten errors - 1 point;
• K7 if there are more than twelve errors - 0 points;
• K8 if there are more than ten errors - 0 points.

Writing an essay in the English language exam is a standard task, and it is this rather complex task that allows you to get the largest number of final points.

An essay is a written expression of personal thoughts related to a specific topic, but when writing it, it is required to observe basic delicacy and, if possible, not to touch upon political or religious worldviews. If the proposed task examines any “painful” topic, then the point of view should be expressed only tolerantly and extremely politely, in a formal tone and without violent emotionality.