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2.1 Writing Part 1 - ESSAY

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2.1 Writing Part 1 - ESSAY

Question 1 of the FCE writing exam requires us to write an essay, and although there are many different ways of writing essays, the exam handbook gives us a very good idea of what the examiners are looking for:


TASK TYPE AND FOCUS

Focus on agreeing and disagreeing with a statement, giving information, giving opinions, giving reasons, comparing and contrasting ideas, and drawing a conclusion.


The examiners also give some clear guidelines about the best way to write our essay:


If any of the three essay prompts is missed out, then the candidate will be penalised.
Varying the length of sentences, and using a variety of structures and vocabulary is very important, as is the correct use of linking words and phrases, and the appropriate use of cohesive devices.
It is important to uses a range of everyday vocabulary appropriately, with less common lexis, and a range of simple and some complex grammatical forms with a good degree of control.


The easiest way to satisfy all these requirements is to follow the steps below:

1 READ QUESTION CAREFULLY

2 IDENTIFY 3RD POINT

3 WRITE CONTEXT SENTENCE

4 USE QUESTION TO MAKE 2 STATEMENTS

5 LOOK AT GIVEN POINTS TO UNDERSTAND POSITION

6 CHOOSE STATEMENT SO YOU CAN DISAGREE

7 WRITE DISAGREEMENT SENTENCE

8 MAKE THREE INTRODUCTION SENTENCES

9 WRITE DETAIL SENTENCES

10 ADD LINKING

11 THINK OF OPPOSITE VIEW TO MAKE CONCLUSION

12 WRITE CONCLUSION SENTENCE


This would give us an essay with the following structure:


ESSAY

INTRODUCTION
               CONTEXT SENTENCE
             QUESTION TO STATEMENT
                 DISAGREE
                 LINKING 1

IDEA 1
                 LINKING 2
             INTRODUCTION SENTENCE 1
               DETAIL SENTENCE 1

IDEA 2
                 LINKING 3
             INTRODUCTION SENTENCE 2
               DETAIL SENTENCE 2

IDEA 3
                 LINKING 4
             INTRODUCTION SENTENCE 3
               DETAIL SENTENCE 3

CONCLUSION
                 LINKING 5
              OPPOSITE OPINION
              PERSONAL OPINION
               JUSTIFICATION


Let's apply these ideas to a typical exam question:


Using the steps given above, we have the following:

1 READ QUESTION CAREFULLY - OK

2 IDENTIFY 3RD POINT

- COST

3 WRITE CONTEXT SENTENCE

Smoking is a common activity in today's society.

4 USE QUESTION TO MAKE 2 STATEMENTS

Q - Do you think smoking should be prohibited?

- Some people feel that smoking should be made illegal.

- Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited.

5 LOOK AT GIVEN POINTS TO UNDERSTAND POSITION

Disease - Passive smoking - Cost = We are against smoking

6 CHOOSE STATEMENT SO YOU CAN DISAGREE

Choose statement in favour of smoking

Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited.

7 WRITE DISAGREEMENT SENTENCE

- I disagree with this position for many reasons.

8 MAKE THREE INTRODUCTION SENTENCES

Disease = Smoking is responsible for causing disease.

Passive smoking = Passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke.

Cost = Smoking is waste of money.

9 WRITE DETAIL SENTENCES

Disease = That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

Passive smoking = Family members of smokers often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Cost = smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

10 ADD LINKING

- For many reasons, Firstly, Secondly, Additionally, Finally, In conclusion

11 THINK OF OPPOSITE VIEW TO MAKE CONCLUSION

Smokers also have rights.

12 WRITE CONCLUSION SENTENCE

I think that smoking should be prohibited, event though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money, which is wasted on cigarettes.


Putting all these elements together gives us the following basic essay:


Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position.

Firstly, Smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

Secondly, Passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Additionally, Smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

Finally, in conclusion, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


To get good marks, we need to add sentences with different lengths and sentences which have different grammatical structures, like the passive, the conditional, relative clauses, concession and inversion.

Because this essay is a formal document, the passive should be widely used, and personal opinions should only be given in the introduction and the conclusion:


Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position.

I think Smoking is responsible for causing disease, and that is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

For me Passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke, and family members of smokers often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

In my opinion Smoking is waste of money because smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

Finally, in conclusion, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


Good paragraph structure means that paragraphs should start with a short introduction sentence which is followed by longer detail or justification sentences:


Smoking is a common activity in today's society. and Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position for many reasons.

Smoking is responsible for causing disease. and That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

Passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. and Family members of smokers often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Smoking is waste of money. because Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

Finally, in conclusion, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


Having good paragraph structure also gives us sentences of different lengths, which is what the examiners are looking for. Linking is also a very important element to include in our essay:


Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position.

FIRSTLY, smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

SECONDLY, passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

ADDITIONALLY, smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

FINALLY, IN CONCLUSION, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


Using more unusual linking words rather than the common ones impresses the examiners and gets better marks:

Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position FOR MANY REASONS.

FIRSTLY,TO START WITH, smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

SECONDLY, FURTHERMORE, passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

ADDITIONALLY, FINALLY smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

FINALLY, IN CONCLUSION, TAKING ALL THESE IDEAS INTO ACCOUNT, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


Our essay needs to have a variety of different grammatical structures, and this is easily done by modifying a few sentences.

Adding a CONDITIONAL SENTENCE:

Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position for several reasons.

To start with, smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction. If smoking had been prohibited in the past, our hospitals would not be full of people who have been made ill by this addiction, and many unnecessary deaths could have been avoided.

Furthermore, passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Finally smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

Taking all these ideas into account, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


Adding a RELATIVE CLAUSE:

Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position for several reasons.

To start with, smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

Furthermore, passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers, who don't smoke, often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Finally smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

Taking all these ideas into account, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


Adding a sentence using CONCESSION:

Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position for several reasons.

To start with, smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

Furthermore, passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers, who don't smoke, often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Finally smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible. Although it is true that smokers are free to spend their money as they wish. Nevertheless, to satisfy their addiction, smokers spend money that could be put to better use in many ways, both for their families and for society.

Taking all these ideas into account, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


Adding a sentence using INVERSION:

Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree with this position for several reasons.

To start with, smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

Furthermore, passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers, who don't smoke, often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Finally smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

Taking all these ideas into account, I think that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes. were smoking to be made illegal, smokers and non smokers alike would be protected from the dangers of smoke, and a lot of money could be saved.


and finally, just improving some of the basic vocabulary by using adverbs to strengthen verbs and adjectives:


Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited. I disagree I, however, strongly disagree with this position for several reasons.

To start with, smoking is responsible for causing disease. That is why our hospitals are full of people who only became ill due to smoking, and many people have died because of this addiction.

Furthermore, passive smoking affects innocent people who don't smoke. Family members of smokers, who don't smoke, often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others.

Finally smoking is waste of money. Smokers spend a lot of money on their addiction and this is terrible.

Taking all these ideas into account, I think I am absolutely convinced that smoking should be prohibited, even though smokers have rights, because this would protect both smokers and non smokers, and save a lot of money which is wasted on cigarettes.


This gives the finished document which is ready for the examiners as it satisfies all the points mentioned at the beginning of this document:


Smoking is a common activity in today's society. Some people feel that smoking should not be prohibited becuause it would deny smokers their rights. I, however, strongly disagree with this position for several reasons.

To start with, smoking is responsible for causing disease. If smoking had been made illegal in the past, our hospitals would not be full of people who have been made ill by this addiction, and many unnecessary deaths could have been avoided.

Furthermore, passive smoking affects innocent people who choose not to smoke. Family members of smokers, who don't smoke, often get ill from smoking related illnesses because they were affected by the smoke of others. This is unfair.

Finally, smoking is an enormous waste of money. Although It is true that smokers are free to spend their money as they wish. Nevertheless, to satisfy their addiction, smokers spend money that could be put to better use in many ways, both for their families and for society.

Taking all these ideas into account, I am absolutely convinced that were smoking to be made illegal, smokers and non smokers alike would be protected from the dangers of smoke, and a lot of money could be saved.