Essay Writing 

Writing Task: A

Lesson: 8                                                                                         Time: 50 Minutes

Full Marks: 12                                                                                 Pass Mark: 5

Please note that all the tasks and items prepared below are authentic materials and will be used as they are in your terminal, Pre SEE and SEE Preparation Examinations. You are therefore required to sincerely complete these tasks on a daily basis. Parents are kindly advised to be observant and with their children monitoring and supervising their studies and most of these contents contain a number of materials on the internet, especially YouTube. Just make sure that they do not get digitally distracted.

1.                    Scene Setting: Study these sample essays and create your own text as instructed below.

Sample 1. Even though developing countries receive financial aid, poverty is still a problem. Some people believe that in order to eliminate poverty in developing countries other forms of aid are needed.

Task: To what extent do you agree or disagree? And suggest what other forms of aid could be offered in not less than 300 words.

#Answer

Poverty is an issue that still afflicts many developing countries around the world. This is despite long-standing programs that have attempted to alleviate this problem by delivering financial assistance. My belief is that these programs need to be supplemented by alternative forms of aid that are more likely to bring a long-term solution. It would be wrong to state that financial assistance has no effect on the fight against poverty.

It can, for instance, be highly effective in allowing governments to buy food or provide housing for the poor, especially in cases of natural disasters. Typically, however, this only has a short-term effect and does little to address the longer-term causes of poverty. Indeed, it can even worsen the situation if it is provided in the form of a loan that needs to be repaid.

There are a number of alternative forms of aid that could work more efficiently in the long-term fight against poverty. One of these is for donor nations and NGOs to provide training for the poor to give them the skills to escape the poverty trap. For example, volunteers could train them on how to run their own micro-business and so breed an enterprise culture.

Another practical idea is to work to improve the conditions that cause poverty in the first place. This could mean building water wells or improving irrigation systems as both lack of food and water contribute to poverty. Whichever form of aid is chosen, however, it should aim at making the poor more self-reliant, as that is the surest way to find a long-term solution.

In conclusion, I do believe that financial assistance does have a limited role to play in the fight to eradicate poverty. This needs to be supplemented, however, by policies that work towards a longer-term solution and greater self-reliance. (300 Words)

Credit Source: http://www.dcielts.com/

2. Look at another sample essay in a persuasive tone.

3. Fun corner to kill your monotony

Get is a phrasal verb. The basic meaning of get differs when it precedes particles (preposition) like across, back, away, in, etc. Now, match the phrasal verbs with their meanings.        [5]

Phrasal verb                                         Meaning

1)                    get across                                            i. to have a holiday

2)                    get away                                              ii. to be communicated to somebody

3)                    get back                                               iii. to return

4)                    get down                                             iv. to arrive at a place

5)                    get in                                                   v. to move from a higher position to a lower one

4. Have a look at the following structure of an essay, it will help you have a better mind map before you attempt writing an essay.

5. Further Understanding

1. Thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under

discussion.

• is a road map, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.

• is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself.

• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the

first paragraph) that presents your arguments to the reader. the rest of the writing, the body

of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of

your interpretation.

2. Topic sentence:

• the main idea of each paragraph.

• contains the focus of the paragraph and tells readers what the paragraph is going to be

about.

• usually located at the beginning of each paragraph.

3. Concluding remarks

• restate the main argument.

• remind the reader of the strengths of the argument.

• reiterate the most important evidence supporting the argument.

• provide a forum for you to persuasively and succinctly restate your thesis given the reader

has now been presented with all the information about the topic.

(Source: CDC Textbook)

6. Task: People have their own customs, beliefs, art, architecture, lifestyle, and social organizations. They are the backbone of civilization and identity. Nowadays, due to western influence, we are neglecting our own culture and following western culture. This leads us to nowhere. Now brainstorm well and write an essay on “Our Culture: Our Identity” in about 300 words.         [8]

Some Useful Links

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGU5Tkh-Rvg       (<15 minutes)

  

Note: Please use a separate Notebook for all your tasks or A4 size paper well-maintained in a portfolio/file in the same order for submission and evaluation later.

 Unit 2: The End

Compiled, Edited and Prepared by Jaya Narayan Bhusal

Department of English