Skip to main content

Hot Off The Press

ECPE Writing - Sample Article (Banning Cars from the City)

This is the fourth sample article that conforms to the writing section requirements of the ECPE (Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English) of the University of Michigan.  My first post to deal with articles , explains what needs to be present in the piece of writing candidates compose. Examiners are looking for articles that elaborate on ideas and have solid arguments; are well organized; make use of a wide lexical and grammatical range; have an original ring to them (in other words,

B2 Sample Writing 8 (Essay - Internet)


https://argutelegacy.blogspot.com/2018/04/sample-essay-internet.html

Essay writing at B2 level is no different from B2 letter writing in that candidates are still expected to write formally, give good, clear arguments and develop their ideas using a variety of grammatical structures and vocabulary expected at this level.

To see what the different types of essays are and how they may be structured, read B2 Writing: The Basics. 

Let us deal with the following question:


What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet in education? Is the Internet a useful educational tool or does it pose too many risks? Give examples to support your opinions.

Read the following sample essay, keeping in mind what has already been said in "What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog?".


Please note that this essay is approximately 300 words and is therefore much longer than what is expected at B2 level. 





For more help with B2-level English Exams, click on the image below.


https://argutelegacy.blogspot.com/search/label/B2
             



          It is an undeniable fact that technology is changing the way we view and do work on a day-to-day basis. To be more precise, the Internet has revolutionized the way we obtain information and is an especially useful tool in schools. And yet, although many would be quick to highlight the advantages of using the Internet in classrooms, many point out the drawbacks associated with it.

              On the one hand, those who think it unwise to hook computers up to the Internet in schools state two reasons in support of their opinion. The first is that children will spend too much time browsing the Net instead of scanning it for specific information related to homework given or the lesson at hand. Another reason is that many sites are unreliable either because the information contained has been written by non-experts, which means it could be wrong, or because the sites themselves are suitable for adults only, not youngsters.

            On the other hand, being connected to the Internet presents a number of benefits for students. Teachers have a tool at their disposal that will add variety to their lessons and motivate their students because it is a fact that the majority of teens enjoy working on a computer. Getting used to this will also help students become familiar with the technology they will use at university or at work in the future. Lastly, no matter what is said about the accuracy of the information found on the Net, teachers can always guide students to find suitable sources of facts while security programs can lock students out of potentially dangerous websites.

             All in all, despite the risks posed, the Internet is a motivational tool that, when used wisely, offers a treasure trove of information to students. With the proper guidance and assistance, the latter will learn more than just what they see written in textbooks.



Popular posts from this blog

Writing Letters of Complaint - Useful Phrases

Whether it's to complain about something you bought or a service you found was unsatisfactory, as part of your job or because you are preparing to take an exam in English at B2 or C2 level, it is a fact that you should know the basics about writing or even orally expressing your dissatisfaction.  The following post should help you organize your letter or email (even an oral statement, if necessary) as well as give you some useful phrases you can use.

Virginia Woolf - The Legacy (Overview)

When a wife dies and leaves her husband her diary, all is possible. In Gil bert Clandon's case, the legacy his wife leaves him is much more than he could ever have imagined.  Virgi nia Woolf signs an exceptional short story which questions the foundations of marriage, people's need for communication by any means possible a nd their inclusion in a mutually beneficial partnership . When one reneges on that contract, the other will seek new outlets to grow , as p ersonal d evelopment in any marriage is inevitable. If that development is undertaken without any consideration for one's spouse, then problems will unavoidably ensue.

Tobias Wolff - Powder (Overview)

"Powder" is a short story intended to quickly state the obvious - a father's bond to his son is always a difficult thing to forge when parents aren't on good terms with each other. The level of difficulty in achieving this increases as fathers aren't used to explicitly explaining to their sons that they are trying to forge a stronger bond at a particular moment in time to begin with. Accordingly, the complications the father in this particular story is required to overcome are not only the time constraints the mother has placed on the trip as a whole or the mistrust towards her husband she has allowed her son to bear witness to which the father feels he must compensate for, but also the disparity in character traits that father and son exhibit. Having read the story for the first time, students predominantly respond to the query "What was the story about?" either with "I didn't get it. Some father and son skiing" or "S

Nadine Gordimer - An Intruder (Overview)

The short story An Intruder was incorporated in Nadine Gordimer's short story collection Livingston's Companions, published in 1970. As such, it must be read and viewed through the prism of her somewhat earlier works which dealt with South African society's inequality and the problems arising from the diseased status quo of the times. An Intruder focuses on relationships between characters and how perceptions of a situation differ in the eyes of each individual based on a combination of nature and nurture, or at the very least that is what Gordimer would have the reader gauge. What made James Seago what he is? Why is Mrs Clegg, Marie's mother, such a typical depthless wishful socialite with an exaggerated respect for higher social status? Couldn't Marie judge the merit of the man who treats her like a child or is she turning a blind eye to his behavior because it suits her? Whatever the answers to these questions, the one certainty we have is that the noti

C2 Sample Essay 8 (Parenting)

Writing at C2 level (Proficient User) on English language examinations is the same no matter the awarding body when it comes to writing essays. If you are a candidate giving an exam in English (IELTS, CPE, ECPE, CELP, LRN, ESB, TOEFL), make sure you read my earlier post What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? to get the most out of the sample essays provided on Argute Legacy .     The topic of this essay is to discuss what the responsibilities of parenting are. If you are not taking an exam but need to discuss this topic, then read on and note down what you deem useful. If you intend to use this essay as part of an assignment, remember to paraphrase so as not to plagiarize. The topic is similar to what candidates expect in any other C2-level examination in that examiners want to see a well-organized, coherent and cohesive discussion of the issue with arguments and examples written in approximately half an hour. Whether or not you agree with the