This blog contains a number of sample pieces of writing for a variety of exams because throughout the years, I've seen that the writing section of English language assessment examinations is most likely the area candidates, regardless of age, find the most daunting. Let's be honest -- many students hate writing assignments given as homework, so writing under exam conditions with the image of a scrupulous marker hovering in their mind is not what I'd call their cup of tea. Hence the sample essays, letters, reports, proposals and the like that have been uploaded. Exam candidates need to read something someone else has written to get ideas, and not just get back a marked assignment of their own with a few comments interspersed here and there among the monstrous red ink corrections.

When I first started teaching students in preparation for university studies, I felt the need to explain to them why Literature isn't just a course you could do in the library, like some story-hour session with a kindergarten teacher. Many students had already seen what a Literature course was like in their mother tongue, and unfortunately next to no one saw the value of studying texts. That may have had to do with the way public and private school teachers had been directed to cover the subject matter since they were preparing students for nation-wide college admission examinations, but I'm digressing.  Whatever the case may have been, I was surprised to find that none of the students I'd had, had been asked to ponder the question of why anyone would add Literature to the list of 'scientific' university courses offered and why, in spite of all contradictory opinions regarding its worth, someone would choose to major in this field of knowledge. This last ques...

"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...

Slightly over 2,000 words is all it takes to portray the bestiality of mankind. This is what Cynthia Ozick manages to achieve in her short story "The Shawl" set in World War II.  Putting the enormity of the Holocaust into words is too difficult a task for any author and yet in this piece, Ozick accomplishes just that. The recipe? Simply three main characters, no convoluted dialogue, events based on detached or semi-detached descriptions either from the mother's point of view or a third person narrator who blends fact with stream of consciousness, and the predominance of short, circumspect, succinct sentences.

When you read Paley's "Mother" for the first time, you think, "Okay, so why would anyone give this to students to read when there's so much more that can be squeezed out of other short pieces of writing?" Why not give them Lawrence or Joyce to help analyze 159 facets of human relationships? Slap them with some Chopin or Woolf, both of whom produced slightly longer short stories through which you'd be able to demonstrate how a short story works and get a nice discussion going about relationships to boot. Meanwhile, after reading "Mother" for the first time, the main aspect that stays with readers is an overwhelming sensation of nostalgia and sadness bordering on melancholy. Whyever would any author write something this condensed to simply express despondency over a deceased parent? Can this story be that over-simplified? And then you re-read Paley's piece (because you have to give students some information on it so they don...

I’m a high school graduate and I don’t know what career I want to follow or what university to go to Many students reach that crucial stage in their lives when they have to decide what career path to follow, where to study and how to choose what’s best for them and their future.  And they're stuck. Even though they've done well in all their classes throughout high school, no particular subject has 'clicked' with them or they with it. In other words, they have absolutely no idea what career path they want to follow, what they'd like to study and where to go and study that thing they have absolutely no idea about yet. Well, here’s a quick checklist to follow that ought to help you narrow down your options and set you on a path towards tertiary education.

Husband, wife, mistress. Your stock relationship fit for platitudinous movies, soap operas, and the romance series from Harlequin Enterprises (small aside: An Unexpected Amish Romance -- are they serious?).  Arturo Vivante's "Can-Can" could have foundered in one of these genres, but being a short story, it gets to the point quickly enough and leaves so much to the reader's acumen that it is impossible as a reader to feel intellectually insulted by the tripe that would have naturally emerged had the story jumped ship to become a soap opera or longer romance novel. No, this is no tripe. This goes to the heart of all human relationships and asks questions like "What

This overview gives you the basics to letter and essay writing primarily required for the Examination for the Certificate in Competency in English (ECCE) awarded by the University of Michigan but can, nonetheless, be used for writing at B2 level for other ESL assessments as well. This b log post is a starting point to help teach candidates the tricks to passing a test at B2 level and a springboard for writing tasks at subsequent levels (C1 and C2).  In any case, some of the pointers mentioned herein are so crucial to writing in an academic environ ment that if you grasp them , then you can transfer them onto any type of writing you may be asked to produce , no matter the level or context. The first main area to cover has to do with general pointers: L earn to use set phrases from sample essays provided in self-study textbooks or found here (look under the B2 or ECCE labels or follow the link from the key words category under ' letter ', ' essay ' or ...

To get the most out of these sample essays and letters, please read "What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog?" before reading this blog entry. The following letter is an example of how examination candidates could tackle the subject of planning a fund raiser. The sample has been modeled on the University of Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) Task 1 question of the Writing section available on page 110 of the Hellenic American Union's ECCE Practice Examinations book (Book 1).   The rubric has informed candidates the one of the poorest countries in Africa, Mozambique, has been devastated by floods, with hundreds dead and thousands homeless and starving. The newspaper The City Times has set up a relief fund welcoming donations of money, food, clothes and medicine. Candidates are to write a letter explaining how their school or workplace is planning to raise money for the newspaper's flood relief f...

If there were a definitive checklist of prerequisites that need to be satisfied for a short story to be rightfully called a short story, then Peter Meinke's "The Cranes" would tick all the right boxes on that checklist. His story is short, can be read in one sitting thus capturing the reader's full attention with details given to pique interest, foreshadow events leading to an overwhelming climax and leave readers with questions that need to be addressed.  His story is as stately as the characters that inhabit it, be they human or faunal, progressing steadily, constructing a lifetime of conjugal experiences piecemeal in less than 1000 words -- the perfect vignette to kick off class discussions about death, suicide, dignity, love, loyalty, perseverance.

You either are a Woody Allen fan or you aren't.  Or rather, you either are a Woody Allen fan or you have little sense of humor, don't see the value of sarcasm and satire or are too full of yourself to grasp how cathartic self-deprecation can be. Woody Allen the Director has proffered a consistent outpouring of titles revolving around similar if not quasi-similar themes which time and again satisfy his fan base. Woody Allen the Author of Short Stories has been upstaged by Woody Allen the Director, unfortunately eclipsed to a great extent by the public's preference for moving pictures over written texts, which is why I was much delighted to see his short story "The Kugelmass Episode" in a recent textbook assigned to 11th graders. Naturally, my next reaction was to lament those students who would read and not understand the references to Emma Bovary in the slightest, because let's face it, how many school curricula list Flaubert as compulsory reading? ...

To get the most out of these sample essays and letters, please read "What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog?" before reading this blog entry. The following letter is an example of how examination candidates could tackle the subject of banning smoking in public places. The sample has been modeled on the University of Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) Task 1 question of the Writing section available on page 86 of the Hellenic American Union's ECCE Practice Examinations book (Book 1).   The aim of the task is for candidates to write a letter to The City Times newspaper to express their opinion on the National Medical Association's (NMA) proposal to ban smoking in all public places. The information the rubric gives candidates is that: non-smokers who live with smokers face great dangers to their health (for example, serious respiratory problems) children whose parents smoke are at a higher risk...

To get the most out of these sample essays and letters, please read "What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog?" before reading this blog entry. The following letter is an example of how examination candidates could tackle the subject of drunk driving among teenagers. The sample has been modeled on the University of Michigan Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) Task 1 question of the Writing section available on page 62 of the Hellenic American Union's ECCE Practice Examinations book (Book 1).   The aim of the task is for candidates to write a letter to the editor of the The City Times to offer some solutions to the problem of young people driving under the influence of alcohol as a result of being more and more involved in accidents of this nature. Candidates have been instructed to begin their letter with the words "Dear Editor". If you haven't already done so, read this post as well: B2 Writing: Th...

Shirley Jackson is a genius. She had many problems to deal with  throughout her life and it is possibly these very same problems that made her the writer of great stories, memorable stories. Snubbed by her mother who wanted a slender, socialite, comme il faut daughter, she struggled with her own demons as well as those her community nourished in her. Instead of your average American of the day, Jackson married Stanley Edgar Hyman in 1940, an American Jew whom the FBI had been investigating in the late 1940s -1950s, suspecting him of being a Communist. In an era of antisemitism and fear of the Reds (cf. House Un-American Activities Committee and McCarthyism), Jackson managed to push all the wrong buttons in her New England community . S he sm o ked and drank heavily, was interested in witchcraft and voodoo, and a ccording to accounts , yelled at her children 's teachers . Such a n unconventional woman was unwelcome in a small provincial town with everything that this mi...

The short story "Tuesday of the Other June" written by Norma Fox Mazer has been included in high school syllabi around the world, mainly because of the relevance it bears to students and the academic environment as a whole.  Teens who are instructed to read this story are told to do so in order to become aware of the difficulties they either experience or the pain they inflict on one another at that age. Ultimately, teachers hope that the messages this story conveys will sink in with their students and enable the latter to become more aware of each others' feelings, particularities and sensibilities, changing in this way their perception of their peers and their behavior towards them.

The following is a list of terms used in Literature along with definitions. The list is by no means comprehensive.

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 152 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. While technology has brought us many great advances, some people claim that it has made us less human. In your opinion, has the increased use of technology made people less able to interact?

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 152 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union.   National examinations at the end of high school force students to study very hard, but are they actually learning or just memorizing? Give your opinion about this practice and its outcome.

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 132 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. The Internet has brought the entire world to our fingertips. Some people think it provides us with invaluable access to knowledge. Others think it brings more problems than it solves. What is your opinion? Give reasons and examples to support your views.

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 132 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. Large franchise superstores are gradually replacing smaller stores (such as bookstores, music stores, etc.) in many countries. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the arrival of superstores?

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 112 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. Some people regard tattoos and body piercing as an extreme form of fashion. Why do you think young people are prepared to damage their skin permanently in order to be fashionable? Do you think teenage rebelliousness or peer pressure plays a greater role? Discuss, giving examples.    

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 112 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. In most countries in the developed world there is concern over the amount of advertising aimed at children. Should this kind of advertising be regulated and if so, what measures should be implemented? Discuss, giving reasons for your answer.

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 92 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. Governments are concerned about the depletion of the world’s energy resources, such as oil, gas and coal. How should governments deal with this problem, taking into consideration the needs of society and alternative energy resources?

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 92 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. The increasing proportion of senior citizens in developed countries is causing concern to governments and the public. What do you think governments could do to ensure that the older generation receives adequate medical care, financial security and social support?

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 ...

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 72 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union.  Many people travel overseas to experience new cultures and learn about the places they visit. How do you think people’s lives are affected by their experience, in terms of their interests in international cuisine, music or history? You may use examples from visitors’ experiences in your own country or your own experiences traveling overseas.

  If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Sample C2 level Essay    The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 52 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union. In the future, genetic engineering may allow parents carrying congenital illnesses to produce healthy babies and for wealthy couples to “design” their children. Should doctors be permitted to interfere with the genetic makeup of infants, and if so, to what extent? Discuss, giving reasons to support your answer.

If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog?   Sample C2 level Essay The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 52 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union.  Many countries have recently adopted the practice of placing surveillance cameras in the streets and other public areas in order to reduce crime. To what extent do you think this is effective and does it conflict with the public’s right to privacy? Discuss, supporting your reasoning with examples.

The following is a sample essay based on the Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) writing section. The question can be found on page 32 of the ECPE Book 1 Practice Examinations textbook published by the Hellenic American Union (date of publication 2012, now no longer in circulation).     If you haven't already done so, before you read this sample essay please read What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Here's the topic: Astrology continues to be of great interest, particularly to young people. Why do you think psychic phenomena are so popular in a rapidly developing technological society?           Here's the sample essay (approximately 370 words long): The supernatural is undeniably a field which has been the epicenter of countless case studies, books and documentaries, not only in the last century but well before it. One specific subcategory of the supernatural i...