In the minds of ESL exam candidates, e ssay writing is one of the most daunting tasks they are required to complete, regardless of the level of the exam, the administering body or the ease with which they themselves use the language. The same applies to students who are asked to write an essay by their teachers at school. In the previous sample essays posted on the blog, the main point I stress is the need to become acquainted with this form of writing (as opposed to writing a letter, review or report, for instance), to get a feel of what authorial voice is and how to organize and progressively express the arguments you wish to make in a coherent manner. Unfortunately, the best way to prepare for exam writing or learn how to write good essays for school is to read as many essays from as many sources as possible, then write as
Let's get a few things straight. If you need help with all things English, you won't find it here. If you need help with a variety of English as a second language or English as your mother tongue concepts, then by all means, come one, come all -- you've come to the right place.
This blog has been in the making for quite some time. It has been mulling since late 1995, since which time everything on this site has been lovingly culled through hands-on experience. I didn't want all this work to go to waste, but decided to upload what I have garnered in the hope that one day many, many years after I shuffle off this mortal coil someone out there will find some use for these musings.
Be warned. I'm no pretender to any throne aptly entitled "expert", "savant", or "bookworm". No text analysis is fully comprehensive, no grammatical explanation complete as language was, is and will continue to be in a state of flux, so don't expect the impossible. As with all things in life, take what is useful, stop complaining or feeling sorry yourself and move on.
It's knowledge. It's a half-open door to self-improvement. It's free.
Have fun.
Ars longa, vita brevis.
ὁ βίος βραχὺς, ἡ δὲ τέχνη μακρὴ, ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὀξὺς, ἡ δὲ πεῖρα σφαλερὴ, ἡ δὲ κρίσις χαλεπή.
This blog has been in the making for quite some time. It has been mulling since late 1995, since which time everything on this site has been lovingly culled through hands-on experience. I didn't want all this work to go to waste, but decided to upload what I have garnered in the hope that one day many, many years after I shuffle off this mortal coil someone out there will find some use for these musings.
Be warned. I'm no pretender to any throne aptly entitled "expert", "savant", or "bookworm". No text analysis is fully comprehensive, no grammatical explanation complete as language was, is and will continue to be in a state of flux, so don't expect the impossible. As with all things in life, take what is useful, stop complaining or feeling sorry yourself and move on.
It's knowledge. It's a half-open door to self-improvement. It's free.
Have fun.
Ars longa, vita brevis.
ὁ βίος βραχὺς, ἡ δὲ τέχνη μακρὴ, ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὀξὺς, ἡ δὲ πεῖρα σφαλερὴ, ἡ δὲ κρίσις χαλεπή.