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
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 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: The Basics
Dear Editor,
Having
read your article in The City Times, as a 14-year-old student I would
like to suggest ways how to deal with the serious problem of drunk driving
among teenagers. It is my firm belief that parents and schools can help in this
matter a great deal.
To
begin with, one of the reasons why adolescents drink and then drive is due to
their lack of responsibility. Parents are the ones that can handle this issue
by not allowing their children to drive in the first place. This does not mean
that teens need to be grounded on a permanent basis, but parents should
encourage them to take a taxi or bus when they decide to go out with their
friends on Friday or Saturday nights. Paying for cab fare would guarantee that
teenagers make it home safely and enjoy themselves as well.
In
addition to this, educating adolescents about the consequences of their actions
is always the best means to prevent car accidents. Students can be shown
documentaries aimed at presenting the problem in a factual and brutally honest
way which should make them think about this issue in a mature manner. Teachers
can then lead discussions and have students express their thoughts and elicit
possible solutions from them. Organizing them so that they appoint a different
designated driver each weekend would be life-saving.
All things considered, there are a
number of things parents and schools should do to eliminate the problem of
drunk driving among adolescents. Were parents to offer their children a ride or
give them bus or cab fare while schools highlight the importance of designated
drivers, then the death toll on streets from such car accidents would most
likely plummet.
Yours
faithfully,
Tom
Hightower
For more sample letters or essays, click on the image below.
Useful B2-level exam posts can be found here:
