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C2 Sample Essay 39 (School or family shapes one's personality)

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

B2 Sample Writing 1 (Letter / Email - Teen Drunk Driving)

https://argutelegacy.blogspot.com/2018/03/b2-sample-wrting-1-letter-teen-drunk.html

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: 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




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