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 following letter is an example of how examination candidates could tackle the subject of volunteering at an animal shelter. 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 158 of the Hellenic American Union's ECCE Practice Examinations book (Book 1).
The rubric presents an announcement found in The City Times newspaper entitled "Volunteer Your Time, Save a Life". According to it, the town's local animal shelter is asking for volunteers to feed, take care of and help with fund-raising events such as bazaars for strays and mistreated animals. The shelter will visit schools to inform students about the benefits of volunteering and invites readers of The City Times to send letters regarding this.
Candidates are asked to write a letter to the newspaper outlining the advantages and disadvantages of volunteering with such organizations.
The letter should begin with "Dear Editor".
If you haven't already done so, read this post B2 Writing: The Basics.
Dear Editor,
Having
read an article in The City Times, as a 15-year-old student I would like
to point out the benefits and drawbacks of volunteering at animal shelters.
On
the one hand, giving your time and energy for a good cause has its advantages.
For one thing, you feel a sense of satisfaction that few things in life can
make you feel. Helping care for stray animals makes you feel useful and needed.
The affection such animals show in return for your dedication is simply
overwhelming. Their loyalty and love are rewards in themselves, so giving to
them teaches you and those around you that selflessness is what will make this
world a better place.
On
the other hand, there are disadvantages to this sort of volunteer work. First
of all, not all individuals have enough time to spare from their work or
studies, so if they do decide to volunteer, they might have to sacrifice
leisure time or be prepared to accept that their grades or work may suffer as a
result of spending time at a shelter. In addition to this, it is not exciting
work to have to deal with injured or sick animals and some risks are involved,
such as being bitten or catching a disease yourself.
All
in all, despite the negative aspects of volunteering at an animal shelter, the
advantages by far outweigh the drawbacks. Volunteering has always been and will
continue to play an important role in people’s lives because it is an
experience of a lifetime, as many volunteers will tell you.
Yours
faithfully,
Jill Jones
For more sample letters or essays, click on the image below.
