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
I find it's only fitting that the first word that must be explained is the one used in the blog's name.
Argute has two meanings:
b) shrill, piercing in sound / sharp in taste
Strangely enough, when it comes to taste and sound, the word has a negative connotation, but a positive one when talking about wit.
It is rarely used in the English language at present, its frequency having dropped in the last 200 years.
The word "argute" originates from Latin and comes from the verb arguere, meaning "to make clear, prove". It's therefore easy to understand how the word argue used today means "to debate, explain using proof" or the connection between the word's meaning (bright, clear) and the symbol for silver, which in Latin is argentum, in the periodic table (Ag).
