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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

The Latest Word: Paroxysm

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Today's word is one that is found in a near-identical form in many other languages, as it's been borrowed from the Greek word παροξυσμός or the verb παροξύνειν. Simply take a look at these translations:



French
paroxysme
Portuguese + Spanish
paroxismo 
Italian
parossismo
Afrikaans
paroksisme 
Turkish
paroksizm 
Russian + Ukrainian
пароксизм (read "paroxism")
Romanian
paroxism
Polish
paroksyzm 



Meaning

a) random, sudden violent outburst (of emotion, action)
b) sudden recurrence of the symptoms (of a disease); a fit; an attack


Greek origin

In Greek,  παροξυσμός means an irritation or severe fit. The verb παροξύνειν means "to irritate" or "sharpen" as the root of the word "oxy" from ὀξύς means "sharp". Even today, when used in the Greek language, οξύ means acid, no doubt in acknowledgment of the sharp taste of acidic foods and the irritants contained in various chemical solutions.

 Synonyms

 a) convulsion, seizure, spasm, flare-up, outbreak
b) outburst, outpouring, burst, eruption
Examples

 1) a paroxysm of rage / of emotion / of laughter
2) a paroxysm of coughing / be caught in the paroxysms of an epileptic seizure
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