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Showing posts from March, 2019

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ECPE Writing - Sample Article (Banning Cars from the City)

This is the fourth sample article that conforms to the writing section requirements of the ECPE (Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English) of the University of Michigan.  My first post to deal with articles , explains what needs to be present in the piece of writing candidates compose. Examiners are looking for articles that elaborate on ideas and have solid arguments; are well organized; make use of a wide lexical and grammatical range; have an original ring to them (in other words,

Naoshi Koriyama - A Loaf of Poetry (Overview)

Naoshi Koriyama deftly equates the poetic process with a commonplace procedure in his poem "A Lo af of Poetry," proving that in the end , poetry is open to anyone who has the persistence, experience and i nspi ration to dab ble in it . Added to this is the idea that p oetry, like a loa f o f bread , is not a n ornate affair like some gastronomical preparation , but one of the primary forms of susten ance crucial to our diet. The fascination with this poem , often reprinted in textbooks and taught to students by way of introducing poe try to them, lies i n its simplicity which conce a ls Koriyama's metho dical approach. That, however, is what t he poem actually wants to point out : great care and diligence to create such a piece of writing is required , no matter how modest the end product may appear to be. 

B2 Sample Writing 15 (Letter - Exchange Student Mentor Recommendation)

The following sample letter has been written so that exam candidates for a B2 level English examination (FCE now called First for Schools, ECCE, IELTS - 5.5 / 6.0, MSU-CELC, ESB, LRN) can get some ideas about how to organize and argue their writing.  First take a look at how to use the sample essays and letters that appear on this blog by reading the following post: What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Remember: such topics can also be used to start class discussions, so teachers might also want to read on to get ideas about a class activity they could set up to improve students' oral skills.

Oracle & Folly du Jour: On the Greatest Deception Known to Man

B2 Sample Writing 14 (Letter - Perfect Holiday)

The following sample letter has been written so that exam candidates for a B2 level English examination (FCE now called First for Schools, ECCE, IELTS - 5.5 / 6.0, MSU-CELC, ESB, LRN) can get some ideas about how to organize and argue their writing.  First take a look at how to use the sample essays and letters that appear on this blog by reading the following post: What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Remember: such topics can also be used to start class discussions, so teachers might also want to read on to get ideas about a class activity they could set up to improve students' oral skills.

B2 Sample Writing 13 (Letter - School Uniforms)

The following sample letter has been written so that exam candidates for a B2 level English examination (FCE now called First for Schools, ECCE, IELTS - 5.5 / 6.0, MSU-CELC, ESB, LRN) can get some ideas about how to organize and argue their writing.  First take a look at how to use the sample essays and letters that appear on this blog by reading the following post: What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Remember: such topics can also be used to start class discussions, so teachers might also want to read on to get ideas about a class activity they could set up to improve students' oral skills.

Oracle & Folly du Jour: On Ambition

B2 Sample Writing 12 (Letter - Mall vs. Sports Complex)

The following sample letter has been written so that exam candidates for a B2 level English examination (FCE now called First for Schools, ECCE, IELTS - 5.5 / 6.0, MSU-CELC, ESB, LRN) can get some ideas about how to organize and argue their writing.    First take a look at how to use the sample essays and letters that appear on this blog by reading the following post: What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog? Remember: such topics can also be used to start class discussions, so teachers might also want to read on to get ideas about a class activity they could set up to improve students' oral skills.