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
Of course I'm leaving out the added time because teachers have already been training and candidates have already been trained to present a polished piece of writing in 35 minutes, so the added 10 minutes is a welcome bonus. The important thing to focus on is the entirely new genre students should become acquainted with. In this post, we'll be looking at a sample article.
From the various webinars dealing with the latest Writing modifications, the important thing to note when it comes to articles is the authorial voice that needs to permeate the written piece a candidate submits. Argumentation, paragraphing, the development of one's reasoning, a wide range of grammatical structures and lexical range are already prerequisites teachers and exam candidates are aware of from the B2-level examination they took.
Therefore, when reading sample articles, make sure to note authorial voice in addition to the other bits and pieces you should tuck away for later use. If you're not sure what this means, read my post
What do I do with the sample writing found on this blog?
that tells you how to read an essay (this applies to articles, letters and proposals as well) and what you should take from each one.
Turning to the topic at hand, this topic appeared in Practice Tests for the ECPE Book 1 (revised 2021 version). The question is accompanied by the following writing prompts:
- 3.9% annual increase in number of online students
- 80% of all corporations require online training
- "Online courses are not appropriate for every subject or student." - Dee Williams, teacher
A new law in your city requires high school students to take at least one online class as a requirement for graduation. Write an article for a local news website explaining the impact of this law and your opinion about it. Include at least one piece of information given above to support your response.
The following is a sample article which is much longer than what is expected, so don't be daunted. As I like to say, it's better to give candidates more than to limit their minds to accept mediocrity as normality.
What’s the Deal with Online Classes?
With the recent Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on educational programs the world over, it was simply a matter of time before new methods were put into place to supplant classroom teaching. In the past months, the majority of countries saw students attending normal lessons online on a variety of platforms that enabled learning to continue normally. Yet should the word “normally” be even used? This is the question many ponder when the new law making one online lesson a mandatory prerequisite for high school graduation seems to have roused a debate within our community.
On the one hand there are those who perceive the benefits of such an ordinance. Seeing as trends are changing with more and more schools and universities offering online courses, or with business conferences and miscellaneous professional meetings being held on the internet, it is only natural that students learn how to navigate the waters of this new computer era. The figures speak for themselves: the number of students who attend courses online is rising at a rate of 3.9% per year, while according to a recent industry report, four out of five corporations require employees to train online. Add to this the rising concern for the environment and the limited time which has pushed us to become more efficient with our resources and schedules. Taking a course online is no longer something desirable, but necessary in order to reduce our impact on the environment – by staying home we limit our carbon footprint. In short, if high school students are forced to take at least one online lesson, this should not be seen as punishment, but rather good preparation for the reality they will have to deal with in the future.
Nonetheless, opposing arguments to this viewpoint are twofold. Firstly, by making online lessons obligatory, we are creating a two-tier society. Not all students come from families that have internet access, as underprivileged teens have more serious problems to contend with such as helping their parents make ends meet and guaranteeing that their family’s frugal budget covers basic expenses. What this law accomplishes therefore is to exclude those too poor to afford a laptop or tablet and internet connection from obtaining a high school diploma. Secondly, in the words of Dee Williams, a teacher, “Online courses are not appropriate for every subject or student.” Would students need an entire art studio at home complete with canvases, acrylic paints and a clay kiln to attend art class? Must students with learning disabilities be made to adapt to yet another complex educational procedure?
As I see it, the bottom line in this debate is the future. Students need to know how to tackle future demands and taking one online course would not be the end of the world, but a glimpse into a new educational possibility. To resolve issues, educators should choose the five most suitable courses schools can offer online, while disadvantaged students should receive a tablet and a grant to cover internet costs for the duration of the course from those who have imposed this law. These solutions would enable students to reap the rewards of preparing for the future while minimizing the drawbacks skeptics have raised thus far.
For more sample writing, click on the image below.
