5595 exam essay writing tips

Writing
What you need to do in order to pass the writing part of the exam.
1. Underline the important words in the title.
2. Brainstorm
Come up with three ideas. These will be your three body paragraphs.
3. Write the introduction.
• Your first sentence should be a general statement about the topic to
introduce the theme. (Never start with the word nowadays.)
• Your last sentence must be the thesis statement. This means that you
state what you will discuss in your essay.
o If the essay is one-sided, you may say what your opinion is.
o If the essay is advantages and disadvantages, do not give your
opinion now as there is no need for the examiner to read the rest
of your essay and you have just wasted your time.
4. Body paragraph 1
• Start with your topic sentence. i.e. what your point is for this paragraph.
• Explain what you mean.
• Give a reason why you think this or give an example.
• (Give a second reason why you think this or give another example.)
• Conclude your paragraph.
5. Body paragraphs 2 & 3
• Repeat what you did for body paragraph 1.
6. Conclusion
• Summarise your points.
• State why you think what you do.
 Make sure each paragraph has a minimum of three sentences
 Make sure you use three linking words in each paragraph (firstly, in
addition, however etc.)
 Never start a sentence with also.
 Never use the expressions first and foremost or last but not least,
examiners hate them. Use firstly or lastly/finally.

 Make sure you write complex sentences i.e. make sure you use three different
conjunctions in each paragraph (although, since, as etc. If you need to use
because, make sure the next time you use since and the time after that as).
 Always write words out in full. This is a formal piece of writing and we never
shorten words in English (write cannot not can’t).