Section A

Essay structure

• The points you make in your paragraphs need to be relevant to the topic, and make sense.
• Aim to write a coherent essay. This means that the ideas in the essay link together so a reader can read and understand the essay easily.
• Your sentences and paragraphs need to be in a logical order so that your ideas are easy to follow and to understand
• Your sentences and paragraphs must be written using correct grammar and no spelling or punctuation errors. 

Hint: 

Choosing an essay topic in the exam

• Read carefully through all the essay topics in your exam paper.
• Read through the essay topics a second time. Cross out those topics that do not interest you.
• Choose the topic which you have the most to write about.
• Focus your attention on the topic you have chosen. Decide which essay type best suits the topic you have chosen. Start planning your essay based on your chosen topic.

Essay content planning

• The content of your essay needs to show that you have understood the essay topic.
• Your ideas must be relevant to the essay topic. Avoid repeating the same ideas in your essay. Write a new paragraph for each idea in the body of your essay, based on your planning. Aim to include a variety of interesting ideas in your essay.
• You need to show evidence that you have planned your essay. The examiner will want to see your crossed-out planning notes or mind map in your exam answer book.
•  Make sure you understand the features of the type of essay you have chosen (narrative, descriptive, reflective, discursive or argumentative). This will help focus your ideas and planning.

Hint: 
Essay proofreading and editing

• Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct
• Check that you have chosen a variety of words that are appropriate for your topic
• It is important to show the marker that you have edited your draft

Hint: 
Final essay

• To improve you final essay, you must rewrite your draft so that it shows all the corrections and improvements yo u have made. Keep looking back at your drafts as you write your final essay so that you can copy it correctly.
• Your writing muct be clear and neat so that it is easy for the marker to read. Do your best not to make new mistakes as you write your final essay.
• The essay must be within the word limit. The total number of words in your essay must not be less than 250 words and not more than 300 words. Do not include the words of your essay title in the  word count.

In a narrative essay, you must tell a story

• Introduce the characters and setting (where and when  the story happens). Narrate what happens (the plot). End your essay with an interesting ending (conclusion)
• Describe what things look, sound, taste or smell like. Use language creatively by using adjectives and adverbs. These will make your descriptions more exciting.
• Use different lengths of sentences and paragraphs to create different effects. For example, short sentences create drama and tension: "He heard footsteps. They came closer. The door slowly opened."
• It can be useful to include words that show the time passing. For example: "Early that evening...." or "The next day....." 

I am an old desk in a classroom and this is my story…
Hello there! My name is Pine. I am an old, broken-down desk, situated at the back of a science classroom. Nobody sits on me anymore. My bits and pieces are scattered around the whole school.
You may think that I am kind of silly-looking and old. In fact, I am very special; legends have sat on me. You don’t know them all but one may stand out in particular – Mark Shuttleworth! He makes my wooden heart beat stronger with pride and he makes me forget about back pain… caused by those rotten, rusted nails!
The other legends you won’t know, but they stayed special to me. I felt their pain when they failed a test. My age- lines grinned and smiled and rejoiced with them when they excelled! I know they made it far and move forests today, but as for me …
I am still here …
The engravings on my head show my life’s story. The story of loneliness. Frustration. Excitement. Pain. (Notice the word “pain” is very similar to my name). And of course, love…
Did I mention that I am a double desk? A desk for two? I have seen all kinds of love: childish love, forbidden love and great love. I know everything there is to know about
science because I have learned it over and over again. But, I don’t understand love.
Love is mystical. Love is kind. Love is blind …
I see the new generations grow older. They grow bolder. They will always be stronger. And my heart grows fonder … Maybe I really know what love is.

Features

Examples in the essay

Characters

• People in the story

Pine, learners (including famous people), and lovers, who used the desk

Plot

• What happens in the story, the order of events

The story has a strong story line. The desk remembers people who have used it, and how they made it feel. It ends with the climax - as the desk realises that it loves learners who use it.

Setting

• Where and when the story happens

The science classroom.

Theme

• The main ideas shown in the story

The movement of learners through the classroom - they move on as they grow up, but the desk remains. The meaning of love.

Structure

• The organization of paragraphs

From the past to the present, looking ahead to the future; from the concrete to the abstract.

Creative use of language

Strong, interesting words are used, for example: age-lines, legends, scattered move forests, rejoice, excelled, rotten, frustration, forbidden love, mystical. Short sentences and paragraphs add impact.

Hint:
In a descriptive essay, you must describe an experience or event

•  Write about what you know and have experienced in some way. It is difficult to describe something you know nothing about.
• A descriptive essay is often told from a first person perspective.
• Explain what you will be writing about in the introduction. For example, a descriptive essay about a concert could begin with the words: "The concert was on Saturday night in..." Avoid beginning your introduction with: " I am  going to describe my visit to the clinic..."
• Describe what things look, sound , taste and smell like by using figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, personification and alliteration. For example: "Her rough voice cut through the silence like sandpaper scarping over a metal surface."

The scene in the waiting area of a clinic

A clinic waiting area is possibly one of the most awkward places to be. You come in through the door, go to reception to tell the friendly lady that you are here for an appointment with the doctor and as you go to take a seat, you politely nod to all the other people.
With all this friendliness you would think that some people would be talking to each other, but for some unknown reason there is a silence among the adults. The only voices you hear are the receptionists talking on the phone and the little kid who is nagging his mum if he can go build a puzzle or play with the toys.
A few characters will always be found in the waiting area. For example, there will almost always be a kid with a sports injury accompanied by his hysterical mother. And then there’s also the person with flu-like symptoms even in the middle of the summer.
And lastly, there is the person who just calmly sits and reads one of the magazines that are three years old, but appear to be in perfect condition.
As you sit there in your boredom unable to figure out what could be wrong with the calm and collected man, you decide to read one of those magazines. ‘Home and Décor’ is the magazine closest to you, ironically enough, since you find this magazine in a clinic which is coloured pale green and grey, but you decide to read through it anyway. And at that moment when you find a great article, you hear the receptionist calling, “Mr.. ………, could you follow me to the doctor's office, please?"

Features

Examples in the essay

Characters

• People in the story

Plot

• What happens in the story, the order of events

Setting

• Where and when the story happens

Theme

• The main ideas shown in the story

Structure

• The organization of paragraphs

The events move from the arrival up to the point when the doctor is ready to see the patient.

Creative use of language

In a reflective essay, you write your thoughts, hopes and dreams about the essay topic

• Write about what you know, or have experience - this will make it easier to write well about the ideas, thoughts or feelings you express.
• Choose interesting words, similes or metaphors that describe emotions, or your point of view.
• You may use a flashback technique. This means that  your essay begins in the present and something causes you to reflect on a past event. You describe past events throughout the essay and return to the present in the final paragraph.
• For example, "I floated with the sounds of that simple song, back to the schoolroom where our lives had been blank pages waiting to be filled."

Things I would like to achieve by the time I am 30

There are a number of things success is not. It’s not money or power, although I have to admit these do have a certain ring to them. Success is bounding out of the door in the mornings because you can’t bear to contain the excitement of going to work (a bit pretentious, but you get the point). Success is bringing together people with universal dreams and inspiring the people you work with to walk the extra mile.
I want that – I want success. I used to sit in front of the television watching ‘Pinki and the Brain’ and every single day Pinki asked Brain, “What are we going to do today?” and Brain would answer with such determination, “Today we’ll conquer the world”. I guess it must have brainwashed me somehow, for now I strive for the same thing.
You know how they say that people reach their prime when they reach 30, “just enough ignorance still to have energy and just enough smarts to use the energy wisely”. At 30,
* intend †o be confidently walking †o †he door of my office, marked “Senior Auditor”. Never once have I dreamt about the whole suburban living, a white picket fence with two- poin†-five angelic children. No, * dream of making a name for myself on the corporate ladder.
This isn’t some futile dream I’ll give up half way through. I’ll reach the top and I know this because dreamers have to be doers in order to be achievers. Recently deceased Steve Jobs once said, “Those who are crazy enough to think they can conquer the world are the ones who usually do.”

Features

Examples in the essay

Characters

• People in the story

Creative use of language

Hint:
hint In a discursive essay, you must show both sides of the topic

•  Give both sides of an issue - the advantages and disadvantages. Give a balanced account of the views, without favoring one view. You will not be giving your opinion but presenting two opposite points of view.
• Give reasons to support each view, and link them together. For example use words like because; this shows; however; therefore; so;
• Use the present tense.
• Be clear and objective. Avoid using personal pronouns (I, me, we) and avoid describing personal emotions

Features

Examples in the essay

Content

Introduction

Body

Creative use of language

In an argumentative essay, you must express your personal opinion about the topic

•  Use present tense
• Beginby stating your opinion of the topic. Do not state that you agree or disagree with the topic, but rather present your point of view in the introduction.
• Giving reasons to support your view, and link them together in a logical way. For example, use linking words like; because; this shows; however; therefore.
• End the essay with a strong conclusion that clearly, and convincingly, states your opinio. It may repeat the same idea given in your introduction, but written in  a different way.

Features

Examples in the essay

Content

Introduction

Body

Creative use of language

1. A narrative essay

• For example; Tell a story about the man and how he came to be in this situation. Or imagine that you are the character in the picture and tell the story in the first person or from your point of view. 

 2. A reflective essay

• For example; Write an essay about what you feel or think about when you look at this picture. Does it remind you of a person that you know or an experience that you have had.

 3. A descriptive essay

• For example; Write a description about this situation, the sounds the baby is making, who the man is listening to on the phone, the place he is in.

 4. A discursive essay

• Write about both sides of an issue the picture suggests. For example; In today's world, men also have to help with child care. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to this...…

 5. An argumentative essay

• Express your opinion about an issue the picture suggests. For example;  Many people say that men are not good at looking after babies. I disagree because...

Features

Examples in the essay

Content

Introduction

Body

Creative use of language

Features

Examples in the essay

Yes

No

Don't know

Essay instructions

I understand the exam instructions for writing an essay.

Essay topic

I understand the essay topic I have chosen.

Essay type

I understand the features of the essay type I have chosen:

• Narrative essays
• Descriptive essays
• Reflective essays
• Discursive essays
• Argumentative essays

Content and planning

Planning

I can show evidence of essay planning.

Content

Each point in my plan is relevant to the essay topic.
I will use these points in my essay.

Purpose/audience

I understand the purpose of the essay type I have chosen.
I understand the audience for the essay type I have chosen.

Structure

Sentences

I have not repeated sentences in my paragraphs,
I have used full sentences.

Paragraphs

My ideas link and are well organised in paragraphs.
Each paragraph contains a new idea. Ideas are not repeated.
The ideas in the paragraphs link to the essay topic.

Essay structure

The first paragraph of my essay introduces the topic.
The body of my essay has a few paragraphs related to the topic.
The last paragraph is clearly the conclusion or ending of the essay.

Language, style and editing

Choice of words/diction

I have chosen my words carefully to make my essay interesting.

Verb tenses

I have used the correct tenses (past, present or future)

Concord

My nouns and verbs are in agreement

Spelling

My spelling is correct

Punctuation

My sentences start with a capital letter and end with a punctuation mark.
I have used apostrophes correctly.

• Outstanding/Striking response beyond normal expectations
• Intelligent, thought-provoking and mature ideas
• Exceptionally well organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion

• Very well-crafted response
• Fully relevant and interesting ideas with evidence of maturity
• Very well organised and coherent, including
  introduction, body and conclusion

• Satisfactory response -Ideas are reasonably coherent and convincing
• Reasonably organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion

• Inconsistently coherent response
• Unclear ideas and unoriginal
• Little evidence of organisation and coherence

• Totally irrelevant response
• Confused and unfocused ideas
• Vague and repetitive
• Unorganised and incoherent

• Excellent response but lacks the exceptionally striking qualities of the outstanding essay
• Mature and intelligent ideas
• Skilfully organised and coherent, including introduction, body and conclusion 

• Well-crafted response
• Relevant and interesting ideas
• Well organised and coherent, including
  introduction, body and conclusion 

• Satisfactory response but some lapses in clarity
• Ideas are fairly coherent and convincing
• Some degree of organisation and coherence, including introduction, body and conclusion

• Largely irrelevant response
• Ideas tend to be disconnected and confusing
• Hardly any evidence of organisation and coherence

• No attempt to respond to the topicCompletely irrelevant and inappropriate
• Unfocused and muddled

• Tone, register, style and vocabulary highly appropriate to purpose, audience and context
• Exceptionally impressive use of language,
• Compelling and rhetorically effective in tone
• Virtually error-free in grammar and spelling
• Very skilfully crafted

•  Tone, register, style and vocabulary very appropriate to purpose, audience and context
• Language is effective and a consistently appropriate tone is used
• Largely error-free in grammar and spelling
• Very well crafted

• Tone, register, style and vocabulary appropriate to purpose, audience and context
• Appropriate use of language to convey meaning
• Rhetorical devices used to enhance content

• Tone, register, style and vocabulary less appropriate to purpose, audience and context
• Very basic use of language
• Diction is inappropriate
• Very limited vocabulary

• Language incomprehensible
• Tone, register, style and vocabulary not appropriate to purpose, audience and context
• Vocabulary limitations so extreme as to make comprehension impossible

• Language excellent and rhetorically effective in tone
• Virtually error-free in grammar and spelling
• Skilfully crafted 

• Language engaging and generally effective
• Appropriate and effective tone
• Few errors in grammar and spelling
• Well-crafted 

• Adequate use of language with some inconsistencies
• Tone generally appropriate and limited use of rhetorical devices

• Inadequate use of language
• Little or no variety in sentences
• Exceptionally limited vocabulary

• Excellent development of topic
• Exceptional detail
• Sentences, paragraphs exceptionally well-constructed

• Logical development of details
• Coherent
• Sentences, paragraphs logical, varied

• Relevant details developed
• Sentences, paragraphs well-constructed
• Essay still makes sense

• Some valid points
• Sentences and paragraphs faulty
• Essay still makes some sense

• Necessary point lacking
• Sentences an paragraphs faulty
• Essay lacks sense