Essay Plan

Sample format for a typical expository ( or argumentative ) essay.

A typical expository essay consists of three main parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction contains the thesis statement which is a sentence that explains the idea that the writer will support (or argue for) in his essay.

Introductory Paragraph. This consists of general points or attention grabbing details leading to the main idea. For instance, there are several means that effective writers use to "hook" their readers: beginning with a question, beginning with a quotation, and beginning with a startling or paradoxical statement. The main idea is often written at the end of this paragraph in a thesis statement, which may also contain three or more reasons (written very succinctly) for supporting this main idea. Each of these reasons should be elaborated on in the body paragraphs that follow. Some essays have the very first sentence as the thesis statement.

Body Paragraph # 1. This often begins with a transition word or words like "First" or "The first of these reasons" and gives examples and/or details relating to the first supporting reason.

Body Paragraph #2. This often begins with a transition word or words like "Next" or "Second" or "Another reason" or "The second of these reasons" and gives examples and/or details relating to the second supporting reason.

Body Paragraph #3. This often begins with a transition word or words like "Finally" or "Last" or "The final reason" and gives examples and/or details relating to the third supporting reason.

Concluding Paragraph. This paragraph may begin with "In conclusion" or "To conclude" and often restates the thesis statement in different words. Some writers like to end with a relevant quotation, or end with a question, or end with a prediction or warning. Another concluding technique is to end with some idea or detail from the beginning of the essay (thus bringing this idea full circle). Yet another means of concluding is to end with an allusion to a historical or mythological figure or event.

Rendering

1. The title of the article (the chapter, the story, etc)

2. The author of the article; where and when the article was published (the author of the article is ...; the article is written by...; It is published in; the extract for rendering is taken from the book (novel) by ...)

3. The main idea of the article (the article is about...; the article deals with...; the article touches upon...; the purpose of the article is... (the main, chief, primary, principal) aim of the article is …; to give the reader some information about ...; to examine; to analyze; to give a description of; to make estimation ( evaluation ) of; to provide evidence for new facts in support of; to provide new information concerning)

4. The contents of the article. Facts, names, figures. (the author writes ( states, points out, stresses, etc ) that...; the article describes; according to the text; further the author reports that; besides; anyway; what's more; moreover; in addition to; worst of all; on top of; in the first place..., in the second place; first (ly); second (ly); third (ly); next; lastly; finally; last of all; at last; the former... the latter; for example; for instance; in the case of; this is the example)

5. Conclusion (in conclusion; the author comes to the conclusion that...; to make ( draw, reach ) a conclusion;  to make it possible to conclude; it is suggested that smth. should be done; it is necessary to do smth.; in brief;  in short; on the whole; to sum up; to summarize; to crown it all; all in all)

6. Your opinion/impression

EXAM QUESTIONS Year 4, Term 7 2014-2015

1. Individual Reading.  Speak about the novel “1984” / "The French Lieutenant's Woman". Dwell on the author’s manner of writing, composition, characters, problems. 
2. Pleasure Reading. Are they the books we always have time to read? Substantiate your choice. Dwell on one of the books that gave you pleasure, give reasonable arguments. Speak about its subject, theme, central problems, characters, language (on the example of an extract from the book).
3. Student Teaching. Ch. Baxter – speak on his style and his place in the world literature. Give your opinion on the story “Gryphon” by Ch. Baxter. Do you approve of Miss Ferenczi's methods of teaching. Would you like your child to be taught by a teacher like Miss Ferenczi?
4. Student Teaching. Describe your student teaching experience. Did it come up to your expectations? What could you have done differently?
5. Student Teaching. Share your ideas on what makes a good teacher and what makes a teacher bad.
6. Student Teaching. Discuss the limitations imposed by the teaching profession and the rewards of it.
7. Student Teaching. What should the 21st century classroom look like? Could interactive technology provide solutions to the current system of education?
8. Student Teaching. What are the advantages/disadvantages of learning models that exist outside of traditional educational institutions?
9. Student Teaching. Why is teaching practice a culminating experience in teacher preparation? Dwell on its key position in the programme of teacher education. (Argumentative Essay)
10. Movies. Give a review of the movie “The Emperor’s Club”. Comment on the statement, “In everyone's life there's that one person who makes all the difference”.
11. School Education. Describe the difficulties a child faces at school (based on “An Education in Language” by R. Rodriguez). In your opinion, what are the best ways to teach children.
12. School Education. Speak about school education in Britain. Dwell on types of schools, stages, exams, curriculum, and problems.
13. School Education. Speak about school education in the USA. Dwell on types of schools, stages, exams, curriculum, and problems.
14. School Education. What are the tasks of contemporary schooling: giving knowledge, teaching to learn, educating or other?
15. School Education. Do you think Russia should pattern its system of school education on that in Britain or the USA? Justify your point of view (argumentative essay).
16. Movies. Give a review of one of the movies you watched in class: “Dangerous Minds” or “Admission”.  Speak on its message, give your interpretation of the problem raised.
17. Higher Education. Describe the procedure of the written examination as presented by R. Gordon in “Doctor in the House”. Why are, in Gordon’s opinion, oral examinations so unpopular with the students? Share your ideas on the best ways to examine a student.
18. Higher Education. Speak about higher education in Britain. Dwell on the types of institutions, admission, grants, degrees, courses, ‘red brick’ universities.
19. Higher Education. What steps do American students have to take to enroll in a college / university for admission? Dwell on the types of institutions, admission, grants, degrees, courses, tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT), types of universities, universities of the Ivy League.
20. Higher Education. Speak on the most prestigious universities in Britain and the USA, rules of admission and famous people who have graduated from them.
21. Higher Education. Students’ life and problems: are they different? Speak on the cultural and in-system peculiarities of students’ life in Britain, the USA and Russia (argumentative essay).
22. Movies. Give a review of one of the movies you watched in class: “Larry Crowne”, “Freedom Writers”, “The Great Debaters”. Speak on its message, give your interpretation of the problem raised.
23. Listening. Dwell on the biography of Alexander Hamilton.

Movie Review Plan

some steps to writing a movie review

(Movie reviews are typically 250 to 500 words)

1.    Type the first paragraph. This paragraph should include the name of the film, its stars, setting and genre.

2.    Write a short plot summary in your second paragraph. Include details and cover the major events that give a snapshot of the film.

3.    Focus on one element of the film (for example, acting, directing or cinematography) in the third paragraph. Analyze this aspect and discuss what is good or bad about it.

4.    Write the fourth paragraph, which should focus on another aspect of the film. Follow the third paragraph's format.

5.    Compose the last paragraph. This paragraph gives your overall opinion of the film and your reaction to it.