Essay Genres Quick Revision

NAME: 4E5N Essay Genres Quick Revision Genre Argumentative Must take a stand - Present tense Discursive Balanced - Present tense Descriptive | Reflective | Hybrid Describe a place: present tense Describe an experience: past tense Reflect about future: present + future Possible Question Markers / Stems To what extent do you agree that pen and paper examinations are a fair way to assess students’ learning? It is good that technology has made life easier. What are your views? What is your opinion? Explain your views. Describe a place in school, which means a great deal to you. Why is it significant? Write about an aspiration that you have for the future. How are you working towards that aspiration? ‘Food brings people together.’ Write about some occasions whereby you found t his to be true. / Write abou t some of your social experiences with food. Suggested Essay Structure Para 1 Intro = Hook + Brief overview + Stand (I agree / I disagree) Para 2 Supporting point #1 = PEEEL Para 3 Supporting point #2 = PEEEL Para 4 Counter-argument = PEEEL Para 5 Rebuttal – fight the counter- argument = PEEEL Para 6 Para 1 Intro = Hook + Brief overview + Lead-in to the discussion (It is debatable whether… / People have varying opinions…) Para 2 – 4 or 5 (depends on your planning) Supporting or Opposing POV = PEEEL (2+2 or 2+1) Para 5 or 6 (depends on your planning) Para 1 Intro = Hook + Brief overview of the subject + Relate to yourself Para 2 – 4 or 5 (depends on your planning)  Describe the subject topic  Reflect on your thoughts / opinions / perspectives  Reflect on feelings  Reflect on lessons learnt  Para 5 or 6 (depends on your planning)

NAME: 4E5N Essay Genres Quick Revision Conclusion = Summarise + Stand + Suggestion Conclusion = Summarise + Stand + Evaluate Conclusion = Summary / Reflect on insights gleaned (some important realisation you had / wisdom gained) Writing Tips Types of Hook: Rhetorical Questions / General Fact / Common Saying / Paint a scenario / Quote / Statistics PEEEL: Point = Firstly / Secondly … (for argumentative) | From the perspective of … / One reason is … (for discursive) Explanation = This is because … Example / Evidence = For example / For instance, … Elaboration / Extension = Furthermore / Moreover, … Link = Therefore / Hence / Thus, … Counter-argument (for argumentative)  However, critics may argue / claim that …  Critics on the other hand may argue that … Rebuttal (for argumentative)  Despite the critics’ claims, I still argue that …  While the critics’ claims may be valid, their argument fails to consider… Qualifying / Evaluative statements  While … it could be an assumption that …  This may seem … but it is more crucial to consider …  The solution sounds ideal but it would be more realistic to ...  What might be more feasible would be to … Types of Hook: Rhetorical Questions / Common Saying / Quote / Start with the setting / Start with a feeling / thoughts Use personal / reflective language  I used to think that … but now I believe that … / Initially, I thought… but now I feel that …  In retrospect, I realise that …  Looking back, I learnt that …  In hindsight, I have come to understand …  From this experience, I realise that ...  In the future, I hope that … / I have always believed that … Descriptive Techniques Show, Not Tell Tell Technique Show The classroom was a mess. Descriptive vocab and simile With haphazardly arranged tables, litter all over and incessant chatter, the classroom was like a zoo in total chaos.

NAME: 4E5N Essay Genres Quick Revision  It is more logical to think that …  It fails to consider … / It overlooks the fact that …  It seems reasonable to conclude that ... X The benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Setting circumstances  First and foremost, ...  On the surface, …  Upon deeper consideration, ...  At the outset, …  If we consider …  From the perspective of, …  In the event that … / In situations such as ...  In theory, … but in reality, …  Across the globe, …  In Singapore, …  In the long run, ... Considering various perspectives (for discursive) Individuals / Communities & Groups - Children / Teenagers / Elderly / Working Adults / Parents / Families / Underprivileged / Rich / Race / Religion / Institutions - Government / Schools / Businesses / Organisations I was anxious. Descriptive vocab and personification Anxiety gripped me and froze my legs to the ground. Outside / Inside sentences The first sentence, which is the outside sentence, describes what appears to be. The second related sentence, which is the inside sentence, describes what the character is actually feeling or thinking. This gives the reader some additional insight into what is actually going on.  He smiled and shook the man’s hand as though nothing was wrong but on the inside, he was angrier than he had ever been.  She appeared calm and composed but in actual fact, her heart was beating so fast and she felt breathless.  The teacher sounded excited and full of energy. What her students did not know was how she exhausted she was, having stayed up the whole night just to prepare a good lesson.  Toby said that he had forgiven Zack but it was far from the truth. He was secretly plotting revenge. Examples of Common Sayings Varying sentence structures (a) Forefronting with an emotive word:

NAME: 4E5N Essay Genres Quick Revision Quick tip: Common sayings are easier to use and explain compared to quotes. There is a common saying,  ‘Rules are meant to be broken’ …  ‘Better late than never’ … ‘ but never late is better’  ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder’ …  ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ …  ‘Actions speak louder than words’ …  ‘Hope for the best, prepare for the worst’ …  ‘You’ll never know until you try’ …  ‘Laughter is the best medicine’…  ‘Knowledge is power’…  ‘The grass is always greener on the other side’…  ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’…  ‘You only live once’ is a refrain of today’s youths. (refrain means a repeated phrase commonly used in daily life) Go research for more.   Anxious, I quickly called my parents for help.  Disappointed, I walked off into my room and shut myself in.  Elated, I jumped for joy and started to cheer. (b) Using Contrasts (‘but’ or ‘yet’)  She is a quiet but charismatic / charming lady.  He is handsome but lazy and selfish, only concerned about his self- interest.  It was an intense yet remarkable journey …  Exhausted yet curious about what lay ahead, they continued their journey …  Graduating from secondary school life signaled the end of my carefree school days but it also heralded a new beginning. Varying sentence lengths Use a mixture of sentence lengths in your writing. Simple sentence: Technology has benefitted society. Compound sentence: Technology has benefitted society but we have become over-reliant on it. Complex sentence: Although technology has benefitted society, we have become over-reliant on it. Short and long sentences To show c