CPE ESSAY (Paper 2, Part 1)
WRITING STEPS:
1. Identify and
underline the key points in both input texts. Make sure to include that when
you write your essay.
2. Summarise the key
points in your own words.
3. Use an academic
writing style (formal or neutral register), a wide range of vocabulary with
precision and varied grammatical structures (include inversion of order and
impersonal constructions now and then). Show all that you know!
4. You must organise
your ideas well, using an introduction, paragraphing and appropriate linking devices.
5. You need to draw
conclusions based on the information given throughout the whole of your answer
and give your opinion by signaling it clearly and explicitly.
Oraganisation and useful language:
*Introduction:
The overarching/ overall/common/general
theme of both texts is...
The texts under
analysis present complementary/
contrasting views on the issue of...
Both authors agree on
the fact/notion that....
....although they probe into/ analyse it from slightly different
points view/ angles/ standpoints and provide/offer different/diverse examples to
illustrate their points/ideas.
While one author
argues that...., the other seems to favour the idea that....
One author states that
.... whereas the other one argues that...
On the one hand, the author of the first text/the former
claims that..., while on the other hand,
the author of the second text/the latter expresses that...
While the first text adopts a more abstract/ theoretical//
viewpoint/ standpoint on the subject, discussing different approaches/ alternatives/ problems/
drawbacks/aspects concerning ....the second text appears to be more practical/descriptive/detached/liberal
in its approach.
The first considers
the fact that…/ adopts a more… viewpoint on... the second text focuses mainly
on... rendering a rather... exposition of the subject matter.
*Body of the essay:
First paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of
input text one. Give your opinion.
Second paragraph: Summarize in your own words the key points of
input text two.Give your opinion.
*Useful connectors for the body of your essay:
*Adding ideas:
In the first place / Secondly/ Moreover/Furthermore/ What is more/In addition/ Additionally/ On top of that/ Yet another point worth noting/mentioning.../ Another factor to consider/take into consideration/Lastly/Finally/ Last but not least...
*Contrasting views:
On the one hand / on
the other hand/ However, /Nevertheless,/Still,/Yet, ...
*Justifying
One reason why...
There are many
advantages to…
It cannot be denied
that...
Another positive/negative aspect//
advantage/disadvantage/drawback of …is....
*Giving your opinion on the writers’ views:
In my opinion,/ To my
mind,/ The way I see it,/ I am of the opinion that/ I believe/ I find...
*Conclusion: Restate your previous arguments, sum up and
relate to a broader context.
All in all/ To sum up/
To conclude/ In conclusion.../All things considered/ Taking all of the above
into account.../In view of the above, it can be concluded that.../As stated
above, ....
How is your paper graded?
CONTENT:
All the content has to be relevant to the task.The
target reader has to be informed.
COMMUNICATIVE ACHIEVEMENT:
They writer has to evaluate the key point and
express his or her own ideas clearly and in an easy-to-follow way. The register
has to be formal or neutral all the way through the essay.
ORGANIZATION:
The ideas in the text have to be well organised
to make it a coherent whole.The ideas need to be arranged in a logical sequence
through the use of cohesive devices.
LANGUAGE: The writer has to use a wide range of
sophisticated vocabulary and grammatical structures with accuracy and flexibility.
