ESSAY
El principal propósito de este tipo de texto
es desarrollar argumentos y hablar de los temas/tendencias que giran en torno a
un tema concreto. Se opina y se dan razones a esa opinión personal, todo ello
en un registro formal o neutro. El que escribe puede estar de acuerdo, o en
desacuerdo, con la frase objeto de la opinión y argumentación, o simplemente
puede hablar mostrando los dos puntos de vista.
- El texto debe estar muy bien organizado con
una introducción, un desarrollo claro ( dos o tres párrafos) y una adecuada
conclusión. Importante practicar para conseguir apropiados párrafos de
introducción y conclusión. En la introducción se debe introducir el tema y
describir las tendencias que luego se van a tratar o desarrollar. Los párrafos
deben estar claramente separados ya que ayuda a la organización, y en ellos se
deben utilizar las expresiones apropiadas para este tipo de texto discursivo.
-El uso de conectores formales (formal
linking devices) es fundamental en este tipo de textos:
-Expressing contrast: on the positive side/on
the negative side; On the one hand/ on the other hand; some people feel that/
others argue that...
-Adding
information: Another advantage is; Moreover; Finally, In addition
(to this); Another disadvantage is; Besides this; Furthermore; What is more.
-Concluding: In conclusion; on balance; to sum
up
- Linkers to organize
ideas: First of
all: To begin with; Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly...Finally
-Intentar evitar el uso de pronombres en primera persona tendiendo más a
un lenguaje impersonal (ayuda el
uso de las pasivas)
-Expresar opiniones con nivel adecuado al B2 y que tengan
sentido.
Useful language
Expressing an opinion: It is probably true to say that….;
There can be no doubt that…; It is simply not the case that…
Commonly held views: It
is widely believed that; No one would dispute the fact that…; Few people would
dispute (the fact) that…; It is generally agreed that…
Saying what other people think: There are those who argue that…; It
has been suggested that…; It is often claimed that…;
Opponents/Supporters/Proponents of (hunting) argue that…
Referring to sources: All the evidence suggests that…; A
recent survey proved that…; Judging by the comments made by…; Interviews with
(students) have revealed that…
Writing
Folder 2: Essays.
Como he explicado arriba y como bien
mencionan Capel y Sharp la finalidad del “essay” es “outlining and discussing
issues on a particular topic.” (32)[2].
Para ello, se proporciona la “essay question and some relevant notes”. Todas
esas notas deben quedar incluidas en el “essay” así como las ideas propias.
(32)[3]
En el ejercicio
1 se proporciona un ejemplo de “essay” sobre el que se trabaja
(Ejercicios 1-6) para explicar con claridad aspectos relacionados con el
contenido y el lenguaje en este tipo de “writing”. A continuación voy a
reproducir la tarea requerida y el “essay”. Luego comentaremos a través de los
ejercicios (1-6) todo lo que se puede y se debe mejorar para conseguir un buen
y correcto “essay”.
In your English class you have been talking
about animal welfare. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give
reasons for your point of view:
“Animals deserve to be treated
better than they are by man.”
Do you
agree?
NOTES
Write About:
1. Animals kept in zoos.
2. Wildlife under threat
3. …………………….. (your own idea) (32)
The treatment of animals in our world today
This is a complex question. Many people depend
on animals to live, whether they eat meat or just keep an animal for its milk.
This essay will consider farming, $ the
role of zoos and endangered wildlife.
When zoos first opened, they had a real purpose
– to educate people. There was no television and $ people got to see animals from other places. Now we don´t have
the same need for zoos and it is cruel to lock animals up there. $ I think all zoos should be closed.
$ I think some farmers look after animals well, but many don´t care about
the conditions that their animals live in. The best farmers give animals plenty
of space and fresh grass to eat.
Una vez que hemos leído el ejemplo debemos
contestar a la pregunta del ejercicio
1 que dice así, “What has the
writer forgotten to include?”
Si leemos el requerimiento que se hace en las
notas (“NOTES”) y luego el ejemplo
de arriba, vemos claramente que -a pesar de haber sido mencionado en la
introducción- no se desarrolla después en el “essay” el segundo punto “wildlife under
threat”. Esto afecta la nota en la parte del contenido ya que no se
desarrolla completamente el “contenido” requerido en la tarea del ejercicio.
Siempre pues, se deben cubrir todos los puntos requeridos en el ejercicio para
dar al lector una información clara y completa.
Además de este aspecto relativo al contenido
en el ejercicio 2 se enfatiza
la importancia, en este tipo de “writing”, de un buen uso de conectores/
“linking words-devices” para unir las ideas. Si recordáis esto lo acabáis de
leer en la introducción que os he hecho arriba (página 1). Este aspecto es
clave y debéis de tenerlo en mente a la hora de desarrollar vuestro propio
“essay”. En el ejercicio 2 se pide que se sustituyan los símbolos $ por una serie de “linking phrases”
(“for this reason, to sum up, as well as discussing, in this way, as for
agriculture” (32)[5]) con el fin de mejorar el ejemplo dado. Al
final os escribo el “essay” mejorado con todos estos aspectos que vamos
comentando. Es decir, hasta aquí tenemos claro que tendríamos que añadir un
párrafo desarrollando el punto 2 de las notas “wildlife under threat” e introducir, cuidando la puntuación,
una serie de “linking phrases”.
Con el fin de conseguir una buena nota a
nivel “lenguaje”, “el examinador necesita ver una gran variedad en el uso del
lenguaje” (Capel and Sharp 32)[6].
Una buena cosa a tener en cuenta en este sentido es el hecho de evitar la
repetición de palabras básicas y relativas al tema que se trata. Por ejemplo y
como vemos en el ejercicio 4,
en el ejemplo de arriba y aparte del título, la palabra “animal/animals” se
repite 8 veces. El ejercicio insta a evitar esto sustituyendo esta palabra por
otras como: “cow, creatures, goat, them, they, wildlife” (32)[7].
Como se puede apreciar, este es otro aspecto clave a tener en cuenta y que
debéis cuidar. En el “essay” mejorado que os reproduciré al final fijaros
bien como se ha sustituido la palabra “animals” por estas seis opciones.
En la misma línea, y con la finalidad de
mostrar riqueza y variedad en el uso del lenguaje, en el ejercicio 5 se pide que se sustituya la tradicional y repetida coletilla “I
think” para expresar opinión -y que aparece tres veces en el “essay” del
ejemplo- por tres de las cuatro “phrases” que se dan (“without a doubt;
personally speaking; in my
opinion; it is true that” (32) [8]) llevando a cabo cambios en el orden de
las mismas si es necesario. Observar cómo se llevan a cabo estas
sustituciones en el ejemplo mejorado de abajo.
Finalmente, en el ejercicio 6 se resalta la importancia de cuidar bien la
conclusión de los “essays” evitando concluir este tipo de “writing” con una sóla frase
“I think we could treat animals better” (32)[9]
. Vemos a continuación como se mejora un poquito esta frase. No es algo fácil
redactar una buena conclusión, pero como os he dicho al inicio es esencial.
Todos los párrafos deben estar bien trabajados tanto a nivel contenido como a
nivel expresión o uso del lenguaje.
EJEMPLO
MEJORADO CON TODO LO QUE HEMOS COMENTADO EN LOS EJERCICIOS 1-6.
The Treatment of
Animals in our World Today
This is a complex question. Many people depend
on animals to live, whether they eat meat or just keep a cow or a goat for its
milk. This essay will consider farming, as well as discussing the role of zoos,
and endangered wildlife.
When zoos first opened, they had a real purpose
–to educate people. There was no television and in this way, people got to see
wildlife from other places. Now we do not have the same need for zoos and it is
cruel to lock creatures up there. For this reason, all zoos should be closed in
my opinion.
In terms of endangered wildlife, man is often
to blame for the disappearance of species. Pollution from factories and cars
causes severe problems. Some chemicals are being released into the environment,
which are harmful to bees, for example.
As for agriculture, it is true that some
farmers look after animals well, but many do not care about the conditions that
they live in. The best farmers give them plenty of space and fresh grass to
eat.
To sum up, we could treat animals better
without a doubt. We need to respect all living creatures. [10]
Comparando los dos ejemplos se puede apreciar
todo lo que se ha mejora el “essay” en este último dado.
Para finalizar esta primera parte relativa a los
“essays” os pongo otro ejemplo. Cuanto más modelos tengáis más podéis mejorar y enriquecer a todos los
niveles vuestros propios “writings”.
Wildlife in Need of
Protection
As the statement suggests, there are many
species at risk today. This essay will give some examples of endangered
animals, argue for their better protection and explain what action could be
taken now.
Arctic animals, such as polar bears, are in
danger of extinction due to global warming. Other species, such as the white
rhino, are facing extinction because they are hunted.
If we let these beautiful creatures disappear,
our world will never be the same. Think of a forest without any birds singing
or an ocean with no whales. Furthermore, when species die out, the whole balance
of nature is threatened.
So what is to be done? There are already
several protection programmes but these often lack money. It is also necessary
for governments to pass additional environmental laws, in my opinion, so that
the pollution from factories can be better controlled.
In conclusion there is no doubt that more could
be done to save endangered species. They are worth saving so that future
generations can admire them. [11]
Writing
Folder 4: Essays.
En este segundo apartado relativo al “essay”
se remarca la importancia que tiene en este tipo de “writings” una cuidada
organización de las ideas y la creación de un plan antes de empezar a escribir
(Capel and Sharp 196)[12].
Es esencial que las ideas estén perfectamente organizadas en párrafos (utilizar
un número de párrafos adecuado: introducción, conclusión y dos o tres párrafos
para desarrollar las ideas expuestas en la introducción) y que estos estén
correctamente conectados (“linked” (59)[13]).
Debe evitarse siempre
“one-sentence paragraphs or lists of sentences” (Capel and Sharp 196[14]).
Finalmente, se vuelve a insistir -a nivel uso del lenguaje-
en tres puntos clave:
-Rephrase key language in your own
words where possible.
-Use adjective-noun collocations to show your
range of vocabulary.
-Include complex clauses and a variety of other
grammar structures. (Capel and
Sharp 59)[15]
A continuación veremos aplicadas todas estas
ideas relativas, principalmente, al planteamiento y organización, en los
ejercicios 1, 2, 3 y 4
En el ejercicio
1 se da una tarea para llevar a cabo un “essay”, y luego se pide que
mirando el plan de organización dado se ordene adecuadamente los párrafos del ejercicio 2.
In your English class you have been talking
about jobs and salaries. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give
reasons for your point of view.
Compared
to people in other jobs sportspeople are paid too much for what they do. Do you
agree?
Notes
Write about:
1.
which jobs are important in society
2.
why some sportspeople are paid a lot
of money
3.
……….. (your own idea)(58)[16]
El plan sería el siguiente:
Paragraph
1: a general introduction.
Paragraph
2: jobs that are important.
Paragraph
3: sportspeople´s salaries.
Paragraph
4: sport´s importance today.
Paragraph 5: a conclusion [17]
Según este “plan” los párrafos del ejercicio 2 quedarían ordenados del
siguiente modo:
The topic of sportspeople´s earnings often
causes a great deal of discussion, especially in the media. Many people have
strong feelings on the subject, and so do I.
First of all, it is true that playing sport for
a living is not essential to society. Nurses do an essential job but they earn
very little compared to many sportspeople. Also, a football player, for
example, will only be playing for a few hours a day while a nurse could work at
least twelve hours a day.
On the other hand, a sportsperson´s career does
not last long, so the high salary is only for a limited period of time. Furthermore,
injury can cut short a career. Therefore it is reasonable that sportspeople
receive substantial earnings.
In addition, sport has a central place in
modern society, giving pleasure to many people. The fact that it is such a
popular form of entertainment means that high salaries can perhaps be
justified.
To sum up, sportspeople are highly paid but
they often deserve the money. The real issue is that people in more important
jobs are paid too little. [18]
En el ejercicio
3 se dan cinco ejemplos de “adjective-noun collocations” sacados del
“essay” de arriba para recordar la importancia de utilizar estos mismos en nuestros
“writings” con el fin de mostrar gran variedad en el uso del lenguaje y así
conseguir mejor puntuación. A su vez el ejercicio pide que se dé un adjetivo
alternativo al que aparece y así mostrar vuestra riqueza de vocabulario. Lo que suele ayudar para
aumentar vuestro vocabulario en este sentido es un buen diccionario de sinónimos.
substantial
earnings
significant earnings
the real
issue
the actual issue
a central
place
a key place
an
essential job
a vital job
strong feelings deep feelings [19]
En el ejercicio
4 se da una lista de “linkers” para clasificar en las tres casillas en
las que se dan tres ejemplos del “essay” de arriba. La finalidad del ejercicio
es recordar la importancia del uso de los conectores “linkers” para organizar
las ideas en párrafos con pleno sentido, orden y correlación y dar ejemplos de
algunos de los tipos de conectores que se pueden utilizar.
Addition: In addition; as well as;
furthermore.
Contrast: On the other hand; at the same
time; in contrast; nevertheless
Ya para concluir este segundo apartado, os
doy el ejemplo del ejercicio
5 en el que se pide llevar a cabo un “essay” en 140-190 palabras en
relación al siguiente tema:
Should
people who are studying or working hard take regular exercise?
Se pide llevar a cabo el
“essay” usando las notas dadas y dando razones para el punto de vista que se
exprese.
Notes: 1. lifestyle
2. health benefits
3. ………………………… (your own idea) [21]
Fitness when Working Hard
Physical exercise is generally
believed to be good for the mind as well as the body. This essay considers its
place in a busy lifestyle, looking at the advantages to health but also
considering possible drawbacks.
People in stressful jobs with heavy
workload can profit enormously from taking regular exercise. Similarly,
students who work late at night to meet essay deadlines will function better if
they leave their desk for a run or play tennis for an hour.
Aside from the obvious improvements
to health and fitness, such as being in better shape and keeping weight under
control, people who take exercise sleep more soundly. This is because they are
physically exhausted.
At the same time, there are some
drawbacks in committing to regular exercise, not least the expense. Joining a
gym usually requires a monthly fee. As well as the cost, taking time out of a
busy schedule is not always easy. Nevertheless, the benefits outweigh the
disadvantages.
In conclusion, setting aside time
each day for exercise brings rewards. For those who spend most of their waking
hours at a computer, whether working or studying, physical activity seems
especially important. [22]
Writing
Folder 8: Essays.
En este tercer y último “writing folder”
dedicado al “essay” Capel y Sharp destacan un punto clave que yo os he
mencionado en la introducción de la primera página. Cito sus palabras:
You will lose marks for communicative achievement if you use informal
language. Avoid using the pronoun I (“I think; I don´t agree, etc) and try
instead to argue your views in a less personal way. [23]
El lenguaje del “essay” debe ser formal y
dentro de este aspecto o de esta formalidad –entre otros aspectos- se debe
tener en cuenta que hay que evitar el uso de pronombre personales en primera
persona, algo que insisto se consigue con expresiones impersonales (e.g:
pasivas).
En el ejercicio
1 se da un ejemplo de “essay” que responde a una tarea dada e insta a
subrayar cualquier indicio de lenguaje demasiado informal. A su vez en el ejercicio 2 se pide reescribir
ese lenguaje informal subrayado utilizando un estilo formal/impersonal. A
continuación os muestro estos dos ejercicios resueltos. Leedlo bien y
reflexionar un poquito sobre este punto que aquí se trata.
In your English class you have been talking
about cycling to work. Now your English teacher has asked you to write an
essay.
Write an essay using all the notes and give
reasons for your point of view.
Is it
better for people who live in towns and cities to travel to work by bicycle
rather than using their cars?
Notes
Write About:
This essay discusses the advantages and disadvantages
of cycling to work in an urban environment. It considers traffic congestion,
the dangers to cyclists and the savings that can be made by using two wheels
instead of four.
Nowadays there are (loads of) substantial numbers of cars and trucks on the
roads, causing long queues of traffic, especially during the rush hour. For
drivers, the stress of waiting in a traffic jam must be (unbelievable) considerable . (So why don´t they) Therefore, isn´t it more sensible for them to
leave their vehicles at home and cycle instead?
(Well, perhaps.) The
answer to this is not straightforward. Some people argue that it is
healthier but (I don´t agree!) this is not
necessarily the case. ( You end up) As a
cyclist, you have to breathe in (breathing) in car fumes and (risking) risk your life every single day – cycling in
cities can be incredibly dangerous and you can get seriously hurt.
On the other hand, it is much cheaper to use a
bike. You don´t have to buy petrol or pay for many repairs.( I guess) For this
reason it is preferable to cycle to work, but only if you can avoid the busy main
roads and follow more pleasant routes.
In conclusion, (yes,) it
is certainly true that we should cycle wherever possible. However, not
enough is being done to encourage people to leave their cars at home and this
needs to be addressed urgently. [25]
En el ejercicio
3 y a modo de práctica se pide señalar las ideas -dentro de las ocho
dadas (a-h)- que pueden ser soluciones para luego expandirlas en frases
completas. Tanto las oraciones de este ejercicio como las del 4 sirven de ayuda
y adelanto al “essay” que hay que desarrollar en el ejercicio 5/6. Como acabo
de señalar, se trata de practicar este tipo de
frases formales, impersonales y elaboradas, propias del “essay”, y que sirven para dar
soluciones a los problemas que se plantean. Da una ayuda ofreciendo ejemplos
con los cuales iniciar estas frases:
The key to solving/reducing/dealing with……is
One of
the biggest questions/challenges/problems in the short term will be…
It is
essential/vital/ important that… [26]
a tax motorists more
b give cyclists free helmets
c restrict parking in cities
d build more motorways
e set lower speed limits
f put up petrol prices
g develop solar-powered cars
h issue driving permits for use on certain days [27
Suggested answers:
Possible
solutions: a, c, e, f, h
a. The key to reducing the number of cars on the
road is to impose higher taxes on motorists.
c. It is essential to restrict the opportunities for parking in the city
centre.
e. One of the biggest challenges in the short term will be how to persuade
people to take public transport but with lower speed limits for private cars,
that might become a more attractive option.
f. The key to reducing traffic is to raise petrol prices substantially, so
that driving becomes the less obvious choice.
h. It is vital that the number of cars in a city is restricted, so issuing
driving permits for use on certain days seems a good policy to adopt. [28]
En el ejercicio
4 y siguiendo la misma línea del ejercicio 3 se pide reordenar las
frases dadas a, b y c añadiendo comas si es necesario. Se trata de ejemplos de
frases complejas con “while, which, whose, etc” propias de este tipo de “writings”.
La finalidad de estos dos ejercicios es establecer ejemplos del tipo de frases
que debéis utilizar en vuestros “essays” y en la parte relativa a la expresión
o uso del lenguaje: formal, impersonal y elaborado (“include passive forms, and
modal verbs; introduce complex clauses with while,
which, whose, etc; use a range of vocabulary that is relevant to the topic” ([29])
a. What is of high priority is the introduction of
tighter laws on older vehicles, whose exhaust fumes cause greater pollution.
b. In short term, it is essential to consult the
public, whose concerns have never been fully aired.
c. Instant action is needed to reduce the volume of cars in our cities,
while in the medium term, further research should be carried out on alternative
forms of transport. (220)[30]
Una vez vistas todas las características sobre
el “essay” toca elaborar uno teniendo en cuenta todo lo visto, leído, explicado
y comentado hasta ahora. Os escribo la tarea del ejercicio 5/6
Ejercicio 5/6
In your English class you have been talking
about urban transport. Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay.
Write an essay in 140-190 words using all the
notes and give reasons for your point of view.
The only
way to solve traffic problems in cities is to improve public transport
Do you
agree?
Notes
Write about:
1.
Problems with public transport
2.
Limiting the use of private cars
3.
……………………………. (your own ideas) (109)[31]
EXAM ADVICE
Content: include all three main ideas.
Communicative achievement: make your writing impersonal; write
in a fairly formal style.
Organization: outline the main ideas in an introduction;
organize your essay in paragraphs; summarize your main argument in the
conclusion.
Language: rephrase key language in your own words where
possible; include passive forms and modal verbs; introduce complex clauses with
“while, which, whose, etc”; use a range of vocabulary that is relevant to the
topic. [32]
Sample answer given by Capel and
Sharp:
TRAFFIC IN
OUR CITIES
The volume of traffic in most cities has
reached an unsustainable level and urgent action is needed. This essay
considers the importance of public transport and suggests other ways of
restricting the use of private cars.
Any city needs to have an efficient and
reliable public transport network. This requires regular investment, but
funding is not always available. In addition, as fares are so high, it can be
more cost-effective for people to drive themselves.
It is clearly vital to find ways of reducing
the numbers of cars on the road. The key to this may be to impose higher taxes
on motorists, or to restrict parking in cities. Furthermore, if petrol prices
were raised substantially, driving would become the less obvious choice.
Finally, people should be persuaded to think
twice before making an unnecessary journey. More companies are supporting staff
wishing to work from home rather than commuting, and with online shopping,
fewer trips to the supermarket should be necessary.
In conclusion, improvements to public transport
are only part to the solution to reducing traffic. As a society, we need to
look at other ways of minimizing the use of private cars, including lifestyle
changes. (221)[33]
