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Michigan ECCE Essay Writing Useful phrases for writing an essay expressing an opinion in favor of a statement

Introduction

In the Michigan ECCE examination, candidates have to produce one piece of writing in thirty minutes, using a

prompt (a short piece of writing which describes a situation or problem) which is given on the examination

paper. The prompt is usually one or two paragraphs and is written in fairly easy English so that all candidates

can understand it without much difficulty. Candidates read this prompt and then the two writing topics which

follow it. One is a letter, often to a newspaper or magazine column, offering advice or giving an opinion, and

the other is an essay, in which the candidate must express his or her ideas about the situation or problem

described in the prompt. The candidate must choose one of the topics to write.

Both sorts of writing exercise (letter and essay) must follow a particular development, and the use of clear

paragraphs is essential. Candidates must be sure about what ideas they are going to include in their writing

before they start writing and how they are going to lay their ideas out. Candidates must also use examples to

support their ideas.

It is an excellent idea to learn and use particular phrases which can be included in the writing exercise, such as

how to offer advice to somebody, how to express and understanding of a problem, how to offer a personal

opinion about a situation, and so on. Below is a list of such phrases which students should find useful when

writing an essay expressing an opinion in the Michigan ECCE examination. It is good practice to use phrases

like these in your writing. However, it is equally important to avoid errors (grammatical, spelling,

expressional) in the information you write between the phrases! In addition, it is very important that you do not

try to fill your essay with lots of these phrases in the hope of getting a better mark – make sure that you offer

enough of your own writing in presenting a solution to satisfy the examiners.

Useful phrases

A) Rephrasing the idea given by the subject of the essay, which is necessary in the first, short paragraph

of the essay.

Basic idea: “Everyone knows that knowledge of a foreign language can make holidays abroad more fun.” It is common knowledge that knowledge of a foreign language can make holidays abroad more fun.

Few would disagree that knowledge of a foreign language can make holidays abroad more fun.

It stands to reason that knowledge of a foreign language can make holidays abroad more fun.

It goes without saying that knowledge of a foreign language can make holidays abroad more fun.

Who would disagree with the statement that knowledge of a foreign language can make holidays abroad more

fun? (NOTE that this is a rhetorical question)

The fact that knowledge of a foreign language can make holidays abroad more fun is well-known to many.

Basic idea: “Knowledge of a foreign language allows us to communicate with the local population.” Knowing a foreign language, we can communicate with the local population.

It is possible to communicate with the local population if we know a foreign language.

Communicating with the local population is possible if we know a foreign language.

Without knowing a foreign language we cannot communicate with the local population.

Not knowing a foreign language renders it impossible to communicate with the local population.

Communicating with the local population depends on knowledge of a foreign language.

Communicating with the local population is only possible with knowledge of a foreign language.

Knowing a foreign language can help us to overcome difficulties in communicating with the local population.

Basic idea: “Let’s look at the (main) advantages of knowing a foreign language.” So, what are the (main) advantages of knowing a foreign language? (NOTE that this is a rhetorical question)

Below we shall see some of the (main) advantages of knowing a foreign language.

Some of the (main) advantages of knowing a foreign language follow (below).

Below, I hope to show some of the (main) advantages of knowing a foreign language.

B) Setting out the advantages (Second and third paragraphs)

Basic idea: “The main advantage of knowing a foreign language is…” [* see below] The main reason why knowing a foreign language is advantageous is that…

[* see below] The main reason why knowing a foreign language is an advantage lies in the fact that…

[* see below] People in the know see knowledge of a foreign language as an advantage because…

[* see below] It is highly advantageous to know a foreign language as/because…

[* see below] Knowing a foreign language can be a real boon because…

[* see below] Knowing a foreign language aids us greatly because…

[* see below] Individuals who know a foreign language find themselves able to […] and this can be considered

a major advantage.

[* see below] Knowing a foreign language allows one to […] and this constitutes a significant advantage.

[* see below] Perhaps the principal advantage to knowing a foreign language is…

* In front of any of the above phrases it is a good move to put a short phrase meaning “I think”. You can use

any of the following phrases (but you must also use the comma if one follows them, too): To my mind, / In my

opinion, / In my view, / It is my view that… / I am of the view that… / I am of the opinion that… / It is my belief

that… / It has to be said that…

Basic idea: “When we know a foreign language, it is easier to…” Knowing a foreign language makes it easier to...

If we know a foreign language, we are in a better position to...

[Noun phrase/Gerund phrase, e.g. Communication with the local population / Communicating with the local

population] is more easily achieved when we know a foreign language.

It is (only) when we know a foreign language that we can really...

Knowing a foreign language renders us (more) able to…

We are given the ability to […] if we know a foreign language.

Should we know a foreign language, we are able to…

When we know a foreign language we find ourselves capable of…

Basic idea: “Another advantage of knowing a foreign language is…” A further advantage of knowing a foreign language is…

Another plus of knowing a foreign language is…

It is also advantageous to know a foreign language because…

Yet another advantage of knowing a foreign language is…

We can find yet another advantage of knowing a foreign language and that is…

Knowing a foreign language can have an additional advantage in that we can…

C) Concluding your favorable opinion essay

Basic idea: “I think I have shown that knowing a foreign language is an advantage.” [** see below] It would seem to me from all the above that knowing a foreign language can only be an

advantage.

[** see below] One can clearly see that knowing a foreign language is advantageous.

[** see below] Knowing a foreign language must, consequently/therefore/thus/as a result, be considered a plus.

[** see below] The advantages of knowing a foreign language are clear to see.

[** see below] One cannot doubt that knowing a foreign language is an advantage.

[** see below] Knowing a foreign language is clearly advantageous.

** In front of any of the above phrases it is a very wise move to put a short phrase meaning “I am going to

conclude my essay”. You can use any of the following phrases (but you must also use the comma if one

follows them, too): In conclusion, / To conclude, / To sum up, / In summary, / To summarize, / To summarize

the above, / To sum all of the aforementioned ideas up, / It can, therefore, be concluded that… / The logical

conclusion of the aforementioned ideas is that… / What can be concluded, then, is that… / The conclusion that

can be drawn from the above is that…

REMEMBER: When writing this type of essay, it is far better to choose just a few important advantages in

support of your view and to give examples of why these advantages are significant. Trying to give a long list of

advantages without saying why they are advantages is not a good idea and will result in a much lower mark in

the examination – or will result in the essay being failed by the examiner. Examiners are not just judging your

ability to write in English; they are interested in whether you can write persuasively in English, and giving a

long unsupported list of ideas is not persuasive writing. The key is to choose your advantages carefully and

make sure you explain clearly why you believe they are important.

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