English personal writing

LegacyUser

Ok, I'm pretty good at English, and yet this is the part I'm most worried about. Its not that I cant write an essay, but I need to think of a good topic that I can mould to fit the question.

The best type of essay I do is the factual type, politics and the like, but for those, I usually have a few sources handy for facts and figures. Would the examiners check figures?:(

Would anyone like to give me an original idea to pass off as my own?;) I've got no imagination these days, The right side of my brain is crushing the left side :dunno:

claire h

Originally posted by pleb
The best type of essay I do is the factual type, politics and the like, but for those, I usually have a few sources handy for facts and figures. Would the examiners check figures?:(

Just make up the figures without making them outlandish. They're not going to go and look it up.

subway_ie

Originally posted by pleb
The best type of essay I do is the factual type, politics and the like, but for those, I usually have a few sources handy for facts and figures. Would the examiners check figures?:

They definetly won't go checking them - but they should have a good idea of whether they're realistic or not - try and keep it believable. As long as it doesn't seem totally crazy, then it'll probably be acceptable.
I'm the same way with the essays - I've only ever done argumentative/factual ones, hope a nice one comes up this year - had a gorgeous pollution one on the mock, something like that would be nice. I'm going to start doing some general essay plans tomorrow, just on vague things: European Union, Pollution, Terrorism, Iraq, just basic outlines for various essays.

LegacyUser

Ì was thinking about doing something about elections, local government being a vital part of a democracy etc etc, but that kind of thing will be written a lot. Should I be worried about originality?

smelly girl

examiners do not give two craps what facts and figures you use, all they want its the right register.

our grinds teacher is an examiner and he shows us past papers that have got full marks and we usualyy laugh at how many facts they get wrong or things like them saying about something that happens last night and by the end of the essay its months ago.

dont be wasting your time trying to find facts and figures, you just have to get the right register and they are happy.

subway_ie

Originally posted by pleb
Ì was thinking about doing something about elections, local government being a vital part of a democracy etc etc, but that kind of thing will be written a lot. Should I be worried about originality?

you'd probably be better off just doing some general notes on "democracy" so you can manipulate it for the question. So even if local government/elections do come up (I don't think they'd come up directly though... seems a bit too specific and just not very likely for some reason) you can just slightly modify what you had planned. Originality isn't a huge factor, as long as it's a decent essay.

Stalin

This is my biggest fear because pp2 is actually easier ,becuse of all the preparation and then there is pp1 with equal marks ...ahhhhhhhhhhhhh and its the first exam which will put me on a downer...I need help...pleaseeeeeeee

one-angry-dwarf

im planning on just preparing for p2. its gonna be a little scary sitting my first exam without anything prepared but it just seems like a waste of time. anything could come up.

Kold

My problem is that I often go against common opinion quite strongly verbally assaulting the church, old people, kids etc... Will they penalise me if they think I'm obnoxious?

DEmeant0r

Originally posted by Kold
My problem is that I often go against common opinion quite strongly verbally assaulting the church, old people, kids etc... Will they penalise me if they think I'm obnoxious?

It's best not to be on a side too strongly, if you're unlucky your correcter might be offended and deduct marks from you. Although it is your opinion and you're entitled to it, and although the examiner has to correct in a fair and professional manner, you might still be unlucky and get marks deducted. So the moral of it all is, don't side with someone/something too strongly.

Stalin

As long as you back up your opinion and its not too harsh e.g Bush is bollox...because he did blah blah blah...Like that ,make a statement and then back it up ,examiners cant deduct you

DS

Our teacher showed us a few sample essays that got 90+. And they were absolutely brutal. One of them was just this awful story about going on holidays and meeting some goodlooking guy, it was a disgrace. If you get a good marker and come accross as barely coherent they have to give you 100.

subway_ie

Originally posted by Stalin
As long as you back up your opinion and its not too harsh e.g Bush is bollox...because he did blah blah blah...Like that ,make a statement and then back it up ,examiners cant deduct you

Even if you do back it up, it's alot safer just to avoid extremes, stay nice and neutral. The examiners are supposed to correct them all exactly the same, not taking account of their personal views - but if they read an essay that they despise for its content that goes against all their beliefs and values, then they're going to grade you harsher.

Burago

Paper 1 in English really set me up for the rest of the exams. It totally relaxed me. Paper 2 is fine, just make sure you're prepared.

elle

english is probably my strongest subject but i despise that essay, i really do. I'm not the most creative and i am totally screwed if i can't twist the title into some kinda of factual essay. Mock was grand, I wrote some trek about irish music or something but just hope government or something that i can interpret as sarcasm will come up, oh god i hate paper 1

Smellyirishman

Paper on is by far the superior paper! lol.

Its is much more relaxing and easy, you dont have to regurgitate anything for it, instead it is all about your actual ability , not about €5000 worth of institute notes that are robotically pushed out.

The essay`s are usually all twistable and there is always at least 1-2 really open and easy ones (like the pictures, I mean they could lead to ANYTHING)

elle

ah i know what your saying but bein the first exam if you get a block or whatever your screwed, i mean never in your life in the real world will you be required to write an essay in an hr or so i mean it just doesnt happen, i just prefer paper 2 coz im a maccer freak and i like a few of the poets on the course but i despise that waste of space of a comparitive essay, never in my life did i think i'd be studying strictly ballroom

Smellyirishman

Sadly all of our tests have absolutly ridiculous parts that will NEVER be used. infact thats about 90%.

I just prefer paper 1 as it tests us as english writers and our understanding and comprehension of the language. Anyone can read Macbeth and copy an answer.
But then I can see where your coming from. Although your more likely to freeze on an exam where you have learned so much that you dont know what to do or you forget it all.

subway_ie

Originally posted by elle
i mean never in your life in the real world will you be required to write an essay in an hr or so i mean it just doesnt happen

No, but you'll have to write reports/presentations in short time-frames. Same for college.

Tusky

Originally posted by Burago
Paper 1 in English really set me up for the rest of the exams. It totally relaxed me. Paper 2 is fine, just make sure you're prepared.

What a nice thing to say just before the exam ' make sure your prepared ' bastard !