General Tips

1. Plan your composition by writing a few outlines. It is recommended to

use a list in order to write the main idea and supporting details.
2. Make sure you understand the subject and write exactly whats
required.
3. Write 4 paragraphs. Leave an empty line between paragraphs.
Leave margins of 2 cm on each side of the page for remarks.
4. Clear handwriting! Write in ink only black or blue. If you type your
essay, leave double space between the lines.
5. Your sentences must be short and clear; not longer than one and a
half lines. (7-16 words)
6. Use sentence connectors to connect sentences and paragraphs.
7. Start each sentence with a CAPITAL LETTER and end it with a full
stop (.)
8. Pay attention to grammar. Decide in advance what time frame you
want to use (past or present) so you wont mix tenses.
9. Make sure your ideas are clear to you and your readers.
10. Structure of your composition :
a. First paragraph introduction of the topic you are going to write
about. (2 sentences)
b. Body of the text (2 paragraphs in the middle) should contain
explanations, details, examples, or descriptions related to your
subject. (each paragraph 3-5 sentences)
c. Last paragraph summary or conclusion of your composition. (2
sentences)
11. Each paragraph should have a key sentence at the beginning. It
should tell the reader what the paragraph is about.
12. After you finish writing, read your composition again in order to
make sure that what you wrote is clear and to correct your mistakes.
Check your dictionary for spelling.

Each paragraph in an opinion essay should contain:

This1:Introduction.Getthereader's
Paragraph model can help
attention.Introduceyourmainideaand
controllingstatement.Thereadershouldknow
fromthebeginningwhatyouaregoingto
discuss.
Paragraph 2:Statethefirstmainpoint(topic
sentence).Statethesupportingdetail(s),such
as,explanations,examples,argumentsorfacts
tosupportyourargument.

Paragraph 3:Statethesecondmainpoint Paragraph 4:Conclusion.Restateyourmain

(topicsentence).Statethesupporting idea.Restateyourmainpoints.Leavethe
detail(s).Makesurethatyourargumentsare readerwithagoodimpression.Thatis,your
relatedtothemainideayouintroducedto readershouldfeelthatyouhavepresentedyour
yourreaderinthebeginning. ideasclearlyandgrammatically.
 This template can help you with your own essay of
opinion.

Manypeopleclaimthat__________________________________.In my opinion,
theoppositeistrue/agoodideaforafewreasons.

First,________________________________________________________________
For example,______________________________________________________.
As a result,____________________________________________.

Second,_____________________________________________________________.
That is,_____________________________________________________________.
Therefore,__________________________________________________.

In conclusion,Istronglybelievethat____________________________________
_______________________________.

Each paragraph in a for and against essay should contain:

Paragraph 1:Introduction state the Paragraph 2:Argumentsfor write a list

issue you are going to discuss. of points to support the statement in the
question

Paragraph 3:Argumentsagainst Paragraph 4:Conclusion write a

write the points which oppose the summary and present your opinions.
statement. Takeastandonlyattheend!

This template can help you write your own for and against
essay!

______________isa controversial issue.Somepeoplesay____________________,

whileothersclaimthat________________________________________.

On the one hand,____________________________________________________.

For instance,______________________________________________Therefore,
_____________________________________________________.

On the other hand,_____________________________________________.So

________________________________________.In addition,
__________________________________________________.

In conclusion,______________hasbothadvantagesanddisadvantages.YetIfirmly
believethattheadvantagesoutweighthedisadvantages.
 THE FOLLOWING PHRASES WILL HELP YOU BEGIN YOUR
PARAGRAPHS:

Opening Middle Closing

Paragraphs Paragraphs Paragraphs
is a phenomenon First, its essential to In conclusion, never
which demands our remember that have I been more
attention. In my convinced that
opinion, .
Many people believe To begin with, its worth All things considered, I
that In my opinion, it mentioning that strongly believe that.
is true / the opposite is
true for a few reasons.
There are some factors First and foremost, it is To sum up, as I have
which must be taken important to state mentioned above, I am
into account that totally convinced that
Lately, we have become Opponents / To conclude, it is
increasingly aware of Proponents of take necessary to remember
a different view that / It is essential
about / It is vital
When discussing the On the one hand, . In conclusion, bearing
issue of I firmly this in mind, I
believe that In this On the other hand, .. unequivocally believe
essay, I'll point out that
arguments which
support my opinion.
In my point of view / Another point that All in all, the
Personally / In my should be taken into advantages outweigh
opinion/ As I see it consideration is (that) the disadvantages
.. Therefore, I'm quite
certain that ..
is a controversial A further argument Finally, after
issue. Some people against / in favor of considering the pros
claim. while others is.. and cons I think that
believe
(I tend to agree with the
former / the latter).
One/Another commonly To sum up, in
heard objection to this light of the
argument is arguments
presented
above, I tend to
agree with

USEFUL CONNECTORS FOR WRITING

PURPOSE
To add points on the
same topic
To describe similarity
To express contrast
To introduce opposing
points
EXAMPLES
And, in addition to, moreover, besides,
furthermore, also, too
Similarly, likewise, in the same way
But, however, nevertheless, yet, still,
although, even if, even though, in spite of,
despite
On the one hand on the other hand, in
contrast, contrary to, it can also be argued
 that, there are people who say that
To describe cause or Because (of), since, due to, for this reason,
reason that is why, one/another reason for is
To describe a result So, therefore, consequently, thus, as a result
(of),
To state a purpose in order to, so that, so as to
To make general In general, generally, on the whole
statements
To give examples For example, for instance, such as, like,
particularly, in particular, especially,
specifically
To describe reality In fact, as a matter of fact, actually
To express personal In my opinion, I (strongly / firmly) believe/
opinions think/ feel (that)
To list points To begin with, in the first place, first of all,
first/ firstly, secondly, thirdly, after that, then,
next, finally
To conclude In conclusion, to sum up, in short, all in all, all
things considered,
To show time When, while, before, after, until, as soon as,
by the time
To show sequence First, at first, in the beginning, next, then,
later, earlier, meanwhile, after that
afterwards, at last, finally, eventually, in the
end
To rephrase In other words, that is, namely, that is to say

How Your Writing is Explanation

Marked
Content and * Express yourself clearly. Make sure you
Organization answer the question as required.
8 * Write relevant and well organized
information include main ideas and
examples.
Vocabulary * Use rich and varied vocabulary dont
8 repeat yourself! Use appropriate register
you dont write to your friend, so dont use
slang or inappropriate words.
Language Use * Use basic and advanced language
16 structures correctly (conditionals, perfect
tenses, passive, reported speech,
connectors, prepositions, modals, etc.)
Mechanics * Good spelling.
8 * Capital letters at the beginning of a
sentence.
* Correct punctuation - , : ?.
* Clear paragraphing it is clear where a
paragraph begins and where it ends. Short
and clear sentences dont write run-ons!
Many youngsters after their military service go on treks to the Far East or to
South America for 6-8 months. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
taking such a step.
Dafna'sessay
Goingonalongtrekafterthemilitaryserviceisacontroversialissue.Somepeople
saythatitisasmartstep,whileothersclaimthatitmayleadtosomenegative
consequences.

Ontheonehand,youngstersaftertheirarmyserviceareexhausted.Inmanycases
theyfeelthattheymustrelaxandhavesomefun.Therefore,alongtripcanhelpthem
fulfillthisdream.Furthermore,aperiodoftimeinwhichtheseyoungadultsbecome
fullofenergyisaverynecessarystepwhichcanhelpthemduringtheirstudiesand
adultlife,ingeneral.

Ontheotherhand,alongtripcanbeconsideredawasteofprecioustime,whichthe
formersoldierscouldtakeadvantageofforlearningorworking.Inaddition,this
traditionisnotverysafe,especiallybecausetheyoungsterscanbeexposedtodrugsas
wellasdangeroussituationsorplaces.

Inconclusion,trekkingafterthemilitaryservicehasbothadvantagesand
disadvantages.YetIfirmlybelievethattheadvantagesoutweighthedisadvantages.
Sojustgoandenjoyyourself,butbecareful.

It is often said that famous people have a responsibility to the public to set
a good example. Do you agree or disagree? Write a passage to the newspaper
stating and explaining your opinion with the support of examples.
Almog'sessay
Manypeoplebelievethatfamouspeoplehavearesponsibilitytothepublictoseta
goodexample.Inmyopinion,itistrueforafewreasons.

Firstandforemost,manychildrenandyoungstersareinterestedin"celebs".Mostof
themaredirectlyinfluencedbyfamouspeople,andtheyadoptthecelebs'behavior
andlanguageuse.Inordertomakeagoodimpressionandtocreateawell-educated
generation,allfamouspeoplemustactproperly,becauseoftheirenormousimpacton
peopleandchildreninparticular.

Anotherpointthatshouldbetakenintoconsiderationisthatmostofthefamous
peoplearepicturedbypaparazzi.Inordernottomakefunofthemselves,theyneed
tobecapturedbythecamerawhentheybehavewell.Otherwise,eachandeveryone
canwatchtheirunacceptablebehavior.Asaresult,theymayberejectedbythepublic
andpeoplemightrejectthem.

Inconclusion,Istronglybelievethatfamouspeoplehaveahugeimpactonus.Thus,
theymustpayattentiontotheirbehaviorandthinktwicebeforeeverycontroversial
steptheywanttomake.