how to write an essay in english paper 3

KCSE SET BOOKS ESSAY QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

Enjoy free KCSE revision materials on imaginative compositions, essay questions and answers and comprehensive analysis (episodic approach) of the set books including Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta, The Samaritan by John Lara, A Silent Song, An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro and Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang'. This blog is useful to Kenyan students preparing for KCSE; and their teachers.

Tuesday 24 December 2019

Kcse english paper 3 essays 2021, kcse 2021 english 101/3 expectations. , compulsory set text-blossoms of the savannah.

The rash decision
the risk involved
confrontation (if any)
adequate details on the consequence (loss/pain/suffering).
Which character makes an irresponsible/rash decision? (mention the character and the decision in the first line)
What actions show this irresponsibility? (Give the action(s) and the background)
What bad consequences does the character suffer (explain the outcome )
Sum up the value statement and outcome in the last sentence. (Link your discussion to the question)

Optional Set Texts

The president-mariatu kamara.

recruitment of child soldiers
chopping of hands
separation of families
disruption of education
loss of life
refugees due to displacement of people
physical and psychological torture .

SAMPLE KCSE ESSAY QUESTION

Recruitment of child soldiers, the candidate must describe how the child soldiers are evil. some details include; how they ask kamara to go, they call her back, the other boys point their guns at her, she is asked to choose a punishment, she is asked to choose a hand she wants to lose first, she is dragged back when she tries to run, she pleads for mercy saying they are age mates and that they may be friends. they refuse to kill her. they tell her to show the president what they did to her; and ask him to give her new hands. after the loathsome act, they laugh and give each other high fives. most of these details must appear for the candidate to score a full mark for this point., the play: inheritance-david mulwa.

Kasoo’s ascend to power after killing his father (Acquisition of leadership)
the loans he borrowed and misused
the treatment he receives from foreign financiers
the uprising by his subjects
the agonising rejection by a 19-year schoolgirl Lulu.

The Novel: The Pearl-John Steinbeck

the death of Coyotito
the destruction of Kino’s canoe
the strained relationship when he attacks Juana
the loss of Kino’s hut
physical harm when Kino is attacked
and the killing (Kino murders a man).

Agony: Death of Coyotito

How to come up with points of interpretation .

Which character has desire without limit ?
What shows this excessive desire?
How does this cause agony/pain to him and his family?
Sum up the discussion by exploring the value statement and outcome .

24 comments:

This is great Wekati. Keep it up!

Thanks for the feedback Bwana Ouma.

Quite excellent analysis of KCSE 2019!

I appreciate your feedback sir.

Great work!

Thanks for the feedback

Wekati can we get any 2020 kcse English pp3 prediction

Not really. Please prepare astutely.

How can I answer essay questions please let me know

Great work Buda

Thanks for the feedback sir.

Good work Wekati.. It would be great if you had imaginative compositions.

Thanks Vic. Google "Imaginative composition" and you'll find an article I posted on the same. All the best.

It would be of great help to the students if you post imaginative composition

Please Google "Imaginative compositions" and click on an article I posted on the same. Thanks. Wekati.

[email protected] for further assistance

You are welcome

Now I can understand 🤜🤛✨✨

Please help me out in this essay Superstitions may sometime affect the way people live their lives. Using example from John Steinbeck's the pearl write a composition to write the truth of the assertion

Thank you, you have made me learn another

𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑢𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑠 𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑦

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English Paper 3 Questions And Answers - KCSE 2020 Past Papers

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THE KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education 101/3 ENGLISH Paper 3 (Creative Composition and Essays Based on Set Texts)

Instructions to candidates

Write your name and index number in the spaces provided above.
Sign and write the date of examination in the spaces provided above.

Answer three questions only

Questions 1 and 2 are compulsory.
In question 3 choose only one of the optional set texts you have prepared on.
Where a candidate presents work on more than one optional set text, only the first one to appear will be marked.
Each of your essays must not exceed 450 words.
All your answers must be written in the spaces provided in this question paper.
This paper consists of 16 printed pages. j Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.
Candidates must answer the questions in English.
Write a story ending: That is when I realised that a genuine friend is one who walks in when the rest walk out on you. Or
Write a composition explaining how we can conserve our forests.
The Compulsory Set Text (20 marks) Henrik Ibsen, A Doll 's House Sometimes quitting a relationship may be the only option but it hurts loved ones. Using relevant illustrations from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll 's House, write an essay in support of this statement.
The Short Story Chris Wanjala (Ed.), Memories We Lost and Other Stories Children growing up in urban slums today face many challenges. Using illustrations from NoViolet Bulawayo's "Hitting Budapest", write an essay to illustrate the truth of this statement.
Drama David Mulwa, Inheritance Many African problems are caused by ineffective leadership. With reference to David Mulwa's Inheritance, write an essay to illustrate the truth of this statement.
The Novel John Steinbeck, The Pearl Good families are built on love and teamwork. With reference to Kino and Juana in John Steinbeck's The Pearl, write an essay in support of this statement.

MARKING SCHEME (Confidential)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Co-ordination Procedure

The Question Paper will be discussed together with the Points of Interpretation.
After studying the Marking Scheme the examiners will mark selected photocopied scripts of the Paper with their Team Leaders.
The examiners will mark on their own a set of photocopied scripts and hand those marked Scripts to their TLs. (Dummies)
The photocopied scripts marked by the examiners will be analyzed and points of interpretation and relevance discussed.
More photocopies will then be marked and discussed.

Marking Procedure

As soon as an examiner receives a set of scripts to be marked, he (or she) must enter his name, number and the number of his team on the envelope. He must make sure the number of scripts in the envelope corresponds to the number of scripts indicated by the supervisor. Any discrepancy must be reported immediately to the team leader. Any script sent to the TL or CE must be clearly identified as coming from such an examiner. Each examiner must keep a clear record of any script that passes through their hands.
Team Leaders should keep very clear records of all scripts allocated to the team as a whole and each examiner individually.
The examiners underline each mistake according to the instructions given on page 6-8 of this booklet. This must be done carefully as both over underlining or underlining can give a wrong impression of the value of a script.
Examiners underline candidates' mistakes in red. Team Leaders co-ordinate in green, ACE in black and CE in black blue
The mark given for the essay must appear at the end of the essay itself and carried to the special grid on the first page of booklet.
For problem scripts, deductions should be clearly shown together with a short explanation of the reason for this at the end of the question. - Immorality attracts a penalty eg glorifying a crime

Coordination by Team Leaders

Team Leaders will co-ordinate approximately 10% of the scripts from each packet. The scripts selected for co-ordination must cover a variety of marks. Highest and border marks should be coordinated.
If there are several deviations of 2 marks or more, an additional number of scripts is coordinated and the packet returned for remarking.
If an examiner or a team leader is uncertain about any script, he/she is invited to consult other examiners, TLs or CEs.
Team Leaders must return scripts for remarking where the underlining is not satisfactory.

MARKING SCHEME

Paper 101/3 is intended to test the candidates' ability to communicate in writing. Communication is established at different levels of intelligibility, correctness, accuracy, fluency. pleasantness and originality. Within the constraints set by each question, it is the linguistic competence shown by the candidate that should carry most of the marks.

Examiners should not hesitate to use the full range of marks for each essay.

It is important to determine first how each essay communicates and in which category A, B, C or D it fits.

(The marks indicated below are for question one.) D CLASS (01-05) (Minimal/ no communication)

The candidate either does not communicate at all or his language ability is so minimal that the examiner practically has to guess what the candidate wants to say, The candidate fails to fit the English words he knows into meaningful sentences. The subject is glanced at or distorted. Practically no valid punctuation. All kinds of errors. ("Broken English")

D- (01-02) - Chaotic, little meaning whatsoever. Question paper or some words from it simply copied.

D03 - Flow of thought almost impossible to follow. The errors are continuous.

D+ (04-05) At least/guess. Although, the English is often broken and the essay is full of errors of all types, we can at least guess what the candidate wants to say.

C CLASS (06 - 10) (communicates but with difficulty)

The candidate communicates understandably but only more or less clearly.He is not confident with his language. The subject is often undeveloped. There may be some digressions. Unnecessary repetitions are frequent. The arrangement weak and the flow jerky. There is no economy of language; mother tongue influence is felt.

C- (06-07) - The candidate obviously finds it difficult to communicate his/her ideas. He/she is seriously hampered by his/her very limited knowledge of structure and vocabulary. This results in many gross errors of agreement, spelling, misuse of prepositions, tenses, verb agreement and sentence construction.

C 08 - The candidate communicates but not with consistent clarity. His/her linguistic abilities being very limited, he/she cannot avoid frequent errors in sentence structure. There is little variety or originality. Very bookish English, links are weak, incorrect, repeated at times.

C+ (09-10) - The candidate communicates clearly but in a flat and uncertain manner. Simple concepts sentence forms are often strained. There may be an overuse of clichés, unsuitable idioms. Proverbs are misquoted or misinterpreted. The flow is still jerky. There are some errors of agreement, tenses and spelling eg: 2 Birds of the same feathers flock together, all over sudden etc

B CLASS (11-15) (Greater fluency/ fluent - Ambition/ over-ambition)

This class is characterized by greater fluency and ease of expression. The candidate demonstrates that he/she can use English as a normal way of expressing himself/herself. Sentences are varied and usually, well-constructed. Some candidates become ambitious and even over ambitious. There may be items of merit of the one word or one expression type. Many essays in this category may be just clean and unassuming but they still show that the candidate is at case with the language. There may be a tendency to under mark such essays. Give credit for tone.

B- (11-12) - The candidate communicates fairly and with some fluency. There may be little variety in sentence structure. Gross errors are still found occasionally, but this must not be over punished by the examiner.

B 13 - ( variety/ some items of merit/ economy of language) The sentences are varied but rather simple and straight forward. The candidate does not strain himself in an effort to impress. There is a fair range of vocabulary and idiom. Natural and effortless. Some items of merit, economy of language.

B+ (14-15) - The candidate communicates his ideas pleasantly and without strain. There are errors and slips. Tenses, spelling and punctuation are quite good. A number of items of merit of the "whole sentence” or the "whole expression" type.

A CLASS (16-20) ( Complete command of the language)The candidate communicates not only fluently but attractively, with originality and efficiency. He/She has the ability to make us share his deep feelings, emotions and enthusiasms. He/She expresses himself freely and without any visible constraint. The script gives evidence of maturity, good planning and often humour. Many items of merit which indicate that the candidate has complete command of the language. There is no strain, just pleasantness, clever arrangement and felicity of expression

A- (16-17) - ( No spark)The candidate shows competence and fluency in using the language. He may lack imagination or originality which usually provide the "spark" in such essays. Vocabulary, idiom, sentence structure, links, variety are impressive. Gross errors are very rare.

A 18 - ( Definite spark) Positive ability. A few errors that are felt to be slips. The story or argument has a definite impact. No grammar problem. Variety of structures. A definite spark. Many margin ticks.

A+ (19-20) - ( exceptional/ very definite spark)The candidate communicates not only information and meaning, but also the candidate's whole self: his/her feelings, tastes, points of view, youth, culture. This ability to communicate deeply may express itself in a wide range of effective vocabulary, original approach, vivid and sustained account in the case of a narrative, well developed and ordered argument in the case of a debate or discussion. Errors and slips should not deprive the candidate of the full marks he deserves. A very definite spark

TABLE OF CATEGORIES

MARKING SYMBOLS

FAULTY PARAGRAPHING - //P
REPETITION - (of words) a circle around the word
R - (of ideas) usually in the margin
ILLEGIBILITY (ILL) - (of ideas) usually in the margin (If it affects more than one line)
VAGUENESS (V) - Vague (in the margin)
WRONG WORD ORDER (WO) - Underline once and write W.O. in the margin
ILLOGICAL or CONTRADICTORY (ILL) - (in the margin)
BROKEN ENGLISH (BR) - when the candidate fails to communicate BR in margin. FOR PURPOSES OF IDENTIFICATION
COW (done by the TL.) to indicate that a candidate has cancelled his/her work.
BRACKETS [ ] indicate a part of a D script that communicates.
Use an asterisk to indicate an item or a sentence that the rubrics indicate should be used.
TO INDICATE AN ITEM OF MERIT use a tick (√) either above a word or in the margin for the whole sentence. or for a whole paragraph

GROSS ERRORS

Almost any error of agreement
Serious tense error
Errors of elementary vocabulary: spelling and misuse
Punctuation errors or missing punctuation which causes serious lack of communication.
Elementary errors of sentence construction.
Ridiculous use of idiom that affects communication.
Misuse of common prepositions
Contracted forms
Misuse of capital letters - Use CAPS. Underline the first page and use CAPS on subsequent pages where the mistake persists.

MARKING NORMAL SCRIPTS

Read and decide on the degree of communication achieved. A-D
After underlining decide on the mark category
Allocate a numerical mark to the essay.

PROBLEM SCRIPTS - All problem scripts must be marked by the examiner and then sent to the Team Leader with comments.

Consistent distortion of question, evasion of question, writing on a totally different subject with a clumsy attempt at connecting the essay to the subject given, inclusion of memorized passages, etc.
The question is given an unacceptable or questionable interpretation
Essays contain long, semi-irrelevant digressions or lack coherence ACTION The examiner marks the essay, gives a linguistic mark and comments on the nature of the irrelevancy. The essay is then passed over to the team leader who judges whether the irrelevancy should be judged as a deliberate attempt to deceive or should be attributed to the candidate's poor understanding of the subject. Deduct up to 4 marks for irrelevancy in the essay. If dishonesty is suspected, the Chief Examiner should be informed. Any deduction of 3 marks or more should be referred to the Team Leader
CONTRAVENTION OF RUBRIC Since the rubrics may change from year to year, the POINTS OF INTEPRETATION that are part of this MARKING SCHEME must be consulted and adhered to faithfully. Here are some general rules that usually apply.
Read and decide on the category D+, D or D-.
Mark the errors on all the pages of the essay.
Team leaders should look at a good number of those scripts and ensure that the mark given is fair.
BREVITY It should be remembered that the main quality of an essay is how effectively it communicates. If an essay looks-too short, the examiner should take the time to count the exact number of words. The essay should not exceed 450 words. If it does, deduct 2 for length.

KENYAN ENGLISH A good number of words and expressions are understood and currently used by all Kenyans. They can be used in essays without any need for quotation marks or explanations. We can include among those: panga, rungu, shamba, murram, matatu wananchi, ugali, madarasa, harambee, matoke maendeleo ya wanawake, salaam, ayah, askari debe, duka, Nyayo, boma, sukumawiki, goat party, manyatta, magendo AMERICAN SPELLING Although "English" spelling is more common than "American" spelling in Kenya, examiners should accept both spellings and no penalty should be given for such variations. Penalize for lack of consistency in usage of either.

The story must end with the given statement( if not deduct 2 AD from rubric) That is when I realized that a genuine friend is one who walks in when the rest walk out on you. (point was interpretation) The story must bring out a situation where someone is abandoned by all his or her friends but one. Or
The composition must be based on the topic given. It should be an expository writing explaining how we can conserve our forests.(10 points)
Established relationship
Situation that cause quitting .
How loved ones, not person quitting, are hurt
Quitting & hurt must be given to be full.
Paraphrase can do.
Nora, Helmer's wife, decides to quit her marriage. She feels that she is unappreciated and unprotected. She feels bitter that Helmer cannot defend her, although she is his wife. It is because of her love for Helmer that she took a loan from a bank to pay for Helmer's treatment in Italy. She says, "I have loved you above everything else in the world." (P.103). Helmer is rather unforgiving. He tells Nora that he "must sink to such miserable depths because of a thoughtless woman." (P.104). Eventually Nora tells him that, "when I am out of the way, you will be free." (P.104). Even though Helmer forgives her (P.107), she does not change her mind. She leaves behind three children who still need her care and a disturbed husband. 192-8, 90, 11-3, 17-23, 35-42, 43, 44, Details 45, 52-54, 56-62, 68, 72-77, 78-9, 80, 84, 91-6, 98
Mrs. Linde abandons her lover, Nils Krogstad and gets married to a rich businessman. She does this in order to take care of her bedridden mother and her siblings. She says, "My mother was alive then, and was bedridden and helpless, and I had to provide for my two younger brothers, so I did not think I was justified in refusing his offer." (P.14). In walking out on her lover, Nils Krogstad, and getting married to a rich man, surely, to Krogstad what could be more painful? Milo, 14-5,24 78, 85-90
Heimer on realizing that Nora had gone against expectation. Helmer by burrowing money & forging her father's signature, quits the relationship and declares that Nora is unfit to care for the children & also strips her of her wifely duties. Nora is hurt by how ungrateful he is when she realises that she's been living with a man who does not appreciate her contribution to the marriage. 22-8, 9-10 11-13 17 23, 35-42, 43, 44, 52, 53-4 56-62, 68, 72-78 So 91-6, 98, 10-22
Ann, Nora's nurse, also walks out on her relationship with her daughter's father. It is revealed that she got a child out of wedlock and left her with the father. Nora wonders, "How could you have the heart to put your own child out among strangers?" (P.50). Anne says that "that wicked man didn't do a single thing for me." (P.50). For this reason, she abandons her child at a very tender age in order to find a good place." (P.50). 1949-51
Nora, abandons her three little children with the father. She says that she will only think of Helmer, the children and the house. "I know I shall often think of you, the children, and this house." (P.119). She adds that she does not want any communication between her and Helmer. When Helmer asks her whether he could write to her, she retorts, "No-never. You must not do that ..... Nothing-nothing." (P.119). Nothing could be more painful than cutting links with your own children never to return. 89 417, 11, 30-2, 41-2/,46-8, 49-51, 73, 102-10), 13, 114, 115, 117-8, 119. -2, 14, 245, 2627, as 29, 3, 62-70, S3, ag 7
Conclusion Separation of lovers often brings about feelings of bitterness, desperation and emotional pain. It may also directly or indirectly affect other family members. This is what we see in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. (Accept any other relevant conclusion)
Introduction Many children growing up in urban slums today undergo unimaginable crises which include:poor sanitation, overcrowding, violence, unwanted pregnancies, lack of education opportunities, poor infrastructure among others. In "Hitting Budapest" by NoViolet Bulawayo, the narrator, a young girl of nine years takes us through the finer details of the myriad challenges that befall children in Paradise slum.12 (Any other relevant introduction mark out of 2)
(Food)The first challenge is lack of sufficient and quality food. The narrator tells us that she and her friends have to steal guavas to survive. She indicates that they have eaten up all the guavas from Chipo's uncle's tree, and now they have moved to strangers' guava trees in Budapest, a high cost urban residential area. She reveals that she would die for guavas or anything because "her stomach feels like somebody just took a shovel and dug everything out.” This is an indication of severe hunger. In further details, she says that they have never seen anyone throw away food - this is a comment on Mello who throws away what is left from the thing she is eating. Sadly, the narrator says, "the woman's twisted mouth finishes chewing. I swallow with her." (P.100). When the narrator and her friends arrive home, she says that they will drink water for the night, "listen to the mother of Bones tell us a story and go to sleep." (P.104). 97,98 100, 101, 102, 103,104
(Clothing)Children in slums do not have proper clothing. In most cases, their clothes are torn and they are partially naked. For instance, the narrator describes how Basta hit one of the younger children who is naked to stop him from following the group to Budapest. "Godknows' pair of shorts are torn at the back and his pitch-black back peeping like strange eyes through the dirty white fabric." Even Basta's black tracksuit is dirty because he never takes it off. His orange shirt is also faded. 97 to 102 103
(Squalor)The children described in the story live in squalid conditions. The sanitation described is pathetic. The narrator affirms this by contrasting Paradise slum with Budapest. She says that Budapest is strangely quiet with no burning of things, no smell of something rotting. The air is plain and clean. When she sees the feet of Mello, the white woman, she is surprised at how clean and pretty they are. She adds, "I don't remember my own feet ever looking like that, maybe when I was born." (P.100). She also indicates that if she were living in Budapest she would "wash her whole body every day and comb her hair nicely to show she was a real person living in a real place." 98, 101, 102
(School)Lack of schooling is a common phenomenon in Paradise. The narrator indicates that children do not go to school in Paradise slum. Even though Chipo says that her teacher, Mr. Gono said they need education to make money, this is not practicable since they are not going to school. The narrator says that she would go to live in America with her aunt. In this case, education may not be her priority. 97, 103, 104-5
Unwanted pregnancies are common experiences in slum dwellings. For example, Chipo, who is only 10 years old, is expectant. It is claimed that her grandfather is responsible for her situation. The grandfather is later arrested and detained, but Chipo must just bear the burden of carrying the pregnancy for nine months. From the details in the story, Chipo seems resigned to her fate. When asked by Basta when she would have her baby, she resignedly answers, “I'll have it one day." (P.97). 88, 97
Poor parenting contributes to the challenges in urban slums. The narrator says that getting out of Paradise is not so hard since their mothers are busy with hair and talk. She says, "They just glance at us when we file past and then look away." (P.97). They do not care about the whereabouts of their children, what they cat and do. Similarly, fathers are busy the whole day playing draughts under jacaranda tree. The narrator says, "their eyes never lift from draughts" (P.100). She adds that nobody smiles at them in Paradise.
There is a lot of violence in slums as depicted in the story. The narrator points out that Basta who is the oldest among them, 11 years is known for beating them up. Basta enjoys bullying everybody. For instance, when Sbho tells his friends that he will one day own a particular big blue house in Budapest, Basta, the bully, throws a ripe guava at Sbho's dream house. The guava explodes on the wall and stains it. He throws another guava but it misses the wall but hits the gate. Basta thrives in bullying and violence. (14)
Conclusion Children who grow up in urban slums go through a lot of dehumanizing experiences which if not well checked will create a vicious circle of the same conditions or worse. (Accept ant other relevant conclusion ) (Expect any 4 well explained points) Mark: 3:3 3:3 = 12
Introduction A good leader inspires his or her subjects to success not failure. On the other hand, ineffective leaders bring disillusionment and do not inspire confidence among their people. In the world today, scandals have tainted reputation of many people, and leaders worthy of trust are more in demand than ever. David Mulwa's Inheritance depicts an example of an ineffective leadership meted out on the people who eventually lose respect for their leader.
Judah Zen Melo's thatched hut speaks of abject poverty. That hut has hanging sacks as its doors. In this state, there is no privacy given that Lulu, Judah's daughter, is a grown up. At the centre, an old table and old wooden folding chairs make the furniture in the hut. Judah, who was once a member of Lacuna Kasoo's ruling party fell out with the powers that be. Judah's problems began when he declined to kill Bengo, his brother. As a result, Judah is asked to vacate government house and he ceases to be a party member. At the beginning of the play, Judah is out somewhere wandering from one town to another in search of elusive jobs with hordes of young people. Judah is jobless and he has to make ends meet.
Tamina, Judah's wife, informs Bengo about the scarcity of water. Water is hard to come by. The main water catchment area is destroyed and all the streams from the mountain are diverted to a dam at the foot of the mountain denying the locals their only source of water. Tamina laments that people have to walk 15 kilometres to get water – in fact, they walk from sunrise to mid-day. This is an example of poor planning blamed on ineffective leadership. It is interesting to note that the water crisis is as a result of a conspiracy between the local member of parliament and the national government.
Lacuna Kasoo's government does not tolerate any politics of opposition. For instance, when Bengo becomes the voice of the oppressed, Kasoo persuades Judah to eliminate him. He says that Bengo is a thorn in his flesh. When Judah refuses to accomplish the ill mission, he is fired from the party, beaten badly and his mangled body is dumped at the government house doorstep. (P.23).
Lacuna Kasoo rules his country with an iron fist. His reign blossoms on dictatorship, intimidation and greed. Tamina says that people labour and sweat pours into Lacuna Kasoo's porous pockets and the rest to his bank accounts abroad. (P.24).
When Judah falls out with Lacuna Kasoo, he is immediately deprived of all government privileges and even his own investments. Judah once a respected party official, becomes a pauper overnight. Tamina, Judah's wife blames the government for their current predicament. She asks: "where are the cars I used to drive? The government house I used to live in? My coffee farm in Bukelenge Mountains? All gone. Now I must pick coffee for Chipande on the farm that he had me sell to him for peanuts."
The government imposes fees without reason. Lulu tells her mother to pay one thousand for games, two thousand for a second perimeter fence, and another one thousand for paper and ink for officials who will mark their exams. These levies are not intended for the said projects but for the pockets of Lacuna Kasoo.
Conclusion Ineffective leadership breeds corruption, abuse and misuse of authority, arrests, detention among others. It also fails to ignite public confidence. In many African countries poor political leadership is the main cause of underdevelopment. This is what we witness in David Mulwa's Inheritance
Introduction A great family springs from mutual respect, a healthy dose of understanding, teamwork and love. However, sometimes these important pillars of a family are difficult to attain. In John Steinbeck's, The Pearl, Kino and Juana invest on love and teamwork as they confront their challenges. (Accept any other relevant introduction, mark out of 2)
(Scorpion)The first demonstration of teamwork is when Coyotito, their only son is stung by a scorpion. Coyolito is in imminent danger of dying if no medication is administered immediately. The couple, Kino and Juana, decide to take the baby to the doctor. The doctor refuses to attend to Coyotito and declines Kino's payment of eight small mis-shapen seed pearls. It is said that to avoid shame and embarrassment, the neighbours melted away and beggars went back to the church steps leaving only Kino and Juana standing in front of the gate. "Kino stood in front of the gate with Juana beside him." (P.29). 20-2426-24 32-33, 34-35
(pearl fishing)Having been disappointed by the doctor who refuses to treat their son, Kino and Juana decide to try their luck at the sea. Juana asks for God's intervention to enable them get a pearl with value with which to hire a doctor. At the sea, Kino is not alone. His wife Juana is beside him. Both of them get hold of the canoe and slides it down the beach to the water. Later, Kino pushed the stem (back) and waded beside it until it floated. It is indicated that the moment the bow (front) of the canoe floated, Juana was the first to climb in. Both of them paddled the canoe in coordination, into the sea. What an amazing demonstration of love and teamwork! 32, 33, 3 5, 36-30
(second attack)When Kino is attacked for the second time, Juana was inside the house with the baby. Juana later, upon hearing a little rush, grunting struggle and blow, she only froze with terror for a moment. She decides to lend support to the husband against the intruder. She puts Coyotito down on the ground and seizes a stone from the fireplace and rushes outside but it is rather late. She finds Kino lying on the ground, unconscious with fresh blood oozing from a long deep cut. She helps him to his feet and wipes the blood from Kino's would with her skirt. She even brings him a płuque (alcoholic drink). Once again the Kinos have demonstrated love and teamwork. 75-80
Kino kills his third attacker and feels that it is in self-defense. However, Juana feels that they are not safe and suggests that they must escape as fast as possible. She does not leave Kino to flee alone. She is determined to remain by his side. She says. "You have killed a man. We must go away. They will come for us... We must be gone before the daylight comes." (P.86). Both Kino and Juana leave for the cities in the north after spending a night at Juan Tomas; Kino's brother. It is said that Kino and Juana gathered their clothing tighter about them and covered their noses and went out into the world. It is also indicated that, "the two walked carefully and they avoided the centre of the town ..." (P.95). (Add any other relevant point.) - 83-84, 85-86, 87-8, 89, 90, 92)
(The trackers)While on the flight to the north, as they are escaping for killing a man, they're confronted by a threat (The trackers). In an attempt to tackle the trackers, Kino suggests that he goes alone so as to move faster. Juana refuses to seperate from Kino to ensure the safety 2 the family.(92, 107, 108, 110-11, 113-115.)
(The Return) When Coyotito is killed, Kino & Juana decided to go back to La Paz. The remain united and walk side by side in solidarity past the village to to sea. He tells Juana to throw the pearl back to the sea but Juana tells him to throw it himself. A moment of realization by Kino that Juana was all along right about the pearl. 19 113-118 C
Conclusion Teamwork as demonstrated by Kino and Juana is source of strength, it builds love, loyalty and satisfaction. When family members work together, they help balance strengths and weaknesses. This is what is depicted by John Steinbeck in his novel, The Pearl. (Accept any other valid conclusion)

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How To Write Effective KCSE English Paper 3 Essays

If you have read and understood the set books, answering questions 2 and 3 in English paper 3 should be easy. After understanding the question, you will need to determine relevant points, characters, or episodes to use in your essay. Take the first ten minutes to analyze the question and make brief notes. A high-scoring KCSE essay should have an introduction , four to five body paragraphs and a conclusion, and should be around 450 words.

KCSE Essay Introduction

According to the 2022 KCSE Report an introduction should show that you understand the question. One way to show that you understand the question is by paraphrasing the question.

First, identify the key words in the question before rewriting it in your own words . It is good practice to mention the book title and author . You can also provide a brief summary of the main points you are going to discuss in your article as in the example below:

Action speaks louder than words. Discuss the truth of this saying using illustrations from Leonard Kibera’s A Silent Song. (20 marks)

The character of an individual tells more than what they actually say. Mbane’s brother, In the story A silent song by Leonard Kibera, Ezekiel, preaches water and takes wine. He is so devoted to God as a preacher, but neglects Mbane, to agonize in the streets for a long time until he almost dies.

Writing KCSE Essay Body Paragraphs

KCSE essays should have four to five body paragraphs. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the point you want to discuss. Provide relevant evidence from the text and explanation after the topic sentence. Names of characters should be accurate to avoid losing points for textual errors.

The errors the students make in body paragraphs is to narrate events from the text instead of showing how the events support their point. Such paragraphs are described as “thin” by KCSE examiners, and they do not score full points.

Remember you should be arguing and supporting your topic sentence therefore avoid narrating the text. As you conclude the paragraph make sure you have a clincher sentence- a statement that ties your paragraph to the question. So be sure to have about 9 lines of evidence and explanation in each body paragraph to score full points. You can end your paragraphs with a “clincher”, a sentence that summarizes your paragraph as in the example below:

How to Conclude a KCSE Essay

End your essay with a brief paragraph that summarizes what you discussed in the body. You may start with the phrase “ In conclusion…” followed by a summary of the moral lesson from the question. Keep the conclusion short, a maximum of three lines.

In conclusion, the true gospel is the action of an individual because it is more practical than mere words. Actions work and satisfy the heart more than proclaiming the word of God.

Download More Revision Questions and Answers in pdf:

KCSE 2023 English Paper 2- 101/2 HIGHLIGHTS
2023 KCSE English Paper 1 2 and 3 Questions and Answers
KCSE 2023 101/1 English Paper 1 Comments and Highlights
KNEC 2023 KCSE English Paper 3 101/3 Comments/ Report
2021/2022 KCSE English Paper 1 Functional Writing…
HOW TO WRITE A HIGH SCORING KCSE…

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Baby Steps: 10 Proven Tips to Write Better Essays in English

If writing an essay sounds a little bit scary, just think of it as a chance to improve your writing skills .

Nobody expects your first essay to be perfect. Just make sure you learn something new every time you write an essay, and you will grow your abilities.

We’re going to help you out with ten tips for writing better essays while you’re learning English .

1. Create a Word Bank

2. act like a reporter, 3. create topic sentences, 4. argue both sides, 5. read backwards, 6. use an online thesaurus and a dictionary, 7. combine and separate sentences, 8. have a native english speaker edit your essay, 9. review the whole essay with your friend, then rewrite it, 10. use online apps, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

This is an interesting approach to writing your essay. First, choose a topic and write a thesis . A thesis is the main argument of your essay. For instance, if your topic is reading, your thesis might be “Reading makes you smarter.”

Once you have a thesis, think about your main topic and find words that relate to it in different ways. Then, branch out (broaden, diversify) your list to words that aren’t as closely related to your main topic.

For the example above, your primary list might include words like “books,” “reading” and “intelligent.” Your other “branched out” list might include “Harry Potter,” “reading by a fire” or “test scores.”

This process will help expand your vocabulary over time. Using these words when you write will also make your essay more vibrant (energetic, colorful).

When you are first assigned the topic, go ahead and really explore the possible options for your thesis. Ask questions. Get curious. The more questions you ask before you start writing, the more information you will have to use in the essay.

A strong essay is one that covers a lot of content in a succinct (short, to-the-point) way. This process of acting like a reporter will give you valuable quotes, resources and vocabulary to begin the writing process.

For instance, if you’re writing about a new diet plan , you might ask questions like, “Who is the best candidate for this diet plan?,” “How can someone get started?” and “What is the hardest part of this plan?”

A topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph, and it summarizes the rest of the paragraph. You can create them first to help you stay on track when writing your essay.

For the thesis “Reading makes you smarter,” one paragraph’s topic sentence might be, “Newspapers make you more aware of current events.” Another paragraph’s topic sentence could be, “Reading plays and classic literature will make you more cultured.”

If you’re writing about the three main issues facing writers today, you could write three full sentences that each address one main issue. Set these aside. Then, when you start writing the essay, refer to your topic sentences to create a solid structure that begins at point A and ends at point C.

If you have to write a longer or more complex essay, it might help to outline both sides of the argument before you start writing. When you write the essay, you will need to choose one side to focus on. But as you prepare, having a side-by-side list of points can be helpful in developing your thesis.

Also, by arguing for the opposite side of your opinion, you will learn which points you need to better address in your essay. You will learn more about the topic, and you will gain more vocabulary words to enrich the essay.

As an example, you might be writing an essay arguing that people should drink less coffee. To argue both sides, you’ll need to consider the opposite side: the benefits of coffee. How will people quit if they are addicted? What about the antioxidants in coffee? Aren’t those good for you? Really explore the entire concept (both sides of the argument) before you write.

Proper grammar is difficult for even the most fluent English speakers. Because you are learning English, you actually have an advantage. Many native speakers learned improper grammar from the start. It’s difficult to undo the damage caused by a lifetime of writing improperly.

As you learn the English language, make a serious effort to practice your grammar and sentence structure. One way to spot improper grammar in your own English writing is to read each sentence backwards (start with the last word and end with the first). This way, you won’t be fooled by how the words sound when you read them in your head.

Is everything in the correct tense (past, present, future, etc.)? If you’re writing about plurals, are the possessive nouns plural? Are the apostrophes in the right places? Does every sentence end with a punctuation mark (period, question mark, exclamation point)? Reading the text backwards makes you focus on the rules of grammar instead of the flow of the sentence.

You might have learned a large number of fancy words when studying for an entrance exam. But before you start using them in academic essays, be very sure you know what they mean in the context of your essay. This is where the dictionary can come in handy .

A thesaurus is another valuable tool when writing an essay. A thesaurus tells you synonyms, or words that have the same or a similar meaning to the word you look up. It’s important because it can add some volume to your essay and increase the impact of your words.

For example, if you’re writing about cooking, the words “stir” and “add” might come up a lot. This repetition is boring for a reader.

So instead of constantly saying, “Add the tomato” and “add the eggs,” a thesaurus will teach you to say things like “whisk in the eggs” or “gently fold in the tomatoes.” See? It sounds a lot better and adds interest to your essay.

Visual Thesaurus is a resource that works just like a regular thesaurus, but it also shows you the connections between the words. For example, if you type in the word “stir,” you’ll immediately see a whole circle of other words connected to “stir” with lines. From there, you can click on any of the words in the circle (like “move,” in this case) and then see all the words related to that word. This helps you find and learn new words quickly, and it’s also fun!

Once the essay is written, go back through the writing to find any sentences that seem too long or wordy. Break these into two or more sentences.

For example, the following sentence is too long, which makes it unclear:

If you want to write in another language, you need to practice writing in creative ways, like writing on a blog, writing fun poems or texting a friend who speaks the language you’re learning every day.

Instead, you could write it as two clearer sentences (with less repetition of the word “writing”):

If you want to write in another language, you need to practice in creative ways every day. For example, you could start a blog, create fun poems or text a friend.

Do the opposite with sentences you find too short.

Also, look for sentences that are very closely related to one another. If two sentences seem like the thoughts are connected, you can combine them with a semicolon ( ; ).

For example, the following sentences are very closely related:

Learning to write in another language can be really difficult, especially when you’re first getting started. That’s why it helps to practice every day.

That’s why you could write it this way:

Learning to write in another language can be really difficult, especially when you’re first getting started; daily practice is helpful.

Meet up with a friend who is fluent in English (or, at least, more fluent than you). This friend can edit your essay and point out any repetitive errors.

If they find mistakes that you make often, you will be able to watch more closely for that error as you write future essays. This friend will also be able to point out grammatical or spelling errors that you might have missed.

If you don’t have any friends who are fluent in English, you can use a website like Conversation Exchange . This is a free site where native English speakers will correct your writing. In exchange, you correct the writing of someone learning your native language.

Once you and your friend have both reviewed your essay and marked any mistakes, rewrite the whole thing. This step is important. Just noting that you made some mistakes will not help you learn how to avoid them in the future.

By rewriting the essay with the corrections in mind, you will teach yourself how to write those sections properly. You will create a memory of using proper grammar or spelling a word correctly. So, you will be more likely to write it correctly next time.

Lastly, there are some fantastic online resources that can help improve your writing. For instance, Hemingway Editor can review your document to find any confusing or wordy sentences. You can rewrite these to make them easier to understand.

You could also head over to Essay Punch to find resources, tools and support that can help improve your writing skills. Grammar Book is a great resource for practicing proper grammar and spelling.

If you need some practice with words and grammar, but you learn better from audio and video, it can be challenging to improve your writing ability. One way to improve your English skills with a multimedia approach is using a language learning program like FluentU .

Since many online resources are readily accessible, feel free to experiment with your options. Try to find the ones that cater best to your learning habits and needs.

The advice in this post is mainly for improving your essay writing over time. However, if you want a more professional opinion for an important essay, you can also use Scribendi . Scribendi is an online essay editing resource that helps with academic and admissions essays. If you’re applying to a school or are writing an important paper, you may want to consider their services to make sure your essay is the best it can be.

Learning a new language is certainly an ambitious (challenging) task. There are so many small details to learn, and the process takes a lot of time and commitment. But with practice and study, you will improve.

It takes even more effort to become a strong writer in a new language, but these tips will help you get started.

Hopefully, you were able to find one or two tips that you believe will help you improve your essay writing abilities. Over time, try to use all of these strategies (or at least more than one) in your writing routine. Good luck!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

learn-english-with-subtitled-television-show-clips

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

learn-conversational-english-with-interactive-captioned-dialogue

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Writing Tips

How to Write Top-Graded Essays in English

5-minute read
7th December 2022

Writing English papers and essays can be challenging at first, but with the right tools, knowledge, and resources, you can improve your writing skills. In this article, you’ll get some tips and tricks on how to write a top-graded essay in English.

Have you heard the saying “practice makes perfect”? Well, it’s wrong. Practice does make improvement, though. Whether you’re taking an English composition class, studying for the IELTS or TOEFL , or preparing to study abroad, you can always find new ways to practice writing in English.

If you practice on a daily basis, you’ll be exercising the skills you know while challenging yourself to learn even more. There are many ways you can practice writing in English daily:

Keep a daily journal.
Write practice essays.
Do creative writing exercises .

Read in English

The best way to improve your writing is to read English books, news articles, essays, and other media. By reading the writing of other authors (whether they’re native or non-native speakers), you’re exposing yourself to different writing styles and learning new vocabulary. Be sure to take notes when you’re reading so you can write down things you don’t know (e.g., new words or phrases) or sentences or phrases you like.

For example, maybe you need to write a paper related to climate change. By reading news articles or research papers on this topic, you can learn relevant vocabulary and knowledge you can use in your essay.

FluentU has a great article with a list of 20 classic books you can read in English for free.

Immerse Yourself in English

If you don’t live in an English-speaking country, you may be thinking, “How can I immerse myself in English?” There are many ways to overcome this challenge. The following strategies are especially useful if you plan to study or travel abroad:

Follow YouTube channels that focus on learning English or that have English speakers.
Use social media to follow English-speaking accounts you are interested in.
Watch movies and TV shows in English or use English subtitles when watching your favorite shows.
Participate in your English club or salon at school to get more practice.
Become an English tutor at a local school (teaching others is the best way to learn).

By constantly exposing yourself to English, you will improve your writing and speaking skills.

Visit Your Writing Center

If you’re enrolled at a university, you most likely have a free writing center you can use if you need help with your assignments. If you don’t have a writing center, ask your teacher for help and for information on local resources.

Use Your Feedback

After you submit an English writing assignment, you should receive feedback from your teacher on how you did. Use this feedback to your advantage . If you haven’t been getting feedback on your writing, ask your teacher to explain what issues they are seeing in your writing and what you could do to improve.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

Be Aware of Your Common Writing Mistakes

If you review your feedback on writing assignments, you might notice some recurring mistakes you are making. Make a list of common mistakes you tend to make when writing, and use it when doing future assignments. Some common mistakes include the following:

Grammar errors (e.g., not using articles).
Incorrect vocabulary (e.g., confusing however and therefore ).
Spelling mistakes (e.g., writing form when you mean from ).
Missing essay components (e.g., not using a thesis statement in your introduction).
Not using examples in your body paragraphs.
Not writing an effective conclusion .

This is just a general list of writing mistakes, some of which you may make. But be sure to go through your writing feedback or talk with your teacher to make a list of your most common mistakes.

Use a Prewriting Strategy

So many students sit down to write an essay without a plan. They just start writing whatever comes to their mind. However, to write a top-graded essay in English, you must plan and brainstorm before you begin to write. Here are some strategies you can use during the prewriting stage:

Freewriting
Concept Mapping

For more detailed information on each of these processes, read “5 Useful Prewriting Strategies.”

Follow the Writing Process

All writers should follow a writing process. However, the writing process can vary depending on what you’re writing. For example, the process for a Ph.D. thesis is going to look different to that of a news article. Regardless, there are some basic steps that all writers should follow:

Understanding the assignment, essay question, or writing topic.
Planning, outlining, and prewriting.
Writing a thesis statement.
Writing your essay.
Revising and editing.

For more information on how to write an essay in English, read “How To Construct an Excellent Essay in 5 Steps.”

Writing essays, theses, news articles, or papers in English can be challenging. They take a lot of work, practice, and persistence. However, with these tips, you will be on your way to writing top-graded English essays.

If you need more help with your English writing, the experts at Proofed will proofread your first 500 words for free!

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Academic Writing

How to Write an Essay

Last Updated: February 1, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 7,926,974 times.

An essay is a common type of academic writing that you'll likely be asked to do in multiple classes. Before you start writing your essay, make sure you understand the details of the assignment so that you know how to approach the essay and what your focus should be. Once you've chosen a topic, do some research and narrow down the main argument(s) you'd like to make. From there, you'll need to write an outline and flesh out your essay, which should consist of an introduction, body, and conclusion. After your essay is drafted, spend some time revising it to ensure your writing is as strong as possible.

Understanding Your Assignment

The compare/contrast essay , which focuses on analyzing the similarities and differences between 2 things, such as ideas, people, events, places, or works of art.
The narrative essay , which tells a story.
The argumentative essay , in which the writer uses evidence and examples to convince the reader of their point of view.
The critical or analytical essay, which examines something (such as a text or work of art) in detail. This type of essay may attempt to answer specific questions about the subject or focus more generally on its meaning.
The informative essay , that educates the reader about a topic.

Step 2 Check for formatting and style requirements.

How long your essay should be
Which citation style to use
Formatting requirements, such as margin size , line spacing, and font size and type

Christopher Taylor, PhD

Christopher Taylor, Professor of English, tells us: "Most essays will contain an introduction, a body or discussion portion, and a conclusion. When assigned a college essay, make sure to check the specific structural conventions related to your essay genre , your field of study, and your professor's expectations."

Step 3 Narrow down your topic so your essay has a clear focus.

If you're doing a research-based essay , you might find some inspiration from reading through some of the major sources on the subject.
For a critical essay, you might choose to focus on a particular theme in the work you're discussing, or analyze the meaning of a specific passage.

Step 4 Ask for clarification if you don't understand the assignment.

If you're having trouble narrowing down your topic, your instructor might be able to provide guidance or inspiration.

Planning and Organizing Your Essay

Step 1 Find some reputable sources on your topic.

Academic books and journals tend to be good sources of information. In addition to print sources, you may be able to find reliable information in scholarly databases such as JSTOR and Google Scholar.
You can also look for primary source documents, such as letters, eyewitness accounts, and photographs.
Always evaluate your sources critically. Even research papers by reputable academics can contain hidden biases, outdated information, and simple errors or faulty logic.

Tip: In general, Wikipedia articles are not considered appropriate sources for academic writing. However, you may be able to find useful sources in the “References” section at the end of the article.

You might find it helpful to write your notes down on individual note cards or enter them into a text document on your computer so you can easily copy, paste , and rearrange them however you like.
Try organizing your notes into different categories so you can identify specific ideas you'd like to focus on. For example, if you're analyzing a short story , you might put all your notes on a particular theme or character together.

Step 3 Choose a question to answer or an issue to address.

For example, if your essay is about the factors that led to the end of the Bronze Age in the ancient Middle East, you might focus on the question, “What role did natural disasters play in the collapse of Late Bronze Age society?”

One easy way to come up with a thesis statement is to briefly answer the main question you would like to address.
For example, if the question is “What role did natural disasters play in the collapse of Late Bronze Age society?” then your thesis might be, “Natural disasters during the Late Bronze Age destabilized local economies across the region. This set in motion a series of mass migrations of different peoples, creating widespread conflict that contributed to the collapse of several major Bronze Age political centers.”

When you write the outline, think about how you would like to organize your essay. For example, you might start with your strongest arguments and then move to the weakest ones. Or, you could begin with a general overview of the source you're analyzing and then move on to addressing the major themes, tone, and style of the work.
Introduction
Point 1, with supporting examples
Point 2, with supporting examples
Point 3, with supporting examples
Major counter-argument(s) to your thesis
Your rebuttals to the counter-argument(s)

Drafting the Essay

For example, if you're writing a critical essay about a work of art, your introduction might start with some basic information about the work, such as who created it, when and where it was created, and a brief description of the work itself. From there, introduce the question(s) about the work you'd like to address and present your thesis.
A strong introduction should also contain a brief transitional sentence that creates a link to the first point or argument you would like to make. For example, if you're discussing the use of color in a work of art, lead-in by saying you'd like to start with an overview of symbolic color use in contemporary works by other artists.

Tip: Some writers find it helpful to write the introduction after they've written the rest of the essay. Once you've written out your main points, it's easier to summarize the gist of your essay in a few introductory sentences.

Step 2 Present your argument(s) in detail.

For example, your topic sentence might be something like, “Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories are among the many literary influences apparent in P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves novels.” You could then back this up by quoting a passage that contains a reference to Sherlock Holmes.
Try to show how the arguments in each paragraph link back to the main thesis of your essay.

Step 3 Use transition sentences between paragraphs.

When creating transitions, transitional phrases can be helpful. For example, use words and phrases such as “In addition,” “Therefore,” “Similarly,” “Subsequently,” or “As a result.”
For example, if you've just discussed the use of color to create contrast in a work of art, you might start the next paragraph with, “In addition to color, the artist also uses different line weights to distinguish between the more static and dynamic figures in the scene.”

Step 4 Address possible counterarguments.

For example, if you're arguing that a particular kind of shrimp decorates its shell with red algae to attract a mate, you'll need to address the counterargument that the shell decoration is a warning to predators. You might do this by presenting evidence that the red shrimp are, in fact, more likely to get eaten than shrimp with undecorated shells.

The way you cite your sources will vary depending on the citation style you're using. Typically, you'll need to include the name of the author, the title and publication date of the source, and location information such as the page number on which the information appears.
In general, you don't need to cite common knowledge. For example, if you say, “A zebra is a type of mammal,” you probably won't need to cite a source.
If you've cited any sources in the essay, you'll need to include a list of works cited (or a bibliography ) at the end.

Keep your conclusion brief. While the appropriate length will vary based on the length of the essay, it should typically be no longer than 1-2 paragraphs.
For example, if you're writing a 1,000-word essay, your conclusion should be about 4-5 sentences long. [16] X Research source

Revising the Essay

If you don't have time to spend a couple of days away from your essay, at least take a few hours to relax or work on something else.

Step 2 Read over your draft to check for obvious problems.

Excessive wordiness
Points that aren't explained enough
Tangents or unnecessary information
Unclear transitions or illogical organization
Spelling , grammar , style, and formatting problems
Inappropriate language or tone (e.g., slang or informal language in an academic essay)

Step 3 Correct any major problems you find.

You might have to cut material from your essay in some places and add new material to others.
You might also end up reordering some of the content of the essay if you think that helps it flow better.

Read over each line slowly and carefully. It may be helpful to read each sentence out loud to yourself.

Tip: If possible, have someone else check your work. When you've been looking at your writing for too long, your brain begins to fill in what it expects to see rather than what's there, making it harder for you to spot mistakes.

Expert Q&A

↑ https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/essay-types
↑ https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills/resources/essay-writing/six-top-tips-for-writing-a-great-essay
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/research_papers/choosing_a_topic.html
↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/tips-reading-assignment-prompt
↑ https://library.unr.edu/help/quick-how-tos/writing/integrating-sources-into-your-paper
↑ https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/researching/notes-from-research/
↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/developing-thesis
↑ https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/outlining
↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-write-an-intro--conclusion----body-paragraph.html
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essays.html
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
↑ https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/undergraduates/writing-guides/how-do-i-incorporate-a-counter-argument.html
↑ https://www.plagiarism.org/article/how-do-i-cite-sources
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
↑ https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.twc/files/resource-files/Intros-Conclusions.pdf
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/proofreading/steps_for_revising.html
↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/8-4-revising-and-editing/
↑ https://writing.ku.edu/writing-process

About This Article

If you need to write an essay, start by gathering information from reputable sources, like books from the library or scholarly journals online. Take detailed notes and keep track of which facts come from which sources. As you're taking notes, look for a central theme that you're interested in writing about to create your thesis statement. Then, organize your notes into an outline that supports and explains your thesis statement. Working from your outline, write an introduction and subsequent paragraphs to address each major point. Start every paragraph with a topic sentence that briefly explains the main point of that paragraph. Finally, finish your paper with a strong conclusion that sums up the most important points. For tips from our English Professor co-author on helpful revision techniques, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write the Perfect Essay

06 Feb, 2024 | Blog Articles , English Language Articles , Get the Edge , Humanities Articles , Writing Articles

Student sitting at a desk writing in a notebook

You can keep adding to this plan, crossing bits out and linking the different bubbles when you spot connections between them. Even though you won’t have time to make a detailed plan under exam conditions, it can be helpful to draft a brief one, including a few key words, so that you don’t panic and go off topic when writing your essay.

If you don’t like the mind map format, there are plenty of others to choose from: you could make a table, a flowchart, or simply a list of bullet points.

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Thanks for signing up, step 2: have a clear structure.

Think about this while you’re planning: your essay is like an argument or a speech. It needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question.

Start with the basics! It’s best to choose a few major points which will become your main paragraphs. Three main paragraphs is a good number for an exam essay, since you’ll be under time pressure.

If you agree with the question overall, it can be helpful to organise your points in the following pattern:

YES (agreement with the question)
AND (another YES point)
BUT (disagreement or complication)

If you disagree with the question overall, try:

AND (another BUT point)

For example, you could structure the Of Mice and Men sample question, “To what extent is Curley’s wife portrayed as a victim in Of Mice and Men ?”, as follows:

YES (descriptions of her appearance)
AND (other people’s attitudes towards her)
BUT (her position as the only woman on the ranch gives her power as she uses her femininity to her advantage)

If you wanted to write a longer essay, you could include additional paragraphs under the YES/AND categories, perhaps discussing the ways in which Curley’s wife reveals her vulnerability and insecurities, and shares her dreams with the other characters. Alternatively, you could also lengthen your essay by including another BUT paragraph about her cruel and manipulative streak.

Of course, this is not necessarily the only right way to answer this essay question – as long as you back up your points with evidence from the text, you can take any standpoint that makes sense.

Step 3: Back up your points with well-analysed quotations

You wouldn’t write a scientific report without including evidence to support your findings, so why should it be any different with an essay? Even though you aren’t strictly required to substantiate every single point you make with a quotation, there’s no harm in trying.

A close reading of your quotations can enrich your appreciation of the question and will be sure to impress examiners. When selecting the best quotations to use in your essay, keep an eye out for specific literary techniques. For example, you could highlight Curley’s wife’s use of a rhetorical question when she says, a”n’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs.” This might look like:

The rhetorical question “an’ what am I doin’?” signifies that Curley’s wife is very insecure; she seems to be questioning her own life choices. Moreover, she does not expect anyone to respond to her question, highlighting her loneliness and isolation on the ranch.

Other literary techniques to look out for include:

Tricolon – a group of three words or phrases placed close together for emphasis
Tautology – using different words that mean the same thing: e.g. “frightening” and “terrifying”
Parallelism – ABAB structure, often signifying movement from one concept to another
Chiasmus – ABBA structure, drawing attention to a phrase
Polysyndeton – many conjunctions in a sentence
Asyndeton – lack of conjunctions, which can speed up the pace of a sentence
Polyptoton – using the same word in different forms for emphasis: e.g. “done” and “doing”
Alliteration – repetition of the same sound, including assonance (similar vowel sounds), plosive alliteration (“b”, “d” and “p” sounds) and sibilance (“s” sounds)
Anaphora – repetition of words, often used to emphasise a particular point

Don’t worry if you can’t locate all of these literary devices in the work you’re analysing. You can also discuss more obvious techniques, like metaphor, simile and onomatopoeia. It’s not a problem if you can’t remember all the long names; it’s far more important to be able to confidently explain the effects of each technique and highlight its relevance to the question.

Step 4: Be creative and original throughout

Anyone can write an essay using the tips above, but the thing that really makes it “perfect” is your own unique take on the topic. If you’ve noticed something intriguing or unusual in your reading, point it out – if you find it interesting, chances are the examiner will too!

Creative writing and essay writing are more closely linked than you might imagine. Keep the idea that you’re writing a speech or argument in mind, and you’re guaranteed to grab your reader’s attention.

It’s important to set out your line of argument in your introduction, introducing your main points and the general direction your essay will take, but don’t forget to keep something back for the conclusion, too. Yes, you need to summarise your main points, but if you’re just repeating the things you said in your introduction, the body of the essay is rendered pointless.

Think of your conclusion as the climax of your speech, the bit everything else has been leading up to, rather than the boring plenary at the end of the interesting stuff.

To return to Of Mice and Men once more, here’s an example of the ideal difference between an introduction and a conclusion:

Introduction

In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men , Curley’s wife is portrayed as an ambiguous character. She could be viewed either as a cruel, seductive temptress or a lonely woman who is a victim of her society’s attitudes. Though she does seem to wield a form of sexual power, it is clear that Curley’s wife is largely a victim. This interpretation is supported by Steinbeck’s description of her appearance, other people’s attitudes, her dreams, and her evident loneliness and insecurity.

Overall, it is clear that Curley’s wife is a victim and is portrayed as such throughout the novel in the descriptions of her appearance, her dreams, other people’s judgemental attitudes, and her loneliness and insecurities. However, a character who was a victim and nothing else would be one-dimensional and Curley’s wife is not. Although she suffers in many ways, she is shown to assert herself through the manipulation of her femininity – a small rebellion against the victimisation she experiences.

Both refer back consistently to the question and summarise the essay’s main points. However, the conclusion adds something new which has been established in the main body of the essay and complicates the simple summary which is found in the introduction.

Hannah is an undergraduate English student at Somerville College, University of Oxford, and has a particular interest in postcolonial literature and the Gothic. She thinks literature is a crucial way of developing empathy and learning about the wider world. When she isn’t writing about 17th-century court masques, she enjoys acting, travelling and creative writing.

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IGCSE English Paper 3 2022: Helpful Tips to Ace your Paper 3

Created on September 1, 2019
Blog , IGCSE

The IGCSE English Paper 3 can be hard to tackle due to the detailedness of the writing. This blog article focuses on some useful tips for both Response Writing Task as well as Descriptive and Narrative writing to help you ace your IGCSE English Paper 3.

IGCSE English is a compulsory subject to be taken by students. The subject code for IGCSE English – First Language is 0500. The IGCSE English Paper for both Core and Extended is the same.

This blog article will give you tips specifically for Paper 3 Question 1 and 2.

For the IGCSE English Paper 3, is a directed writing paper that consists of 2 questions of a total mark of 50. The first question will be a response writing task whereas the second question would be either a descriptive or narrative writing.

Paper 3 Assessment

Question 1 – Response Writing Task [25 marks]

The IGCSE English paper 3 question 1 asks for realistic and coherent writing as it is based on a realistic situation. An example of what the question looks like.

What does Question 1 expect you to do?

Write 250-300 words in response to a reading text.

What do you have to write?

You will have to write one of the following:

A newspaper report
A magazine article
A dialogue
The words of a speech
A diary/journal entry

Marking Scheme for IGCSE English Paper 3 Question 1

To view the official mark sheet, you may follow this link .

Tips for the IGCSE English Paper 3 Question 1

Tip 1 – reading thoroughly.

As seen from the marking scheme, 10 marks are allocated to the Reading part. This means that reading accurately and understanding the content as well as the context of the text is important for you to score this section.

Learn to make inferences from what you have read from the text. When you make coherent inferences, it will allow you to gain a deeper comprehension of what the text is trying to convey. It also helps add to thoughtful, logical and coherent ideas to what has been written to develop and extend it.

This also applies to reading what is written in the bullet points carefully. One of the bullet points is usually testing on the understanding of the implicit meaning of the text, therefore making a thorough inference from the text would help you to write a good piece for this question.

Tip 2: Structure and plan your piece logically

Since the question states what should be included in your writing (in bullet points) it is best to follow and make sure you have the bullet points covered in your piece. You should write one paragraph addressing each bullet point. Always go back to the bullet points to make sure you are not out of context.

Planning your piece would help you to see and get an overview of how you will be writing. During this process, you can make sure your piece is able to flow logically.

Tip 3: Use TAP and PEEL

TAP stands for Topic or Task.

This is the topic that you will write about and it will help you determine what is the objective of your piece and what should be included in your writing.

A in TAP stands for Audience.

Ensure you are aware of the audience of your piece, in other words, who is going to be reading your piece in the question. It is important to be aware of your target audience before you start scripting your writing as it gives you a better perspective of what to write given what the audience is looking for.

P in TAP stands for Purpose

What is the reason you are writing this piece? Based on your question, you should be able to identify the objective and purpose of your writing. Make sure your purpose is clear in your writing, for example, you are writing a newspaper report, make sure you write it in a formal and unbiased tone reporting on relevant information and keeping in all the important key points.

For every paragraph, you can use the PEEL structure to help your paragraphs follow in a logical manner. Refer to this image to get an overview of what the PEEL structure is about.

The PEEL structure will be able to help you write each paragraph with a specific point which allows your audience to immediately grasp the content of your paragraph.

The Point should be in the first sentence of the paragraph so it is clear. You should always link back to the point that you are addressing at the end of the paragraph so that you are not out of context and you having a closing for the paragraph.

Question 2 – Choice of either narrative or descriptive writing (only choose one) [25 marks]

Either descriptive or narrative writing.

Take a look at the mark scheme here

To view the official mark sheet, you may follow this link .

IGCSE English Paper 3 Question 2 Tips

Tip 1 – select your task carefully.

Descriptive and narrative compositions are different. They follow different conventions and are structured differently. Narrative compositions include a description in them, but these descriptions do not contain a plot. It is best to be aware of what the descriptive and narrative compositions are looking for.

The IGCSE English paper 3 can be hard to tackle if students are not aware of what is the objective of the questions. Learn how to read carefully and infer thoroughly is one tedious skill to master, however with the help of a professional, you will be able to master any reading piece and of course, the IGCSE English writing paper.

Tip 2: Craft your sentences

This tip applies to both narrative and description composition, whichever you composition you choose to write, make sure you use a variety of sentence types, from minor to complex. Varying your sentence like using colons and semi-colons for impact. If you used dialogue in your narrative, make sure to punctuation correctly. Crafting your sentences also means being accurate in your spelling and punctuation.

Narrative Writing

Unlike descriptive writing, you focus on the plot rather than descriptive details. It is usually written in the first or third-person perspective.

The best tip to give for a narrative writing piece would be choosing believable scenarios. It may help you to draw on your real-life experiences to achieve this. Choose a story you can complete in time.

Tip: Planning a clear structure

If you are writing a narrative, plan your story with a clear hook, conflict, climax and resolution.

Having a powerful climax and resolution to your narrative gives your reader the greatest satisfaction. Learn to view your story as the reader would view it. This means taking your reader’s investment of time and emotions into account.

Planning before writing also allows you to have a clear overview of how you want your story to play out. You will be able to better express your thoughts and content into the story making sure your story follows smoothly from start to finish. This applies to writing a descriptive composition as well.

Descriptive Writing

Tip: use vivid description .

Articulate and express your descriptions with adjectives and be as clear and concise as you can with your writing. It is called descriptive writing for a reason!

Describe characters using detailed imagery, you can scatter physical description throughout multiple scenes to make your story and character come to life.

Describe actions to reveal physical characteristics. An example would be

“As we’d been talking, she’d pulled [her hair] into a high, loose bun with shorter pieces of hair falling around her face.” – Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Describe the way characters in your composition move or carry themselves. An example would be

“She was a slender, small-breasted girl, with an erect carriage, which she accentuated by throwing her body backward at the shoulders like a young cadet.” – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

You can visit this link to find the 10 tips for writing physical description of your characters.

About Tutopiya

For other more resourceful IGCSE curriculum study guides or curriculum guides, visit Tutopiya’s blog page here . Read on this Quick IGCSE Subject Guide to help you choose your IGCSE subjects!

Tutopiya offers a free 60 minutes complimentary trial to all new students. Our IGCSE English tutors are qualified and experienced with little details to the IGCSE English papers and they are aware of what examiners are looking out for in these the IGCSE English paper. It is always to have help near you. Feel free to live chat us to enquire more about the tutors and curriculums we provide here.

You can also sign up here or fill up a trial form here .

I am currently a full-time student studying at a local university in Singapore while freelancing as a writer. I enjoy writing and sharing useful education-related tips with my fellow studying peers. During my leisure time, I enjoy doing creative arts and volunteering work. I am passionate about sharing my experience as a student! ☺

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6 Best Paper Writing Services: Legitimate Essay Writing Services

A re you searching for essay assistance or a legitimate company that can compose your essay? There are hundreds or even thousands of essay writing services available online. Each claims to be the preeminent essay writer for pupils. Difficulty may arise when attempting to discern a legitimate writing service from a fraudulent one.

You did indeed read that accuratelyIf you are at a loss for words and the due date is quickly approaching, you can seek the assistance of reputable essay writing services.

A person might query, "How can I ascertain which service merits my confidence?" That is a valid concern. Because there are so many online options, becoming perplexed and uncertain about which ones to believe is simple.

At this point, we enter the picture. By navigating you through the bewildering world of these services, we will assist you in locating the finest paper writing services. We will discuss every aspect, from reputable companies with a track record of delivering high-quality work to websites that provide affordable prices without compromising standards.

This page addresses your inquiry regarding the optimal approach to obtaining an essay from a reputable academic service.

6 Best Paper Writing Services:

ProWritingCrew
EssayMasterz
EssayScribez
SkilledEssayWriter
EssayLegend
QualityEssayWriter

The sites were ranked by how good the papers were, how helpful the customer service was, and how much they cost. They don't use ChatGPT or any other AI tools to write material, so the papers they give you are original and can't be copied.

Difficulties In Writing

Writer's block: .

Writer's block, arguably the most infamous barrier, can manifest abruptly, devoid of any discernible path or strategy, leaving the author blank-spaced.

Lack of Inspiration:

Even when ideas flow, writers may need help finding inspiration or motivation to develop their thoughts into coherent writing pieces.

Time Constraints:

Balancing writing with other responsibilities such as work, school, or family commitments can be challenging, leading to limited time for writing or research.

Perfectionism:

The pursuit of perfection may induce writerly paralysis, wherein they laboriously revise and edit their work rather than progressing along the writing process.

Organization and Structure:

Determining a coherent framework and systematically arranging ideas can prove challenging, particularly when confronted with intricate subjects or protracted undertakings.

Research Challenges:

Conducting thorough research and finding credible sources can be time-consuming and overwhelming, particularly for topics that are unfamiliar or require in-depth analysis.

Self-Doubt:

Doubting one's writing abilities or fearing criticism from others can hinder creativity and confidence, making it difficult to express ideas effectively.

Procrastination:

Putting off writing tasks until the last minute can result in rushed and subpar work, which can lead to increased stress and lower-quality outcomes.

Editing and Proofreading:

Polishing and refining written work through editing and proofreading requires attention to detail and a critical eye, which can be challenging for some writers.

Writer's Fatigue:

Writing for extended periods can be mentally and physically exhausting, decreasing productivity and creativity over time.

1.ProWritingCrew

ProWritingCrew is a preeminent provider of academic papers recognized for its professionalism, dependability, and outstanding quality. They offer a vast array of services to accommodate the requirements of both students and professionals, utilizing a group of seasoned writers and editors. ProWritingCrew provides superior essays, research papers, dissertations, and individualized presentations to meet each client's needs.

Why I Think They Are the Best:

ProWritingCrew sets itself apart with its commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. Its writers are highly qualified and proficient in various subjects, ensuring that every paper is well-researched and expertly written. Additionally, its transparent communication and prompt delivery make it a trusted choice for students and professionals worldwide.

Countries They Write For:

ProWritingCrew provides writing services to students and professionals worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many more.

What Do They Offer Exactly:

ProWritingCrew offers a comprehensive range of writing services, including essay writing, research paper writing, dissertation writing, thesis writing, editing, proofreading, and more. They also provide custom writing services tailored to each client's needs and requirements.

Competitive rates.

In conclusion, ProWritingCrew is an exceptional option for individuals seeking dependable and superior paper writing services. They guarantee client satisfaction throughout the entire process through the utilization of their knowledgeable writers, clear and candid communication, and timely delivery.

2. EssayMasterz

EssayMasterz is a trustworthy paper writing service that helps students all over the world with their schoolwork. With a team of experienced writers and editors, EssayMasterz offers a wide range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of students across various academic levels and disciplines.

EssayMasterz stands out as one of the best paper writing services due to its commitment to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Their team of expert writers possesses the necessary skills and expertise to deliver top-notch essays, research papers, dissertations, and more. Additionally, EssayMasterz prioritizes communication with clients to ensure that every paper meets their specific requirements and expectations.

EssayMasterz provides writing services to students from around the globe, including but not limited to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe.

EssayMasterz's pricing is reasonable and transparent. Rates vary depending on factors such as the type of paper, academic level, deadline, and word count.

In conclusion, EssayMasterz is a reliable and reputable paper writing service that excels in delivering high-quality academic assistance to students worldwide. With its experienced team of writers, commitment to customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing, it is a top choice for

students seeking expert writing support.

3. EssayScribez

EssayScribez is a trusted paper writing service that provides students high-quality academic assistance. With a team of skilled writers and editors, EssayScribez offers a range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of students across various academic disciplines.

EssayScribez stands out as one of the best paper writing services due to its commitment to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Their team of expert writers possesses the necessary skills and expertise to deliver top-notch essays, research papers, dissertations, and more. Additionally, EssayScribez prioritizes communication with clients to ensure that every paper meets their specific requirements and expectations.

EssayScribez provides writing services to students from around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries.

The pricing at EssayScribez is competitive and transparent, with rates varying depending on factors such as the type of paper, academic level, deadline, and word count.

In conclusion, EssayScribez is a reputable paper writing service that delivers high-quality academic assistance to students worldwide. With its experienced team of writers, commitment to customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing, it is a top choice for students seeking expert

writing support.

4. SkilledEssayWriter

SkilledEssayWriter is a reputable paper writing service that provides high-quality academic assistance to students worldwide. With a team of experienced writers and editors, SkilledEssayWriter offers a wide range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of students across various academic levels and disciplines.

SkilledEssayWriter stands out as one of the best paper writing services due to its commitment to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Their team of expert writers possesses the necessary skills and expertise to deliver top-notch essays, research papers, dissertations, and more. Additionally, SkilledEssayWriter prioritizes communication with clients to ensure that every paper meets their specific requirements and expectations.

SkilledEssayWriter provides writing services to students from around the globe, including but not limited to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe.

The pricing at SkilledEssayWriter is Student-friendly, with rates varying depending on factors such as the type of paper, academic level, deadline, and word count.

In conclusion, SkilledEssayWriter is a reliable and reputable paper writing service that delivers high-quality academic assistance to students worldwide. Their experienced team of writers, commitment to customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing make them a top choice for

5. EssayLegend

About essaylegend:.

EssayLegend is a trusted paper writing service committed to providing students with top-quality academic assistance. With a team of skilled writers and editors, EssayLegend offers various services tailored to meet the diverse needs of students across different academic disciplines.

EssayLegend stands out as one of the best paper writing services due to its dedication to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Their team of expert writers possesses the necessary skills and expertise to deliver high-quality essays, research papers, dissertations, and more. Moreover, EssayLegend strongly emphasizes communication with clients to ensure that every paper meets their specific requirements and expectations.

EssayLegend provides writing services to students from various countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other international locations.

EssayLegend offers competitive and transparent pricing, with rates dependent on factors such as the type of paper, academic level, deadline, and word count.

In conclusion, EssayLegend is a reputable and reliable paper writing service known for delivering top-notch academic assistance to students worldwide. With its skilled team of writers, dedication to customer satisfaction, and competitive pricing, it is a preferred choice for students seeking expert writing support.

6. QualityEssayWriter

QualityEssayWriter is a distinguished paper writing service that provides students with exceptional academic assistance. With a team of proficient writers and editors, QualityEssayWriter offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of students across various academic disciplines.

QualityEssayWriter earns its reputation as one of the best paper writing services due to its unwavering commitment to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Their team of seasoned writers possesses the requisite skills and expertise to deliver top-quality essays, research papers, dissertations, and more. Additionally, QualityEssayWriter prioritizes effective communication with clients to ensure that every paper meets their specific requirements and expectations.

QualityEssayWriter caters to students from across the globe, including but not limited to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other international locations.

The pricing at QualityEssayWriter is transparent and competitive. Rates vary based on factors such as the type of paper, academic level, deadline, and word count. They offer flexible pricing options to accommodate different budgets and needs, ensuring affordability without compromising quality.

How do I know if a paper writing service is legitimate?

Legitimate paper writing services typically have transparent policies, customer reviews, and clear communication channels. Look for services with verified testimonials and secure payment options to ensure legitimacy.

What factors should I consider when choosing a paper writing service?

Consider factors such as reputation, quality of writing, pricing, customer support, turnaround time, and guarantees offered by the service.

What if I need more than the quality of the paper I receive?

Reputable paper writing services typically offer revisions or refunds if you want more than the quality of the work. Check the service's policies regarding revisions and refunds before placing an order.

Do these paper-writing services provide any assurances?

Undoubtedly, authentic paper writing services frequently offer assurances, including confidentiality, money-back, and satisfaction. Consult the service's guarantee policies to understand your customer rights.

Do these paper writing services specialize in particular subject matters or academic levels?

Most paper writing services assist with various academic levels and topics. Whether one is a high school student or a doctoral candidate, there are services available that provide individualized educational support.

Conclusion:

Remember to use these services ethically and responsibly, adhere to academic integrity guidelines, and utilize the papers as valuable learning resources. With the support of these legitimate essay writing services, you can overcome educational challenges, excel in your studies, and embark on a path to success.

So, whether you're a student striving for academic excellence or a professional seeking expert writing assistance, the seven best paper writing services highlighted in this guide are your trusted partners in achieving your goals. Harness the power of these reputable services and confidently embark on your journey to academic and professional success.

Note: This article is for information purposes only and does not contain any recommendation from us for the readers.

Are you searching for essay assistance or a legitimate company that can compose your essay? There are hundreds or even

Is a robot writing your kids’ essays? We asked educators to weigh in on the growing role of AI in classrooms.

Educators weigh in on the growing role of ai and chatgpt in classrooms..

Kara Baskin talked to several educators about what kind of AI use they’re seeing in classrooms and how they’re monitoring it.

Remember writing essays in high school? Chances are you had to look up stuff in an encyclopedia — an actual one, not Wikipedia — or else connect to AOL via a modem bigger than your parents’ Taurus station wagon.

Now, of course, there’s artificial intelligence. According to new research from Pew, about 1 in 5 US teens who’ve heard of ChatGPT have used it for schoolwork. Kids in upper grades are more apt to have used the chatbot: About a quarter of 11th- and 12th-graders who know about ChatGPT have tried it.

For the uninitiated, ChatGPT arrived on the scene in late 2022, and educators continue to grapple with the ethics surrounding its growing popularity. Essentially, it generates free, human-like responses based on commands. (I’m sure this sentence will look antiquated in about six months, like when people described the internet as the “information superhighway.”)

I used ChatGPT to plug in this prompt: “Write an essay on ‘The Scarlet Letter.’” Within moments, ChatGPT created an essay as thorough as anything I’d labored over in AP English.

Is this cheating? Is it just part of our strange new world? I talked to several educators about what they’re seeing in classrooms and how they’re monitoring it. Before you berate your child over how you wrote essays with a No. 2 pencil, here are some things to consider.

Adapting to new technology isn’t immoral. “We have to recalibrate our sense of what’s acceptable. There was a time when every teacher said: ‘Oh, it’s cheating to use Wikipedia.’ And guess what? We got used to it, we decided it’s reputable enough, and we cite Wikipedia all the time,” says Noah Giansiracusa, an associate math professor at Bentley University who hosts the podcast “ AI in Academia: Navigating the Future .”

“There’s a calibration period where a technology is new and untested. It’s good to be cautious and to treat it with trepidation. Then, over time, the norms kind of adapt,” he says — just like new-fangled graphing calculators or the internet in days of yore.

“I think the current conversation around AI should not be centered on an issue with plagiarism. It should be centered on how AI will alter methods for learning and expressing oneself. ‘Catching’ students who use fully AI-generated products ... implies a ‘gotcha’ atmosphere,” says Jim Nagle, a history teacher at Bedford High School. “Since AI is already a huge part of our day-to-day lives, it’s no surprise our students are making it a part of their academic tool kit. Teachers and students should be at the forefront of discussions about responsible and ethical use.”

Teachers and parents could use AI to think about education at a higher level. Really, learning is about more than regurgitating information — or it should be, anyway. But regurgitation is what AI does best.

“If our system is just for students to write a bunch of essays and then grade the results? Something’s missing. We need to really talk about their purpose and what they’re getting out of this, and maybe think about different forms of assignments and grading,” Giansiracusa says.

After all, while AI aggregates and organizes ideas, the quality of its responses depends on the users’ prompts. Instead of recoiling from it, use it as a conversation-starter.

“What parents and teachers can do is to start the conversation with kids: ‘What are we trying to learn here? Is it even something that ChatGPT could answer? Why did your assignment not convince you that you need to do this thinking on your own when a tool can do it for you?’” says Houman Harouni , a lecturer on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Harouni urges parents to read an essay written by ChatGPT alongside their student. Was it good? What could be done better? Did it feel like a short cut?

“What they’re going to remember is that you had that conversation with them; that someone thought, at some point in their lives, that taking a shortcut is not the best way ... especially if you do it with the tool right in front of you, because you have something real to talk about,” he says.

Harouni hopes teachers think about its implications, too. Consider math: So much grunt work has been eliminated by calculators and computers. Yet kids are still tested as in days of old, when perhaps they could expand their learning to be assessed in ways that are more personal and human-centric, leaving the rote stuff to AI.

“We could take this moment of confusion and loss of certainty seriously, at least in some small pockets, and start thinking about what a different kind of school would look like. Five years from now, we might have the beginnings of some very interesting exploration. Five years from now, you and I might be talking about schools wherein teaching and learning is happening in a very self-directed way, in a way that’s more based on … igniting the kid’s interest and seeing where they go and supporting them to go deeper and to go wider,” Harouni says.

Teachers have the chance to offer assignments with more intentionality.

“Really think about the purpose of the assignments. Don’t just think of the outcome and the deliverable: ‘I need a student to produce a document.’ Why are we getting students to write? Why are we doing all these things in the first place? If teachers are more mindful, and maybe parents can also be more mindful, I think it pushes us away from this dangerous trap of thinking about in terms of ‘cheating,’ which, to me, is a really slippery path,” Giansiracusa says.

AI can boost confidence and reduce procrastination. Sometimes, a robot can do something better than a human, such as writing a dreaded resume and cover letter. And that’s OK; it’s useful, even.

“Often, students avoid applying to internships because they’re just overwhelmed at the thought of writing a cover letter, or they’re afraid their resume isn’t good enough. I think that tools like this can help them feel more confident. They may be more likely to do it sooner and have more organized and better applications,” says Kristin Casasanto, director of post-graduate planning at Olin College of Engineering.

Casasanto says that AI is also useful for de-stressing during interview prep.

“Students can use generative AI to plug in a job description and say, ‘Come up with a list of interview questions based on the job description,’ which will give them an idea of what may be asked, and they can even then say, ‘Here’s my resume. Give me answers to these questions based on my skills and experience.’ They’re going to really build their confidence around that,” Casasanto says.

Plus, when students use AI for basics, it frees up more time to meet with career counselors about substantive issues.

“It will help us as far as scalability. … Career services staff can then utilize our personal time in much more meaningful ways with students,” Casasanto says.

We need to remember: These kids grew up during a pandemic. We can’t expect kids to resist technology when they’ve been forced to learn in new ways since COVID hit.

“Now we’re seeing pandemic-era high school students come into college. They’ve been channeled through Google Classroom their whole career,” says Katherine Jewell, a history professor at Fitchburg State University.

“They need to have technology management and information literacy built into the curriculum,” Jewell says.

Jewell recently graded a paper on the history of college sports. It was obvious which papers were written by AI: They didn’t address the question. In her syllabus, Jewell defines plagiarism as “any attempt by a student to represent the work of another, including computers, as their own.”

This means that AI qualifies, but she also has an open mind, given students’ circumstances.

“My students want to do the right thing, for the most part. They don’t want to get away with stuff. I understand why they turned to these tools; I really do. I try to reassure them that I’m here to help them learn systems. I’m focusing much more on the learning process. I incentivize them to improve, and I acknowledge: ‘You don’t know how to do this the first time out of the gate,’” Jewell says. “I try to incentivize them so that they’re improving their confidence in their abilities, so they don’t feel the need to turn to these tools.”

Understand the forces that make kids resort to AI in the first place . Clubs, sports, homework: Kids are busy and under pressure. Why not do what’s easy?

“Kids are so overscheduled in their day-to-day lives. I think there’s so much enormous pressure on these kids, whether it’s self-inflicted, parent-inflicted, or school-culture inflicted. It’s on them to maximize their schedule. They’ve learned that AI can be a way to take an assignment that would take five hours and cut it down to one,” says a teacher at a competitive high school outside Boston who asked to remain anonymous.

Recently, this teacher says, “I got papers back that were just so robotic and so cold. I had to tell [students]: ‘I understand that you tried to use a tool to help you. I’m not going to penalize you, but what I am going to penalize you for is that you didn’t actually answer the prompt.”

Afterward, more students felt safe to come forward to say they’d used AI. This teacher hopes that age restrictions become implemented for these programs, similar to apps such as Snapchat. Educationally and developmentally, they say, high-schoolers are still finding their voice — a voice that could be easily thwarted by a robot.

“Part of high school writing is to figure out who you are, and what is your voice as a writer. And I think, developmentally, that takes all of high school to figure out,” they say.

And AI can’t replicate voice and personality — for now, at least.

Kara Baskin can be reached at [email protected] . Follow her @kcbaskin .

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How To Write A Research Paper

Find Sources For A Research Paper

How to Find Sources For a Research Paper | A Guide

10 min read

Published on: Mar 26, 2024

Last updated on: Mar 25, 2024

How to find sources for a research paper

Step 1: Define Your Topic and Research Questions

Before you venture into your quest for sources, it's essential to have a clear understanding of your research topic and the specific questions you aim to address. Define the scope of your paper and identify keywords and key concepts that will guide your search for relevant sources.

Step 2: Utilize Academic Databases

Academic databases are treasure troves of scholarly articles, research papers, and academic journals covering a wide range of subjects. Institutions often provide access to these databases through their libraries. Some popular academic databases include:

IEEE Xplore
Google Scholar

These databases allow you to search for peer-reviewed articles and academic papers related to your topic.

Use advanced search features to narrow down your results based on publication date, author, and keywords .

Academic Resources Classified by Discipline

Here's a breakdown of prominent databases categorized by academic discipline:

Step 3: Explore Library Catalogs

Your university or local library's catalog is another valuable resource for finding sources. Library catalogs contain books, periodicals, and other materials that may not be available online.

Use the catalog's search function to locate relevant books, journals, and other materials that can contribute to your research.

Step 4: Consult Bibliographies and References

When you find a relevant source, take note of its bibliography or make a list of sources for the research paper. These lists often contain citations to other works that may be useful for your research.

By exploring the references cited in a particular source, you can uncover additional resources and expand your understanding of the topic.

Step 5: Boolean Operators for Effective Searches

Boolean operators are words or symbols used to refine search queries by defining the relationships between search terms. The three primary operators include "AND," which narrows searches by requiring all terms to be present; "OR," which broadens searches by including either term or both; and "NOT," which excludes specific terms to refine results further.

Most databases provide advanced search features for seamless application of Boolean logic.

Step 6: Consider Primary Sources

Depending on your research topic, primary sources such as interviews, surveys, archival documents, and original data sets can provide valuable insights and support for your arguments.

Primary sources offer firsthand accounts and original perspectives on historical events, social phenomena, and scientific discoveries.

Step 7: Evaluate the Credibility of Sources

Not all sources are created equal, and it's crucial to evaluate the credibility and reliability of the information you encounter.

Consider the author's credentials, the publication venue, and whether the source is peer-reviewed. Look for evidence of bias or conflicts of interest that may undermine the source's credibility.

Step 8: Keep Track of Your Sources

As you gather sources for your research paper, maintain a systematic record of the materials you consult. Keep track of bibliographic information, including author names, publication dates, titles, and page numbers . This information will be invaluable when citing your sources and creating a bibliography or works cited page.

Other Online Sources

In addition to academic databases and library catalogs, exploring popular online sources can provide valuable insights and perspectives on your research topic. Here are some types of online sources you can consider:

Websites hosted by reputable organizations, institutions, and experts (such as the New York Times) can offer valuable information and analysis on a wide range of topics. Look for websites belonging to universities, research institutions, government agencies, and established non-profit organizations.

Crowdsourced Encyclopedias like Wikipedia

While Wikipedia can provide a broad overview of a topic and lead you to other sources, it's essential to verify the information found there with more authoritative sources.

Use Wikipedia as a starting point for your research, but rely on peer-reviewed journal articles and academic sources for in-depth analysis and evidence.

Tips for Assessing the Credibility of Online Sources

When using online sources, it's important to exercise caution and critically evaluate the credibility and reliability of the information you find. Here are some tips for assessing the credibility of online sources:

Check the Domain Extension: Look for websites with domain extensions that indicate credibility. URLs ending in .edu are educational resources, while URLs ending in .gov are government-related resources. These sites often provide reliable and authoritative information.
Look for DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers): DOIs are unique alphanumeric strings assigned to scholarly articles and indicate that the article has been published in a peer-reviewed, scientific journal. Finding a DOI can help you assess the scholarly rigor of the source.
Evaluate the Authorship and Credentials: Consider the qualifications and expertise of the author or organization behind the website or blog. Look for information about the author's credentials, affiliations, and expertise in the subject matter.
Consider the Currency and Relevance: Assess how up-to-date the information is and whether it aligns with the scope and focus of your research. Look for recent publications and timely analyses that reflect current trends and developments in the field.

Wrapping it up!

Finding sources for your research paper may seem like a challenge, but by following these steps, you can locate credible sources to support your arguments and enhance the quality of your paper.

By approaching the research process systematically and critically evaluating the information you encounter, you can produce a well-researched and compelling research paper.

If you are struggling with finding credible sources or have time constraints, do not hesitate to seek writing help for your research papers . CollegeEssay.org has professional writers ready to assist you.

Connect with our essay writing service now and receive expert guidance and support to elevate your research paper to the next level.

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Research paper

How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide

A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides analysis, interpretation, and argument based on in-depth independent research.

Research papers are similar to academic essays , but they are usually longer and more detailed assignments, designed to assess not only your writing skills but also your skills in scholarly research. Writing a research paper requires you to demonstrate a strong knowledge of your topic, engage with a variety of sources, and make an original contribution to the debate.

This step-by-step guide takes you through the entire writing process, from understanding your assignment to proofreading your final draft.

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Understand the assignment, choose a research paper topic, conduct preliminary research, develop a thesis statement, create a research paper outline, write a first draft of the research paper, write the introduction, write a compelling body of text, write the conclusion, the second draft, the revision process, research paper checklist, free lecture slides.

Completing a research paper successfully means accomplishing the specific tasks set out for you. Before you start, make sure you thoroughly understanding the assignment task sheet:

Read it carefully, looking for anything confusing you might need to clarify with your professor.
Identify the assignment goal, deadline, length specifications, formatting, and submission method.
Make a bulleted list of the key points, then go back and cross completed items off as you’re writing.

Carefully consider your timeframe and word limit: be realistic, and plan enough time to research, write, and edit.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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See an example

There are many ways to generate an idea for a research paper, from brainstorming with pen and paper to talking it through with a fellow student or professor.

You can try free writing, which involves taking a broad topic and writing continuously for two or three minutes to identify absolutely anything relevant that could be interesting.

You can also gain inspiration from other research. The discussion or recommendations sections of research papers often include ideas for other specific topics that require further examination.

Once you have a broad subject area, narrow it down to choose a topic that interests you, m eets the criteria of your assignment, and i s possible to research. Aim for ideas that are both original and specific:

A paper following the chronology of World War II would not be original or specific enough.
A paper on the experience of Danish citizens living close to the German border during World War II would be specific and could be original enough.

Note any discussions that seem important to the topic, and try to find an issue that you can focus your paper around. Use a variety of sources , including journals, books, and reliable websites, to ensure you do not miss anything glaring.

Do not only verify the ideas you have in mind, but look for sources that contradict your point of view.

Is there anything people seem to overlook in the sources you research?
Are there any heated debates you can address?
Do you have a unique take on your topic?
Have there been some recent developments that build on the extant research?

In this stage, you might find it helpful to formulate some research questions to help guide you. To write research questions, try to finish the following sentence: “I want to know how/what/why…”

A thesis statement is a statement of your central argument — it establishes the purpose and position of your paper. If you started with a research question, the thesis statement should answer it. It should also show what evidence and reasoning you’ll use to support that answer.

The thesis statement should be concise, contentious, and coherent. That means it should briefly summarize your argument in a sentence or two, make a claim that requires further evidence or analysis, and make a coherent point that relates to every part of the paper.

You will probably revise and refine the thesis statement as you do more research, but it can serve as a guide throughout the writing process. Every paragraph should aim to support and develop this central claim.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

A research paper outline is essentially a list of the key topics, arguments, and evidence you want to include, divided into sections with headings so that you know roughly what the paper will look like before you start writing.

A structure outline can help make the writing process much more efficient, so it’s worth dedicating some time to create one.

Your first draft won’t be perfect — you can polish later on. Your priorities at this stage are as follows:

Maintaining forward momentum — write now, perfect later.
Paying attention to clear organization and logical ordering of paragraphs and sentences, which will help when you come to the second draft.
Expressing your ideas as clearly as possible, so you know what you were trying to say when you come back to the text.

You do not need to start by writing the introduction. Begin where it feels most natural for you — some prefer to finish the most difficult sections first, while others choose to start with the easiest part. If you created an outline, use it as a map while you work.

Do not delete large sections of text. If you begin to dislike something you have written or find it doesn’t quite fit, move it to a different document, but don’t lose it completely — you never know if it might come in useful later.

Paragraph structure

Paragraphs are the basic building blocks of research papers. Each one should focus on a single claim or idea that helps to establish the overall argument or purpose of the paper.

Example paragraph

George Orwell’s 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language” has had an enduring impact on thought about the relationship between politics and language. This impact is particularly obvious in light of the various critical review articles that have recently referenced the essay. For example, consider Mark Falcoff’s 2009 article in The National Review Online, “The Perversion of Language; or, Orwell Revisited,” in which he analyzes several common words (“activist,” “civil-rights leader,” “diversity,” and more). Falcoff’s close analysis of the ambiguity built into political language intentionally mirrors Orwell’s own point-by-point analysis of the political language of his day. Even 63 years after its publication, Orwell’s essay is emulated by contemporary thinkers.

Citing sources

It’s also important to keep track of citations at this stage to avoid accidental plagiarism . Each time you use a source, make sure to take note of where the information came from.

You can use our free citation generators to automatically create citations and save your reference list as you go.

APA Citation Generator MLA Citation Generator

The research paper introduction should address three questions: What, why, and how? After finishing the introduction, the reader should know what the paper is about, why it is worth reading, and how you’ll build your arguments.

What? Be specific about the topic of the paper, introduce the background, and define key terms or concepts.

Why? This is the most important, but also the most difficult, part of the introduction. Try to provide brief answers to the following questions: What new material or insight are you offering? What important issues does your essay help define or answer?

How? To let the reader know what to expect from the rest of the paper, the introduction should include a “map” of what will be discussed, briefly presenting the key elements of the paper in chronological order.

The major struggle faced by most writers is how to organize the information presented in the paper, which is one reason an outline is so useful. However, remember that the outline is only a guide and, when writing, you can be flexible with the order in which the information and arguments are presented.

One way to stay on track is to use your thesis statement and topic sentences . Check:

topic sentences against the thesis statement;
topic sentences against each other, for similarities and logical ordering;
and each sentence against the topic sentence of that paragraph.

Be aware of paragraphs that seem to cover the same things. If two paragraphs discuss something similar, they must approach that topic in different ways. Aim to create smooth transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections.

The research paper conclusion is designed to help your reader out of the paper’s argument, giving them a sense of finality.

Trace the course of the paper, emphasizing how it all comes together to prove your thesis statement. Give the paper a sense of finality by making sure the reader understands how you’ve settled the issues raised in the introduction.

You might also discuss the more general consequences of the argument, outline what the paper offers to future students of the topic, and suggest any questions the paper’s argument raises but cannot or does not try to answer.

You should not :

Offer new arguments or essential information
Take up any more space than necessary
Begin with stock phrases that signal you are ending the paper (e.g. “In conclusion”)

There are four main considerations when it comes to the second draft.

Check how your vision of the paper lines up with the first draft and, more importantly, that your paper still answers the assignment.
Identify any assumptions that might require (more substantial) justification, keeping your reader’s perspective foremost in mind. Remove these points if you cannot substantiate them further.
Be open to rearranging your ideas. Check whether any sections feel out of place and whether your ideas could be better organized.
If you find that old ideas do not fit as well as you anticipated, you should cut them out or condense them. You might also find that new and well-suited ideas occurred to you during the writing of the first draft — now is the time to make them part of the paper.

The goal during the revision and proofreading process is to ensure you have completed all the necessary tasks and that the paper is as well-articulated as possible. You can speed up the proofreading process by using the AI proofreader .

Global concerns

Confirm that your paper completes every task specified in your assignment sheet.
Check for logical organization and flow of paragraphs.
Check paragraphs against the introduction and thesis statement.

Fine-grained details

Check the content of each paragraph, making sure that:

each sentence helps support the topic sentence.
no unnecessary or irrelevant information is present.
all technical terms your audience might not know are identified.

Next, think about sentence structure , grammatical errors, and formatting . Check that you have correctly used transition words and phrases to show the connections between your ideas. Look for typos, cut unnecessary words, and check for consistency in aspects such as heading formatting and spellings .

Finally, you need to make sure your paper is correctly formatted according to the rules of the citation style you are using. For example, you might need to include an MLA heading or create an APA title page .

Scribbr’s professional editors can help with the revision process with our award-winning proofreading services.

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Checklist: Research paper

I have followed all instructions in the assignment sheet.

My introduction presents my topic in an engaging way and provides necessary background information.

My introduction presents a clear, focused research problem and/or thesis statement .

My paper is logically organized using paragraphs and (if relevant) section headings .

Each paragraph is clearly focused on one central idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Each paragraph is relevant to my research problem or thesis statement.

I have used appropriate transitions to clarify the connections between sections, paragraphs, and sentences.

My conclusion provides a concise answer to the research question or emphasizes how the thesis has been supported.

My conclusion shows how my research has contributed to knowledge or understanding of my topic.

My conclusion does not present any new points or information essential to my argument.

I have provided an in-text citation every time I refer to ideas or information from a source.

I have included a reference list at the end of my paper, consistently formatted according to a specific citation style .

I have thoroughly revised my paper and addressed any feedback from my professor or supervisor.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (page numbers, headers, spacing, etc.).

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How to Write a Thesis Statement
Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.
Essay Guidelines (1) (docx)
English document from Sukkur Institute of Business Administration, Sukkur, 3 pages, Essay Guidelines Note: This document is an addition to the Two Analytical Essays section of the syllabus for this class. Please re-familiarize yourself with that information before reading this. Turning in your essays: 1) Please write in double-spaced, tw
How to Find Sources For a Research Paper
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How to Write a Research Paper
Develop a thesis statement. Create a research paper outline. Write a first draft of the research paper. Write the introduction. Write a compelling body of text. Write the conclusion. The second draft. The revision process. Research paper checklist.