1 Education Expository Compositions

Part I Focus On: Expository Compositions

The aim of an ‘expository composition’ is not to agree or disagree with a given idea, nor is it to propose solutions to a given
problem. In an expository composition, the writer comes up with his/her own ideas in response to questions such as:
• How has something changed? How might it change in the future?
• What does a certain word or concept mean?
• What qualities does someone require in order to do a certain job?

TASK A
Below are three writing topics. Discuss your views on each one and give examples.

Topic 1: Ideas about what makes someone a good teacher vary widely. Students often have preferences for different
styles of teaching particular to certain teachers. Similarly, there are frequent changes in the official criteria for entry into
the teaching profession and assessment of teacher performance. In your opinion, what skills, knowledge and/or personal
qualities define a good teacher? Discuss your ideas, with examples.

Topic 2: Academic success is not based solely on the ability to study hard and achieve high grades, but also on certain
personal qualities. What personal qualities and aptitudes do students require nowadays, in order to succeed in higher
education? Are the qualities necessary for academic success at university level different from those that are important in
high school? Discuss your ideas, with examples.

Topic 3: In the past, the whole purpose of schooling was for young people to acquire a good stock of theoretical
knowledge in traditional subject areas. Nowadays, however, education experts agree that classroom teaching should also
help young students to develop other attributes besides academic ability. In your opinion, what might these attributes be,
and how can classroom teaching encourage students to develop them? Discuss your ideas, giving appropriate examples.

TASK B
Thesis statements in expository compositions
A thesis statement summarizes your ideas in the first paragraph. It tells your reader
what your composition is about and helps to guide your writing and keep it focused.
As you write, you may want to go back and revise your statement.

Below are three thesis statements. Which topic in Task A does each one belong to?

1. In my opinion, there are two attributes in particular that schooling should focus on developing: an ability to interact with
others, and an ability to think independently. Increasing the amount of group work in the classroom can go a long way
to helping young students develop both of these crucial life skills.

2. Athough there are contrasting opinions about what it means to be a ‘good teacher’, I believe that there are two
qualities in particular that are always key to effective teaching: a patient and understanding attitude toward learners,
and a love of knowledge for its own sake.

3. The personal qualities and attributes one needs in order to succeed in both university and school are quite similar. For
academic success, qualities like discipline, work ethic, good communication skills and the ability to work well under
pressure are all important qualities to have, in my opinion.

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 Part II Topic Warm-up: Vocabulary

Tip Brush up on topic vocabulary

When writing on a specific topic like education, it is really important that you use accurate vocabulary related to the topic in
question. Consistently using the right word or phrase will get you a good grade for vocabulary. Experts on second language
acquisition agree that one of the keys to assimilating new vocabulary is to actually use new words and phrases in writing
original sentences. When keeping a record in your notebook of the new vocabulary you encounter, it is a good idea to come
up with your own example sentences for each item and write these down as well.

TASK C
1. 
In the sentences below, replace the parts in blue with the correct word or phrase from the box.

2. 
Then, write your own example sentences to illustrate the meaning of any words and phrases in the box that you found
particularly interesting (e.g. because they are new to you, or because of the concept they express). Read each of your
example sentences in turn to a partner, but without mentioning the key word or phrase whose meaning each one
exemplifies. If your example sentences are clear, your partner should be able to guess the missing word or phrase in
each one.

• high-flier • the three R’s • academic probation • lifelong learning • grade inflation • enroll in • careers orientation
• vocational training • academic courses • comes top of the class • instruction
• make the grade • rote learning • short attention span • fellow students • transferable skills • freshman year
• enrollment • literacy • academically inclined • offers guidance • continuous assessment • dropout rate

1. Over 60% of candidates achieve the top grade on the exam, due to a situation in which high academic grades become so common
that they mean little .

2. The course is demanding and the number of people who quit before completing their studies is
unusually high.

3. Although courses in which students read and write a lot but do not learn practical skills do not
prepare students for a specific profession, graduates can find work in numerous professional fields.

4. The adult college offers preparation for a specific job or profession for students who have
decided which job they wish to do.

5. His poor academic performance at university came as a shock, as he had always been a person whose academic performance is
exceptional in high school.

6. She is a very intelligent girl who alwaysperforms better than other students .

7. The establishment of the new adult education college shows the government’s commitment to supporting the idea that people
should be able to go on receiving education at any age .

8. If they are to meet the required standard of academic performance in higher education,
students need to cultivate good study habits.

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 9. Students in their first year at university often struggle with the demands of higher
education.

10. The number of people who register on a course of study is up again, for the fifth year
running.

11. Students who make arrangements to start attending these courses often have a clear idea
of their long-term career goals.

12. He’s on a trial period in which he may be expelled if his poor academic performance fails to improve ,
so if he fails the next exam he could be thrown off the course.

13. By age fifteen, many students from poorer backgrounds still fail to meet national standards in the ability to read and write
and mathematics.

14. He enjoys reading and learning new things. Clearly he is naturally interested in theoretical subjects .

15. The latest educational methods no longer focus exclusively on Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic: often said to be the three most
important things to be taught in school .

16. Classroom teaching by the teacher can only achieve so much. Students also need to
learn independently.

17. Each student has a personal tutor who, among other things, gives advice when it
comes to considering options for after graduation.

18. Assistance with choosing a career path and taking the first steps to getting a job should ideally
begin when students are at a young age.

19. Some believe that, due to the huge amount of information online, people who use the Internet frequently
have a low ability to focus on one task for a sufficient length of time .

20. Academic courses may not relate directly to a specific field of work, but they do allow students to develop
skills that are of use in various jobs , such as skill at writing and doing presentations.

21. Though an emphasis on memorizing information seems old-fashioned, it does improve

a number of mental abilities.

22. She formed a study group with several other students in the same class or on the same course ,
so that they could revise for the exam together.

23. A policy in which students’ grades for a course depend on their work throughout the course, rather than on just one exam at the end
can be a lot less stressful for students than the traditional method of a single final
exam.


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 Part III Analyzing a Task

TASK D
Read the topic below and answer the questions that follow.

Many successful companies establish their headquarters in buildings that have been carefully designed to optimize
employees’ work performance. It has been suggested that the same principle should be applied to schools. In your view,
what features might define the perfect school building? How would these features help students reach a high level of
academic performance? Discuss your ideas, with appropriate examples.

1. 
Does this composition task prompt you to look at arguments for and against changing the design of
school buildings?
2. Does this task present you with a problem that you must analyze and suggest solutions to?
3. 
What are the two questions in this task that you need to respond to? Underline them.

TASK E
Read the first paragraph of the model composition. Underline the thesis statement. What points will the writer discuss in the
body of the composition? Then, read the rest of the composition. How does the writer organize these ideas?

The design of a building influences the performance of the people working and studying in it. Schools are no exception. What
type of building design would provide the best educational setting? In my view, there are two main features that would make
for the ideal school building: classrooms with impressive views, and carefully planned seating arrangements.

The idea of classroom windows looking out onto attractive views may at first seem bizarre. Teachers usually admonish
students who they catch staring out of the window during class time. It is as if students must have their eyes constantly
on the whiteboard, the teacher, or their textbooks; otherwise, they are not really concentrating. Yet it has been shown that
concentration and mental acuity actually improve when people allow their gaze to wander. Contemplating varied visual
stimuli helps the mind to assimilate information on a deeper level, in much the same way that dreaming during sleep
consolidates memory formation and data storage in the brain. Moreover, a pleasant view can boost students’ mood,
facilitating learning. Classrooms with large windows and expansive views therefore make perfect sense.

Like this concept of a ‘classroom with a view’, the idea of alternative classroom seating arrangements might appear
somewhat unorthodox, yet incorporating this feature into the design of school buildings could have significant pedagogical
benefits. The traditional image of students slouching listlessly in rows of desks, staring blankly at the front of the class,
where a teacher struggles to keep their attention from drifting while lecturing at length about some dry mathematical
phenomenon or other, is all too familiar. Imagine, however, a math class with clusters of students gathered around separate
tables, eagerly engaged in examining a real-life math problem and sharing their ideas. Instead of strictly regimented rows of
desks, the ideal classroom should have a variety of more relaxed furniture arrangements, in order to facilitate different kinds
of classroom activity and interaction.

Intelligent companies have already implemented more up-to-date design concepts into their work premises, in order to
ensure employees can work to the best of their abilities. It is high time schools followed suit, in order to enrich students’
learning experiences. In my view, the first two steps to achieving this are: designing classrooms to have interesting views, and
altering seating arrangements to encourage student interaction.

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 Part IV Analyzing the Model Composition: Content

Tip One-sentence summaries

A composition should be clear and coherent. Having read it, anyone should be able to summarize the main ideas in just
one sentence. Whenever you read a text, see if you can do this. Write down your one-sentence summary in your notebook.
By learning to summarize extended pieces of writing as clearly and succinctly as possible, you will not only improve your
reading comprehension skills, but you will also appreciate how well-written texts are crafted for clarity and coherence.

TASK F
Below are three summaries. Which one best describes the model composition on page 20?

a. There are advantages and disadvantages to having students sit at rows of desks.
b. Two features of building design can aid learning: window views, and proper seating plans.
c. The best ways to make sure students don't lose their focus in the lesson is to have relaxed furniture arrangements and
encourage collaboration.

Compare the summary that you chose with the thesis sentence in the model composition. What do you notice? What does
a comparison of the summary and thesis sentence tell you about the function of a thesis sentence?

TASK G
Choose the correct option to answer the questions.

1. Why does the writer say the idea of ‘a classroom with a 3. According to the writer, seating arrangements can help
view’ might seem odd? students to...
a. Looking around while working usually reduces a. communicate better with each other.
concentration. b. listen more closely to the teacher.
b. Students are normally told off for looking out the c. relax after a stressful examination.
window. d. chat with each other during recess.
c. Most traditional classrooms have windows of limited
size. 4. In the final paragraph, the phrase “follow suit” means...
d. The concept has been tried and it did not have the a. “set an example”.
desired effect. b. “be an exception”.
c. “come up with new ideas”.
2. What does the writer say about dreaming? d. “do the same thing”.
a. It has been shown to enhance school grades.
b. It should be encouraged during class time.
c. It helps the mind absorb new information.
d. It is not usually seen as helpful to learning.

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 Part V Analyzing the Model Composition: Grammar / Syntax

Grammar Connecting ideas

Connectors link a new idea with another idea in a previous sentence or in a previous part of the same sentence.
They can be used for:

• Giving reasons and results: as a result, consequently, so, therefore, insofar, in that
E.g.: Classrooms with large windows and expansive views therefore make perfect sense. (paragraph 2)
• Comparing and contrasting: after all, however, instead, nevertheless, on the other hand, alternatively, in any case, on the
contrary, even so, although, whereas, yet, by contrast
E.g.: Yet it has been shown that concentration and mental acuity actually improve when… (paragraph 2)
• Adding information: above all, after all, besides, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly, what’s more, as well
E.g.: Moreover, a pleasant view can boost students’ mood, facilitating learning. (paragraph 3)
• Condition: if so, if not, otherwise, as long as, assuming (that), on condition that, provided (that), so long as, supposing
(that), unless
E.g.: …students must have their eyes constantly on the whiteboard, the teacher, or their textbooks; otherwise, they are not
really concentrating. (paragraph 2)

Tip Use connectors with care.

Some students make the mistake of overusing connectors, with the result that their writing sounds mechanical and does
not flow naturally. Therefore, remember to use connectors sparingly, only when they serve to highlight an important logical
connection. (For example, do you think the word 'therefore' is really necessary in the previous sentence? Or would this
paragraph flow better without the connector 'therefore'?)

TASK H
Circle the correct option.

1. Shy students should be given the opportunity to speak in small groups, otherwise / besides they may never overcome the
anonymity associated with large groups.
2. The way teachers plan lessons in advance is crucial to ensuring students meet the required learning objectives.
Even so / Similarly, the most meticulously planned lesson can still go wrong if teachers lack the necessary experience and
skill to manage a classroom effectively.
3. Education should provide opportunities to develop respect for your fellow students and their ideas. Yet / In that reality is
often different.
4. Traditionally, education is primarily thought of as the acquisition of knowledge. Nevertheless / As a result education also
helps shape students’ morals and beliefs.
5. 
Although / Supposing most students find group work satisfying, others feel reluctant to work in groups.

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 TASK Ι
Complete the following texts in a logical way. Pay attention to the connectors.

1. I expected my teacher to be impressed with my essay. Instead

.

2. If the examination is postponed, I can go with you on the excursion. If not,
.

3. This time you had better turn in your assignment on time, otherwise
.

4. As a result of our class’s poor performance on the test,

.

5. Forcing children to take part in activities they don’t like may demotivate them, and likewise
.

Grammar The Gerund

A ‘gerund’ is a verb that ends with ‘-ing’. Gerunds can act as:

• a subject E.g.: Contemplating random visual stimuli helps the mind to assimilate information on a deeper level
• an object (of a verb or of a preposition) E.g.: In my view, the first two steps to achieving this are…
One characteristic feature of English, especially written English, is the use of gerunds as the subject of a verb.

TASK J
Use your own ideas to complete the following sentences.

1. Revising the night before an exam can .

2. Praising children too much causes them to .
3. Changing schools mid-way through the school year might .
4. Getting top grades should not .
5. Reading for pleasure helps students to .

Now, complete the following sentences by adding a gerund after the preposition. The first item has been done for you, as an
example.

6. Education should also be concerned with instilling moral values, such as social responsibility. .
7. Students should be credited for .
8. There are numerous educational benefits linked to .
9. The educational program should focus primarily on .
10. Students need guidance if they are thinking about .

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 Part VI Analyzing the Model Composition: Vocabulary
Using descriptive vocabulary

TASK K
Below is an extract from the model composition on page 20. Some parts have been changed, in order to sound less
descriptive. For items 1-11, write the words that are actually used in the model composition. For each item, with a partner,
discuss why the writer of the model composition used these words. What extra information and emotion is added by using
these words and not the more neutral words that were substituted in the extract? You may need to use a dictionary to help
you.

Tip Using your memory

First, find and read the relevant passage in the model composition on page 20. Then, as you fill in the gaps with words from
the original text, try to do so from memory, without looking back at the text. This is a good way to train your memory and
to assimilate the words and phrases from the model composition.

“The image of students sitting in their chairs, looking at the front of the class, where a teacher tries to keep them
interested while talking for a long time about mathematics, is all too familiar. Imagine, however, a math class with small
groups of students sitting at separate tables, spending time examining a real-life math problem and telling each other
their ideas.”

1. sitting =

2. in their chairs =

3. looking =

4. tries =

5. keep them interested =

6. talking for a long time =

7. mathematics =

8. small groups =

9. sitting at =

10. spending time =

11. telling each other =

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 Part VII Analyzing the Model Composition: Rhetoric

Tip Joining two main ideas

• The ‘thesis sentence’, usually the final or the penultimate sentence in the introductory paragraph, is a key part of any
composition, as it states clearly the main ideas that the writer will explore in the rest of the composition.
• In the ECPE exam you are allowed thirty minutes in which to write a composition - enough time to explore only a few
main ideas related to the topic. You can express these ideas together in the thesis sentence.

TASK L
Look at the thesis sentence from the model composition on page 20. Underline the two main ideas to be examined in the
main body of the composition that follows.

“In my view, there are two main features that would make for the ideal school building: classrooms with impressive views,
and carefully planned seating arrangements.”

TASK M
In the model composition, the writer joins the two main ideas together using a very simple technique: listing one idea after
the other, after a colon (:). There are various ways in which main ideas can be introduced.
Items 1-4 are thesis sentences taken from various compositions about education. Fill the gap in each with ONE correct word.
Then, match each sentence to one of the techniques underneath.

1. In my view, continuous assessment is beneficial in that it both reduces pressure on students makes
life easier for teachers.

2. Not only does distance learning make university study possible for students who cannot attend the university campus,
it also enables adult students to organize their study to fit in with their existing obligations.

3. Successful teachers are those who possess two main qualities: , an almost perfect knowledge of
their particular subject; and secondly, certain attitudes and personality traits that will help them work with young people.

4.  from offering students practical advice on matters such as writing résumés and attending
interviews, careers orientation services should also prepare students to enter today’s flexible work market, in which the need
to frequently change jobs and even careers has become the norm.

introduce the first idea with ‘firstly’ and the second with ‘secondly’

introduce the first idea with ‘both’ and the second with ‘and’

introduce the first idea with a conjunction and a verb with an ‘-ing’ ending

introduce the first idea with ‘not only’ and the second with ‘but also’

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 Part VIII Time to Write

Tip Start with your thesis statement.

Before you start writing, it is a good idea to come up with a one-sentence summary of the ideas you plan to include. You
can also include this one-sentence summary in the introduction of your composition, as the thesis statement. By referring
back to your one-sentence summary/thesis sentence as you write, you can ensure that your composition is organized,
coherent, and relevant to the topic.

Choose one of the composition topics below, complete the summary, and then write an expository composition about the
topic. As you write, try to use some of the language features you have studied in this unit, so that your composition gets a
high score for Grammar, Vocabulary, and Rhetoric.

TOPIC 1

Educational practices have been transformed over the past few decades. The way young people are taught in schools is
still changing rapidly today. In your opinion, what are two of the most significant changes in educational methods that will
occur in the near future? How will these changes benefit learners of school age? Discuss your ideas, with examples.

SUMMARY
There are two main features of the current educational system that are set to change in the near future: the way
and the way .

TOPIC 2

Many students choose to enrol at universities in a foreign country. In your opinion, in what ways do young people benefit
from going abroad to follow a course of study? Give your opinions, with appropriate examples.

SUMMARY
By studying abroad, not only do students but they also
.

TOPIC 3

People make the decision to learn a new language for many different reasons, whether it be for professional development,
foreign travel, or purely for personal interest. In your opinion, what are the most important benefits of mastering a second
language? Discuss your ideas, with examples.

SUMMARY
In addition to *, people who acquire fluency in a second language also
.

*use a gerund here

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