An essay in a foreign language requires high-quality content and a good organizational structure, as well as competent language design.

It is one of the most problematic tasks when passing the Unified State Exam. In terms of complexity, only listening can compete with it. Therefore, training in essay writing should be especially intense and intensive.

Since 2012, the time allocated for the entire foreign language exam has been increased to 180 minutes. Since the rest of the exam tasks have not been changed, we recommend that you spend additional time on the written part (80 minutes). Moreover, the plan for the assignments is clarified, which can make the task of writing easier.

In my opinion, cars should not be allowed into the city centers as they add to pollution and poison the air we breathe. We must also think about the people who live in the center and suffer from the noise made by cars. Moreover, the streets in the center are usually narrow therefore people are often stuck in traffic for many hours and, as a result, arrive late at their destination. Final-ly, with ho cars in city centers, there would be no need for large ugly car parks, which would allow more space for parks. However, many people believe we would not be able to survive without cars because most of the products for shops and other businesses are transported by cars. Besides, they are afraid that public transport would be overloaded. I am sure it is possible to solve these problems by introducing a reliable high frequency tram service as well as developing the underground. As for goods, we could use electric vehicles for their delivery.

To sum up, I believe that a clean, reliable and environmentally friendly public service would encourage people to use public transport and help smooth the transition to a car-free zone.

Learning a foreign language is the best thing to do, learning it in the country where it is spoken. Do you agree

Nowadays people spend lots of money in order to go to an English-speaking country to improve their language skills. But is it really the most effective way of learning a language? In my view, studying in a foreign country has certain drawbacks. Firstly, this way is very expensive as the tuition fee for overseas students is rather high. Besides, when you study abroad, you have to adapt to a very different way of life, which can be quite stressful. What is more, English teachers do not speak Russian so if you don’t know English well, you will not understand their explanation.

It is often assumed that it is better to study a language abroad because you can always use it speaking with native speakers. However, I doubt that we will have lots of opportunities to speak abroad as we do not know many people there. It is also believed that Russian teachers are not as qualified as those in England. I totally disagree with this opinion because Russian teachers can compare two languages ​​and explain grammar rules better.

To sum up, I would argue that the best way to learn a language is to study it in your native country because you can always get the necessary help from your teachers. Moreover, today we have lots of opportunities to improve our skills such as communicating with English pen-friends over the Internet. I think that we should travel abroad so as to practice a language but not to study it.

Foreign languages. Nowadays 2-3 languages ​​are taught in schools. Pros and cons

Most people understand that without knowledge of foreign languages ​​it is difficult to survive in the modern world. Therefore they send their children to schools where they can study two or even three foreign languages. However, is it good to study several languages ​​simultaneously? On the one hand, foreign languages ​​are the main part of our culture so they help us to expand our outlook. We cannot broaden our minds if we see the world only from the perspective of our own culture. In addition, learning languages ​​is a good exercise for the intellect. Moreover, if pupils know at least one foreign language, they learn new languages ​​much faster. On the other hand, many pupils find it confusing to learn two or three languages ​​at a time, especially languages ​​that are similar, because children usually mix up lots of words. Besides, some languages ​​are tricky enough to learn. For example, in English there are more exceptions than rules. In this case, children can be overloaded with homework. More than that, some pupils do not know their native language well and learning several foreign languages ​​could prevent them from mastering their own language.

In conclusion, I want to say that learning languages ​​is extremely beneficial and I would like to know different foreign languages. However, I believe children should not learn too many languages ​​at the same time so as not to get confused. They ought to get a solid base in one language before they start learning a new one. 16. Internet. Pros and cons We live in the age of information technology and nowadays the Internet is nearly as common as the telephone. No doubt that it is a unique invention, which has influenced all areas of our lives. However, some people consider the Internet one of the greatest evils of our time. On the one hand, the Internet is very useful, because it lets us access a world of facts, figures and knowledge. In addition, with the Internet, it is now possible to speak to friends and relatives any-where in the world cheaply and quickly. Other services are also available through the Internet such as booking tickets or buying things. Moreover, the Internet allows a lot of talented people to show the world their achievements and makes it easier to find a job. On the other hand, the Internet can become a disaster for our society, because people spend hours in front of their computers and neglect their everyday duties. Another worry is the activities of cybercriminals. For example, hackers can steal your money or even your property while cyberterrorists may ‘attack’ the world’s computers, causing chaos, and making planes and trains crash. What is more, leaders of different terrorist or oppositional organizations can use the Internet to find new followers.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that despite the criticisms by some and the fears of others, the Internet seems to have changed our world to the better and we must try to make the best use of it.

Cloning. Pros and cons

Recent advances in genetic biology have led us to quite a doubtful situation. People all over the world argue whether human cloning research should be controlled by the government as solving problems connected with human cloning is definitely not a piece of cake. In my opinion, human cloning experiments are extremely dangerous because there are huge risks of abnormalities in human clones. Moreover, if clones have been made, they will obviously have serious psychological problems connected with their unusual birth. Finally, there is no doubt that human cloning will change our perception of what is the value of a human life as we might change from having children to manufacturing them. However, scientists claim that human cloning could be very beneficial as therapeutic cloning could provide stem cells for regenerative medicine and tissues for transplantation. Besides, re-productive cloning will probably give parents who are both infertile an opportunity to have children. I am afraid that this technology is not safe enough to use on humans. It is also possible that clones will age quicker since the cell used in the cloning procedure has already been used in a real life individual.

To sum up, we must question whether human cloning is really worth it when weighed against the problems it raises. From my point of view, human reproductive cloning should be under the tight control of the government and the UN because it is dangerous to interfere with nature and the consequences can be really disastrous.

Books or computers. Who will win in the future

The latest advances in information technology make people think that schools of the future will use computers instead of printed books. Although electronic books have not been widely accepted yet, they have certain advantages over traditional paper volumes. But will they be able to replace printed books? In my opinion, students will be widely using computers for studying in the future. To begin with, computers can store lots of books in their memory and modern software allows us to quickly find the necessary information. Besides, with the interactive programs on computers studying will be much more exciting. What is more, electronic books will not degrade overtime like their counterparts printed. On the other hand, lots of disbelievers argue that computers will not replace printed books because a printed book is better for human eyes than a computer screen. In addition, books are cheaper and easier to use since they do not need electricity or the Internet connection. I cannot agree with this because modern computer screens emit no radiation and allow us to read even in low light conditions. Of course we will have to pay for electricity but I think it will be cheaper than to pay for printed books, which are very expensive nowadays.

To sum up, I think computers and printed books will peacefully coexist for years to come, but in the future technological progress will make it possible for students to carry laptops or even palmtops instead of traditional bags with lots of heavy books.

Computer games. Pros and cons

People have always had different hobbies but technological progress has caused the appearance of computers and computer games, which can keep a child occupied for hours. However, adults consider computer games a complete waste of time. As for me, I believe computer games are more than mindless entertainment. To begin with, computer games can teach people to achieve their aims as they regularly put obstacles and traps in the way of players which are necessary to overcome in order to progress through the rest of the game. Additionally, computer games can be a valuable source of accidental learning that can be applied to school, home, and social events. Moreover, teachers have also started to appreciate educational games as an opportunity to make their lessons more exciting. Nevertheless, quite a few people are against this activity as they find it rather addictive and harmful for children’s health. They argue that computer games make students neglect their school work. However, if we learn to control our computer use and play games for an hour just to relax after a hard day at school, this will not do us any harm. What is more, modern technology made it possible to eliminate the bad effect of computers on our eyes.

To sum up, I believe that computer games have more advantages than drawbacks. They make us persistent, develop our logical reasoning and help us to escape from everyday problems. The thing is to find a right balance between virtual reality and everyday reality.

Space. Pros and cons of space exploration

Space exploration can mean a major leap for mankind. However, it is often criticized because the price for these space experiments is too high, especially while poverty still exists in many parts of the world. On the one hand, space research is extremely beneficial as it advances technology. As a result of this work, we have lots of inventions, which have made our lives much more comfortable. In addition, through the exploration of space, we could find new elements, minerals or even discover new laws of physics and eventually learn more about ourselves. What is more, space exploration will allow us to establish a human civilization on another planet as a hedge against the catastrophe that might occur on the Earth. On the other hand, the benefits of space exploration are not self-evident, no matter how real they are. It costs billions of dollars to fund the projects of space science whereas this money should rather be spent on meeting the needs of the underprivileged. Besides, some of the technology we develop through space science can be used in a destructive manner if it is in the wrong hands. Finally, a travel to space can be dangerous as we may discover something that is extremely harmful for the living beings on Earth.

To conclude, I want to say that space exploration satisfies the human desire for adventure therefore most people are interested in space research. Nevertheless, I believe our governments should find the right balance between social and space programs.

Hello my beloved readers.

If you are confident that you write excellent essays, forget about it!

Okay, it's kind of rough. But in reality this turns out to be true. All of us - Russian-speaking people - write excellent essays in Russian, but when it comes to essays in English for the Unified State Exam, then we start having problems (to put it mildly). The whole point is that we do not follow their rules and structure, but we should...

Therefore, today we will learn how to write an essay correctly, what requirements to comply with, and I will also give you ready-made essays so that you can clearly see how they should look.

For high-quality preparation for the Unified State Exam, you need to use simulators, which bring you as close as possible to the exam situation. You can use a similar simulator here . Practice and pass with 100 points!

What is an essay and its types

Let's start with the main question. It is probably already obvious that an essay is a kind of composition on a specific topic. But it's not that simple. The first thing you need to clearly understand is the difference between the two types of essays. These include essays expressing personal opinion, as well as essays with a “pros and cons” structure. And you should know the difference between them by heart.

Essay requirements

The main requirement for this task in 2017 is the volume of words. Alas, you are limited to 180-275 words. In addition, your essay must be grammatically correct, and the vocabulary, of course, must correspond to the language level. I do not recommend using words from the Elementary level when you are trying to pass the exam.

Style is also considered a very important element in assessing the quality of a written work. Yes, we are usually not very attentive to this aspect. With us, the “richer” and more “informal” the language you use, the better. But the British love a clear structure, so I not only do not advise you to do anything other than a formal writing style, but even forbid it!

Planessay

Plans for different types of essays are also different.

Pros and Cons Essay Outline

For a pro-con essay, the following structure is usually used:

• Introduction.

Start with a clear statement of the problem at hand, as well as a sentence that expresses ambivalence.

• Arguments for".

Decide on the arguments for it. Express them clearly and, most importantly, do not forget that they are still related to the problem.

• Arguments against".

Decide on the arguments against. You can even combine them with the previous paragraph. The main thing is that your thoughts are clearly defined and reasoned.

• Conclusion.

In conclusion, clearly and clearly summarize what has been said, but still repeat the controversial topic again, expressing some hope for its solution.

What I usually recommend to my students is to outline your essay before you write it. The worst mistake is to write at random. Then you will find many mistakes, as well as complete confusion in your thoughts.

Personal opinion essay outline

If you need to express your opinion, then the structure of the text will be completely different:

• Introduction.

In this type of essay, the beginning is identical to the previous one: you just need to identify the question that interests you.

• Expressing your opinion.

Here you express your point of view and give several arguments why you think it is correct. Don't waste all your arguments on this part. One or two will still be useful to you in the future. Here you can give 2-3 arguments.

• Expressing an opinion opposite to yours.

Any point of view has arguments opposing it. So imagine them here. It is not advisable to write less than two.

• Your counterarguments.

And here you can use those couple of arguments that I advised you to save. In this case, 1-2 will be quite enough.

• Conclusion.

Words- assistants

The rules for writing an essay are an important stage, but it is equally important to use introductory structures and expressions that will show your level of language proficiency, as well as dilute the boring formal text with neutral phrases. Let's look at some examples with translation:

People say.../ It is thought... - They say...

Firstly… / Secondly… - Firstly/secondly…

To begin with... - Starting with...

In addition to… - In addition…

Besides... - Besides...

Despite… - Despite…

As a result... - As a result...

On the one hand... on the other hand... - On the one hand... / On the other hand...

The problem is/might be/seems to be… - The problem is/maybe/seems to be…

While... - While...

What is more... - Moreover...

Summing up... - Summing up...

In conclusion… - In conclusion…

Suggested Topics

Of course, I cannot say with certainty what essay topics will be this year, but from experience I can say that the topics are always of a general nature. The reason for this is that few people can write about banking, for example. But on general topics, any of us can write anything based on our own experience. Therefore, here are some suggested essay topics:

• Food - Food.
• Traveling - Travel.
• Fashion - Fashion.
• Love and friendship - Love and friendship.
• Money - Money.
• Environment - Environment.
• Family problem - Problems in the family.
• Work and career - Work and career.
• Leisure time activities - Things to do in your free time.

By the way, there is a wonderful guide that will help everyone learn to write essays perfectly! Just follow the rules and practice. The author gives here the maximum that a student can get when preparing for the written part of the exams.

Examples

Of course, I couldn’t leave you with nothing, and not even give you a template or example of how to complete this task. Read and analyze.

Have domestic appliances improved the quality of our lives?

Nowadays, many people have a great variety of devices at home that are thought to make our life easier. However, they also have some disadvantages. (Remember that you need to start with a clear definition of the problem)

On the one hand(don't forget to use introductory words ) , they definitely reduced the amount of time we spend on doing household chores. Cleaning, for example, has become much easier due to the invention of vacuum cleaner. What is more, washing clothes does not seem to be a big problem anymore. Women do it far more quickly than they used to. In addition, the process of cooking for a big family has become much easier. You can have a microwave as long as multi-cooker to prepare food in an hour insteadofspending the whole evening in the kitchen. (In this type of essay, it is important to have a clear structure: write only about the advantages right away, and then only move on to the disadvantages. Or vice versa. But never mix).

However, even though all this equipment was made to save our time, it also encourages people to work more, or spend their free time in front of television or computer. And that does not necessarily make people happier. They become lazier and in case something happens- they will no longer be able to survive without all these appliances.

Summing up, it must be said that although technology has made the life easier it should not define thequality of our lives. (Don't forget to make a conclusion at the end, but by doing so, emphasize your point.)

The structure of the essay, as I already said, differs depending on the type. Therefore, I will give you an example with various clichés of the second type.

Is it better to go on holiday with family or friends?

It is usually thought that going on holidays with friends is much better than spending free time with your family. I completely disagree with it. ( Similar to the previous comment - don't forget to identify the problem and mention it).

First of all, it is much more economical as parents usually pay for their children so you do not have to spend much of your money. Secondly, it may seem that going on holidays with your parents may be boring, but the reality shows that you can have as much fun with your relatives as you could have with your friends. (We express 2-3 arguments in support of your opinion).

There is also an opinion, that spending time with your friend or without your parents makes you more responsible and confident. It is thought that you learn to live on your own. (Don't forget that it is also necessary to indicate someone else's opinion opposite to yours).

I cannot agree with this point of view as the adolescence is the process that cannot be fulfilled during your holidays. And sharing time with you family, on the other hand, strengthens your relationship and encourages you to develop core human values. (Contrast the new arguments with the counterarguments that you received).

So whether there is a question who to spend your vacation with, make sure that it will be spent with those who love you most- your family. (And, in the end, remember to make the right point when asserting your opinion).

Common mistakes

Of course, there are no mistakes. But there are mistakes that are typical for almost 50% of students taking the exam. Therefore, I want to highlight those that will be embarrassing:

• Forget about structure. Use informal words, phrasal verbs, or simply inappropriate vocabulary in style and format.
• Write abbreviations don’t, haven’t, etc.
• Do not use introductory structures.
• Write less or more than the prescribed word limit.
• Do not reveal the topic of the essay or “go away” from it, hoping that you will be appreciated for writing at least something.
• Stupid grammar mistakes. Better check and correct it 10 times.

Guys, if you seriously want to structure your knowledge and improve your skills for the Unified State Exam 2017 under the guidance of a great teacher:

Quicker sign up for a free introductory lesson at the EnglishDom online school. There will determine your level language proficiency, learn weak sides, will pick up the most suitable a teacher for you, and you can study individually through a convenient online platform at the optimal time for you and for a reasonable fee.

Well, my dears, I am sure that your essay is no worse, and maybe even better. I hope that after today’s lesson, writing will become much easier for you, and the word “essay” will move from the category of “oh, what a horror” to the category of “well, that’s wonderful.”))

And in order to improve not only your writing skills, but also everything else that you will need when passing the frightening three-letter appearance, subscribe to my blog’s mailing list. There I regularly share useful materials, tips and tricks based on personal experience.

In the meantime, I say goodbye to you.

Until next time.

P.S. If you are interested in learning about my experience passing entrance exams and just reading my thoughts on this topic, then go ahead to my article “”

The goal of learning written English may be different for everyone: someone needs to take international exams where they need to pass the written part, someone needs to write letters for work, and someone wants to blog in English. The introductory phrases for writing an essay in English, which we will consider today, will also be needed in order to beautifully express your opinion orally.

Before we begin, I want to give a small recommendation that may seem obvious, but many people neglect it: before writing an essay or letter, make a plan. Many students consider this optional, but a clear outline will help indicate what issues you want to address in the essay. For example, if you are writing an essay for an exam, the task itself can be quite lengthy, and it is very easy to miss one of the questions posed, simply because you are immersed in your own thoughts and forget about it. A plan also helps reduce thinking time and get you started writing faster. For me, the most difficult thing about writing an essay is starting to write it. The given topic may be so alien to me that I have a question: what exactly can I write here? Or, on the contrary, there may be so many different thoughts on a given question that I’m at a loss as to where it’s best to start, and how to put all this mess in my head into a beautiful, structured text, and fit into the given word limit. In this case, the plan helps me a lot. Having spent 5 minutes writing it, I already know where to start and how to continue.

The phrases that we have given below will help you start your thought correctly and win a few correctly written words if you are writing an essay specifically for the exam.

What can you write in the first paragraph of an essay in English:

When starting to write an essay, it is important to voice the statement of the problem, and it is also worth noting what position you take on this issue. There is no need to fully disclose your opinion in the first paragraph, just express it in general terms. For example, you need to express your opinion about which vacation is better: passive or active. Then you can start your essay something like this:

• Most people think that the best way to spend their vacation is to lie on the beach and do nothing, but in my opinion, the more active you are - the more energy you will have.

Most people think that the best way to spend a vacation is to lie on the beach and do nothing, but I personally believe that the more active you are, the more energy you will have.
In this paragraph you are only expressing your opinion in general terms. Why you think this way - you will write in the next paragraph.

Now let's move on to phrases that can be used in the first paragraph of the essay:

• Most people think/suppose/reckon/consider that... - Many people think that...

If you are writing an essay for an exam, it is better to replace the word think with synonyms to demonstrate good vocabulary.

• Many people believe (any other synonym can be used instead of believe) ...., but others don’t agree. — Many people think... but others do not agree with this opinion.
• It is generally agreed today that...
• Today, with increased frequency - today more and more often...

Let's say you need to write an essay in which you need to compare live communication with communication on social networks. Then you can start it like this:

• Today, with increased frequency, people prefer to tell the news, using their phones, instead of doing it face-to-face.
• Today, more and more, people prefer to share news using their phones instead of doing it face to face.

Consider the following cliché phrases in English:

• For the great majority of people... - for the majority of people...
• We live in a world in which... - we live in a world in which
• They / people often say that ... - people often say that ....

Don't forget that we can replace the word people with they. We can also use them when talking about a person whose gender we do not know. That is, instead of writing ‘she or he’, you can simply write ‘they’.

At the end of the first paragraph, after you have written the introduction, you can summarize your arguments:

• Let us consider what the advantages and disadvantages of ... are - let us consider what the advantages and disadvantages are ...
• Let's consider some pros and cons of it. - Let's look at some pros and cons.
• Let us start by considering some facts. — Let's start by looking at some facts.
• I suppose we should start by looking at some facts - I suppose we should start by looking at the facts

Here are the arguments for and against:

• First of all, it is worth mentioning/highlighting the fact that... - First of all, it is worth noting/emphasizing the fact that...
• To begin with, ... - Let's start with that ...
• Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ... - Firstly, ... / Secondly, ... / Finally, ... .
• On the one hand…., but on the other hand…. on the one hand..., but on the other hand...

Don’t forget that if you write ‘firstly’, then you should also write ‘secondly’ so that the structure of the essay is logical. The same goes for ‘on the one hand’.

• One argument in support of - one argument in support
• The first thing that needs to be said is - the first thing that needs to be said is...
• First and foremost I want to highlight that... - first of all, I want to emphasize that...
• It is true that... the truth is that
• It is clear that - it is clear that...
• It is undeniable that.. - it cannot be denied that...
• It is a well-known fact that...
• A number of crucial issues arise from the statement. For example / for instance, ... - This statement raises many key issues. Eg,….
• One of the most striking features of this problem is - One of the most striking aspects of this problem...
• Another good thing about… is that…. - the second positive aspect regarding…. - this is what…
• What is more,… . - moreover…
  Besides, besides this...
• What I meant to say is that... - I meant that...
  Although... - although...
• In spite of... - despite...
• In spite of widespread belief that…., in my opinion…. — contrary to popular belief that…., I believe….
• Furthermore, one should not forget that .. - moreover, we should not forget that...
• In addition / moreover - in addition
• Thus, - in this way
• Nevertheless, one should accept that - However, it should be admitted that ...
• Perhaps we should also point out the fact that ... - Perhaps we should also point out the fact that ... .
• It would be unfair not to mention that fact that... - It would be unfair not to mention the fact that...
• We cannot ignore the fact that…. - we cannot ignore the fact that...

You can confirm your opinion by asking the reader to imagine a certain situation; this can be done using the phrase:

• Let us concede that - let’s say that...
• We are not warranted in believing.. - we have no reason to believe...
• The most common argument against this is that... - the most common argument against this is that...

Synonyms for think

We already wrote above that it is better to replace the word ‘think’ with synonyms to make the speech look richer.

• I believe... - it should be remembered that believe can mean not only “to believe”, but also to think, to believe, to be convinced. This word means your confidence in a particular issue.

You can enhance the effect by saying:

• I strongly believe... - I am firmly convinced
• I suppose... - to believe, to admit...
• In my opinion / On my mind - in my opinion...
• I’m of opinion that... - I believe that...
• it can believe that - it can be assumed that
• I ween - I think, I believe, I hope..
• As I can judge... - as far as I can judge...

We refer to the opinion of experts

Many teachers advise, whenever possible, to support your arguments with the opinions of experts.

• We can’t be dismissive of experts’ opinion... - we cannot neglect the opinion of experts...
• Experts in this field have a theory - experts in this field believe that (experts in this field have a theory)
• Specialists in this area are convinced that... - specialists in this area are convinced that...
• Experts emphasize that... - experts emphasize that...
• From these facts, one may conclude that - based on these facts, one can conclude...
• Which seems to confirm the idea that .. - which seems to confirm the idea that...

We draw conclusions:

In the last paragraph it is worth summing up the above and emphasizing your point of view. To do this, you can use the following linking words:

• To sum up what has been said - let’s summarize what was said;

Or you can simply write:

• To sum up, to summarise - let’s sum it up in this way
• In conclusion, I want to say that although...
• To draw the conclusion, one can say that - To summarize, we can say that
• The arguments we have presented prove that - the arguments presented prove that...
• So it’s up to everyone to decide whether ... or not - everyone must decide for themselves ... whether or not.

These introductory phrases for writing essays in English will help you write high-quality, coherent text, as well as express your opinion beautifully. Learn at least some of them - it definitely won’t be superfluous :).

Introductory phrases and filler words exist in any language. Such phrases help start a conversation, connect parts of a conversation, parts of a sentence, thoughts and ideas with each other. Introductory phrases and words in English help give emotional and semantic coloring to speech, making speech more expressive and rich. Such expressions can convey the speaker's attitude towards the statement. Examples of using introductory words and phrases in English

Knowing the introductory phrases and plug-in constructions in English will be very useful for those who are learning this language because it will help the beginner improve his language skills. Today we will look at the most common and frequently occurring introductory phrases in the English language, the so-called cliches, and their use in speech.

What are these English introductory phrases?

Introductory phrases are called introductory phrases because the sentence begins with them, and they do not play any grammatical or semantic role in the sentence. Such expressions enhance the emotionality and expressiveness of the statement, but if they are discarded, the meaning of the sentence will not change in any way.

Here are the main cliches with examples that will help you diversify your English speech:

• Moreover,...- Moreover…
  Tom is absent today, moreover, he is ill. - Tom is absent today, moreover, he is ill.
• Most of all...- Most…
  Most of all I like ice-cream. — Most of all I love ice cream.
• It is important to know that...- It is important to know that...
  It is important to know that this question needs an urge decision. “It is important to know that this issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
• It is important to remember that…- It is important to remember that...
  It is important to remember that we have no time to be late, nobody will wait for us. “It’s important to remember that we don’t have time to be late because no one will wait for us.”
• In conclusion...- In conclusion..., As a conclusion...
  In conclusion I’d like to say that you’ve done a great work. — In conclusion, I would like to say that you have done an excellent job.
• After all...- In the end…
  I am sick and tired of this conversation, and after all, it’s late, it’s time to go home. “I’m tired of this conversation, and in the end, it’s late, it’s time to go home.”
• In any case, … / Anyway, … / Either way, …- In any case..., Still...
  In any case, we should prevent him. Anyway he must know about the problem. “In any case, we should warn him.” Still, he should know about the problem.
• Actually...- Actually...
  Actually Tom didn’t know about the problem, so he isn’t guilty. - Actually, Tom didn’t know about the problem, it’s not his fault.
• Fortunately...- Fortunately…
  Tom is late. Fortunately, we didn’t manage to begin the conference. - Tom was late. Fortunately, we haven't started the conference yet.
• Unfortunately…- Unfortunately…
  Unfortunately, I didn’t finish my homework. — Unfortunately, I didn’t finish my homework.
• Firstly...- First of all, first of all...
  Let's begin. Firstly, I want to ask you some questions. - Let's start. First I would like to ask you a few questions.
• Instead of…- Instead of…
  Instead of watching TV now, you’d wash up. — Instead of watching TV now, you should wash the dishes.
• In the first place,…- At the first place…
  In the first place we must finish our work for today. - First of all, we must finish our work for today.
• From time to time...- Occasionally…
  Do you often see Alex? Yes, from time to time he visits me. — Do you see Alex often? Yes, he visits me from time to time.
• Аs a result of…- As a result of the fact that...
  As a result of what is done, we have a great job. “As a result of what has been done, we have done a good job.”
• Indeed...- In fact, in reality...
  Indeed, I need you. - Actually, I need you. Also in the proverb A friend in need is a friend indeed. — A friend is known in need (Literally: a friend in need is truly a friend).
• In order to...- So that, in order to...
  In order to manage everything, you should plan your day. — To manage everything, you must plan your day.
• In other words...- In other words…
  She doesn't want to finish her task, in other words, she is lazy. “She doesn’t want to finish her work, in other words, she’s lazy.”

Even more English introductory clichés

Of course, in the English language there are a lot of expressions that do not play any grammatical role in a sentence, but lexically enrich and decorate speech:

• It seems that...- It seems that…
  It is cloudy and windy outside. It seems to me that it will rain. — It’s cloudy and windy outside. It seems to me that it will rain.
• In short...- Briefly speaking…
  I am not sure he understood the problem. In short, he didn’t understand anything. “I'm not sure he understood what the problem was.” In short, he didn't understand anything.
• Besides...- Besides…
  I am very tired; besides, I think that I’ve caught a cold. “I’m very tired, and besides, I think I’ve caught a cold.”
• In addition,...- In addition, besides...
  We have a lot of work. In addition we must finish it till Sunday. - We have a lot of work. Besides. we have to finish it before Sunday.
• By the way...- By the way, by the way...
  By the way, did you pay for the internet? — By the way, did you pay for the Internet?
• However...- Nevertheless, still...
  I’ve finished my article; however, I have some details. — I finished my article, however, there are still some details left.
• Frankly speaking, …- Honestly…
  Frankly speaking, I don’t believe him. “Honestly, I don’t believe him.”
• In my opinion,…- In my opinion, in my opinion...
  In my opinion, Alex is a very sincere man. — In my opinion, Alex is a very sincere person.
• Аt first, … / First, …- First, first...
  Can I take your car? At first, I must speak with my parents. -Can I borrow your car? First I have to talk to my parents.
• First of all,…- First of all…
  I want to be a doctor. But first of all, I must finish the school. - I want to be a doctor. But first of all I have to finish school.
• Let us/Let"s/Let me…- Allow me, let's...
  Let me see your documents. - Let me look at your documents.
• On the one hand, …, on the other hand, …- On the one hand on the other hand…
  On the one hand this question is very important, but on the other hand it can wait. - On the one hand this question is very important, on the other hand it can wait.
• Also...- Also…
  I’ve bought some dresses for my daughter; also I’ve bought a skirt for me. — I bought several dresses for my daughter, and I also bought a skirt for myself.
• Nevertheless...- Still, nevertheless, despite...
  Nevertheless, Ann is late, we’ll begin without her. — Even though Anna is late, we will start without her.
• I would rather...- I would prefer…
  I would rather finish this exercise. — I would prefer to finish this exercise.
• I would like to...- I would like…
  I would like ice-cream with fruits. — I would like an ice cream sundae.
• I think, … / I believe, … / I guess, …/I consider…- I think, I think, I guess...
  I consider that our planet needs protection. — I think that our planet needs protection.
• Maybe...- May be…
  Tom didn't come to our party. Maybe he is ill. Tom didn't come to our party. Maybe he got sick.
• Probably…- Maybe…
  Probably Kate will win the contest. — Katya will probably win this competition.
• It's possible that...- It’s possible that...
  I can't connect the internet. It’s possible that our computer is broken. — I can’t access the Internet, perhaps our computer is broken.

So, these were the main introductory phrases and plug-in constructions in the English language. We hope that these simple clichés and expressions will help you connect sentences as you speak.

The assignment contains a certain statement. You need to write an opinion essay in which you express your own opinion regarding this statement (opinion essay).

WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

The essay should be clearly structured and include the following parts (each starting with a new paragraph):

1. Introduction. Here you must identify the problem specified in the assignment. It is important to paraphrase it and not rewrite it word for word. For example, task “In order to get a good adecation one should go abroad” can be reformulated as follows: “Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy” . This thesis should also be supplemented with a small commentary explanation. You can end the introduction with a rhetorical question.
2. Expressing your own opinion. In this paragraph it is necessary to briefly reflect your personal attitude to this problem and support it with 2-3 detailed arguments. It is important that the arguments are convincing, succinct and logical. Arguments are introduced using universal linking words and phrases.
3. Expressing an opposing opinion. The third paragraph of the essay should contain the opponent's point of view. This thesis also needs to be supported by 1-2 arguments. It is important that the opponent has 1 fewer arguments (i.e., if you have three arguments in the 2nd paragraph, there should be two in the 3rd), because our goal is to prove our own rightness.
4. Disagreement with the opinions of opponents. Here you should refute your opponent’s opinion, express your disagreement and support it with 1-2 counterarguments. Remember that you provide counterarguments to your opponent’s arguments, their number should be the same (2 opponent’s arguments = 2 of your counterarguments).
5. Conclusion. The last paragraph should contain a general conclusion regarding the issue under discussion, which is also supplemented with commentary. You can use a universal phrase that will make the reader think about the problem.

Below is a table with examples of introductory words and phrases.

STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY IN THE USE 2017 IN ENGLISH

Unified State Exam 2017 IN ENGLISH. UNIVERSAL ESSAY TEMPLATE

Nowadays, the problem of … causes great argument and controversy. Some people believe that ... while others think ... . Who is right?

In my opinion,…. To begin with, … . What is more,… . Additionally,….

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all, … . Besides...

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because… . … .

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of … is still to be discussed. As far as I am concerned, the point is to…

SAMPLE TASK AND READY ESSAY FOR USE IN ENGLISH

• Comment on the following statement:

In order to get a good adecation one should go abroad.

What is your opinion? Write 200–250 words. Use the following plan:

− make an introduction (state the problem)

− express your personal opinion and give 2–3 reasons for your opinion

− express an opposing opinion and give 1–2 reasons for this opposing opinion

− explain why you don’t agree with the opposing opinion

− make a conclusion restating your position

Nowadays, the problem of studying abroad causes great argument and controversy. Some people think that one can get a better education only in another country, others believe that it is possible to study at home. Where is the truth?

In my opinion, studying abroad is more advantageous because one can gain useful experience. To begin with, it can have a positive impact on students’ self-discipline as youngsters become more proactive and acquire quickness in comprehension. Moreover, it gives them a chance to learn more about the culture of the other country and improve their language skills. Additionally, it is a splendid opportunity to make new friends.

However, there exists another point of view on this issue. First of all it is very expensive to study abroad. Moreover, one should not ignore the fact that, children have to adapt to many things, thus, it can be stressful for them.

Despite my respect for this opinion, I cannot share it because there are a lot of exchange programs wich are funded by government, therefore, students can study abroad for free. Besides, a person should learn to cope with stress if he or she would like to go the university to broaden their mind.

In conclusion, I would like to say that the problem of studying abroad is still to be discussed. I believe that one should analyze and compare all pros and cons before making a proper decision where to get an education.

RULES FOR WRITING AN ESSAY IN THE Unified State Exam

• Count the words

It is imperative to keep within the specified volume: 200-250 words (a deviation of 10% in both directions is allowed, i.e. 180-275 words). If the essay contains ≤179 words, then the assignment will receive 0 points. If ≥276 words, then only the first 250 words are checked. Remember that 1 word is everything between two spaces. Hyphens (-) and apostrophes (’) are not spaces, so words like world’s, open-minded, UK count as one word. Practice writing letters on exam forms - this way you will learn to determine the number of words by eye and will spend less time counting them.

• Write in a formal style

Abbreviations cannot be used (full forms only) I am, cannot), as well as starting sentences with informal linking words well,also, but). Use impersonal verb forms ( one should). A rich vocabulary and variety of grammatical and syntactic structures demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the English language.

• Get your timing right

Give yourself 40 minutes to complete this task: 20 minutes for the draft, 15 minutes. for a clean copy and 5 min. for word counting and checking. Be sure to check your essay before submitting it!

Believe in yourself and everything will work out! Good luck!