1. A: Discursive essay
You attended a talk by the founder of the Book Appreciation Club, which was recently
organised during your school’s English Week. The following comment was made by the guest
speaker.
Reading has a strong influence on academic success
Write an essay expressing your opinion on the statement.
Sample answer:
Instructions: The paragraphs are not in the correct organisation.
What you should do?
1. Read the information in Table 1 carefully
2. Then arrange them in the correct and organised structure for the right paragraphs (Table 2)
3. Then, respond to the question in the google form
Paragraph 1: introduction
Most students nowadays find reading boring and a waste of their time. They would rather
watch k-pop dramas or play online games which they find more pleasurable. These students
fail to realise that reading has a strong influence on academic success. However, I personally
think that reading has a strong influence on academic success. This is because reading allows
them to gain new information, broaden their perspective and improve their writing as well as
comprehension skills.
(Based on the introductory paragraph above. Choose the correct chunk of information, and
paragraph structures from the table below to match with the suitable paragraphs. Copy and
paste the sentences to arrange them appropriately in the correct following paragraphs
(paragraphs 2,3, 4 and conclusion in the correct order – TABLE 2)
Table 1:
Choose the correct topic sentence for the correct body paragraph based on the thesis
statement in the introductory paragraph above. Then transfer into Table 2
MAIN POINTS
(topic sentences)
Last but not least, reading helps students improve their writing and
comprehension skills.
In conclusion, reading enables students to acquire new knowledge,
broaden their perspective and improve their understanding and writing
skills, resulting in greater success in their examinations.
2. Another influence of reading is it helps students to broaden their
perspective by reading
First and foremost, reading allows students to obtain new information
Choose and match the sentences below with the correct topic sentence and the correct
paragraph. Then transfer into Table 2
ELABORATION
When students read articles that express opinions, and viewpoints of
others, they would be able to understand an issue from different
perspectives. They become more broadminded and would be more
inclined to think outside the box when facing challenges.
Students should make an effort to read as reading has a strong influence
on academic success
Reading helps the brain to actively process information in order to
comprehend what was written, as well as improving recall of both
content and new vocabulary.
With the vast array of reading materials available in bookstores and
also on the internet, students can choose any subject of interest for their
reading pleasure as well as to increase their knowledge with new
information.
Choose and match the examples below with the correct elaboration for the correct
paragraph. Then transfer into Table 2
EXAMPLE
This is extremely beneficial in examinations. For instance, students
who read widely can score better than students who do not enjoy
reading, because those who read more would be able to understand and
appreciate the reading texts better, while absorbing and reusing
effective phrases or vocabulary from what they have read before.
One example is when engineering graduates are required to do a project,
they would get higher scores if they approach the topic not only from
the technical aspect but also from cultural and environmental aspects
Reading the newspapers for example, enables students to keep up-to-
date with the current issues and this can help them to score higher marks
in their essays during examinations.
Choose the conclusion sentences below to tie-up the discussion for each paragraph. Match
it with the correct paragraph. Then transfer into Table 2
L-Linking sentences
(tie – up)
Conclusion
sentences
Reading is definitely not a waste of time and students should
incorporate the reading habit into their daily life.
This means that reading beyond the classroom helps a person to gain
more knowledge which is important for academic success
Thus, reading broadens students’ thinking by providing them with
different perspectives on a topic which shows itself in maturity of
thought and balanced perspective
Therefore, reading can improve students’ understanding and writing
skills, resulting in higher marks in their examination
TABLE 2: PRODUCE A COMPLETE ESSAY (copy & paste from Table 1)
3. Paragraph 1 :
Introduction
Most students nowadays find reading boring and a waste of their
time. They would rather watch k-pop dramas or play online games
which they find more pleasurable. These students fail to realise that
reading has a strong influence on academic success. However, I
personally think that reading has a strong influence on academic
success. This is because reading allows them to gain new information,
broaden their perspective and improve their writing as well as
comprehension skills
Paragraph 2:
Topic sentence
First and foremost, reading allows students to obtain new information
Elaboration With the vast array of reading materials available in bookstores and
also on the internet, students can choose any subject of interest for their
reading pleasure as well as to increase their knowledge with new
information.
Example Reading the newspapers for example, enables students to keep up-to-
date with the current issues and this can help them to score higher
marks in their essays during examinations.
Conclusion /tie-up This means that reading beyond the classroom helps a person to gain
more knowledge which is important for academic success
Paragraph 3:
Topic sentence
Another influence of reading is it helps students to broaden their
perspective by reading
Elaboration When students read articles that express opinions, and viewpoints of
others, they would be able to understand an issue from different
perspectives. They become more broadminded and would be more
inclined to think outside the box when facing challenges.
Example This is extremely beneficial in examinations. For instance, students
who read widely can score better than students who do not enjoy
reading, because those who read more would be able to understand and
appreciate the reading texts better, while absorbing and reusing
effective phrases or vocabulary from what they have read before.
Conclusion /tie-up Thus, reading broadens students’ thinking by providing them with
different perspectives on a topic which shows itself in maturity of
thought and balanced perspective
Paragraph 4:
Topic sentence
Last but not least, reading helps students improve their writing and
comprehension skills.
Elaboration Reading helps the brain to actively process information in order to
comprehend what was written, as well as improving recall of both
content and new vocabulary.
Example One example is when engineering graduates are required to do a
project, they would get higher scores if they approach the topic not only
from the technical aspect but also from cultural and environmental
aspects
Conclusion /tie-up Therefore, reading can improve students’ understanding and writing
skills, resulting in higher marks in their examination
Paragraph 5
conclusion
In conclusion, reading enables students to acquire new knowledge,
broaden their perspective and improve their understanding and writing
skills, resulting in greater success in their examinations.
Reiterate/restate
the main idea
Students should make an effort to read as reading has a strong influence
on academic success
4. recommendation This means that reading beyond the classroom helps a person to gain
more knowledge which is important for academic success
TASK3: attemptGoogle form(inGoogle Classroom)
