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There are a number of ways of writing a 6th form essay...but here is the best safest way!
Number one, do not take the questions: 'Write a story on…'! If you do you will most probably get shot drawn and quartered! It most definitely is not the easiest option!
Your essay needs to be structured! Read carefully the question and ask yourself "So to what topic does this question refer ?". Make quick notes about what you know on this topic. These notes should include the main facts. If you have no facts you are on the wrong question!
Once you have the fact ask yourself about the argument you are going to put forward. Is this a for or against essay? Is this a discussion (in which case you need to know both sides of the argument)? Is this about what ought to be done? When you know the answer to these questions you are in business!
Once you have the core of your argument split it into two steps. The first step will form the first part and the second ...the second part. Beware, both these parts must be roughly of equal length. Once this is done you need to find out about your introduction and then find out about your conclusion…
BASIC INTRODUCTION: 1st sentence introduces the subject and explains why it is a good question. The second sentence introduces the content of the first part. The third sentence introduces the content of the second part. The fourth sentence and last establishes the link between the introduction and your first part.
FIRST PART: The first sentence includes an idiomatic expressions. The rest of the paragraph includes facts about the problem in hand.
SECOND PART: The first sentence establishes the break with part one (for example: 'On the other hand' / 'D'un autre coté'. The rest includes other relevant facts and / or opinions.
CONCLUSION: The first sentence includes an idiomatic expression and sums up the whole essay. The end of the conclusion is devoted to put the problem in perspective by, maybe, linking it with another topic. Why not finish with another question
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE FINISHED, THERE'S NO WAY YOUR GOING TO GET A GOOD GRADE! I BET YOUR WORK IS FULL OF SILLY MISTAKES. THESE SILLY MISTAKES WILL EASILY COST YOU A GRADE! SO YOU MUST CHECK THOROUGHLY FOLLOWING THE ORDER BELOW! IT MEANS YOU MUST GIVE YOURSELF 15 MINUTES AT THE END OF THE EXAM! THIS IS VITAL!
1) THERE IS ONE VERB IN EACH SENTENCE… check the endings. If the verb is wrong then the whole sentence is wrong! If you are not sure then change the verb (it makes sense to skip a line in the exam to have rooms for later changes). If you cannot change the verb use the dictionary! If you are clever enough to guess that's something is wrong, then be clever enough to do something about it (Father Christmas does not exist!).
Once the verbs are 100% THEN check the adjectives as well as the gender of nouns. If you are not 100% on a gender and don't have time to check...OK! But make sure the adjective goes with the noun! IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MUST SEE YOUR TEACHER.
Once Verbs and adjectives are sorted, go over your text and see if you can squeeze in any extra idiomatic expressions.
REMEMBER:
If you are clever enough to guess that's something is wrong, then be clever enough to do something about it (Father Christmas does not exist!). Check or change the sentence to side step the problem but don't HOPE that it will be OK!
IF YOU THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG
THEN IT PROBABLY IS!
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