Приблизительный перечень сочинений по тематике, рекомендуемой на письменном международном экзамене

Education

1. People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities should give the same amount of money to their students' sports activities as they give to their university libraries. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

3. Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

4. Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to develop your essay.

5. In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.

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6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? All students should be required to study art and music in secondary school. Use specific reasons to support your answer.

7. Some people say that physical exercise should be a required part of every school day. Other people believe that students should spend the whole school day on academic studies. Which opinion do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

8. Some high schools require all students to wear school uniform. Other high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of these two school policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? High school should allow students to study the courses that students want to study. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

10. If you could make one important change in a school that you attended, what change would you make? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

11. Some people believe that students should be given one long vacation each year. Others believe that students should have several short vacations throughout the year. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

12. Your school has received a gift of money. What do you think is the best way for your school to spend this money? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

13. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Teachers should be paid according to how much their students learn. Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

14. School should ask students to evaluate their teachers. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

15. Students at universities often have a choice of places to live. They may choose to live in university dormitories, or they may choose to live in apartments in the community. Compare the advantages of living in university housing with the advantages of living in an apartment in the community. Where would you prefer to live? Give reasons for your preference.

16. Some people believe that a college or university education should be available to all students. Others believe that higher education should be available only to good students. Which view do you agree with? Explain why.

17. Some people think that children should begin their formal education at a very early age and should spend most of their time on school studies. Others believe that young children should spend most of their time playing. Compare these two views. Which view do you agree with? Why?

18. The government has announced that it plans to build a new university. Some people think that your community would he a good place to locate the university. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a new university in your community. Use specific details in your discussion.

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19. People learn in different ways. Some people learn by doing things; other people learn by reading about things; others learn to how listening to people talk about things. Which of these methods of learning is best for you? Use specific examples to support your choice.

20. In the future, students may have the choice of studying at home by using technology such as computers or television or of studying at traditional schools. Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice.

21. Is the ability to read and write more important today than in the past? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

22. Many students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

23. When students move to a new school, they sometimes face problems. How can schools help these students with their problems? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

24. Some students like classes where teachers lecture (do all of the talking) in class. Other students prefer classes where the students do some of the talking. Which type of class do you prefer? Give specific reasons and details to support your choice.

25. Some students prefer to study alone. Others prefer to study with a group of students. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Life experience

1. It has been said, "Not everything that is learned is contained in books". Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should never judge a person by external appearances. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? There is nothing that young people can teach older people. Use specific reasons and examples to support position.

4. Some people believe that the best way of learning about life is by listening to the advice of family and friends. Other people believe that the best way of learning about life is through personal experience. Compare the advantages of these two different ways of learning about life. Which do you think is preferable? Use specific examples to support your preference.

Mass Media

1. How do movies or television influence people's behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

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3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television, newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your opinion.

4. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, e-mail, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

5. Some movies are serious, designed to make the audience think. Other movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of movie do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should read only those books that are about real events, real people, and established facts. Use specific reasons and details to support your opinion.

7. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Reading fiction (such as novels and short stories) is more enjoyable than watching movies. Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position.

8. Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

9. Movies are popular all over the world. Explain why movies are so popular. Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

10. Films can tell us a lot about the country where they were made. What have you learned about a country from watching its movies? Use specific examples and details to support your response.

Native place (cities and countryside)

1. If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

2. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

3. It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.

4. A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

Ecology

1. Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this point of view? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

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3. A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or to protect the environment. Which do you think the company should choose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

4. Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

5. In some countries, people are no longer allowed to smoke in many public places and office buildings. Do you think this is a good rule or a bad rule? Use specific reasons and details to support your position.

6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Businesses should do anything they can to make a profit. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Progress

1. Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space (for example, travelling to the Moon and to other planets). Other people disagree and think governments should spend this money on our basic needs on the Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

3. Some people think that governments should spend as much money as possible on developing or buying computer technology. Other people disagree and think that this money should be spent on more basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

4. It is generally agreed that society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the contributions of scientists to society. Which type of contribution do you think is valued more by your society? Give specific reasons to support your answer.

Person's character

1. What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have these qualities changed or remained the same over time in your culture? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work for a small company. Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

3. Some people trust their first impressions about a person's character because they believe these judgments are generally correct. Other people do not judge a person's character quickly because they believe first impressions are often wrong. Compare these two attitudes. Which attitude do you agree with? Support your choice with specific examples.

4. Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone. Others like to be with friends most of the time. Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific reasons to support your answer.

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5. Some people prefer to spend time with one or two close friends. Others choose to spend time with a large number of friends. Compare the advantages of each choice. Which of these two ways of spending time do you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your answer.

6. Some people choose friends who are different from themselves. Others choose friends who are similar to themselves. Compare the advantages of having friends who are different from you with the advantages of having friends who are similar to you. Which kind of friend do you prefer for yourself? Why?

7. Decisions can be made quickly, or they can be made after careful thought. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The decisions that people make quickly are always wrong. Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.

8. When people need to complain about a product or poor service, some prefer to complain in writing and others prefer to complain in person. Which way do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

9. People remember special gifts or presents that they have received. Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

10. It is sometimes said that borrowing money from a friend can harm or damage the friendship. Do you agree? Why or why not? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.

11. Your friend has asked you for advice. Compare your friend's two choices and explain which one you think your friend should choose. Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

Social relations

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better to be a member of a group than to be the leader of a group. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Some people think that the family is the most important influence on young adults. Other people think that friends are the most important influence on young adults. Which view do you agree with? Use examples to support your position.

3. When famous people such as actors, athletes and rock stars give their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay attention to these opinions? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

4. Groups or organizations are an important part of some people's lives. Why are groups or organizations important to people? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

5. What are some of the qualities of a good parent? Use specific details and examples to explain your answer.

Travelling, transport

1. Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why you think it has changed people's lives.

• Automobiles

• Bicycles

• Airplanes. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

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2. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

3. You need to travel from your home to a place 40 miles (64 kilometers) away. Compare the different kinds of transportation you could use. Tell which method of travel you would choose. Give specific reasons for your choice.

4. You have the opportunity to visit a foreign country for two weeks. Which country would you like to visit? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

5. Imagine that you are preparing for a trip. You plan to be away from your home for a year. In addition to clothing and personal care items, you can take one additional thing. What would you take and why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

6. A friend of yours has received some money and plans to use all of it either

• To go on vacation

• To buy a car

S ports

1. Some young children spend a great amount of their time practising sports. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Playing a game is fun only when you win. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

3. Some people prefer to spend their free time outdoors. Other people prefer to spend their leisure time indoors. Would you prefer to be outdoors or would you prefer to be indoors for your leisure activities? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your choice.

Part 2

Аналитический параграф

Параграф, начинающийся с общей идеи и содержащий ее дальнейшее развитие, называется аналитическим. Следует обращать внимание на то, чтобы не разрушить целостность параграфа и в то же время следить за тем, чтобы высказать идею полностью.

План аналитического параграфа

•Первое предложение, содержащее центральную идею.

(topic sentence)

•Последовательность деталей, которые проясняют, уточняют или расширяют центральную идею.

(the developers - «развивающие компоненты»)

•Заключительное предложение (the terminator).

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Синтетический параграф

Параграф, чьи элементы стремятся от частного к общему.

Итак, разница между аналитическим и синтетическим параграфом заключается в направлении движения (мысли).

Аналитический параграф: от центрального предложения.

Синтетический параграф: к нему.

Example

(частями)

As we read through we come to the conclusion that the story presents events part at a time, building them up piece by piece.

Hence from the first paragraph we learn…..

The second paragraph describes…..

The third paragraph brings the story to an end. It confirms… (Он подтверждает … )

Thus events in the story move towards the central idea which concludes the narrative.

Повествование (Narrative)

Повествование - описание событий, происходящих одно за другим.

Описание (Description)

Описание стационарных предметов, событий. Первые предложения должны содержать общие понятия, следующие - описывать частности, детали.

Классификация (Classification)

Классификация - другая форма описания. Нужно классифицировать или назвать составные части общей темы.

Резюме (Precis or Gist)

Резюме отрывка из книги, доклада, газеты, статьи, содержащее главную идею, называется precis.

Искусство излагать мысли кратко очень важно, т.к. оно учит студента ясности мысли и изложению идей последовательно и логично. Оно способствует лучшему запоминанию прочитанного, лучшему, чем при многократном чтении одного и того же отрывка.

Резюме должно составлять около 1/3 от прочитанного объема. Собственные комментарии или выводы не требуются.

Нельзя использовать прямую речь, диалоги. Их необходимо парафразировать.

Парафраза (Paraphrase)

Парафраза - перевод диалогической речи в прозаическую. Нельзя путать ее с косвенной речью, которая представляет собой чисто грамматическое явление.

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Основное отличие парафразы от косвенной речи заключается в том, что студент не должен дословно передавать высказывание говорящего. Т.е. делается попытка передать мысли говорящего собственными словами. Дается мысль в одной форме, и нужно выразить ее в другой. Таким образом, парафраза способствует выработке навыков сжатого выражения мыслей и эмоций говорящего.

Список наиболее употребительных слов и речевых оборотов, которые помогут интерпретировать отрывки, содержащие диалогическую речь.

to want (wish) to know (that)…..	хотеть знать
to wonder of (why, when, where, etc)	интересоваться (почему, когда, где…)
to think that	думать что
to believe that	полагать
to suppose that	предполагать
to be sure that	г быть уверенным
to be convinced that
to doubt that	сомневаться
to suspect that	подозревать
to admit that	допускать
to deny that	отрицать
to reproach smb	упрекать
to advise	советовать
NB! Избегайте глаголов типа: tell, say, ask, answer.
to suggest that smb should do smth	предложить кому-либо сделать что-либо
to be too surprised for words	быть слишком удивленным, чтобы говорить
to remind smb of smth	напомнить кому-либо о чем-либо
to refuse to take smth seriously	отказываться воспринимать что-либо серьезно
to insist on (+ Gerund) smth	настаивать на …
to offer to do smth	предложить сделать что-либо
to refuse smth	отказываться от чего-либо
to try to dissipate one's fears	попытаться рассеять чьи-либо страхи
to take smth easy	воспринимать что-либо легко
to despise smb	презирать кого-либо
to feel uneasy about smth	чувствовать беспокойство по поводу чего-либо
to persuade smb to do smth	убеждать кого-либо сделать что-либо
to pull oneself together	взять себя в руки

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to brace oneself for the ordeal	подвергнуться тяжелому испытанию
to argue with smb about smth	спорить с кем-то по поводу чего-либо
to forbid smb to do smth	запретить кому-либо делать что-либо
to have one's way	иметь собственное мнение
to feel bewildered	чувствовать себя обескураженным
to feel ashamed	чувствовать себя пристыженным
to feel scared	чувствовать себя испуганным
to comfort	успокаивать
to become interested in	заинтересоваться
to be positive about smth	положительно относиться к чему-либо
to make a bet	побиться об заклад
to have no doubts about smth	не иметь сомнений по поводу
to be reluctant	испытывать нежелание

Как делать резюме

Искусство передать краткое содержание прочитанного обретается не сразу. Оно требует внимательного и вдумчивого чтения, чтобы уловить основную идею и вербализировать ее ясно и кратко.

Вот несколько рекомендаций, которые облегчат работу над кратким пересказом:

1. Сначала внимательно прочитайте отрывок. Найдите основную мысль и составьте план построения параграфов.

2. Еще медленнее и внимательнее прочитайте отрывок, во время чтения определите темы параграфов и их взаимосвязь.

3. Затем читайте предложение за предложением. Подчеркните ключевые предложения, слова, важные факты. Делая это, избегайте повторов.

4. Сделайте парафраз диалогической речи.

5. Потом составьте перечень (развернутый план) того, о чем вы собираетесь говорить. Используйте свои слова. Этот план должен содержать все существенные факты. Дополнительную информацию вносить нельзя. Свое мнение не выражать.

6. Составьте краткий план.

7. Придерживайтесь одной временной формы.

8. Повторите, удостоверившись, что вы не внесли в пересказ свои эмоции и суждения, что вы перечислили все важные моменты и исключили второстепенные.

9. Проследите, чтобы все части рассказа были логически связаны и понятны слушателю, незнакомому с оригиналом.

10. Помните! Резюме - это конденсация. Оно должно быть не более 1/3 оригинала.

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