ESSAY

Instead of traditional final exams, you will have to write some essays. Essays reflect both, your knowledge of the subject (answers to the lecturer’s questions) and your writing skills in English. You may also be asked to write a paper (term paper) on the given topic. In both cases, the essay reveals your knowledge of the subject and/or your own opinion about the given topic.

Example essay topics:

1. My memories from (the first days of) comprehensive school/ secondary school/ university.
Write about a memory from primary school, secondary school or university. You can write, for example, about your first day in school, or about something that happened on a particular day. Your essay can be in narrative form. Use the past tense.

2. This is what an ideal school/ college/ university should be like.
Write about an ideal university or an ideal school. You can write from your own point of view, or from the point of view of somebody else (e.g. a politician, a child etc.). Try to write an argumentative paper, using phrases such as "I think that...", "In my opinion...", and give reasons and examples to justify your opinions. Use modal verbs.

3. News in the media
Some people believe that newspapers are the best source of news. Other people think that the news is presented better on radio, television or the Internet. Which of these sources of news do you prefer? Use specific examples to support your choice.

4. University education
Some people say that university students should concentrate on their own field of study, and that all the classes they take should be closely related to that subject. Others believe that university students should get a general education, taking classes in many fields before concentrating on a single field. Discuss both points of view, using concrete examples. Which view do you support? Give reasons for your choice.