ECPE SAMPLE ESSAYS

Topic: More and more countries are becoming increasingly dependent

on nuclear power generation now that fossil fuels are dwindling in
supply. What is your opinion about this? Write a composition that
discusses the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power as an
alternative to more conventional fuels.

There is no doubt that nowadays many countries rely on nuclear power

generation since fossil fuel supplies are dwindling. There are a large number
of people who believe that nuclear power is beneficial whereas others hold
the opposite point of view. Personally, I have mixed feelings about this issue.

Nuclear power is believed to be advantageous for several reasons. One of

these is the fact that it is virtually limitless and this can solve and rectify the
problem of ever-increasing energy demands. Another one is that nuclear
power is the most inexpensive source of electricity these days, which gives
poor countries the opportunity not to spend a lot of government money on
energy. Lastly, nuclear plants are far cleaner than conventional fuel power
plants as they do not require the combustion of fossil fuels and therefore do
not emit fumes and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Therefore,
nuclear power has a very positive influence on both the environment and
countries’ economies.

On the other hand, nuclear power is thought to have many drawbacks for
numerous reasons. One of these is that nuclear power has a great diversity of
detrimental impacts on both the environment and people. To exemplify, the
accident at Chernobyl caused the contamination and destruction of the local
ecosystem and, in terms of radio-activity, its consequences in other parts of
the globe were both serious and far-reaching. Another one is that nuclear
power creates radioactive waste in the form of spent plutonium and the
problem of its disposal is insolvable as it remains radioactive for thousands of
years.

To recapitulate, nuclear power generation has both advantages and

drawbacks. On a personal level, I support that nuclear power is very beneficial
but I recognise that it could be catastrophic as well, particularly if anything
goes wrong. As to whether any given country should opt for nuclear power or
abolish pre-existing plants, I believe only the citizens have the right to decide,
but the onus is on governments to ensure that it will be a fully informed
decision.
Topic: Tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years. Why
do you think this is so? Do you think that it is worth the effort and
environmental damage it causes? Is it ultimately beneficial to those who
travel? Use specific examples to support your opinion.

It is a fact that in contemporary times’ tourism has become an ubiquitous

issue. A great number of people consider its existence to be an advantage to
citizens while others would go to any lengths to prove the opposite, From my
point of view, I suppose that its effects on the local environment can be
devastating.

I am a fervent supporter of the idea that any kind of tourism, even eco-
tourism, should be restricted for the essential reason that the destruction of
the environment is unavoidable. To explain, being swamped by tourists,
pristine areas such as Hawaiian beaches or the Amazon forests rapidly
become modified beyond recognition due to the demands for food and
accommodation tourists bring with them and the pollution and garbage they
leave behind when they return to their own homes.

A second point concerns the disturbance of the indigenous people. To

elaborate, as bus-loads of tourists poor into cities on sightseeing tours or flock
to local beaches in hordes, inhabitants are disturbed by the commotion and
noise they make. Hence, citizens have the right to get indignant with tourists
who, more often than not, have no regard for local customs or sensitivities.

On the whole, it seems that the disadvantages of this issue far outweigh any
possible advantages. To my mind, tourism is only eminent nowadays because
people are more concerned with the money it generates than the environment
it destroys. Therefore, I believe that something must be done to redress this
imbalance.

Topic: Excessive consumerism has resulted in the creation of huge

amounts of garbage which cannot be easily disposed of. Write a
composition which describes the main problems of garbage disposal.
(Do not write an argument nor offer any solutions)

There can be no doubt that in our contemporary times trash disposal is a

major problem which prompts great environmental damage. Extravagant
consumerism has triggered the creation of enormous amounts of litter and yet
the methods of disposal employed cause detrimental repercussions that
cannot be easily rectified.

One widely adopted way of disposing of rubbish is directly throwing it away in

the sea. This has many negative effects on marine life including the fact that
toxins become part of the marine food chain. As a result, the health of those
who rely on sea-food as a protein source is at risk.
Another disposal method is to dump litter into landfills. This is, however, a far
from adequate way of dealing with the problem as rainwater washes through
the half-buried garbage, causing toxins to seep into the ground water below.
This contaminated water is then used to irrigate crops, or worse, as drinking
water with inevitable consequences. It also affects marine life as it makes its
way down river systems and eventually to the sea. Additionally, not only do
landfills take up considerable areas of land that could be used for other
purposes such as agriculture or housing, but the stench given off by rotting
garbage is intolerable.

Finally, there is another way which entails incineration. In other words,

garbage and industrial effluence is disposed of by burning. This, however,
also has its drawbacks. Incineration causes direct atmospheric pollution which
results in respiratory problems. It also releases huge amounts carbon dioxide,
thus adding to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Moreover, there is
no way of getting rid of the resultant ash which is highly toxic and therefore a
dangerous pollutant.

To recapitulate, it seems that there is a diversity of problems caused by

current garbage disposal methods. They each have negative impacts on the
environment and yet there are currently no viable alternatives or solutions.
The onus, therefore, must be on the government and scientists to find an
answer to this desperate problem. Certainly, unless something is done, the
modern habit of throwing things away is going to become the impetus for our
own destruction.

Topic: It has often been suggested that the re-introduction of capital

punishment would deter the ever increasing rate of serious crime. What
is your view? Do you think that capital punishment should be
reinstated?

It is an indisputable fact that the crime rate has increased dramatically. Not
many people can stand this situation, so they suggest that capital punishment
should be re-introduced. However, others have the opposite opinion. From my
perspective, people should not be punished by being killed.

There are several reasons as to why the death penalty should not be
legalised. The most significant one is that killing criminals makes things worse
due to the fact that neither their crimes can be corrected, nor can they offer
things to humanity in order to compensate for what they have done. To
exemplify, a person that has been arrested and convicted for murder cannot
make the dead person live again by being killed, so execution helps nobody
apart from the relatives who might wish the guilty person to die out of a sense
of revenge. Another important reason is that sometimes people who feel guilty
and depressed are willing to die so, in this case, the criminal seems to be
alleviated by this action. To elaborate, capital punishment does not seem
harmful for them, so far from being a punishment it is a source of relief.
Notwithstanding these facts, there are those who support that by killing
criminals, danger to society as a whole is being reduced. This idea is flawed,
however, because of the fact that they fail to realise that criminals who have
committed serious crimes inevitably get life-sentences and are never released
back into society, thus ensuring the general public’s safety.

To recapitulate, it seems that there are strong arguments to support the re-
introduction of the death penalty, despite the concerns of some. I certainly
think that capital punishment is both inhumane and unnecessary and
therefore should not be considered as a viable solution to the increasing
criminality.

Topic: Many think that the achievement of success is due to hard work
while others think it's more of a matter of chance. What do you think
success can be attributed to? Write a composition expressing your
view. Support with examples.

It is often argued that success may result from a variety of contributory

factors. While a bewildering number of individuals embrace the idea that
success is a matter of chance, others advocate that it is a matter of planning.
My firm conviction is that success can only come when somebody is well
organised and prepared.

It goes without saying that should a person be contingent on nothing more

than chance, the game is lost. Life and success are all about goals. Whether
an individual is concerned with a small task or a challenging goal which
requires time and effort, setting goals results in creating a purpose. This, in
turn, leads to the individual expecting to achieve the goals and fulfill the
purpose. For instance, if a teacher is eager to alter the relationship they have
with students by setting a goal, chances are that they are more likely to
accomplish that in comparison to a teacher who expects things to unfold by
making zero effort. This should be considered in conjunction with a second
area to consider; what people regard success as being and how much they
fight for it. To explain, it is thought to be advantageous for people who dream
of success to actively fight for it, simply by putting a stop to procrastination
and starting to act on things they wish to obtain, not just long for them to
come.

Nonetheless, many are at odds with this idea, they view that success comes
from opportunities and chances, irrelevant to goals or fighting for them. While
this strikes me as being a comfortable point of view, how is a person expected
to attain the desirable outcome when not even trying to reach it?

On the whole, it seems that success is a weighty issue, having a great many
aspects to consider. My firm conviction is that not only success but day-to-day
activity is unlikely to be regarded as feasible, if one is not prepared to instigate
a serious plan for it.
Topic: Many think that it's important to experience failure in order to
learn from it. To what extent do you think this is true? Describe an
incident when you failed and what, if anything, you may have learned
from the experience.

There can be little doubt that failure is an integral part of everyone's life.
Indeed, it is inevitable not to undergo such unpleasant situations. As far as my
experience is concerned, I have faced failure many times. One of the most
remarkable ones is last year's final term examinations.

There are many factors which led to this negative experience. Actually, I used
to have a condescending attitude towards examinations and I felt the level
was very low. Thus, my efforts were insufficient and inadequate. Seldom did I
devote time to study right up to just before the examination period. Only then
did I suddenly realize that time had passed extremely swiftly and that I had
totally failed to exploit it. Understandably, my results were disappointing and I
failed to obtain the required grades to pass the year. I was forced to re-sit the
exams over the summer period at great inconvenience and personal
embarrassment.

What I learned from this event was of great magnitude. It is a gross

misconception to take anything as read and therefore not try to ameliorate
ourselves and our capacities. The fact that I did not pay the attention that was
required deprived me of the gratification that I would have experienced, had I
passed the first time. Fortunately, I took advantage of this inconvenient
situation and I benefitted from it by avoiding the duplication of such a mistake.

Obviously, it is not always convenient to achieve one's goals without effort.

Via similar experiences, each and every one of us can benefit by analyzing
profoundly our mistakes, which should have a great influence so as not to
repeat them.

Topic: Some people prefer to multitask. They often do more than one
thing at the same time, whether it's listening to music and doing
homework or working on two or more task at the same time in the office.
Others prefer to just focus on one thing at a time, without distractions.
Consider one of the two styles, and discuss why that style works or
doesn't work for you.

There can be little doubt that nowadays each and every single one of us is
inevitably charged with some responsibilities. Although a bewildering number
of people advocate that focusing on one task is beneficial, others are
conscientious objectors to this notion. As far as I am concerned, I firmly
believe that performing two or more tasks simultaneously is far more
propitious.
Working by executing many tasks at the same time is efficient. This style of
work tends to be less time-consuming and less wasteful of one's precious and
irreplaceable time. Doubtlessly, in our contemporary times, our modern way of
life involves and demands too many responsibilities to be able to cope with
easily. To illustrate my point of view, imagine a child whose spare time is
restricted, on a daily basis, he/she is charged with tons of homework, forced
to study and so on. It would be a great deal more efficient, for example, to
have a meal in tandem with studying in extreme cases. Consequently, the
time dedicated to the meal and other similar activities would be accumulated
in order to devote it to something more crucial.

One the other hand, there are some individuals who ignore this point and
subscribe to the idea that focusing completely on one task is favorable. In my
view, it is a gross misconception as they fail to perceive that time is restricted
and normally not adequate for one's needs.

To recapitulate, it is apparent that the positive aspects of the simultaneous

execution of tasks overwhelmingly outweigh the negative ones. This is a vital
part of our life and, therefore, the onus is on us to organise it as we wish.
From my point of view, however, I am an ardent supporter of the most efficient
way of doing things; that is multi-tasking.

Topic: Research shows that some people are reading and writing more
than ever due to blogs, e-mails and instant messages. Others worry
about the quality of these people's writing. Do you think technology can
be a help or a hindrance in promoting literacy? Discuss with examples.

There is no doubt that the majority of people write more than ever due to the
constant development of technology. Forums, blogs and websites where one
is able to chat with others encourage writing. Some individuals are fervent
supporters of the belief that writing under those circumstances is not
beneficial and in that way literacy will vanish from people’s abilities, whereas
others are aggressive opponents of this belief, claiming that writing, chatting
and blogging are constructive. From my point of view, literacy is not at all
affected but the internet but, contrarily, enhanced and improved.

To begin with, writing on the Internet and exchanging views through forums is
undoubtedly beneficial. Individuals when writing for blogs or forums read first
what is published and then express their opinion on any given topic. In that
way, numerable ideas and beliefs can be observed and read by the user.
Consequently, one is capable of enriching their knowledge on a topic and
acquiring information by the debate created there. In addition to this, the
diverse opinion expressed in blogs and forums may make the individual
consider their permanent beliefs and draw new and accurate conclusions.

Furthermore, people who write in serious Internet pages always express their
view by using advanced vocabulary and literacy. As a result, the individuals
can be benefitted from the simple procedure of reading whatever is published.
They learn and retain the new words or expressions, which is something that
leads them to develop their own language skills, thus acquiring the skill of
writing proficiently.

On the other hand, a large group of people are convinced that writing on the
Internet is not only pointless but harmful. They base their arguments on the
fact that on the Internet many badly-written texts are published which often
include contracted forms of real words and that the reader deliberately
embraces these bad expressions. Their ideas are flawed, however, because
they fail to realise that bad expression is something that repels readers from
setting their eyes on the text and in that way, they are protected from any bad
influences.

To sum up, it is a fact that more and more is written in blogs, forums and chat
rooms - the media only made it possible by technological advances and the
Internet. Personally, I believe that exposure and participation in such media
can only improve the level of language and literacy.

ECPE SAMPLE ESSAYS

Model Composition 1
Some people insist that the main emphasis on foreign language
teaching should be on speaking and writing correctly, while others feel
that teaching learners how to communicate and express their ideas
fluently should be the main goal. What’s your opinion? Support your
ideas with reasons and examples from your own language-learning
experience.

Grammar knowledge alone does not make students competent language

users. I learned this the hard way on my first trip to France. After two years in
a French grammar-based college, I was completely unable to make myself
understood or do the simplest things like ask for directions or order food. The
problem was that my training had included plenty of grammar drills, but very
little free practice. In the real world, I kept finding myself in situations that I
had not met in class, and I was so nervous about applying the rules and not
making mistakes that I could not communicate effectively.

This experience made me rethink my ideas about language learning. I

realized that learning to communicate in a new language was a lot like
learning a musical instrument. You cannot learn to play the piano by just
studying music theory. You have to put your fingers on the keyboard and
practice until gradually you begin to play more smoothly. And just as in
learning to play an instrument, making mistakes when you learn to speak and
write a new language should be a natural part of the learning process. The
idea is to practice and get better at “playing the melody,” which for language
learners is the ability to communicate ideas. Perfection can come later.

Of course, the end goal of language learning should be both fluency and
accuracy, but I strongly feel that learners should be encouraged to develop
fluency first. After all, no one expects a baby to speak in perfectly grammatical
sentences. Babies learn by communicating simply at first and then developing
a gradual mastery of their native tongue. Language students should be
encouraged to develop in a similar way.

Task 2 Model Composition 2 Some people feel admission should be free to

national museums, galleries, and major historical sites, while others disagree,
arguing that admission fees are necessary. Discuss the arguments for and
against establishing free admission to national treasures. Which do you feel is
a better policy? Support your ideas with reasons and examples

Almost everyone agrees that museums and other cultural institutions help to
preserve culture and educate people. The question is whether there should be
free admission to such institutions or a fee should be charged to help fund
them. The issue is far from black and white, so it is worth looking at both
sides.

On the one hand, there are those who feel that cultural institutions should be
free of charge. Their main argument is that these institutions belong to the
people. As such, they should be funded by tax income and exist for the
betterment of everyone in society. Free access means that everyone can visit
these treasures as often as they like. In other words, no one is deprived by
their inability to pay. It also means that families and educational institutions
can encourage children to take full advantage of the enriched educational
experience that museums offer.

On the other hand, there are those who argue against free admission. This
group maintains that while free admission sounds attractive, it is far from
practical. They point out that with government funding alone, it is difficult for
museums to make ends meet; particularly during economic downturns, when
funding might be reduced. A museum needs to cover operating expenses, to
make new acquisitions, and mount new exhibitions, so fees can go a long way
towards reducing the strain on tight budgets.

They also argue that fees do not necessarily mean that less fortunate people
would be deprived. With careful planning, for example, deeply discounted fees
could be set for students, and inexpensive membership plans established for
families and frequent visitors.
On balance, I feel that although both sides have merit, charging admission
fees is the better option. Without them, we may lose much of the culture that
we are trying to protect. With them, museums will be able to offer even better
programs for school children and others who would most benefit.

MODEL composition 3
The only way to solve a serious crisis between two nations is by going
to war. What is your opinion?

Even though the 20th century experienced two world wars, the threat of war is
now a fact which hangs over us all the time and is particularly acute in times
of international crisis. It is my belief that war is not the answer and should only
be declared as a last resort. Avoidance is the key word.

It is a sad fact that war is being waged somewhere in the world every day of
the year. Obviously, without disarmament on a global scale, this is the way it
will always be. Without weapons, countries would not be able to fight but,
instead, would be forced to reach a peaceful compromise.

It seems that it is the world’s powerful countries which play an important role
in making sure that a possible war is averted. By not abusing
their strength and respecting the rights of minor countries to self-
determination many conflicts could be avoided. They should also stay out of
the internal affairs of other countries.

Disagreeing with the politics of another country does not give the powerful
leaders the right to invade it. It is also their responsibility to halt the arms race
by setting the example. For instance, should they themselves dismantle their
existing missile systems and put a stop to the testing of nuclear weapons,
then other countries would be forced to follow suit.

The importance of settling major disputes such as those regarding a country’s

borders or the fair distribution of resources such as oil and water is paramount
in preventing some wars from breaking out. Should two countries involved in a
dispute fail to resolve the issue, the United Nations, an international
organization, should be called in to act as an intercessor. Any talks will then
be conducted through an intermediary body which will assist the countries in
reaching a settlement.

There are those countries though, who feel they can fully justify their reasons
for engaging in warfare. Having to overthrow an oppressive regime is just one
of them. Another is being forced to defend their land against aggressors. Of
course, no country can be expected just to stand by while they are being
invaded.

In conclusion, it appears that we are still a long way from achieving world
peace. Although many of us have either witnessed or are aware of the evils of
war, it seems in some cases to still be the only option. Unfortunately, it is
usually the innocent who are forced to pay the price for other people’s
selfishness and greed. War is rarely, if ever, the answer and our children
should be taught this from an early age through our own example. After all,
hate breeds hate.

MODEL composition 4
It has often been said that there is a lot of money to be made in
encouraging people to perfect their appearance.
Discuss this idea, using your own personal experiences to explain your
points.

Today, more than ever, people in the West have probably never been more
affluent. However, instead of enjoying ourselves, we seem to spend most of
our time worrying about how we look to others. Of course, there is no lack of
people who are quick to make money out of and even fuel this obsession.

With the help of the media, modern society dictates that in order for us to be
successful on both a personal and a professional level, we need to look like
Hollywood stars. Even though we are all fully aware that their appearances
have been enhanced by the help of a surgeon’s knife or by eating barely
enough to keep a sparrow alive, we still strive for perfection.

A colleague of mine being naturally on the plump side was forever on one diet
or another. She even signed up for a diet delivery, but all she lost was her
money. Then she made the decision to have liposuction done on various parts
of her body. The results were apparent almost immediately. However, this did
not really bring her the happiness we had expected it to, due to the fact that
she had diverted her attention to her slightly oversized nose! In the meantime,
she had joined the gym, paid for with her credit card.

The physical features having been dealt with, it is the fashion industry’s turn to
make some money. The fact is that clothes are no longer just worn for their
intended purpose — to keep us warm while hiding our modesty. They are, in
fact, meant to say something about the wearer — this idea being fed to us by
fashion designers. Most of us in the West spend large chunks of our earnings
on the latest fashions. This, we believe, is money well spent as it will put us
into the trendy category, disregarding the fact that these clothes will be
relegated to the back of the wardrobe within three months. The trendsetters
again — our Hollywood idols!

This was the case for my childhood friend who always had to be the most
fashionable girl in the school. This meant that she could only be seen sporting
designer labels. Of course, her parents could not afford this extravagance so
she was forced to find a part-time job to fund it.
In conclusion, it would seem that many different lines of business have
realised how to exploit people’s vulnerability in order to make money.
Appearance seems to be the current selling point in the West. Driven by a
desire to look as perfect as those they look up to, whether it is movie stars or
sports personalities, people will go to great lengths to look like them in the
hope that they will be able to share in their success. Sadly, the one thing that
cannot be sold as a commodity is emotional fulfillment.

MODEL COMPOSITION 5
Nowadays, many students opt to study at a foreign university.
What are some of the factors that motivate this decision?—To what
extent would you support or reject this idea?

Studying abroad is sometimes a matter of necessity. In some countries,

places in institutions of higher learning are limited and competition for these
places is fierce. This means that many students may not secure a place at a
university in their own country and must, therefore, look elsewhere. In my
country, students who want to study subjects like law or engineering must
meet very high admission requirements, and many capable students fail to
make the grade. However, these students may get accepted at a foreign
university to study the subject they dream.

Another important consideration that may lead a student to study abroad is

the reputation a foreign university has. Many leading universities abroad are
renowned for their high educational standards. Because these universities are
often well funded, they are able to offer students a range of benefits, such as
a wider choice of subjects and more high-tech facilities. For students who can
afford it, a period of study at a foreign university with international prestige
may be an attractive option.

Finally, students who decide to study abroad have a unique opportunity

to develop skills they will need in their chosen careers. While at a foreign
university, students can improve their grasp of a second language, and they
will get used to living and working in a different cultural environment. These
skills are important in fields such as tourism or international business; in which
people often have dealings with people from abroad. I therefore firmly believe
that for students who want to work in these professions, there is good reason
to enroll at a foreign university.

In conclusion, going abroad to study may be considered a wise move for a

number of reasons. Students can have more options when it comes to
entering higher education, and more experiences that will help them
professionally. This, in my view, can make their university experience even
more worthwhile.
 MODEL COMPOSITION 6
Many young people use social networking websites on the Internet through
which they contact friends or establish new friendships online. However, some
people claim that such activities are bad for young people. Do you think that
using social networking websites could have a negative effect on the young?
Explain and give examples.

Many teenagers who have access to the Internet enjoy socialising with other
users online. However, a number of people have raised concerns about
young people using these sites. In my view, such fears are largely
exaggerated.

Admittedly, there are some risks involved in using social networking websites.
Perhaps the most obvious risk is that a person could become so obsessed
with socialising over the Internet that they neglect their social life in the real
world. Obviously, this could be detrimental to social development, since online
friendships are a poor substitute for real personal relationships based on face-
to- face conversation and shared experiences.

Another serious danger of social networking sites is that young users may
become easy targets for dangerous individuals who intend to steal from them
or even cause them physical harm. Such people seek out young
victims on the Internet and can try to meet those who reveal their personal
details online. Users of social networking sites are repeatedly warned not to
post personal information, yet some have been known to ignore these
warnings.

On the other hand, I believe that the majority of young Internet users are
sensible enough not to overuse social networking sites or reveal personal
information online. When used properly, these websites have many
advantages. Through them, young people can make new friends from all over
the world.

Furthermore, the Internet is a good way of staying in touch with old friends.
Contacting friends through a social networking site can be more fun than
speaking on the telephone because users can exchange photos, play games,
and even use a webcam to see each other while they talk. In conclusion, I
believe that use of social networking websites does not have to be a cause for
concern.

Far from restricting social interaction, these websites can actually broaden
and enrich young people’s social lives, and they are perfectly safe provided
users are careful.