The O level examination is an important milestone for students in Singapore and many other countries. One of the compulsory subjects tested is English Language, which has different components like comprehension, grammar and usage, vocabulary as well as composition. For the composition component, students are required to write essays in response to given prompts or topics. Over the years, the Examinations and Assessment Board which sets the O level papers has provided various essay writing samples to help students understand the requirements and standard expected for an O level essay. This article will analyze some past O level essay writing samples and discuss the key elements that are assessed in an O level essay.
Sample Essay 1 – Education
Topic: Some people believe that education should focus more on developing well-rounded individuals, while others argue that it should focus more on developing job-related skills. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
This is a common essay type that asks students to discuss two opposing views and then give their own stand. In the introduction, the essay outlines the two views – education should focus on developing well-rounded individuals vs focus on job-related skills.
The body paragraphs then go on to discuss each view in detail with examples and elaboration. For the view that education should develop well-rounded individuals, points discussed include that it allows students to discover their interests and talents, fosters creativity and critical thinking beyond the classroom, and produces graduates who are adaptable to changing job market needs. It also acknowledges that this approach may not directly equip students with job-ready skills.
Similarly, the next body paragraph explores the view that education should focus more on job-related skills, arguing that it provides students with in-demand and marketable qualifications, allows them to hit the ground running in their careers, and meets industry demands. It also notes that this narrow focus may limit students’ intellectual growth and abilities.
Finally, in the conclusion, the essay summarizes the key points of both views and then states the writer’s own opinion – that education should strike a balance by developing well-rounded individuals as well as equipping them with relevant skills and qualifications for the job market through a blend of liberal arts and vocational training. Reasons are provided to justify this balanced stand.
What makes this a good O level essay? It presents a balanced discussion of both views with elaboration and examples, and comes to a substantiated conclusion rather than just agreeing with one view. The structure, organization, coherence and use of language are all appropriate for the level.
Sample Essay 2 – Environment
Topic: People have different opinions on how to protect the environment. Some think the government should take the lead while others believe it is the responsibility of individuals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Like the previous sample, this essay also requires discussion of two perspectives and a standalone view. It starts by outlining the two views – that the government should take the lead vs it is the responsibility of individuals.
In the first body paragraph, arguments are given for why the government should spearhead environmental protection. Points discussed include that they have more resources and legislation powers to implement large-scale projects, can introduce regulations and taxes to curb pollution, and are better able to bring different groups together for collective action. It is also noted that over-reliance on government may reduce individual initiative.
The second paragraph explores how environmental responsibility should lie with individuals. It asserts that lifestyle changes and daily habits of billions of people can significantly impact the environment if practiced sustainably, and that volunteerism and grassroots efforts have proven effective when communities come together. Nonetheless, it also acknowledges the limitations of individual action without infrastructural support.
The essay takes the position that both government policies and individual effort are required to tackle the complex environmental crisis, citing the interdependency between the two stakeholders. Synergistic cooperation is advocated for maximum effect.
This essay demonstrates a competent analysis and discussion of the views with good structuring and language. The writer has also weighed the arguments judiciously before arriving at a sensible conclusion.
Sample Essay 3 – Education
Topic: Some people believe schools should teach useful life skills like finance management, first aid or coding instead of subjects like history or geography. To what extent do you agree?
This question calls for an essay that indicates the extent of agreement with the given stance, suggesting a more qualified or partial agreement rather than a straightforward agreement or disagreement.
The introduction presents the view that schools should focus more on teaching useful life skills instead of subjects like history and geography. It does not take an overt position yet.
The first body paragraph acknowledges some merits to focusing on practical skills, giving examples like their applicability in daily life and career. It qualifies that subjects like history and geography still foster important soft skills in research, critical analysis and broad general knowledge that are equally vital for life.
The second body paragraph then explores counter-arguments for retaining traditional academic subjects in school curriculum. Benefits discussed include how they feed cognitive faculties, cultivate well-rounded perspectives, and prepare students for more specialized studies later on.
The essay indicates that it only partially agrees with replacing non-practical subjects. While acknowledging the value of equipping students directly with life skills, it also cautions against losing out on other developmental gains from more conventional disciplines. A balanced approach is proposed instead of an outright shift to skills-only modules.
This response shows judicious consideration of different aspects before arriving at a guarded position of partial agreement, fulfilling the requirements of the question type. Strong structuring and language are also evident.
The above O level essay samples demonstrate attributes of a good composition at that level. The discussed essays present balanced and thoughtful analyses of given viewpoints, remain objective without bias, fully address the question and arrive at substantiated conclusions. Coherence, organization and language use are also suitable. When writing O level essays, students should aim to discuss issues from multiple perspectives critically yet concisely within the word limit, structure their writing cohesively, and express their views judiciously and sensibly. Following exemplars like these would help develop essay writing proficiency. Mastering this skill is vital for success in not just the O level English exam but also future education and career paths requiring analytical and communicative writing abilities.
Andrew Stroud