How To Improve Like Magic In 3 Steps! - Your Roadmap To An A

There’s a popular misconception that you’ve either got it or you don’t when it comes to English. While I don’t doubt that a strong foundation gives you an edge over others, it's certainly not the be-all and end-all to ace-ing English.

When one of my previous students first came to me (let’s call him John), he thought his “weak” foundation stood in the way of him ever scoring well for General Paper (basically the Junior College version of English) and kept scoring poorly. However, his arguments were actually sound - it was simply a matter of re-phrasing. Of course, it’s easier said than done. Most students probably think it would take 100 essays or more to see huge improvements and really get the hang of essay writing. In truth, it’s simply about learning to maximise the potential of your arguments. This can come from repeated practices till your mind is numb and your hands ache, but more efficiently, it can come from strategic thinking and productive learning.

I told John his arguments were good, but there were certain simple tweaks he could make to drastically improve his grades. Three tips that he learned over 8 lessons that helped him become the top scorer in his class, I’ll tell you here - for free!

First, answer the question. Simple, right? Yet many students get feedback that they are off-topic or that their arguments are irrelevant. The trick here is simply to remind yourself and your reader what you are talking about. Step 1, for the topic sentence of each of your body paragraphs, you should make reference to the subject matter (aka the essay question). You can repeat parts of the question or paraphrase the subject words. This isn’t just to highlight to the reader that you’re answering the question. It also acts as a reminder for you to tie your argument into the question. Step 2, think in terms of aspects. This is where I’ll echo teachers all across Singapore and say “avoid example-driven arguments”. It’s perfectly fine that your argument was inspired by an example, but this doesn’t have to be seen in your topic sentence. Instead, think of what the example exemplifies. Is there a specific reason/ consequence/ way/ subject behind the example?

Second, plan it out. Again, this is common advice. But why? Very often, students may think they have 3-4 arguments. However, as they write the arguments out, they find that the arguments overlap, making for a very messy essay. Instead, run through your mind and jot down points on how the arguments should flow. This doesn't have to be very long, just enough that you can identify the flow of logic for each argument BEFORE writing your essay. Don’t bother with full sentences in your planning - you can simply write them out in point forms, a flowchart, littered with arrows or whatever suits you best!

Third, go a step further. Consider whether your arguments have any obvious rebuttals or whether the benefit/ harm/ consequence/ whatever would be better fleshed out if you took a step back. Perhaps the arts helps tourism - but if we step back, how does tourism help the country? It helps us generate more revenue, increases foreign investments in Singapore and creates more jobs. As for obvious rebuttals, consider the persuasiveness in your argument. There are a few ways to go about this, of course. One would be to acknowledge the rebuttal and either concede or rebut it. Another would be to consider changing your stand - though this is quite extreme and should definitely be done during the planning stage. A third way could be to rephrase your argument to circumvent this issue. 

Not sure how to implement it? Get in touch with us at 8083 8986! You’ve got this, guys!

Cheers,

Jolyn