personal essay junior cycle

Tips For Writing Essays for the JC English

31 August 2021

6 minutes to read

• 01. What is the junior cert English marking scheme?
• 02. Essay evaluation in the Junior cert English
• 03. Tips to write a good essay for the JCT
• 04. Find support with a private tutor

The Irish junior cert is like a rite of passage for many students. Aimed at students from 12 to 15 and also known as the post-primary period where students encounter their first official academic evaluation, it's no wonder they find this time in their academic lives stressful.

Junior cycle English can be particularly challenging, with the new junior cert curriculum playing a major role in what students look at when trying to earn the best marks in their junior cycle English assessment.

One of the big sections of the Junior Cycle English examination is the essay side, with writing being a big component of the evaluation. If you are worried about writing the essay and making sure it is aligned with the overall marking expectations, fear not, we've got the best tips and tricks to make sure you succeed in getting the best possible mark. Keep reading.

What is the junior cert English marking scheme?

As you probably know, the evaluation system for the Junior Cycle English has changed in the past years, with several changes being made to accommodate the new curriculum.

According to official sources and given the fact that English is the first subject being examined in the reformed Junior Cycle programme, a revised grading system will apply in English in 2017 which will be rolled out to other subjects as other reformed subjects come on stream.

In the Junior Certificate, candidates will continue to achieve grades of A, B, C, etc. to NG based on marks achieved, a total of 7 grades. In the Junior Cycle, the achievement will be indicated using the grade descriptors of Distinction, Higher Merit, Merit, Achieved, Partially Achieved, and Not Graded, a total of 6-grade descriptors.

Check out these English resources !

Essay evaluation in the Junior cert English

Writing an essay is a fundamental part of the English Junior cert , one that will show teachers and evaluators how well your dominion of certain topics and level of expression in the English language is.

The essay is evaluated in the following way:

For Teacher Annotations.

• Genre awareness and control/creativity: The student shows good awareness of the chosen genre and makes the piece personal and descriptive. There is a reasonably good structure, though at times the control of the genre slips and it becomes more factual than personal.
• Writing competence and word choices: The language attempts to create pictures of the people and the place and achieves this well at times. However, there are quite a few sentence fragments and some lapses in grammar and spelling. Nonetheless, the colloquialisms employed and the conversational tone suit the topic quite well.
• Awareness of and shaping for receiver/audience:  The student has written for his/her own peer group and shows a reasonable awareness of the audience. Whilst there are some engaging reflective moments (‘staring at the freshly cut grass’), at times the piece drifts into quite a functional outline of the club’s five-year plan.

Looking for English courses for adults ?

For features of quality:

• Exceptional: The student’s text shows creativity and command of the chosen genre. The writing is highly competent, marked by original ideas, and imaginative word choices are perfectly suited to the purpose of the text. The work is fully shaped for its intended receiver/audience.
• Above expectations: The student’s text shows a very good control of the chosen genre. The writing is consistently competent, and effective word choices are very well matched to the purpose of the text. The work is clearly shaped with the receiver/audience in mind.
• In line with expectations: The student’s text shows good awareness of the chosen genre. The writing is generally competent, and word choices match the purpose of the text well. Content and development of ideas reveal consistent awareness of the receiver/audience.
• Yet to meet expectations: The student’s text shows little awareness of the chosen genre. The writing lacks competence, and word choices may be inappropriate to the intended purpose of the text. Content and development of ideas reveal little awareness of a receiver/audience.

As you can see, there are various aspects to consider when writing your essay. You need to be well-rounded in the genre and able to use words and vocabulary that suit the topic and context that you are talking about. Considering your audience is also quite important, as this will shape the purpose of your essay and how it is structured and written.

All of these details will be taken into consideration by the evaluators so, before you even start taking the exam, it's important to have a gameplan of what you are going to talk about in your writing and how you will approach the subject and vocabulary.

This can be a daunting task for some students so we've compiled some tips to write the best possible essay below...

Go to our English media guide for students . Learn how to take good notes .

Tips to write a good essay for the JCT

For some students, the idea of tackling the English essay component can be quite overwhelming. Truth be told, there is no fixed formula that you can use when writing your essay: it's not a matter of memorizing data or learning a method. What you really need to do is have a good level of background knowledge on current affairs and a solid grasp of critical thinking skills.

But that doesn't mean that everything is lost. On the contrary, there are some excellent tips and hacks you can use to make your essay writing skills shine. What are they? Keep reading to learn more!

• Define your Topics of Interests: no one can be an expert on every topic. Politics, science, economy, sociology... there is just a lot to choose from. What we suggest is narrowing down the topics you will master so you can work on being as well versed as possible on said topics. A good idea is to ask yourself: what kind of topics do you gravitate towards? Following your interest will fuel you through the readings later. After that, you can do some research in the media, online, and by going to the library.
• Keep up with local and global news: you will need some basic knowledge and good vocabulary in order to write your essay. One no-hassle way to catch up with current affairs is to download news apps. You can check out multiple news and information sources around the world and see how professional writers are creating their own pieces and what vocabulary they use.
• Borrow English Essays from Top Students: it's not about replicating or copying what they are doing, it's mostly to understand how a good essay is structured. By studying what makes a top student’s English essay stand out, you can learn how to craft a strong topic sentence, the phrases you can use to strengthen your arguments and counter-arguments, and how to have a solid conclusion. Even if you are to write your own essay about a completely different topic, the same skill sets can still be applied.
• Define your argument: As you plan and prepare to write the essay, you must consider what your argument is going to be. This means taking an informed position or point of view on the topic presented in the question, then defining and presenting a specific argument.
• Evidence provides concrete information to support your claim. It typically consists of specific examples, facts, quotations, statistics, and illustrations.
• Reasoning connects the evidence to your argument. Rather than citing evidence like a shopping list, you need to evaluate the evidence and show how it supports your argument.
• The scholarship is used to show how your argument relates to what has been written on the topic (citing specific works). Scholarship can be used as part of your evidence and reasoning to support your argument.
• Write clearly: make sure your essay makes sense to you when you reread it and that the structuring of the sentences and paragraphs makes sense.
• Cite sources: remember to use the asked format when citing where the information you are writing came from.

Check out these English past papers .

Find support with a private tutor

If you are still feeling doubtful about your essay writing skills, there is one extra resource you can look to before writing your essay: signing up for some private lessons with a tutor.

In Superprof we have a wide network of specialized private tutors who are open to working with students in their junior cycle to help them reach their goals.

Finding a tutor is quite easy but it will be up to you to make sure you reach out to the best possible tutor for you. This is because all of the tutors' profiles are extremely diverse and you will need to make sure you find your true match.

Once you find them, the rest is smooth sailing and they could be just what you need in order to write that superb essay in your examinations!

Head to our literature guide !

Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!

Hi I'm Adam and I write for Superprof Ireland

Cancel reply

Your comment

Current ye@r *

Leave this field empty

• Junior Cert. English (Higher) 2012: Paper 1 Section 2 Personal Writing
• Back to the question >

Preparation

• You must become a newspaper journalist for this essay. Give the reader an idea of what it is like to work on a major news story.
• Your essay may include: your thoughts and feelings on the story or the characters involved, details of your investigative work, your working day, your editor’s reaction to your work, etc.
• Remember you must organise your work into paragraphs.
• Keep your essay lively for the reader. They should want to read your work.
• Ask yourself what man-made things do you consider to be beautiful? Some ideas could be: your computer, phone, iPod, hair straightener, earphones, car, bike, lifts, toaster, buildings, etc. The list is endless!
• Make sure that you explain why you find the object beautiful. There is opportunity for humour here!
• Plan and organise your answer carefully.
• Read the phrase carefully. Your essay should be inspired by this phrase. If you wish, you can use it in your essay.
• Your composition can take any form you wish as long as it is inspired by the phrase given.
• You must write a short story. You can take a variety of approaches but, generally, all short stories have a beginning, middle and end, have at least one character, and have some kind of tension, resolution and climax.
• Ask yourself the following questions to generate ideas: who, what, why, where and how?
• Beware of creating an overlong timeline. You have limited time and space. It would be impossible to cover a character’s entire life in 2-4 A4 pages.
• Try to concentrate on 1-3 main characters.
• You have a long time to write this essay. Re-read what you have written quickly to check it for mistakes.
• Create atmosphere and images for the reader. It will improve your writing.
• It would be wise to greet the audience initially, give them your name and tell them why you are speaking. You usually start a debate speech with the following: Chairperson, adjudicators, members of the proposition/opposition, ladies and gentlemen…
• Think about the topic to be debated. Do you think young people are unhealthy? Why? Remember you must take a side.
• Reach out to the audience and ensure they are listening to you. A good way to do this is to ask real or rhetorical questions. Another effective way to ensure audience participation is to use humour.
• You must have a definite end to your speech. You could thank the audience for their attention and open for questions. However, there are many effective possibilities.
• If your friends are very important to you, this could be an ideal essay choice.
• Think about your friends. Why are they important? Do you have any examples of when they were particularly important to you?
• Remember you have to write at least two and a half A4 pages.
• Look at the notes on short story writing above.
• Examine the picture carefully. This image should be your inspiration.
• Help us make e-xamit better - e-mail support if you spot any errors!
• The content of this site is the intellectual property of e-xamit.ie
• Legal & privacy information

6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay

Personal essays are easy once you know how!

• Tips For Adult Students
• Getting Your Ged

• B.A., English, St. Olaf College

It is the first day of a new school year and your teacher has just assigned a personal essay. They have good reasons for this assignment—personal or narrative essays allow teachers to assess your grasp of language, composition, and creativity.

If you don't know where to start or feel overwhelmed by the open-ended prompt, this list is here to help you navigate the process from beginning to end. Writing about yourself is easy to do when you keep the key ingredients of a great essay in mind.

Find Inspiration and Ideas

You can't begin a personal essay without a topic. If you are stuck on what to write about, look to some of these sources of inspiration:

• Consult lists of ideas to get your brain thinking about the possibilities of your essay. Remember that a personal essay is autobiographical, so do not write about anything untrue.
• Try writing a  stream of consciousness . To do this, start writing whatever is on your mind and don't stop or leave anything out. Even if ideas aren't connected to each other whatsoever, a stream of consciousness gets everything in your brain on paper and often contains many ideas.
• Do a little research. Browsing through whatever interests you can really get the creative juices flowing and lead to small self-reflections. Grab onto any of these that you think you might want to write about.

Don't be afraid to ask your teacher what they are looking for. If you still aren't sure what to write about, go to your teacher for suggestions or a more specific prompt.

Understand the Composition of an Essay

Before you start writing, remind yourself of basic essay composition. Almost all essays are made up of three parts: an introduction, a body of information, and a conclusion. The five-paragraph essay is a common iteration of this and it contains an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Use an outline, or general essay plan, to jot down your ideas before writing.

Introduction : Start your personal essay with a hook, or an interesting sentence that grabs your readers' attention and makes them want to read more. Select a topic that you know you can write an interesting essay about. Once you have a compelling topic, decide on the main idea you want to communicate and use it to capture your readers' interest in the first sentence.

After the hook, use the introductory paragraph to briefly outline the subject of your essay. Your readers should have a clear understanding of the direction of the rest of your piece from the introduction.

Body : The body of your essay is made up of one or more paragraphs that inform your readers about your topic, each paragraph accomplishing this in a unique way.

The structure of a paragraph resembles the structure of an essay. A paragraph contains an attention-grabbing topic sentence, several sentences elaborating on the point of the paragraph, and a conclusion sentence or two that summarizes the main idea. The conclusion sentence of a paragraph should also be used to transition into the next paragraph by smoothly introducing the next topic without going into too much detail.

Each paragraph should have its own idea that is closely related to the topic of the whole essay but elaborates on the main idea in a new way. It is important that topics flow logically from one to the next so that your essay is easy to follow. If your paragraphs are not related to each other or the main idea, your essay may be choppy and incoherent. Keeping your sentences concise also helps with clarity. Feel free to break a large paragraph up into two separate paragraphs if the topic changes or goes on for too long.

Conclusion : Close your essay with a final paragraph that summarizes the points you have made and states the takeaways. When writing personal essays, conclusion paragraphs are where you talk about the lessons you learned, ways that you changed as a result of your subject, or any other insights that were gained from your experience. In short: restate the ideas from the introduction in a new way and wrap up your essay.

Use Appropriate Voice for Essay and Verbs

In English grammar, there are many elements of writing that determine the quality of your work and voice is one of the most important. There are two types of voice: the author's voice and the voice of verbs.

Author's Voice

One of the things your teacher will be looking for when reading your personal essay is the use of voice in your essay, which is your own personal style of telling a story. They will be looking for features of your writing that make it unique, analyze the pacing of your essay, and determine how you establish your authority.

Because personal essays are works of nonfiction, your voice must be reliable. Other than that, you are free to play around with the delivery of your essay. Decide how formal or casual you want to be, how you want to keep the attention of your readers, how you would like your readers to feel when reading your essay, and how you would like your story to come across as a whole.

Voice of Verbs

Don't be confused—verbs have their own voice that is entirely separate from the author's voice. The active voice occurs when the subject of your sentence is performing the action or verb and the passive voice occurs when the subject is receiving the action.

The subject is italicized in the following examples.

Passive : An essay was assigned by Ms. Peterson.

Active : Ms. Peterson assigned a personal essay about summer vacation.

Generally, the active voice is most appropriate for personal essays as it is more effective at progressing a story forward. Using verbs in the active voice also tends to come across as more authoritative.

Be Consistent With Point of View and Tense

Personal essays are about yourself, so it is important that your point of view and tense be consistent with this. Personal essays are almost always written in first person tense, using the pronouns I, we, and us to tell what happened. Readers need to know what something was like from your perspective.

Remember that you can only speak to your own thoughts and feelings in first person tense unless you know for sure what another person was thinking or feeling and can quote them.

Personal essays are also written in the past tense because they describe something that happened to you, not something that is happening or will happen. You cannot speak confidently about experiences that have not happened or are still happening because you have not yet learned from them. Teachers will probably want you to write a personal essay to reflect on a real experience that taught you something.

Use Your Own Vocabulary

Just as you shouldn't lie when writing personal essays, you also shouldn't waver. Your choice of vocabulary can help you establish and maintain themes throughout your essay. Every word matters.

Your goal when writing a personal essay should be authenticity and you need to choose your vocabulary accordingly. Use the words that naturally come to mind when you are writing and don't try to be something that you are not. Your language should fit the topic and guide readers to interpret your writing in a certain way.

Here are some examples of how to choose the right words.

• When you are making a statement of opinion or fact, use powerful words that make your ideas clear. For example, say, "I ran like my life depended on it," rather than, "I ran pretty fast."
• If you are trying to communicate uncertainty that you felt during an experience, use words that convey these feelings. "I questioned whether or not it was a good idea," rather than, "I didn't know what would happen."
• Use positive language. Write about what did happen or what is rather than what did not happen or what is not . "I left room for dessert after dinner," instead of, "I hated dinner and couldn't even finish it."

Always be as descriptive as possible and incorporate all of your senses into your writing. Write about how something looked, sounded, felt, smelled, or tasted to help your readers imagine the experience for themselves. Use adjectives that support what you have described but do not use them to do the work of describing for you.

Edit, Edit, Edit

English grammar is tough even for native English speakers. Brush up on grammar rules before writing and revisit your work when you are finished to ensure that you have written an essay that you can be proud of.

No matter what you write, one of the most important parts of the writing process is editing . It is good practice to give yourself some space from your essay just after finishing it before you dive into editing because this can help you analyze your writing more objectively. A second opinion is always helpful too.

When editing, ask yourself these questions:

• Is the grammar/sentence structure of your essay correct?
• Is your essay well-organized and easy to follow? Does it flow?
• Is your writing on topic throughout the essay?
• Will your readers be able to picture what you have described?
• Did you make your point?
• The Five Steps of Writing an Essay
• Reach Your Goals With a Personal Development Plan
• How to Write a Research Paper That Earns an A
• Writing SMART Goals
• A Step-By-Step Guide to Resolving Conflicts Peacefully
• 10 Places to Research Your Paper
• 10 Writing Ideas Concerning Women
• Pay for School by Winning a Contest for Adult Students
• 6 Speed Reading Secrets for Adult Students
• How to Practice Critical Thinking in 4 Steps
• How to Take Notes on a Laptop and Should You
• 10 Secrets to Success as an Adult Student
• How to Write a Learning Contract and Realize Your Goals
• The Secret Power of Your Mind to Become What You Think
• Writing Practice Tests While You Study
• 5 Common Mistakes Made by Native English Speakers

• Junior Cert
• Elizabeth Bishop
• Emily Dickinson
• Seamus Heaney
• Thomas Kinsella
• Derek Mahon
• All 2014 guides on CD
• Sylvia Plath
• Eavan Boland (LC 2012)
• Patrick Kavanagh (LC 2012)
• Adrienne Rich (LC 2013)
• Gerard Manley Hopkins (LC 2013)
• Cancelled Order
• Thank You for your order

Tag Archives: sample personal essays

Tone (personal essay).

I love this cartoon from Natalie Dee on fanpop.com

Before Christmas I got my TYs (over 50 of them) and my Leaving Certs to write personal essays. Their essays for the most part were funny, sad, moving, at times mad and in many cases very very brave. Among other things I read about a childhood obsession with goldfish; a superhero granny; being an only child; falling into a river in front of the boy you absolutely love love love; suicide; a haunted church; spontaneous uncontrollable crying spells; and being wrapped in tin foil and carried off a volleyball court on a stretcher…

I also discovered that “ a commode i s the love child of a wheelchair and a portaloo! ”

I did notice however that very occasionally a personal essay didn’t  ‘ring true ‘. It’s hard for me to explain how I knew that the writer was inventing or embellishing a sad story (leaning towards or sometimes completely inventing a fiction) rather than drawing on real life experiences (fact) but when I asked a couple of students about it sure enough they said what they’d written about hadn’t actually happened but they felt compelled to give the personal essay a tragic ending in order to engage the reader emotionally.

Oddly, it had the opposite effect – I enjoyed these essays up to the point where they transformed into melodrama and then I just somehow knew that the writer was trying to force a reaction out of me.

Have a look at this beautiful personal essay – but be warned:

(1) It will make you cry

(2) You could never write this. You are not a thirty-something-yr-old widower with a toddler and a dead wife. You are a 17 or 18yr old Irish leaving cert student and this is the perspective you MUST write from when you write a personal essay in the exams because fundamentally a personal essay IS NOT A SHORT STORY and IS NOT FICTION. Of course you can write about something funny that happened to someone else and pretend it happened to you; of course you can exaggerate for dramatic or humorous effect. But try to write what you know or your essay is in danger of coming across as insincere and false.

Here it is: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/jan/19/telling-toddler-mummys-dead?CMP=twt_gu

Now have a look at this personal essay, whose tone is much more philosophical and opinionated rather than emotional – the tone is completely different but there is no question that it also falls into the category of personal essay.

Here it is (with the longest url in the history of life the universe and everything):

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/an-a-student-regrets-his-grades/article7359620/?cmpid=rss1&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20TheGlobeAndMail-National%20%28The%20Globe%20and%20Mail%20-%20National%20News%29&buffer_share=8b014

I guess I just want you to realise that you can write a serious opinion piece; an emotional admission; or a funny satire and ALL will still qualify as ‘personal essays’ as long as you write in the first person (“I”) and as long as you are yourself (Irish teenager) not a fictional narrator (a witchdoctor, a talking rubbish bin or a homeless wino).

For clarification of the difference between the personal essay and memoir check this out: http://meghanward.com/blog/2012/08/21/personal-essay-vs-memoir/

That’s all for now folks. Good luck with the mocks revision!

Posted in Composing , Discussions

Tagged ireland , leaving cert english , personal essay , sample personal essays , tone

Recent Posts

• A long slow goodbye…
• Lear’s journey
• Some themes in Lear…
• King Lear – Plot Chronology
• King Lear quotes (in translation!)
• Justice in King Lear – how to construct an answer…
• The Old Warrior and Me
• Single text options…
• Tackling the Comparative
• Reading Shakespeare (Othello)
• Game Based Learning
• Originality – Freshness – Energy – Style
• Discussions
• Comprehensions
• Comparative
• Studied poetry
• Unseen poetry
• Media Studies
• Uncategorized

Affiliations

Nominations.

Literary Genre – Never Let Me Go, Philadelphia, Here I Come and Ladybird for Leaving Cert English #625Lab Comparative

• Post author: Martina
• Post published: February 12, 2024
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / Ladybird / Literary Genre / Never Let Me Go / Philadelphia Here I Come

Compare the extent to which the authors of three texts on your comparative course use setting or aspects of setting to help define and develop characters. Develop your answer with…

Cultural Context – Educated, A Raisin in the Sun, Ladybird for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: February 6, 2024
• Post category: #625Lab / A Raisin in the Sun / Comparative / Cultural Context / Educated / English / Ladybird

Compare the extent to which the expression of individuality or divergence from social or cultural norms is tolerated within the cultural context of each of at least two texts on…

Theme or Issue – Room and Philadelphia, Here I Come for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / Philadelphia Here I Come / Room / Theme or Issue

Compare how comprehensively similar or different ethical (moral) questions are explored in the treatment of the same theme or issue, in at least two texts on your comparative course. Develop…

Theme or Issue – The Shawshank Redemption, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Crucible for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 31, 2024
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / The Crucible / The Shawshank Redemption / Theme or Issue / Where the Crawdads Sing

Compare the reasons why you found the exploration of the same theme or issue through understanding what influences or motivates one central character, from 3 texts on your comparative course,…

Sylvia Plath Leaving Cert essays #625Lab

• Post published: December 17, 2023
• Post category: #625Lab / English / Sylvia Plath / Too long

Discuss how successfully, in your opinion, Sylvia Plath uses stylistic features in an innovative way to convey both overwhelming wonder and unsettling menace in her work. Develop your response with…

Theme or Issue – Never Let Me Go, Ladybird, A Doll’s House for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: June 22, 2023
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / English / Ladybird / Never Let Me Go / Theme or Issue

The study of a theme or issue can offer a reader valuable lessons and insights. Discuss, with reference to a theme or issue in the three texts you have studied. Feedback: - note the…

Descriptive essay: the beauty of the natural world for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post category: #625Lab / Descriptive Essay / English

Write a descriptive essay in which you capture the beauty of the natural world (Mock exam 2023) Feedback: It is excellent, H1, very good length and interesting structure. I think…

Introduction to D.H. Lawrence for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: May 31, 2022
• Post category: #625Lab / D.H. Lawrence / English / Poetry

You may also like: D.H. Lawrence for Leaving Cert English Write an introduction to the poetry of D.H. Lawrence for readers new to his work. In your answer you should…

Speech: “Young people should travel before joining the workforce…” for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: March 28, 2020
• Post category: #625Lab / English / Speech

Write a speech, for a class debate for or against the motion: “Young people should travel and see the world before joining the workforce or furthering their education.” (2016 composition…

Article: impact of technology for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 4, 2020
• Post category: #625Lab / Article / English / PCLM

Write an article for a popular magazine in which you outline your views about the impact of technology on the lives of young people. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner,…

Short story: ghostly presence plays a significant part for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: June 1, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / English / PCLM / Short Story

Write a short story in which a ghostly presence plays a significant part. #625Lab. Corrected by Ms Shannon Boyle, who corrects for SEC and mock providers, graded as 80/100 with…

GVV – Unforgiven, Macbeth, Wuthering Heights for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 27, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / Macbeth - Comparative / PCLM / Too long / Unforgiven / Wuthering Heights

A reader can feel greatly heartened or be left despondent by the general vision and viewpoint of a text. Compare how the general vision and viewpoint of three texts studied…

Short story: main character transformed by daunting challenge for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 26, 2019

Write a short story in which the main character is transformed when faced with a daunting challenge. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 91/100 with feedback on how…

Literary Genre – Death and Nightingales, Playboy of the Western World, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post category: #625Lab / Brooklyn / Comparative / Death and Nightingales / English / Literary Genre / PCLM / The Playboy of the Western World

“Compelling storytelling can be achieved in a variety of ways”. (Literary Genre 2015) (a) Identify 2 literary techniques found in one text you have studied. Discuss the extent to which…

Theme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, A Doll’s House, Juno for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: May 6, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / English / Juno / PCLM / Theme or Issue / Wuthering Heights

Some texts leave readers with a largely idealistic impression of a theme or issue, while others leave readers with a more realistic or believable impression of the same theme or…

Theme or Issue – The Playboy of the Western World, Silas Marner, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: May 5, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / Brooklyn / Comparative / English / PCLM / Silas Marner / The Playboy of the Western World / Theme or Issue

#625Lab. Corrected by experienced examiner, graded as H2 with feedback on how to improve below. You may also like: Leaving Cert English Complete Guide (€). The study of a theme or issue…

Discursive Essay: role of leaders and leadership for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 4, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / Discursive essay / English

Write a discursive essay where you consider the role of leaders and leadership. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 89/100 with feedback on how to improve below. You…

Speech: “Language is a great weapon” for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post category: #625Lab / English / Speech / Too long

#625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 82/100 with feedback on how to improve below. You may also like: Leaving Cert English Complete Guide (€). Good afternoon adjudicators, fellow…

Personal essay: pleasures particular to you for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: April 18, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / English / PCLM / Personal essay

Write a personal essay on what you perceive to be the pleasures particular to you. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 83/100 with feedback on how to improve…

Short story: I couldn’t wait to get out of that town for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: April 16, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / English / Short Story

"When I was eighteen, I couldn’t wait to get out of that town". Write a short story in which a young character is eager to leave home. #625Lab. Corrected by…

Personal essay: a time in your life in which you felt you were treated unfairly for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: March 22, 2019

Write a personal essay on a time in your life in which you felt you were treated unfairly. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 79/100 with feedback on…

GVV – Brooklyn, The Great Gatsby, The Playboy of the Western World for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 25, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / Brooklyn / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / The Great Gatsby / The Playboy of the Western World

Significant events and the impact they have on us help to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of the texts. Do you agree? #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded…

GVV – Big Maggie, Silas Marner, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 6, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / Big Maggie / Brooklyn / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / Silas Marner

Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often help to clarify the general vision & viewpoint of those texts. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded…

GVV – Wuthering Heights, A Doll’s House for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 4, 2019
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / Wuthering Heights

A variety of factors in texts can change or reinforce our initial impression of the general vision and viewpoint (2017) #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 42/70 with…

GVV – Juno, A Doll’s House and The Great Gatsby for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: December 15, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / Juno / The Great Gatsby

The general vision and viewpoint of a text can be shaped by the reader's attitude to a central character. Compare the extent to which your attitude to a central character…

Theme or Issue – The Playboy of the Western World, Brooklyn, Foster for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: December 8, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Brooklyn / Comparative / English / Foster / The Playboy of the Western World / Theme or Issue

“A theme or issue can reveal a character’s strengths or weaknesses”. a) With reference to one text on your comparative course, discuss how a theme or issue revealed a character's…

Theme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, Big Maggie, Juno for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: December 4, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Big Maggie / Comparative / English / Juno / Theme or Issue / Wuthering Heights

“In many texts, a theme or issue may not be resolved to the complete satisfaction of the reader.” (a) Discuss the extent to which a theme or issue is resolved…

GVV – 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale and Unforgiven for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: December 2, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / 1984 / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / The Handmaids Tale / Unforgiven

Key moments in texts can influence our sense of the general vision and viewpoint. (a) Discuss the extent to which your sense of the general vision and viewpoint of one…

Discursive essay on positive and negative aspects of different types of advertising for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: November 29, 2018

Write a discursive essay in which you explore the positive and negative aspects of different types of advertising. #625Lab Feedback: this is a decent attempt at a discursive essay. This sort…

GVV – All My Sons, The Great Gatsby and Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: November 25, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / All My Sons / Brooklyn / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / The Great Gatsby

“The general vision and viewpoint of a text can be changed or reinforced by the ending of a text”. #625Lab. Corrected by experienced examiner, graded as H3 with feedback on…

Seamus Heaney for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: November 11, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / English / Poetry / Seamus Heaney

“Seamus Heaney’s poetry moves between earth bound realities and flights of poetic fantasy”. Discuss to what extent you agree or disagree with this view of Heaney’s poetry, supporting your answer…

GVV – All My Sons, The Great Gatsby, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: October 29, 2018

“Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often helps clarify the general vision and viewpoint of those texts” – with reference to the three texts on…

English Paper 1 essays corrected and marked by experienced examiners #625Lab

• Post published: October 9, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / English / PCLM

#625Lab. Corrected and marked by experienced SEC examiners. This page contains non-H1 essays full of feedback that you can learn from. Learn now, in the safety of 625Lab, and avoid…

Descriptive essay: how the landscape reflects the transition of the seasons for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: October 4, 2018

Write a descriptive essay in which you capture how the landscape reflects the transition of the seasons. You may choose to include some or all of the seasons in your essay. (2018)…

Personal essay: moments of insight and revelation for Leaving Cert English #625Lab (Divorce)

• Post published: September 23, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / English / Personal essay

Write a personal essay in which you reflect on moments of insight and revelation you have experienced. (2017) #625Lab. Theme: divorce. Some parts of this essay are outstanding, but it…

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, Macbeth, Death and Nightingales #625Lab

• Post published: June 4, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / Death and Nightingales / English / I'm not Scared / Macbeth - Comparative

“The main characters in the text are often in conflict with the world or culture in which they inhabit”. (2009) #625Lab. This essays is beautifully focused on the question. However, the…

Descriptive Essay: Journey through a barren landscape for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 24, 2018

Write a descriptive essay in which you take your readers on a journey through a barren landscape (urban or rural) that you have experienced. #625Lab. An excellent way to write…

Brooklyn, The Great Gatsby GVV for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 22, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Brooklyn / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / The Great Gatsby

“The General Vision and Viewpoint of a text can be shaped by the reader’s attitude to a central character.” Compare the extent to which your attitude to a central character…

Literary Genre – The Artist, A Doll’s House and Death and Nightingales for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 19, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / Death and Nightingales / English / Literary Genre / The Artist

"The creation of memorable characters is part of the art of good story telling". Write an essay comparing the ways in which memorable characters were created and contributed to your…

Cultural Context – Macbeth, The Fault in Our Stars, Rear Window for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 17, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / Macbeth - Comparative / Rear Window / The Fault in Our Stars

The world in which a character lives shapes the person that they become. Write an essay comparing the cultural context and how it affects the lives of the characters of…

Descriptive Essay: After the Storm for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 16, 2018

‘An ice storm blew in from nowhere.’ Write a descriptive essay entitled ‘After the Storm’. #625Lab. Below is beautifully descriptive essay that is also personal, relatable - and very cozy! What makes it…

GVV – Macbeth, I’m Not Scared and Death and Nightingales for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 13, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / Death and Nightingales / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / I'm not Scared / Macbeth - Comparative

“A variety of factors in texts can change or reinforce our initial impression of the general vision and viewpoint”. (2017) #625Lab. This essay raises a lot of points I don't agree…

GVV – The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: May 4, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / The Great Gatsby / The Plough and The Stars / Wuthering Heights

"Each text we read presents us with an outlook on life that may be bright or dark, or a combination of both". Discuss, with reference to the three texts you…

Write a short story about a reunion for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: April 27, 2018

Write a short story about a reunion (2013). #625Lab. This is an interesting mix between a personal essay and a short story. It definitely has a strong setting and good characterisation.…

Personal Essay: Uncertain about what you want for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: April 23, 2018

Write a personal essay in which you reflect on an occasion in your life when you felt uncertain about what you wanted. #625Lab. Wonderfully reflective, revelatory personal essay dealing with loss.…

GVV – Death and Nightingales, A Doll’s House, Juno for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: April 22, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / Death and Nightingales / English / General Vision and Viewpoint / Juno / Too long

“Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often help to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of those texts”. With reference to three texts on your…

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: April 19, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / I'm not Scared / The Great Gatsby / The Plough and The Stars

Understanding who holds power and who is powerless helps to reveal the cultural context in texts. #625Lab. This essay is en route to a H1. Why? Clearly structured, genuinely engaged with…

Literary Genre – The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars, Children of Men for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: April 8, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Children of Men / Comparative / English / Literary Genre / The Great Gatsby / The Plough and The Stars

“Write an essay on one or more of the aspects of literary genre (the way texts tell their stories) which you found most interesting in the texts you studied in…

Personal essay about significant endings for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: April 7, 2018

Write a personal essay about your response to an ending, or endings, in your life that you consider significant. (100 marks)   Stellar stuff via #625Lab. If you want to send…

Article about myths, fairytales and legends for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: April 4, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Article / English

Write a feature article for a magazine about the importance of myths, fairytales and legends. The article may be serious or light-hearted. (100 marks) Excellent essay via #625Lab.  If you want to…

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, The Great Gatsby, All My Sons for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: March 22, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / All My Sons / Cultural Context / English / I'm not Scared / The Great Gatsby

“The world of a text, and how it affects the behaviour of central characters, can influence a reader’s response to the events that take place”. With the Comparative, you will…

Speech on the most significant threats facing the world today for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: March 6, 2018

Write a persuasive speech, to be delivered to an audience of world leaders, in which you implore them to focus on the most significant threats facing the world today. There…

Literary Genre – I’m Not Scared, Foster, Big Maggie for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: March 4, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Big Maggie / Comparative / English / Foster / I'm not Scared / Literary Genre

Using one comparative text that you have studied explain how the author uses literary techniques to create a compelling story. There is a reason I tell people who aren't mad…

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, Foster, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: March 1, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / Foster / I'm not Scared / The Plough and The Stars

“The cultural context can have a significant influence on the behaviour of the central character/characters in a text. Compare the way in which the behaviour of the central characters in…

Short story about a tattoo for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: February 28, 2018

Write a short story in which a tattoo plays an important part in the narrative. (2017) Warning: this is a very dark story. Discretion advised.    This story has absolutely…

Cultural Context – Big Maggie, Foster, Juno for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: February 27, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Big Maggie / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / Foster / Juno

"The success or failure of relationships is often determined by values and attitudes of the world in which the text is set." Compare the extent to which the success or…

Cultural Context: A Doll’s House, I’m Not Scared and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: February 26, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / I'm not Scared / The Plough and The Stars

“Understanding who holds power and who is powerless helps to reveal the cultural context in texts”. Compare how the distribution of power within each of the three texts on your…

Personal Essay: Moments of Insight and Revelation for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: February 25, 2018

Write a personal essay in which you reflect on moments of insight and revelation you have experienced (2017). This is a good attempt at a personal essay showing a lot…

Write a personal essay about one or more moments of uncertainty you have experienced #625Lab

• Post published: February 15, 2018

This essay below is a beautiful exemplar of the genre of personal essay, full of cathartic confessions, teenage going on middle-aged angst and some incredibly deep insights and lessons learnt.…

A short story / descriptive essay about loss for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: February 4, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Descriptive Essay / English / Short Story

This is one of the finest examples of descriptive language I have seen in a long time. Spectacular use of symbolism. (Well done L.!) This was sent into #625Lab as a…

Short story about a young character eager to leave home for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: January 29, 2018

Write a short story in which a young character is eager to leave home. (2012) #625Lab A heart-wrenching short story about neglect and social disadvantage. The setting is very strong,…

The Great Gatsby: Daisy character essay for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 25, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / English / The Great Gatsby - Single Text

At the end of the novel, the reader realises that Daisy has been largely unaffected by the events that have taken place. Do you agree with this view? (Sample paper…

Cultural context: I’m Not Scared for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: January 22, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / Cultural Context / I'm not Scared

Central characters can be successful or unsuccessful in challenging aspects of the cultural context in texts. (a) Discuss the extent to which at least one central character is successful or…

Cultural Context – The Great Gatsby, Children of Men and The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 21, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Children of Men / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / The Great Gatsby / The Plough and The Stars

Understanding the cultural context of a text allows you to see how values and attitudes are shaped. Show how this statement applies to one of the texts on your comparative…

Eavan Boland’s use of symbols and metaphors to deliver truths about society for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 18, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Boland / English / Poetry / Too long

Boland makes effective use of symbols and metaphors to explore personal experiences and deliver penetrating truths about society. (2017) #625Lab Another super long essay from someone very knowledgeable, too knowledgeable…

Literary Genre in The Great Gatsby, All My Sons and I’m Not Scared for Leaving Cert Comparative #625Lab

• Post published: January 17, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / All My Sons / Comparative / English / I'm not Scared / Literary Genre / The Great Gatsby

"Authors can use various techniques to make settings real and engaging." #625Lab The author took on the challenging literary genre question - and did so quite well!  I have studied…

John Montague for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: January 14, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / English / John Montague / Poetry

Montague makes effective use of evocative language to express a profound empathy with others. #625Lab  Full notes on John Montague (€)  Through my studies of John Montague’s poetry, his statement that his…

The Great Gatsby: readers are influenced by the narrator, Nick Carraway for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

“Readers of The Great Gatsby are greatly influenced by the narrator, Nick Carraway.” Discuss this statement, supporting your answer with suitable reference to the text. (2013) #625Lab "The Great Gatsby" written by…

General vision and viewpoint – Foster, I’m Not Scared and The Plough and The Stars #625Lab

• Post published: January 8, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / Foster / General Vision and Viewpoint / I'm not Scared / The Plough and The Stars

“The general vision and viewpoint is shaped by the reader’s feeling of optimism or pessimism in reading the text.” This is a very good essay! #625Lab For me, the General Vision…

Cultural Context 1984, I’m Not Scared, A Doll’s House #625Lab

• Post published: January 7, 2018
• Post category: #625Lab / 1984 / A Doll's House / Comparative / English / I'm not Scared

#625Lab The cultural context is the world or society of a text; it is the framework of any story which conditions the characters into who they are, and what choices…

• Post published: January 4, 2018

‘When I was eighteen, I couldn’t wait to get out of that town.” Write a short story in which a young character is eager to leave home. (Composition, 2012) #625Lab…

Short story in which mistaken identity is central to the plot for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: December 19, 2017

Write a short story in which mistaken identity is central to the plot. (Composition question, 100 marks, 2016) #625Lab Wordcount: 1900 words. Even though stories should probably be a little…

Question B: “We are what we wear” for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: December 17, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Article / English / Question B

Students in your school have been invited to contribute articles to the school website on issues relevant to young people. This week’s issue is “We are what we wear”. Write…

King Lear Essay: Deception and Betrayals of Trust #625Lab

• Post published: December 6, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / English / King Lear

“The world of King Lear is defined by deception and betrayals of trust”.  Discuss with reference to the text.  #625Lab This essay is a good example of why a purely…

Cultural Context – Juno, Foster, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: November 29, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / Foster / Juno / The Plough and The Stars

“Understanding the cultural context of a text adds to our enjoyment of a good narrative.”  In the light of the above statement write an essay comparing the cultural contexts of…

Cultural Context – Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: November 27, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / The Great Gatsby / The Plough and The Stars / Wuthering Heights

''In any cultural context, deeply embedded values and attitudes can be difficult to change''. Compare the extent to which the above statement is valid in relation to your understanding of…

General Vision and Viewpoint – The Great Gatsby, Juno, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: November 26, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / General Vision and Viewpoint / Juno / The Great Gatsby / The Plough and The Stars

"A variety of factors in texts can change or reinforce our initial impression of the general vision and viewpoint of a text." Compare the main factor or actors that changed…

Short Story: “The most dangerous stations are the emptiest” for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: November 21, 2017

“The most dangerous stations are the emptiest.” Write a short story suggested by the above quotation. #625Lab   This is an example of a short story that would be better…

Cultural Context – Big Maggie, The Great Gatsby and Juno for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: November 19, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Big Maggie / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / Juno / The Great Gatsby

“In any cultural context, deeply embedded values and attitudes can be difficult to change.” Compare the extent to which the above statement is valid in relation to your understanding of at…

Short Story: A Secret Revealed for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: November 13, 2017

"Write a short story in which a closely guarded secret is gradually revealed"#625LabHow to improve a story? Memorable, defined characters. Make the wife another little bit more smug and annoying. Add a…

General Vision and Viewpoint: Big Maggie, Foster, I’m Not Scared for Leaving Cert English

• Post published: November 12, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Big Maggie / Comparative / English / Foster / General Vision and Viewpoint / I'm not Scared

“The general vision and viewpoint of a text can be determined by the success or failure of a central character in his/her efforts to achieve fulfilment” (70 marks)   #625Lab…

Personal Essay: Experience of Dramatic Arts for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: November 9, 2017

Write a personal essay about your experience (as a performer and/or audience member) of the dramatic arts; plays, musicals, concerts, comedy etc. (2010) You may also like: Complete Guide to…

Cultural Context – Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: November 4, 2017

"The main characters in texts are often in conflict with the world or culture they inhabit" In light of the above statement, compare how the main characters interact with the…

Speech: “Celebrity culture has gone too far” for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: November 3, 2017

Celebrity culture has gone too far. (2005) Write a speech in which you attempt to persuade an audience that today’s obsession with the lives of the rich and famous has…

Cultural Context – Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story, Macbeth, The Fault in Our Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

• Post published: November 2, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / Macbeth - Comparative / Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story / The Fault in Our Stars

“The cultural context within a text often dictates the crises or difficulties faced by characters and their responses to these difficulties.”  (a) Discuss to what extent this statement applies to…

Leaving Cert English Comparative – Cultural Context – All My Sons, Foster, Juno

• Post published: October 24, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / All My Sons / Comparative / Cultural Context / Foster / Juno

"Understanding of the cultural context of a text adds to our enjoyment of a good narrative." In the light of the above statement write an essay comparing the cultural contexts…

Leaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Foster and Juno

• Post published: October 22, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / English / Foster / General Vision and Viewpoint / Juno

“The general vision and viewpoint is shaped by the reader's feeling of optimism and pessimism in reading the text” The author added a note with her essay:  "I mainly struggle…

Leaving Cert English Comparative – Cultural Context – I’m not Scared, Wuthering Heights

• Post published: October 18, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / Cultural Context / English / I'm not Scared / Wuthering Heights

“The issue of social class is important in shaping our understanding of the cultural context of a text” Compare the importance of social class in shaping your understanding of the…

Leaving Cert English Descriptive Essay: Night Scene

• Post published: October 15, 2017

Write a descriptive essay entitled Night Scene. (2017) #625Lab  You may also like: Complete Guide to Leaving Cert English (€) Essay 1 Essay 2 Essay 3 Essay 4 Essay 1 The…

Leaving Cert English Comparative – Theme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, The King’s Speech, The Plough and The Stars #625Lab

• Post published: October 3, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Comparative / PCLM / The King's Speech / The Plough and The Stars / Theme or Issue / Too long / Wuthering Heights

"A readers view of a theme or issue can be either changed or reinforced through interaction with texts". Compare the extent to which your understanding of a theme or issue was…

Leaving Cert English Personal Essay: Irishness #625Lab

• Post published: October 1, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / English / Personal essay / Too long

“The shoes of Irishness fit me well.” Write a personal essay in which you explore your sense of what it means to be Irish. (2001) This is a good essay…

Leaving Cert English Opinion Piece #625Lab

• Post published: September 27, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Article / English / PCLM / Question B

Write an opinion piece, for publication in a national newspaper, in which you give your views on the extent to which people today rely on the online world as a…

Leaving Cert Comparative Study – Theme or Issue – Othello, A Doll’s House and The King’s Speech #625Lab

• Post published: September 26, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / A Doll's House / Comparative / English / Othello / PCLM / The King's Speech

“Some texts leave readers with a largely idealistic impression of a theme or issue, while others leave readers with a more realistic or believable impression of the same theme or…

Leaving Cert English Question B Article #625Lab

• Post published: September 25, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Article / Question B

Write an article for inclusion in your school magazine on the importance of winning the All-Ireland for Mayo on Sunday. (Question B) #625Lab   How important is winning the Sam Maguire…

Leaving Cert Composition Article for Serious Publication #625Lab

• Post published: September 19, 2017

Write an article for a serious publication in which you consider whether scientists or writers and artists have made, and continue to make, the greater contribution to society. (2017) (100 mark…

Leaving Cert English Personal Essay: Pretence and Unvarnished Truth #625Lab

• Post published: September 18, 2017

“Let’s stop all this pretence and tell each other the unvarnished truth for a change.”   Write a personal essay in response to this statement. (2006) This is an essay…

Leaving Cert English Eavan Boland Sample Essay #625Lab

• Post published: September 17, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Boland / English / PCLM / Poetry

''Boland's reflective insights are expressed through her precise use of language.'' Write your personal response to this statement, supporting your answer with suitable reference to the poetry on your course.This isn't…

Leaving Cert Robert Frost Sample Essays #625Lab

• Post published: September 14, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / English / PCLM / Poetry / Robert Frost / Too long

“Frost communicates rich insights into human experience using language that is both accessible and appealing.”Discuss this statement, supporting your answer with reference to the poetry of Robert Frost on your…

Leaving Cert English Comparative – Literary Genre – Circle of Friends, The Plough and The Stars and The King’s Speech #625Lab

• Post published: September 11, 2017
• Post category: #625Lab / Circle of Friends / Literary Genre / PCLM / The King's Speech / The Plough and The Stars

Write an essay on one or more of the aspects of literary genre which you found most interesting in the texts you have studied on your comparative course. This is…

Leaving Cert English Personal Essay: Useless Clutter #625Lab

• Post published: September 10, 2017

The village shops in Sara Baume’s novel contain a “surplus of useless clutter”.  Write a personal essay in which you reflect on the “useless clutter” that is a feature of…

• Go to the next page

Enda's English Notes

Junior and Leaving Cert English Notes

Personal Essays

Sample personal essay: Where I Belong (OL)

Sample personal essay: Overcoming obstacles in my life (OL)

A Year with No Social Media: Personal Essay (OL)

The Importance of Family, Friends and School (OL)

Share this:

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

1 Composition (Personal Writing)

Created by studyclix ( 2 ).

Videos from the community ( 0 )

Why not start the community off by adding a post or uploading a resource?

Notes from the community ( 0 )

Websites from the community ( 0 ).

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Write a Personal Essay for Your College Application

What does it take to land in the “accept” (instead of “reject”) pile?

How can you write an essay that helps advance you in the eyes of the admissions officers and makes a real impression? Here are some tips to get you started.

• Start early.  Do not leave it until the last minute. Give yourself time when you don’t have other homework or extracurriculars hanging over your head to work on the essay.
• Keep the focus narrow.  Your essay does not have to cover a massive, earth-shattering event. Some people in their teens haven’t experienced a major life event. Some people have. Either way, it’s okay.
• Be yourself.  Whether writing about a painful experience or a more simple experience, use the narrative to be vulnerable and honest about who you are. Use words you would normally use. Trust your voice and the fact that your story is interesting enough in that no one else has lived it.
• Be creative.  “Show, don’t tell,” and that applies here — to an extent. The best essays typically do both. You can help your reader see and feel what you are describing by using some figurative language throughout your piece.
• Make a point. As you finish your final body paragraphs ask yourself “So what?” This will help you hone in on how to end your essay in a way that elevates it into a story about an insight or discovery you made about yourself, rather than just being about an experience you had.

We’ve all heard about the dreaded “college essay,” the bane of every high school senior’s existence. This daunting element of the college application is something that can create angst for even the most accomplished students.

• AA Amy Allen is a writer, educator, and lifelong learner. Her freelance writing business,  All of the Write Words , focuses on providing high school students with one-on-one feedback to guide them through the college application process and with crafting a thoughtful personal essay. A dedicated poet, Amy’s work has also been published in several journals including  Pine Row Press ,  Months to Years,  and  Atlanta Review .

Partner Center