The tip is very simple: no matter how boring you find a writing exam topic, don’t let it show.
Most examiners find the marking process yawn-inducing. By the time yours sees your paper, he or she has already read a lifetime’s worth of dull copies. If you do something different (such as steering clear of the five-paragraph format) and execute your idea well, your marker should give you high marks, if only to reward you for not boring him or her.
As you read the two responses below to the same essay prompt, put yourself in the examiner’s shoes. Which version would you give the higher grade?
Homelessness
First version
Homelessness is a serious issue that affects individuals and communities around the world. It occurs when people are unable to secure permanent and safe housing due to various social, economic, and personal challenges. In this essay, I will discuss different types of homelessness and their impacts of people.
Firstly, a major cause of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. In many areas, rent prices are rising faster than wages. As a result, people with low incomes struggle to find places to live. Without affordable options, some are forced to live in shelters, cars, or on the streets. The shortage of public housing also adds to the problem.
Secondly, a common cause of homelessness is unemployment or unstable work. People who lose their jobs or can only find part-time or low-paying work may not earn enough to cover their living expenses. Without a steady income, it becomes difficult to pay rent or bills, which increases the risk of eviction and homelessness.
Thirdly, it should be noted that support systems can help reduce homelessness. Charities, shelters, and government programs can offer temporary relief, job training, and housing assistance. Long-term solutions may include building more affordable housing, improving mental health services, and raising the minimum wage. Community involvement, such as volunteering or donating, can also make a difference.
In conclusion, homelessness is a complex problem with many causes, including high housing costs and unemployment. By understanding the causes and working together, normal people can help more homeless people find homes.
My version
Homelessness – it’s a smell in the air.
Walk past any street the homeless call home, and you’ll likely gag on the stench of urine and mold. The former exists because a lack of fixed address also means a lack of access to toilet facilities; the latter lingers because bacteria bloom between skin and clothes, an area that is damp, dark, and decked with ancient layers of sweat, body oil and grime.
Before any of us look down on the homeless, take note of this horrifying fact: you and I could end up like them.
While there is some truth to the stereotype of the homeless being drug addicts, some are out on the streets because of bad luck. Do a search on “homeless” and “Phd” on Youtube and you’ll find them – folks who used to have decent jobs but now sleep without shelter due to unexpected factors like being laid off in an economic downturn, losing all savings to a medical emergency, of being evicted after a building was marked for demolition.
Because none of us can 100% avoid the fate of being homeless, in doing what we can to help them, we may be helping ourselves too. Advocate for affordable housing. Donate to a soup kitchen. Vote for a government that prizes equality. And next time we are repulsed by that smell, remember there but for the grace of God goes I.
Michelle Ng
英國牛津大學畢業，前《蘋果日報》和《眾新聞》專欄作家，現在身在楓葉國，心繫中國大陸和香港。
聯絡方式： michelleng.coach@proton.me
個人網站： https://michellengwritings.com
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