Do you know what's one of the greatest nightmares one can have when they need to write well?
You probably have heard this term: writer's block.
It could be caused by various reasons, whether it's the "lack" of inspiration or understanding about the subject you need to write, the inability to articulate your ideas on paper, self-doubt about the direction of your writing and other distractions.
Just take a moment to imagine having writer's block when you are sitting for the writing component of your Malaysian University English Test. You might start breaking into cold sweat at the sheer thought of it.
Having said that, writing good essays within a given time frame is not an impossible feat when you have a clear strategy from the very beginning.
In this article, we will look at five important strategies to produce quality essays for the two sections of your MUET writing component.
Strategy 1: Read Extensively On Various Topics (Academic/Non-Academic)
Most of the time, students often find it hard to write about something they cannot relate to instead of a "difficult topic".
The main reason you cannot relate to the topic is simply because you are not familiar with it. To be familiar with a specific topic, you need to read extensively about it or do research about the subject.
For instance, in order to write a good essay on the topic of artificial intelligence, you need to have a broad understanding of the topic. There needs to be layers (depth and width) and connections of points when you write your essay.
A good essay is not made up by merely mentioning an example such as ChatGPT, but you also need to know the pros and cons of using artificial intelligence in our daily lives, and how it influences various industries such as the medical industry, higher education and so forth.
It's also important to note that the themes that are asked in this component usually revolve around what's happening around us such as the economy, education, social issues, technology, health and so on.
We strongly encourage you to read newspapers (physical or online) or sample essays from reference books to identify the necessary jargon, sentence structure and overall flow of ideas on a diverse range of topics.
Image by tirachardz on Freepik
Following the example of artificial intelligence earlier, you would come across words like machine learning, algorithms and ethics when you are reading a related article. From there, you will know how to apply them correctly the next time you need to write an essay based on this topic.
If you are planning to sit for MUET in 2024, gain a comprehensive understanding of what to expect for your MUET papers.
Strategy 2: Know The Different Formats & Tones For Different Writing Tasks
The MUET writing component consists of two tasks.
For Task 1 (guided writing), candidates are required to write a letter or an email of at least 100 words.
On the other hand, candidates are required to write an essay (argumentative, discursive or problem-solution) of at least 250 words for Task 2 (extended writing).
Task 1 is essentially guided by a specific format and tone.
Writing a letter or email requires you to begin with salutations and a proper transition to what you want to convert to the recipient of your letter or email. As mentioned earlier, it shouldn't be too long (please always follow the given word limit!) so it requires candidates to be precise and concise throughout their writing.
For Task 2, candidates need to plan their ideas ahead and present their essay in a clear order: introduction, body, and conclusion.
When it comes to argumentative essays, candidates will need to state their main argument from the start (pick a position) and come out with valid and strong proof to support their argument.
For instance, should tertiary education be free for all? If you choose to disagree with this statement, you need to come out with at least 3 points to support your argument in order to persuade the examiner.
When it comes to discursive essays, candidates can present a neutral stand on the given topic. This means you can agree and disagree and present the topic through both sides.
Taking the same topic on free tertiary education earlier, you can express why you agree and disagree with this statement. You do not need to have a strong stance on either of these positions.
When it comes to problem-solving essays, it is pretty straightforward. First, you need to identify the problem and then address the problem by giving relevant solutions.
For instance, the example given is, "How can we curb online bullying among the younger generation?"
The problem that candidates need to solve is online bullying. They need to highlight why is it a problem and how this problem can be solved through different angles.
Get a glimpse of the grading criteria for your MUET papers.
Strategy 3: Understand What The Question Wants (Purpose)
After reviewing the format and tone of the writing tasks, let us now move to the next part.
You need to know what the question is asking for each task. For instance, when it comes to writing an email or letter in Task 1, candidates need to clearly recognise the following cues:
- Asked to describe experiences, feelings, events
- Accepting/rejecting an invitation
- Expressing gratitude, apologies, preferences
- Requesting something beforehand/on behalf of someone else
- Giving advice, opinions, and feedback on a particular event/experience
When it comes to Task 2, candidates need to clearly differentiate the characteristics and differences of the three types of essays: argumentative, discursive and problem-solution.
Many students are confused between argumentative and discursive essays because they both require candidates to indicate their stand.
One tip to remember them is to connect the word "argue" with argumentative (one side needs to win) and the word "discuss" with discursive (both sides can win).
Image by benzoix on Freepik
Ultimately, it's worth noting that the purpose of an argumentative essay is to PERSUADE, the purpose of a discursive essay is to INFORM and the purpose of a problem-solution essay is to ANALYZE.
In the meantime, check out these resources and materials to take your MUET preparation to the next level.
Strategy 4: Present Your Thoughts Systematically — A Clear Structure
Once you have mastered the skill to review the format and question requirement, it's time to put what you have learnt into real action.
Your massive ideas and knowledge about the topic mean nothing if you are unable to write them in clarity and order.
We have mentioned earlier how to form the basic structure of your essay: Introduction, Body and Conclusion.
For Task 1, your introduction should consist of the basic salutations (Dear Peter/ Dear Jane, use the given name or specify the identity of the recipient). Next, the body should address the purpose of the writing followed by the conclusion, which is to wrap up what has been mentioned and bid your goodbyes (signing off).
Things are slightly more complex for Task 2. Depending on which essay you are assigned, you would need to address different things in the introduction.
An argumentative essay requires you to state a clear thesis statement from the beginning. Meaning to say, you need to indicate your stand (agree/disagree) as you begin.
For discursive essays, you need to mention the two stands of the given topic. Last but not least, for the introduction of problem-solving essays, you need to address the problem that you need to solve.
For the body of the essay structure, you should focus on giving 3 to 4 points. Argumentative essays require you to give at least 3 points on why you chose the particular stand. Remember, the points given must be consistent and in alignment with your stand in the introduction.
For discursive essays, you can alternate between the two stands. And for problem solution essays, you stick to providing the solutions.
When it comes to writing the conclusion, you just need to refer to your stand in the introduction and do a concise summary of your points.
It's super important to know the latest syllabus for your MUET papers.
Strategy 5: Proofread Your Writing (Spelling, Grammar, Vocabulary)
With all the points and structure laid down, you are now facing your final hurdle! Your flair for the English language.
This is what sets you apart from other candidates. Examiners can tell at a glance whether you are an excellent candidate from your language skills. The most obvious one is the level of vocabulary you are using throughout your writing, which is followed by your grammar and spelling.
To have a strong foundation in your English skills, it's best to receive personalised guidance from an experienced English tutor!
We highly recommend you find one at Superprof! Depending on your preference, you can connect with a home tutor or online tutor in just a few clicks!
Image by Freepik
Your Superprof English tutor can guide you to have a wide range of vocabulary and the right mastery of English grammar. Through sufficient practice and feedback, you are bound to show great improvement.
With the knowledge you have gained, you will be more confident in your writing and also know how to proofread your essays well in order to minimise any spelling, or grammatical errors during your actual MUET writing paper!
Once you have mastered these five strategies, we are certain that you will have a clearer idea of how to produce good essays for both the writing tasks of your MUET writing paper. All the best!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
