General explaining
1. In order to
2. In other words
3. To put it another way
4. That is to say
5. To that end
Adding additional information to support a point
6. Moreover
7. Furthermore
8. What’s more
9. Likewise
10. Similarly
11. Another key thing to remember
12. As well as
13. Not only… but also
15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…
16. Not to mention/to say nothing of
Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast
17. However
18. On the other hand
19. Having said that
20. By contrast/in comparison
21. Then again
22. That said
HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY
1. Make sure you understand the task and the genre of writing (e.g. essay, email, etc.).
2. In a short essay of 200 words, if you go over 200 words, make sure it’s only 10% over
the required amount (220 words max). Try not to write fewer than 200 words.
3. Organize your essay in paragraphs (e.g. introductory paragraph, paragraphs to cover
the bullet points, and concluding paragraph). Answer every question from the task.
You don’t have to answer them in order, just ANSWER ALL!
4. Do not forget to separate the paragraphs (e.g. indent or one-line space). Don’t just
write one paragraph that isn’t organized into cohesive units.
5. Make sure your handwriting is as clear as possible so the exam graders can read your
composition.
6. When writing your composition, keep in mind all the graded features (grammar,
written accuracy, spelling and paragraphing, vocabulary, style and cohesive devices,
and communicative effectiveness).
7. Most questions ask you what your opinion is about a certain topic. If they do, make
sure you make your opinion very clear throughout your essay.
8. Keep it simple. The examiers know you only have less than an hour and do not expect
a masterpiece. Don’t overthink it. Often th ebest answers are the simplest ones.
Wrong — incorrect, inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, improper, unsuitable
Use — employ, utilize, exhaust, spend, expend, consume, exercise
True — accurate, right, proper, precise, exact, valid, genuine, real, actual, trusty, steady, loyal,
Think — judge, deem, assume, believe, consider, contemplate, reflect,
Tell — disclose, reveal, show, expose, uncover, relate, narrate, inform, advise, explain, declare, command, order,
repeat
Show — display, exhibit, present, note, point to, indicate, explain, reveal, prove, demonstrate, expose
Say/Tell — inform, notify, advise, relate, recount, narrate, explain, reveal, disclose, declare, command, order, bid,
enlighten, instruct, insist, direct, issue, remark, speak, affirm, suppose, express, verbalize, voice, articulate, pronounce,
deliver
Right — correct, accurate, factual, true, good, just, honest, upright, lawful, moral, proper, suitable, apt, legal, fair
Put — place, set, attach, establish, assign, keep, save, set aside, effect, achieve, do, build
Place — space, area, spot, plot, region, location, situation, position, residence, set, site, station, status, state
Make — create, originate, invent, beget, form, construct, design, fabricate, manufacture, produce, build, develop, do,
effect, execute, compose, perform, accomplish, earn, gain, obtain, acquire, get
Look — gaze, see, glance, watch, survey, study, seek, search for, peek, peep, glimpse, stare, contemplate, examine,
gape, ogle, scrutinize, inspect, leer, behold, observe, view, witness, perceive, spy, sight, discover, notice, recognize,
peer, eye, gawk, peruse, explore
Important — necessary, vital, critical, indispensable, valuable, essential, significant, primary, principal, considerable,
famous, distinguished, notable, well-known
Idea — thought, concept, conception, notion, understanding, opinion, plan, view, belief
Help — aid, assist, support, encourage, back, wait on, attend, serve, relieve, succor, benefit, befriend, abet
Have — hold, possess, own, contain, acquire, gain, maintain, believe, bear, beget, occupy, absorb, fill, enjoy
Get — acquire, obtain, secure, procure, gain, fetch, find, score, accumulate, win, earn, rep, catch, net, bag, derive,
collect, gather, glean, pick up, accept, come by, regain, salvage
End — stop, finish, terminate, conclude, close, halt, cessation, discontinuance
Do — execute, enact, carry out, finish, conclude, effect, accomplish, achieve, attain
Describe — portray, characterize, picture, narrate, relate, recount, represent, report, record
Begin — start, open, launch, initiate, commence, inaugurate, originate
Answer — reply, respond, retort, acknowledge
Ask– — question, inquire of, seek information from, put a question to, demand, request, expect, inquire, query,
interrogate, examine, quiz
agastopia
n. – admiration of a particular part of someone’s body
bibble
v. – to drink often; to eat and/or drink noisily
cabotage
n. – coastal navigation; the exclusive right of a country to control the air
traffic within its borders
doodle sack
n. – old English word for bagpipe
erinaceous
adj. – of, pertaining to, or resembling a hedgehog
firman
n. – in Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or mandate
issued by the sovereign
gabelle
n. – a tax on salt
halfpace
n. – a platform of a staircase where the stair turns back in exactly the
reverse direction of the lower flight
impignorate
v. – to pawn or mortgage something
jentacular
adj. – pertaining to breakfast
kakorrhaphiophobia
n. – fear of failure
lamprophony
n. – loudness and clarity of enunciation
macrosmatic
adj. – having a good sense of smell
nudiustertian
n. – the day before yesterday
oxter
n. – outdated word meaning “armpit”
pauciloquent
adj. – uttering few words; brief in speech
quire
n. – two dozen sheets of paper
ratoon
n. – small shoot growing from the root of a plant
salopettes
n. – high-waisted skiing pants with shoulder straps
tittynope
n. – a small quantity of something left over
ulotrichous
adj. – having wooly or crispy hair
valetudinarian
n. – a sickly or weak person, especially one who is constantly and
morbidly concerned with his or her health
winklepicker
n. – style of shoe or boot in the 1950s with a sharp and long pointed toe
xertz
v. – to gulp down quickly and greedily
yarborough
n. – hand of cards containing no card above a nine
zoanthropy
n. – delusion of a person who believes himself changed into an animal
Why are there no 'B' batteries?
If a jogger runs at the speed of sound, can he still hear his iPod?
If man evolved from monkeys, how come we still have monkeys?
Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
If God sneezes, what should you say?
If a baby's leg pops out at 11:59PM but his head doesn't come out until
12:01, which day was he born on?
If a mime is arrested, do they tell him he has a right to talk?
Is there a time limit on fortune cookie predictions?
When does it stop being partly cloudy and start being partly sunny?
Is it rude for a deaf person to talk (sign) with their mouth full of food?
Can a short person "talk down" to a taller person?
Why is vanilla ice cream white when vanilla extract is brown?
What do you do when you see an endangered animal that is eating an
endangered plant?
What is a picture of a thousand words worth?
Adding a proviso or acknowledging
reservations
24. Despite this
25. With this in mind
26. Provided that
27. In view of/in light of
28. Nonetheless
29. Nevertheless
Giving examples
31. For instance
32. To give an illustration
Signifying importance
33. Significantly
34. Notably
35. Importantly
Summarising
36. In conclusion
37. Above all
38. Persuasive
39. Compelling
40. All things considered
