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5. Opinion pieces
In these essays, you must give your ideas/opinion on something, often in the form of an article for a newspaper or a magazine.
The most important rule is to READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! Make sure you cover all the questions in the prompts (guidelines, ohjeistus)
Remember that your essay does not have to represent your real opinion. You just have to make it sound good and explain well!
What is an editorial?
An editorial is a short essay that shares an individual's opinion on a current event or social issue.
The goal of a good editorial is to persuade the reader to consider your perspective and change their opinion.
Editorials often focus on controversial issues with widely different viewpoints. Your editorial should make a clear argument that reflects your stance and appeals to your audience.
SUDENKUOPAT:
Tutki ohjeistus kunnolla.
Tutki ohjeistus uudestaan. Oletko varmasti ymmärtänyt oikein? (kts. option 5)
Tutki ohjeistus vielä kerran. Oletko käsitellyt kaikki kysymykset?
OPTION 24
Spring 2024
Me, myself and I
Ophelia, in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, says: “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” This has been read as an expression of the uncertainty the future may bring, but it could also be seen as a suggestion for change. Can we change and how could those changes come about? Write your contribution to a contest looking for the best student essay on the topic.
Vastauksen pituus on enintään 1300 merkkiä. Ylityksestä seuraa pistevähennys.
OPTION 23
Autumn 2023
Opettajan kommentti:
Jos puhuu vain ilmastonmuutoksesta eikä luontokadosta, -10p
Jos käytännön ratkaisu puuttuu, -5p
Jos ei kerro miten muut vakuutetaan, -5p
What can you do to promote biodiversity?
The International Youth for Biodiversity organisation is offering a prize for the best essay on biodiversity. Climate change is a recognised threat to our future, but now more and more people are raising the alarm about the loss of biodiversity. Every ninth species in Finland is endangered. What can you do to help change this trend? Offer a practical solution and explain how you would convince others to follow your example.
Vastauksen pituus on enintään 1300 merkkiä. Ylityksestä seuraa pistevähennys.
OPTION 22
Autumn 2023:
Opettajan kommentti:
Ohjeistuksen kysymyksiin ei tarvitse vastata (koska: "... or is there somne other way that you would suggest?"), oleellista että käsittelee nuoria ja järkevää rahankäyttöä.
Jos ei ole mitään perustelua, -5p
Let’s talk about money
Youth magazine Young and Successful asks its readers: What is the best way for young people leaving school to manage their money? Should you be saving in a bank account or investing in the stock market, or is there some other way that you would suggest? Write your recommendations and give reasons for them.
Vastauksen pituus on enintään 1300 merkkiä. Ylityksestä seuraa pistevähennys.
OPTION 21
Spring 2023:
OPTION 20
Spring 2023:
OPTION 19
Spring 2023:
OPTION 18
Autumn 2022:
Opettajan kommentti:
on ok käsitellä aihetta omakohtaisesti tai yleisellä tasolla (you voi viitata yleisesti ihmisiin).
Vähennys 5p, jos kirjoittajalla ei ole lainkaan perusteluja.
Option 17
Autumn 2022
Opettajan kommentti:
-10p, jos vain listaa ihmisten yleisiä mielipiteitä verkossa opiskelusta eikä käsittele opiskelustrategioita tai alustoja (kirjoittaa otsikosta mutta ei noudata ohjantaa)
-5p, jos käsittelee strategioita tai alustoja, mutta ei perustele (noudattaa ohjantaa mutta ei käsittele viimeistä kysymystä why)
Perusteluksi riittää esim. nettiyhteys katkesi/opettajan taidot eivät riitä.
Option 16
Spring 2022: your personal experiences
Option 15
Spring 2022: your personal experiences
Option 14
Autumn 2021: your views
My superhero
You want to work at a superhero-themed camp for children aged 8–12. There are all kinds of superheroes, real and fictive. Who is yours and why? As part of your application, write an essay analyzing your superhero. You may use the images as inspiration, if you choose.
Opettajan kommentti:
koska ohjeessa puhutaan hakemuksesta sekä aineesta, voit kirjoittaa joko aineen, joka liitettäisiin hakemukseen mukaan, tai voit kirjoittaa kirjeen. Jos kirjoitat kirjeen, on pakko olla allekirjoitus.
Option 13
Autumn 2021: when has this happened to you?
Lessons learnt?
Write an account of a time you have realized something was fake news or you were part of spreading or creating fake news yourself.
Opettajan kommentti:
koska ei ole määritelty tarkemmin, fake news -käsitteen voi ymmärtää laajemmin, esim. myös juoruina.
Option 12
Spring 2021: your views
Sustainable travel
Sustainable travel means finding a way that tourism can be maintained without harming natural and cultural environments. Write a paper on sustainable travel for the International Youth Forum. Write a paper for the Forum, in which you present your views and possible solutions for sustainable travel.
Option 11
Autumn 2020: your vision
Option 10
Autumn 2020: your opinion
Option 9
Spring 2020: your opinion
Words, words, words
What do words mean? What kind of problems have you had with English words you didn’t know or misunderstood, and has it led to uncomfortable or just hilarious situations? Do you have strategies for dealing with situations like this? Write a guest post to the BBC’s Learning English blog discussing some of your experiences with unfamiliar words.
Option 8
Spring 2020: your opinion
Opinion piece on military service
The Finnish Conscripts’ Union is gathering young people’s opinions about general conscription. At the moment, all Finnish men between the ages of 18 and 60 must either perform military or non-military service. Women can apply for voluntary military service. What do you think and why? Write your text to the union stating and arguing for your opinion.
Option 7
Spring 2020: your opinion
The tools from school
You will be leaving school in a few months. Looking back at the past few years, it is time to summarize your thoughts and experiences. How has general upper secondary school prepared you for the future? Is there anything you would have wanted or would perhaps have needed to learn more about? Is there anything you would like to change? Why?
Option 6
Autumn 2019:
What does music do to you?
Music not only affects our mood but also has a beneficial impact on learning, memory, pain alleviation and health in general. You participate in a survey where you are asked to describe how you make use of music in your daily life. Write your text as an answer to the question: What does music do to you?
If you wish, you can listen to this while you are writing: Drams Ceilidh Band – “Strip the Willow”
Option 5
Spring 2019: what would you do?
Me as a winner of the Nobel Prize, Oscar or Olympic Games. Write a description of yourself as the world-famous winner of one of the above-mentioned prizes. How would you use your fame and influence for a cause that is important to you, and why?
Opettajan kommentti:
Jos et kirjoita siitä, miten käyttäisit mainettasi ja vaikutusvaltaasi, - 10 p.
Option 4
Spring 2019: ethical dilemma
You are an exchange student in an Australian school. Your philosophy teacher asks you to write an essay on the following ethical dilemma:
How should we help others who are less fortunate? Can we differentiate between the “deserving poor” and the “undeserving poor”?
Opettajan kommentti:
Sinun ei tarvitse mainita, että olet vaihto-opiskelija australialaisessa koulussa. Pelkästään viimeisten kahden kysymyksen käsittely riittää.
Option 3
Spring 2017: your ideas
3. Reality TV
CBS Reality is a reality channel in the UK. They are now looking for new ideas for a reality TV series. Write your suggestion describing the intended audience and participants as well as the storyline of the series. What makes this particular TV series interesting?
Option 2
Autumn 2016: your opinion
4. Is there anybody out there?
Discuss whether there is life outside the solar system.
Option 1
Spring 2016: your proposal (ehdotus)
2. First impressions count
Your school has decided to invest in making exchange students feel welcome and at home. Students are asked to give their proposals for the orientation week for exchange students. Write your proposal.
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