Grammar: Writing Task: A short essay expressing an opinion or describing an experience, using B1 grammar

Writing: B1 Capstone Task

Writing an Opinion or Experience Essay

What you will do: In this lesson, you will put your B1 skills together to write a short, well-structured essay expressing an opinion or describing an experience.

Model Essay ✍️

Let's look at a good example essay that follows a clear three-paragraph structure.

Why Life in a Smaller City is Better

Choosing where to live is a big decision for everyone. In my opinion, living in a smaller city like Battambang offers a much better quality of life than living in a huge capital city like Phnom Penh.

The main reason is the relaxed atmosphere. In Battambang, the streets are not as crowded, so it is easier to travel around. I used to live in a big city, and I don't miss the terrible traffic jams. A smaller city, which often has more green space, gives you more opportunities to enjoy nature. You should visit the countryside around Battambang; it's beautiful.

In conclusion, while big cities have more opportunities, I believe a smaller city provides a more peaceful and healthy lifestyle. It's a choice I have never regretted.

Breaking Down the Essay Structure

A good essay needs good structure. Here are the three essential parts.

1. The Introduction: The first paragraph. It should start with a general sentence and end with your main idea (your thesis statement).

2. The Main Body: The middle paragraph. It gives 2-3 supporting points with details, reasons, and examples to explain your thesis statement.

3. The Conclusion: The final paragraph. It summarizes your main idea in different words and gives one final thought.

Your Writer's Toolkit 🛠️

B1 Grammar Checklist

As you write, try to include some of these B1 grammar points to show your skills:

• A mix of tenses (e.g., Past Simple, Present Perfect, a future form).
• Connect ideas with conjunctions (e.g., and, but, so, because).
• Add extra information with a relative clause (e.g., who, which, that).
• Explain a reason with an infinitive of purpose (e.g., I went there to see...).
• Use a modal verb (e.g., you should visit..., it could be...).
• Use synonyms to avoid repeating simple words like "nice" or "good".

Your Writing Task 🎯

Step 1: Choose Your Topic

Select ONE of the following topics (prompts) to write about:

• Option 1 (Expressing an Opinion): Is it better to live in a big city like Phnom Penh or a smaller, provincial city like Battambang? Give reasons for your opinion.
• Option 2 (Describing an Experience): Describe a memorable trip you have taken in Cambodia. Where did you go, what did you do, and why do you remember it so well?

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Step 2: Make a Quick Plan

Before you write, quickly answer these questions in your notebook:

1. What is my main idea (my thesis statement)?
2. What are two or three key details I will include in my main paragraph?
3. Which two grammar points from the checklist will I try to use?

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Step 3: Write Your Essay

Now it's your turn! Write your short essay (about 100-150 words) on the topic you chose. Use the structure and checklist to help you. Good luck!

Key Vocabulary

• Essay (Noun) | សំណេរ
  A short piece of writing on a particular subject.
• Opinion (Noun) | មតិ
  A belief or judgment about something, not necessarily based on fact.
• Memorable (Adjective) | ដែលគួរឱ្យចងចាំ
  Worth remembering or easily remembered because it is special.
• Structure (Noun) | រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ
  The arrangement of the parts of something complex, like an essay.
• Thesis Statement (Noun) | សេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍សំខាន់
  A sentence in the introduction that states the writer's main idea.