Exposition for Students

Sample 1 (Comparison)

Gender’ Differences

The “battle of the sexes” started with Adam and Eve, and it will probably continue forever. The opinion that men are superior to women has long been accepted in many cultures, but the feminist movement is trying to change this view. Feminists claim that boys and girls are exactly equal at birth but become unequal because of the way they are treated by society. However, recent research contradicts the view that males and females are innately alike.

Without a doubt, societal influences both inside and outside the family cause many differences to develop. Inside the family, boys learn to be men by watching and copying their fathers, and girls learn to be women by watching and copying their mothers. Outside the family, boys who play with dolls after a certain age receive disapproval, as do girls who continue to play with Ninja Turtles (although the pressure may not be quite as strong on girls).

However, not all differences are caused by societal influences. Some are due to differences in the physiology of the brain. For example, more men than women are left-handed, which means that the right side of men’s brains are dominant because the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. Right-brain people generally have better reasoning abilities, whereas left-brain people generally have better verbal skills.

In fact, girls are better at language than boys. For both men and women, the language center is on the left side of the brain. However, girls not only begin speaking earlier than boys, but they also speak more clearly and develop larger vocabularies. In contrast, more boys than girls stutter and have trouble learning to read. Boys’ difficulty with language may be the result of their right-brain dominance.

In addition, men and women have different spatial abilities. For example, they can read maps more easily than women. Women often have to turn a map around in order to know which direction to go, whereas men can do it in their heads. On the other hand, women excel at other spatial tasks such as remembering the location of objects in a random pattern. That’s why women are better than men at finding misplaced car keys and eyeglasses.

While it is clear that some differences are rooted in the physiology of the brain, it is equally clear that other differences are not. For example, boys and girls are equal in math ability until about seventh grade. Then girls start to fall behind, perhaps because math teachers encourage boys more. Furthermore, there are many exceptions to these general patterns. Just as some women are good at abstract algebra, some men become skilled poets and public speakers.

Although continuing research will yield further information about gender differences, it will never resolve “the battle between the sexes”. However, it should help the next time he gets lost in the family car while following her map-reading directions, and the next time she has to look for his misplaced car

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keys.

---from Introduction to Academic Writing by Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 1997. Questions:

1. What is the thesis statement? Double underline it.

2. Does this essay discuss mostly similarities, mostly differences, or both similarities and differences? 3. What is the topic sentence of each body paragraph?

Sample 2 (Classification)

Onward Library Soldiers

There are students on active study duty at any college library. Some sit at the computers, others gather at study tables, and still others line up at the copy machines.

These study troops are active soldiers found in all college libraries. They fall into three categories: the industrious soldiers, the crammer cadets, and the just for show officers.

Members of the first group, the industrious soldiers, work diligently to comprehend class material. These soldiers are alert and prepared. They have all the tools they need to succeed: papers, pens, textbooks, and sharp minds. They are armed for combat and ready to conquer their enemies: math, chemistry, history, and English. What troopers! Industrious soldiers fight hard to win.

The crammer cadets make up the second group. They are soldiers that the United States military would be appalled to have in their army! Crammer cadets wait until the last minute to prepare for their classes. Crammer cadets also fail to use the resources available to them, such as reference books, computers, library assistants, and tutors. Instead, they cram for exams and to meet assignment deadlines. Because of poor planning, however, crammer cadets often fail to complete assignments satisfactorily.

The third group, the just for show officers, are the school socialities. They stand by the study tables, the copy machines, the bathrooms, or the telephones to discuss class assignments or their agendas for the week. These officers are so involved in their discussions that they get almost no work done. They also distract everyone else. Nothing irritates an industrious soldier or a last-minute crammer cadet like a just for show officer.

Questions for consideration 1.

What is the principle of classification in this essay?

2. What pattern does the author use in developing different categories? 3. Locate the thesis statements.

4 Write an effective conclusion to the essay.

Sample 3

Competition and Cooperation

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Competition is a common phenomenon in our society. We compete when we play games， we try to do better than others in our study，and there is constant competition for jobs, fame， wealth and so forth. Therefore，we can say that，in a certain sense，competition is one of the motive forces of the development of our modern society.

It is often believed，that competition and cooperation are in opposition to each other. Some people stress competition，without which，in their eyes，there is no responsibility，no drive and ultimately，no progress. Others advocate cooperation whatever they do. They are of the opinion that the dependence of people on one another has increased，without which the society we live in can not keep going smoothly. In reality，we find that in many cases competition goes hand in hand with cooperation. Lets take a football game for example. During the game，one team is competing against the other，but each member of the team must cooperate with his teammates. Otherwise，they would lose the game no matter how skillful each individual player might be. It is clear that competition has much to do with cooperation.

As far as Im concerned，I do not agree with the view that competition and cooperation are always in conflict with each other. In my opinion，while advocating competition. We should never forget cooperation. In our social life，cooperation is especially necessary because most work is fulfilled with or through other people. So Ive come to the conclusion that competition are equally important.

I believe that competition is more important than cooperation because competition is what motivates and drives us to succeed in life. Without competition, there would be no compelling force pushing us to try harder and show the world our very best abilities. Cooperation is a part of competition, but it is in no way more important. There are many studies that show how people work best when there is competition and an incentive to win. Competition helps us define our goals and to lock our eyes on them. In the end, competition matters more than cooperation because without something or someone to compete against, no success would ever be achieved no matter how cooperative people are.

Sample 4 (Analogy)

Learning to write a critical essay is like: (1) Learning to drive

Remember learning to drive? Remember going down that checklist before you started the engine? Checking your mirrors, fastening your seatbelt, adjusting the seat and steering wheel, checking the gas and oil gauges, looking in your blind spot before pulling into traffic, putting your directional on...

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Inexperienced drivers are also often too timid to pull into the stream of traffic, even when it is safe to do so. And how is it now that you are an experienced driver? Do you actually go through that same checklist? Do you wait until there isn't a car in sight before you make that left? Yes, the rules are still important, but after a while they become second nature. If you *don't* check the gas, you could get stranded. And if you *don't* check your blind spot, you could get killed. But we are all more comfortable driving with an old-hand, someone we know will give us a safe and profitable ride without needing to resort to the rule book every five seconds. Young drivers lack the finesse, know-how and confidence they will gain as they gain experience. You don't jump on the expressway before you are comfortable driving at a high speed, do you? And you don't choose a curvy, hilly road until you are comfortable driving down streets without such challenges, do you?

Writing works the same way. You have your permit as a beginning writer. Follow the rules until you are comfortable. As a beginner, your handbooks are essential references and provide necessary information. Checklists of what to do and what not to do keep you on task. Sticking to a format you are comfortable with is a better choice than trying to take on too much. The more you write, the better you will get. Confidence is a big part of this game, as well as technical skill. So take it slowly. If you don't know the most basic rules (how to avoid writing sentence fragments or run-on sentences), you are in big trouble, just as if you didn't know what a STOP sign meant. Even when you do master these basic mechanics, as a beginning writer, you may feel that your writing is too stiff, your essays technically correct yet otherwise boring. But if you are too sloppy, you crash. Just like in driving. Find the middle road. Have patience. Learn why the rules exist before you try to stretch them!

Before you leap into the stream of traffic (= that great discussion that you can’t wait to get to), alert your reader about the direction your paper is going to take!

Putting your blinker on (= writing good transitions between paragraphs) allows other drivers to see your intentions. Let your reader know your intentions too.

Following these simple rules will allow you to write essays that will transport your reader to the destination of your choosing. Have a safe trip. (2) Writing a critical essay is like… Baking a cake

baker's recipe = writer's outline good ingredients = supporting details ingredient amounts

order of presentation of ingredients

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how to mix the ingredients baking time secret ingredient an appetizing end result TEM 8

2000年英语专业八级考试写作真题

Some people simply see education as going to schools or colleges or as a means to secure good jobs; most people view education as a lifelong process. In your opinion how important is education to modem man? Write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic: Topic:Education as a Lifelong Progress 2001年英语专业八级考试写作真题

The Internet is about to take off in China. As many as 9 million people are online a number that is estimated to hit 20 million by the end of 2000. It is predicted that this phenomenal growth will have great impact on our society and economy. Choose ONE aspect of our society or economy where you think the impact will be most strongly felt and write an essay of about 300 words entitled: Topic: The Impact of the Internet on … 2002年英语专业八级考试写作真题

All of us would agree that in order to be successful in the present-day society we university graduates have to possess certain personal qualities that can enable us to realize our aim. What do you think is the most important personal quality of a university graduate? Write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic:

Topic: The Most Important Personal Quality of a University Student

2003年英语专业八级考试写作真题

An English newspaper is currently running a discussion on whether young people in China today are (not) more self-centered and unsympathetic than were previous generations. And the paper is inviting contributions from university students. You have been asked to write a short article for the newspaper to air your views. Your article should be about 300 words in length. You should supply a title for your article.

2004年英语专业八级考试写作真题

It was reported in the press some time ago that a few second-and third-year students in a provincial university decided to try their hands at business in order to get prepared for the future. They opened six

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small shops near their university. Their teachers and classmates had different opinions about this phenomenon. Some thought that the students’ business experience would help them adapt better to society after graduation while others held a negative view saying that running shops might occupy too much of the students’ time and energy which should otherwise be devoted to their academic study. What do you think? Write a composition of about 300 words on the following topic: Topic: Should University Students Go infor Business? 2005年英语专业八级考试写作真题

Interview is frequently used byemployers as a means to recruit prospective employees. As a result there have been many arguments for or against the interview as a selection procedure. What is your opinion? Write an essay of about 400 words to state your view. 2006年英语专业八级考试写作真题

Joseph Epstein a famous American writer once said “We decide what us important and what is trivial in life. We decide (so) that what makes us significant is either what we do or what we refuse to do. But no matter how indifferent the universe may be to our choices and decisions these choices and decisions are ours to make. We decide. We choose. And as we decide and choose so are our lives formed. In the end forming our own destiny is what ambition is about.” Do you agree or disagree with him? Write an essay of about 400 words entitled: Topic: Ambition

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Some people think that financial disparity affects friendship. What do you think? Write an essay of about 400 words. You should supply an appropriate title for your essay.

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