ecpe teacher's guide - Hellenic American Union

ecpe teacher’s guide
receive a C (minimum pass) or above to be successful. Please consult Table 1 for descriptors at each
level. Note that while Standard American English is the official language of the ECPE, candidates are
not penalized for using British English spelling or expressions in their writing.
Preparing for ECPE writing
A quick review of the basic elements of essay writing will keep students aware of the characteristics
of an academic essay. Some points to review are:
• the development of an introductory paragraph that contains a thesis statement which guides the
content and purpose of the entire essay
• the organization of an essay into paragraphs each with a single controlling idea
• the use of supporting examples for each main point
• a summary of the main ideas of the essay in a final concluding paragraph.
Preparing to write well on the ECPE means addressing the areas of academic essay writing that are
sometimes overlooked in a general English language course. There are several areas to focus on
both inside the classroom and in individual study.
Grammar and mechanics
1. The grammar and syntax of an advanced-level academic essay in English should demonstrate a
range of appropriate linguistic structures and forms used with a high degree of accuracy. Students
should aim to include a variety of simple and complex structures (e.g. short, relatively simple
sentences as well as longer, more grammatically complex sentences) in their writing.
2. The mechanics of essay writing should not be overlooked. Students should make sure they do the
following:
• indent each new paragraph when handwriting an essay
• check for spelling mistakes throughout
• punctuate carefully to demonstrate understanding of grammatical control (e.g. a comma always
separates two independent clauses in a sentence).
Discourse markers
One of the most important aspects of writing at this level is coherence, or how the ideas in an essay
are connected.
1. Linking words and phrases as well as connectors (e.g. but, however, therefore, etc.) are one
means of achieving cohesion in writing, but less experienced writers should be particularly careful
not to misuse or overuse linking devices, which can result in very awkward and unnatural writing.
2. Another approach to linking ideas in writing is to strategically repeat or juxtapose certain words
and phrases so that the interconnectedness of ideas is “built into” the writing and is evident to the
reader without a lot of obvious linking words. Compare the following:
• Michigan is a state in the Midwest of America. However, this area is not well known abroad.
• Michigan is a state in America’s Midwest, an area which is little known abroad.
7