Once we (my friends and I) decided to go out for a meal at a restaurant and try something new. It seemed difficult to suggest one place because some of us had been to the major restaurants already. It took a long time and much discussion, but we could not agree on a place to go. I became exhausted, and in a gloomy voice I said, "Stop!" All my friends turned to look at me with question marks on their faces, wondering what happened. I addressed them all and said, "Listen, guys! If you'll go along with me, let's all go to the Vanilla Room restaurant. I went there with my family last month and they have a range of tasty Asian and European dishes, with delicious desserts too. Will you come with me?" They all said, "Yes!" We linked arms, happy to have found a solution.
Sample Essay with Corrections
Expert Feedback
The essay effectively recounts a specific experience of deciding where to eat with friends, which is a key strength. However, it lacks clarity and detail in certain areas, such as the friends' preferences and the restaurant's atmosphere, which could enhance the narrative. The structure is basic but needs improvement in coherence and cohesion, as there are instances of repetition and disjointed ideas. The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, and there are several grammatical errors that detract from the overall quality. The corrected version addresses these issues by improving grammatical accuracy, enhancing vocabulary, and ensuring a clearer flow of ideas. Further improvements could include adding more descriptive language and varying sentence structures to enhance engagement. The tone used is appropriate for a personal recount, maintaining a conversational style throughout.
Detailed Scores
What this means:
The response has a basic structure, but the flow of ideas is somewhat disjointed. There are instances of repetition, such as 'talking talking,' which detracts from coherence. To improve, the writer should use more varied cohesive devices and ensure a logical progression of ideas.
How to improve:
- Use a clear paragraph structure
- Connect ideas with appropriate linking words
- Maintain logical progression
- Use referencing effectively
What this means:
The writing contains several grammatical errors, including incorrect verb forms ('i go' should be 'I went') and issues with subject-verb agreement ('it take' should be 'it takes'). There are also run-on sentences and missing articles. To improve, the writer should focus on using correct grammatical structures and varying sentence types.
How to improve:
- Use complex sentence structures
- Maintain grammatical accuracy
- Use a variety of sentence patterns
- Check for common grammar errors
What this means:
The vocabulary used is quite basic and repetitive, with phrases like 'yummy food' and 'very nice cake' lacking sophistication. There are also some awkward expressions, such as 'put question mark on top their head.' To enhance this score, the writer should aim for a wider range of vocabulary and more precise word choices.
How to improve:
- Use a wider range of vocabulary
- Demonstrate awareness of collocations
- Avoid word repetition
- Use more sophisticated vocabulary accurately
What this means:
The writing addresses the task by recounting a specific experience of deciding where to eat with friends. However, it lacks some clarity and detail in the narrative, which could enhance the overall effectiveness. To improve, the writer could provide more context about the friends' preferences or the atmosphere of the restaurant.
How to improve:
- Address all parts of the task fully
- Support ideas with specific examples
- Develop each point thoroughly
- Stay relevant to the topic
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