TIPS TO WRITE AN ESSAY

Writing an Essay at the CPE Cambridge exam:

-   Read both pieces of text.

-   Underline the 2 key points in each paragraph , points 1+2 and 3+4.

-   Decide how far you agree with these points.

-   List some relevant ideas.

-   Plan your answer in 4 or 5 paragraphs.

Layout of an essay :

-          Introduction ( short summary of both pieces of text)

-          Paragraph 1 summarising points 1 and 2

-          Paragraph 2 summarising points 3 and 4

-          Conclusion 

Sentence openers :

-          The first text suggests that…..

-         
The second text raises the issue of …..

-          The writer is of the opinion that….

-          Additionally, it is ragued that…..

-          The two texts contrast differing views of…..

-          According to the first passage…….

-          Personaly, i …………….

-          The second text put forward……

-          I believe that………

-          In conclusuon , it is my opinion that……

Linking points and arguments

-          As opposed to

-          In the sense that…..

-          For this reason……..

Making generalisations :

-          On the whole….

-          In general…..

-          For the most part….

-          As a rule……

-          It is often that….

-          It is usually the case that…..

-          People to regard…..

-          The reality is that…..

Being specific:

-          With respect to...

-          In the case of...

-          As regards...

-          In terms of….

-          With the exception of…..

-          From the ….. point of view….

-          They are seen as…..

-          As far as ……are / is concerned……

Raising an argument:

-          Considering…..

-          On the question of….

-          No one would dispute…….

Giving one side:

-          One argument in favour of this is ….

-          In support of…..

-          It is true that……

Giving the other side:

-          At the same time….

-          In actual fact…..

-          On the other hand….

-          In contrast to….

-          Set/ weighed against this is…..

Attitude :

-          Personally...

-          Unfortunately...

-          Obviously...

-          Evidently...

-          Presumably...

-          Naturally...

-          fortunately..

Quantity:

-          a great deal of...

-          to some / a large extent...

-          a large number of….

By SYB

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Whither the Arts?

Repeatedly I have written and spoken about exhaustion in the arts. Think how easy it was for the possibly pseudonymous Longus to write the immortal pastoral romance Daphnis and Chloe in the third or fourth century, when there was relatively little competition in fiction writing. Think also of how easy it was for the early composers to write not especially original music at a time when originality was not much called for. In the fine arts, even before representation yielded to abstraction, it has been easier to be original all along, what with the variety of faces, landscapes and possible still lifes. Yet even there a certain sense of déjà vu is now making things more difficult.

For artists with words—poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists—it is, despite seemingly infinite possibilities, getting harder and harder to be original, given the prevailing glut. Forays into the absurd have become more and more frequent, what with true newness ever more difficult to achieve. As for dance, the beauty of the human body in motion guarantees a putative inexhaustibility, yet even so there is no superabundance nowadays of outstanding choreographers.

Where mass production is by way of becoming deleterious is in the cinema, where it would appear that the great innovators have been dying out, and the newcomers are having the devil of a time trying not to look like the epigones they are. And there is a big increase in remakes, mostly inferior to the makes.

But where the desperate quest to be new is most pronounced, or most demented, is in the hard-to-classify realms of conceptual and body art, in which the frantic pursuit of elusive novelty has wreaked the greatest havoc. Here let us accost one of the major practitioners of the typical quest for originality—or just difference— yielding the most pitiful examples.  I name that salient practitioner of non-art posturing as art: Marina Abramovic.

A couple of years ago her so-called retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art was entitled “The Artist Is Present.” It consisted of having persons sit in a chair opposite her and gazing at her admiringly. And would you believe it? People stood in line for the privilege of sitting and staring at her. So what could she do now to top this? Well, now she has London’s Serpentine Gallery showing nothing except the colored empty panels of its walls. It is called “512 Hours” after the total time she will spend there doing nothing. And folks have stood in line to see Abramovic’s nothing, presumably superior to the nothing of lesser mortals.

It is written up in an article of the June 14 New York Times, which can be read as either laudatory or ironic, or possibly neither. It goes into some detail about how Marina is spending the 512 hours of the duration of this exhibition. She says, “There is just me and the public. It is insane what I try to do.” Note that here “insane” is a term of praise.

There is no limit to Abramovic’s superior insanity. She is “widely known in the art world,” the Times states, “as a pioneer in her field who had not just created performances of physical intensity—carving a star into her stomach with a razor, lying on a block of ice for hours, screaming until her voice gave out—but had also re-enacted grueling performance pieces by other artists.” For, alas, she is not alone in her art. “A number of Americans and curators have written . . . accusing Ms. Abramovic and the gallery of failing to acknowledge the work of Mary Ellen Carroll, a New York based conceptual artist. Ms. Carroll said in an email that she had been working on a project called ‘Nothing’ since 1984, describing it as ‘an engagement with the public’ without documentation.” Thirty years of working on creating nothing is indeed impressive.

One of the gallery’s co-curators with Julia Taylor Jones, Hans Ulrich Obrist, told the Times in a telephone interview that “Ms. Carroll was one of numerous artists before Ms. Abramovic who had explored the relationship between art and nothingness.” And Abramovic herself confirms that “now we are getting letters every day from people who did nothing first.” Truly a situation worthy of the pen of Jonathan Swift or Lewis Carroll (no relation to Mary Ellen).

But did they receive the same sort of recognition as the one for “512 Hours”? No. Lady Gaga did not come to them for instruction, and Time magazine did not put them on this year’s list of the 100 most influential people. I have no doubt that at this very moment doctoral theses are being written on the art of nothing. Indeed, Marina informs us, “relishing her fame,” that her public “are super young, and I become for them some kind of example of things they want to know.” And we read that on a given Wednesday attendance at “52 Hours” consisted of hundreds of knowledge seekers, and not only young ones, but that on the following Thursday there was no such crowd. We are not told what happened on Friday.

“There is an enormous need for young people to have contact with the artist,” Ms. A. avers. And how does that play out at the Serpentine Galleries? For example, Ms. A. hands a small mirror to a visitor and tells her to walk backward, using the mirror as a guide. “Reality is behind you,” she whispers.

This was, presumably, a young contact needer. But how about older ones? “You look suspicious,” Ms. A. said to an older couple. They looked “well, suspicious, as around them people contemplated those panels in bright primary colors [not painted by Ms. A.]  or lay on he floor eyes closed.  Ms. A. took the couple by the hand, “gently asked them to close their eyes, and led them away walking with a slow measured tread.” She explains: “The public are my material, and I am theirs. “ To this end, our material girl opens the gallery with her private key at 6 A.M. and presumably tarries there till closing time.

Now you may fear that this art is too ephemeral, too conditioned on the artist’s living presence. Not to worry. In Hudson, New York, there is a Marina Abramovic Institute, a center for long-durational work, that “she hopes will bring together figures from the worlds or art, science and spirituality.” I wonder who these figures might be? For art, we already have Lady Gaga—or is she there for spirituality?—but who might attend from the world of science? Scientologists, perhaps; I can’t see Mary Ellen Carroll making the pilgrimage.

So there you have it. “A Gallery Filled with Emptiness,” as one Times headline has it. The follow-up one, more explicitly, reads “Now She Fills Her Gallery With Emptiness.” But, of course, she won’t stop there. There are still many heads to be filled with emptiness, albeit not so the fillers’ pockets. It is all highly symptomatic. And this, and similar manifestations, are where modern art has progressed to. How much really separates those primary-colored gallery panels from the masterworks of Mark Rothko and his likes, say Yves Klein, the Monochrome?

Simultaneously in music, we get John Cage’s measured silence and the not much better Minimalists. In literature, where it all began, we had Gertrude Stein, the surrealists and Oulipo. The floodgates were open to a French writer who wrote a whole book with the letter E removed from his typewriter. But why stop at one letter? How about a book with no letters at all? 

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Goodbye, Scotty C.

Scott and me, circa 2009

Oof. I have been contemplating this post for a few months now and how the best way to go about saying goodbye to a guy who has, in every sense of the word, been my hero the past ten years. You may have gotten to take a look at the New Wave story I wrote about one of my first interactions with President Cowen all those years ago. It was the last in the series of "Great Scott" memories, and I am honored to have been the closer in that group. Before we say goodbye to Scott at the end of this month, I think it's important for my blog readers to let soak in what a great dude Scott really is. How about we chat about the top 5 most incredible things in his presidency? Here goes:

5) Award-winning: Although he is super humble, he's probably one of the most decorated university presidents currently in office. Need proof? Time Magazine named him one of the top ten University presidents. He was one of only four university leaders nationwide to receive the Carnegie Corporation Academic Leadership Award back in 2009. Not to mention he's been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, was appointed by Obama to the White House Council for Community Solutions and, most notably, is the current chair of the uber-prestigious Association of American Universities. He's been named New Orleanian of the year by the Times-Picayune and Gambit Weekly. I could go on.

4) Growth-driving:  Scott arrived at Tulane in 1998 and since then, the number of students applying to Tulane has quadrupled. Each year, we recruit a class that is academically even stronger than the previous year. The university currently stands at the largest it has ever been, in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment. In the last 8 years, Tulane has invested over $700 million in new and renovated buildings and facilities on campus. Our campus today looks vastly different than when Scott took office 16 years ago.

Scott with Ellen, one of the many incredible grad speakers he brought in. 

3) Money-rasin': Fundraising has also soared since Scott made it a top priority after he took office. Just this month, the Council of Advancement and Support of Education (CASE, the definitive national organization for university fundraising) awarded Tulane the Fundraising Award in the "overall improvement" category. Tulane has more than doubled the level of total private giving. Scott championed Promise and Distinction, the largest university fundraising effort in the history of Louisiana. It raised over $700 million!

2) Community Engaging: This year, in an effort to honor Scott, the Tulane community donated 780,347 hours of community service in his name. Want me to repeat that? Seven hundred eighty thousand, three hundred forty seven hours! Not to mention Scott was the driving force behind the implementation of the public service gradation component at Tulane, as well as the creation of the Tulane Center for Public Service. Top it off, under his leadership, the Scott Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives, aka the Cowen Institute, was created. In case you haven't been following the news, the turnaround in New Orleans public education system has been one of the most remarkable in educational history.

Scott standing in floodwater out front of Reily 

1) Recovery-driving: Nowhere has Scott been more of a hero to me than in our post-Katrina recovery. I'll never forget sitting in a dark hotel room in Richmond, VA after I evacuated there with the bare-bones staff of the Office of Admission, and reading (though some serious tears) all the blogs about Tulane. One post still resonates with me to this day. The mood was dark, the posts were very negative and one kind poster anonymously posted: "Stick a fork in yourselves, Tulane. Cuz you're done." And for a while there, I believed it. How could a school, under water and having sustained over 600 million in damages, in a city left for dead, possibly recover? Looking back now, it is tough to find the words to describe it all. Under Scott's leadership, we didn't just recover. We flourished. I can tell you first-hand, Tulane is, under almost all accounts, truly a better, smarter, and stronger school than we were back in 2005. From his courageous and controversial Renewal Plan to being named a member of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission, Scott truly led this school through one of the darkest times in ANY university's history. If you ever wonder why I call him my hero, this is why.

I'll leave you with the unabridged version of the story I wrote for the New Wave. I had to edit it down for length for the story, so here the full version. Oh and Scott, if you happen to read this: Thank you.

Scott and Anderson Cooper

Sometime in late September of 2005, I was in a hotel in Dallas getting ready to give the first presentation of my Tulane admission career to a massive group of high school students and their parents. The flood waters were still receding in NOLA and Tulane had recently announced they would not reopen till spring. So the presentation was a bit of a rubbernecking occurrence- everyone wanted to come hear what the deal with Tulane was- kind of like slowing down to see a car wreck. My three weeks of training had been cancelled, so this would be the first time in my career I ever presented Tulane to an audience. 


As I was prepping the ballroom for the event, my phone rang. It was my home inspector who inspected the home my father and I had purchased in NOLA a few weeks before the storm. He'd made it back to the house at my request to check on it. I'll never forget his exact words; "every movable object in the house has been destroyed." There was my confirmation; I had lost everything. No matter, the show must go on!
A few minutes later, t-minus 30 minutes till the event, my phone rang again. It was my Dad. 

"Dad, I can't talk. I am about to give my first Tulane presentation."

Dad: "I know, but hang on I have someone who wants to say something."

"Ugh, okay but make it quick! The home inspector just called and-"

"Jeff. Hi. This is Scott Cowen." 
(at this point it should be noted that my parents were attending one of Scott's "please come back to Tulane" events in DC)

"Hello? This is Scott."

Me: "... Shut up."

SC: "No, really, this is Scott."

Me: "Seriously? Shut UP!" (I think I had some maturing to do back then)

SC: "Um, well. Anyways. Your dad tells me you work for Tulane and are out there fighting the good fight for us right now." 

Me: "Oh wow, um. Yes, sir, I am about to speak to a big group here in Dallas."

SC: "Great. Well, I am really happy you are out there doing all you can. I am confident that eventually we will be okay, but do me a favor... make me proud out there, ok?"

Jeff: ".... (speechless, awestruck 22 year old).... Yes Sir!"

I hung up, got in front of that group, and thanks to Scott, I knocked that presentation out of the park. I even told them "the President just called me to say hi!" Some of my best recruits came out of that night too. Something told me that after that call, with Scott at the helm, Tulane would somehow be okay, just like he said. 

Nearly ten years later, I can say that I am the one who is proud. Proud that I got to spend this time with him as the best leader a guy could as for. Proud to be a part of this whole recovery of a great institution. And certainly proud to call Scott my boss but also my hero.

Scott dyes his hair green for every Homecoming game. 

Scott, Laura Meagher from the Office of Admission and I at one of his ten thousand going away parties. 

Last week Tulane renamed the circle out front of campus! 

We'll miss you, Scott. (photo from Time Magazine)

Scott on McAlister Dr. after Katrina. 

Scott with his wife Margie and their dog Gibson (RIP)
who he used to bring to move-in day each year.

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IDIOMS FROM A TO Z

Using different English Idioms will help you to impress the examiner in the CPE Speaking Exam. You can also use idioms in your writings but take into consideration that idioms are informal. This means that it is a good idea to use them in a friendly letter or in a light-hearted article, but not in a formal document like an essay or a report. Click to see How to write a Report and How to write an Essay.

List of idioms from A to Z

A

A chink in sb´s armour.
Example: She is the best student in the class but her poor spelling is the chink in her armour.



B

Spill the beans.
Example: I know you have a secret. C´mon tell me. Spill the beans.

C

Let the cat out of the bag.
Example: You are not good at keeping secrets. Tell us now. Let the cat out of the bag.





That´s the way the cookie crumbles.
Example: I can´t believe she decided to go to the graduation dance with Sam instead of me. But well, that´s the way the cookie crumbles.



D

Look like a million dollars.
Example: She looks amazing in her new dress. She looks like a million dollars.

E

Let´s play it by ear.
Example: Let´s make no plans for today. Let´s just play it by ear.



A white elephant.
Example: Nobody uses the computer in the teachers´ room. It´s a white elephant.


F

Fair-weather friend.
Example: He is never there when I need him. 
He is a fair-weather friend.



G

Sour grapes. 

H

Learn something by heart.

Example: When we were at school our teacher made us memorise the multiplication table. I learnt it by heart.

I

The tip of the iceberg.







K

Kith and kin.

L

M

Once in a blue moon.

Example: I don´t see him too often. He comes to visit once in a blue moon.

N

On cloud nine.
Example: She has just got the promotion she wanted and she is on cloud nine.

O

On the house.

Example: We don´t need to pay for that bottle of wine. The restaurant will pay for it. It´s on the house.

Is on me.

Example: I will pay for everybody´s drinks. They are on me.

P

A hot potato.
Example: The issue has become a political hot potato.


R

Like a red rag to a bull. Example: Asking about her ex-boyfriend was like a red rag to a bull. She got really angry all of a sudden.


S

Move at a snail´s pace.

Example: I arrived late because the train was moving at a snail´s pace.

Get something out of one´s system.



T

Bark up the wrong tree.

Example: Sorry I can´t help you with your homework. I´m bad at mathematics. You are barking up the wrong tree.

W

Under the weather.
Example: Claudia is not going to school today because she´s feeling a bit under the weather.

Have a whale of a time.
Example: We had a whale of a time in Mexico. Yes, indeed, it was a fantastic trip.




Visit our Facebook Page for more idioms!

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MEDICAL VOCABULARY: PHYSICAL COMPLAINTS

Learning these medical vocabulary will help you when taking the CAE and CPE exams. Knowing this vocabulary will prove useful when dealing with the Reading and Use of English Papers.

A SLIPPED DISC

A SPLITTING HEADACHE

Example: Are you going to the party? 

No, sorry. I´ve got a splitting headache. 

I feel like going to bed early tonight.

A SPRAINED ANKLE
Example: He won´t be in the office until next week. He´s on medical leave because of a sprained ankle.










A TORN LIGAMENT

EYE STRAIN

Example: If the problem is eye strain, I think you should turn off the computer and take a good rest. You should go to see the doctor tomorrow.

TENNIS ELBOW

WRITER'S CRAMP

Example: Many people who work at a computer develop writer´s cramp, which causes pain in the fingers, wrist and forearm.

Surf our web for more vocabulary practice. We recommend "Idioms from A to Z". 

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IDIOMS: PARTS OF THE BODY

Improve your level of English. Learn these idioms with parts of the body.

BE A PAIN IN THE NECK

Example: I can't stand those naughty children. They are a pain in the neck.

BREAK A LEG

Example: Very good luck in the show. 

Break a leg !

COST AND ARM AND A LEG

Example: That new Bruno Mars CD was very expensive. It cost me an arm and a leg.

IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER

Example: I talked to him but he didn´t listen. I think my words went in one ear and out the other.

ITCHY FEET

Example: I´m getting itchy feet again. I´m bored with the city. I´m planning to travel again soon.

HAVE A BIG MOUTH

Example: I would never tell Elena a secret. She has a big mouth.

KNOW SOMEONE LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND

Example: I know exactly how he is going to react. I know him like the back of my hand.

LEARN SOMETHING BY HEART

Example: In the school they expected us to have a very good memory. They made us learn the names of the planets by heart.

LOSE YOUR HEAD

Example: Try to stay focus. Calm down, don't lose your head.

SWEET TOOTH

Example: My grandmother loves apple pies, cakes and all kinds of desserts really. She definitely has a sweet tooth.

TURN A BLIND EYE TO SOMETHING

Example: I think they teacher let us copy in the exam. Really, she just turned a blind eye to it.

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CAE/CPE Vocabulary practice

You need to improve your English to be ready to take the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) and Certificate in Proficiency in English (CPE) University of Cambridge exams. 

Try doing these Idioms and Vocabulary exercises and then visit our pages to check your answers. Very good luck in successfully passing these English exams. 

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