Al Raneem International

Private School
Ministry of Education
Sultanate of Oman

AS level 8021 General English Essay Writing – Paper 1

Writing a 600–700-word essay for AS level 8021 General English requires careful planning,
organization, and attention to detail. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write such an essay:

1. Understand the Essay Prompt: Carefully read and understand the essay prompt provided.
Identify the key elements, requirements, and any specific instructions or guidelines.

2. Choose a Topic: Select a topic that aligns with the essay prompt and interests you. Ensure
that the topic is relevant to the course material and can be explored within the given word limit.

3. Research and Gather Information: Conduct thorough research on the chosen topic. Gather
relevant information, facts, evidence, and examples from credible sources such as books,
scholarly articles, journals, and reputable websites. Take notes and organize the information
effectively.

4. Create an Outline: Develop a clear and coherent outline for your essay. Divide the essay into
introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Outline the main points, arguments, and
supporting evidence that you will include in each section.

5. Write the Introduction:

- Start with a captivating hook or attention-grabbing opening sentence to engage the reader.
- Provide background information on the topic and establish its significance.
- Present a clear thesis statement that states the main argument or purpose of the essay.

6. Compose the Body Paragraphs:

- Each body paragraph should focus on a single main idea or argument that supports the thesis
statement.
- Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main point.
- Provide supporting evidence, examples, and analysis to reinforce your arguments.
- Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain coherence and flow.

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7. Address Counterarguments (if applicable): Acknowledge and address potential
counterarguments or opposing viewpoints. Refute them with evidence and reasoning to
strengthen your position.

8. Write the Conclusion:

- Summarize the key points and arguments presented in the essay.

- Restate the thesis statement in a new light to emphasize its significance.
- End with a thought-provoking statement or call to action that leaves a lasting impression on
the reader.

9. Revise and Edit:

- Review the essay for clarity, coherence, and logical progression of ideas.
- Check for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and typographical errors.
- Ensure that the essay adheres to the required word limit.
- Seek feedback from peers, teachers, or tutors, and make necessary revisions.

10. Finalize the Essay:

- Make any final adjustments or improvements based on feedback and self-assessment.

- Format the essay according to the guidelines provided, including font size, spacing, and margins.
- Proofread the essay one last time to ensure accuracy and polish.

By following these steps, you can effectively write a well-structured and compelling 600-700
word essay for AS level 8021 General English. Remember to allocate sufficient time for each
stage of the writing process and strive for clarity, coherence, and precision in your writing.

The sample writing is attached to this paper.

Topic: Democracy is the best form of government. Evaluate this view.

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Question 8. Democracy is the best form of government. Evaluate this view. [30]
8021/11

May/June 2023

1 hour 15 minutes

Many can think of Democracy as the most reformist type of governance which provides the citizens with
equal and fair opportunity to choose the next leader of the country. The practicality of this form of
government may differ from one country to another. Though, its legitimacy has already been practiced in
different parts of the world with noticeably accepted outcomes. Having abundant benefits for the
people, Democracy has never been the optimized version of ruling system. The drawbacks are much
more obvious when it comes to countries with challenging political and economic conditions.

Strengths of Democracy

The majority of society consider democracy as a fair democratic way of participating in the societal and
political events in their hometown. This in turn can provoke the equality of balanced participation and
freedom of choice among the citizens. People from every background of the country can hold the same
chance for voting in the elections to safeguard the future of the state. This per se can hold the people
accountable to the actions and decisions of the next government. The United States is a true example in
this case that has fought to get this achievement throughout its history. Martin Luther King Jr., for
instance, inspired millions of Americans with his courageous acts. Generally speaking, people in
democratic societies are naturally more nurtured in terms of politics and relevant topics. Due to the pre-
assumed responsibilities for their choices, citizens are obliged in educating themselves politically and
economic-wise rather than staying idle in the most indispensable events in their country.

The equality of all races and ethnicities is guaranteed in a democratic system where the meaning of
majority and minority is replaced with equality. The legislative, executive and judicial systems of the
country are comprised of representatives from all races and ethnicities to foster the established
government in a fair manner. Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Norway are universally known
as the states where every single individual with proper ethnical and educational background has the
opportunity to apply for the official positions in the system.

Weaknesses of Democracy

Despite all the abovementioned merits with their direct effect on the country, democracy has its dark
side with noticeable drawbacks. Inefficiency of the system in practice creates prominent hinders in
decision-making process where many of the practical aspects such as time management and budget
control should be sacrificed. Legislative acts and decisions are unnecessarily postponed to compromise
with the democratic procedures and public opinion. This, in turn, can make the law and its enforcement
less effective in long term with the boomerang consequences on the welfare of people. For instance,
every four-year change of the authorities and officials such as president and prime minister can lead to
exhausting and undermining reformations in the system.

Another prominent factor to consider is the extensive growth of corruption in democratic countries
such as Venezuela where the system is still new to the majority of people. Populism become the
controlling ideology where the public opinion is valued more than fundamental concerns for their

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future. On the other hand, the preferences of the majority in this type of democracy can marginalize the
rights of minorities and other ethnics.

Democracy vs. other forms of government

Unlike democracy, authoritarianism and autocracy such as monarchies in KSA and Spain can have
decisiveness advantage and acceptable executive power. So, despite their equality challenges, the
efficiency in these types of government is quite considerable. In addition, social liberalism and
communist governments as in Russia are greatly looking for the equality amongst their people, turning a
blind eye to the freedom of individuals.

Conclusion

To sum up the discussed points on democracy, it owns some undefeatable merits for its designated
country while someone cannot ignore the following devastative demerits. A democratic governance can
showcase the equality of citizens granting them with balanced participation as well as accountability to
develop their mindsets, uplifting the sense of responsibility amongst them, and fair representativeness
and management in its structure. However, the disadvantages of this form of government can outweigh
the advantages in countries with corruption. Someone can advocate democracy over other forms of
government only when the right situations and circumstances are aligned with the ideal practice of
governance.

Wordcount: 700 words

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