How to Write an English Regents Task I Essay

How to Write an English Regents Task I Essay

By Fatima

In your first session of the English Regents, you will be writing your Task I Essay. This task consists of listening to a passage twice, answering a few multiple-choice questions, and writing your response to the situation described. Here are some tips on writing a Task I Essay:

I. Taking notes while listening

Don't try to write down every word you hear. Make sure you write down anything you feel is very essential.
Have that task in your mind as your main focus, which will help you with information you need to jot down.
Double space your notes, so you can add any important information during the second reading.

II. Writing the Essay

Follow the guidelines strictly.
Use the Task description to select information from your notes
Try to use your own words to repeat the main idea of the passage.
Avoid repeating the listening passage word for word. Instead you need to select and paraphrase the relevant information to support your discussion
Don't add your personal opinions on the subject. Strictly use the information from the listening passage.
Organize your writing and construct a five-paragraph essay.

Sample Essay

This essay is taken from the New York State Regents Resource Book.

The situation: Your English class is learning about authors whose lives are strongly influenced by a specific place. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay about author Pat Conroy and the ways in which his life was influenced by a specific place. In preparation for writing your essay, you will listen to a speech Pat Conroy made about his memories of an island in South Carolina. Then use relevant information from this speech to write your essay.

Your task: write an essay for your English class showing how Pat Conroy’s life was influenced by a specific place.

Sample Essay

Almost everyone has a place that they long for a place where everything seem prefect. This place can hold such a special place in the life of a person for various reasons. Maybe it reminds him of the innocence of his youth or his carefree teenage years. These treasured places often times influence the lives of people, as was the case with author Conroy.

Conroy was attracted to the simplicity of Fripp Island. It was totally isolated from the Mainland and seemed pristine. The most evidence of source of life was the plentiful vegetation that doubled as a line of defense against harsh weather, such as hurricanes and violent storms. Conroy was indeed happy in this simple world where he was just swimming in the beautiful clear or observing his surroundings. He more readily identify with the swell of tides and marshes than things associated with the city. He felt as he was transferred into a magical land whenever he visited Fripp. This was evident because he felt closer to God and believed that he could remain a young man for all eternity. He learned to appreciate the things most people take for granted, such as nature and life in general.

Fripp also influenced the life of Conroy because it was there he had formed the fondest memories of his mother. She had been the one that had chosen Fripp for the family’s beach. During the last few years of her life she walked along the shore collecting shells, a scene firmly etched into Conroy’s mind. He thus began associating his beloved mother with his beloved sea. It was also the place his mother drew her last breath. It was time for Conroy to start developing some new memories.

Fripp was a haven for Conroy in place to escape the worries of the everyday routine. This small island was very influential in making Conroy see how fabulous life was prior to the rise of industry, technology and the life.

As one can see, it was Fripp island where Conroy learned to live life simply just as God had intended.

Checklist

I. Introduction

- Your one sentence comment on the topic ( can be identified after ...write an essay or letter about...).

-Your one or two-sentence answer to the task question (i.e. Your task: write an essay for your English class showing how Pat Conroy’s life was influenced by a specific place. The Question is: How was Pat Conroy's life influenced by a specific place? The answer: These treasured places often times influence the lives of people, as was the case with author Conroy. )

-List of three reasons within one sentence to answer the task questions (i.e. simplicity of life ;the island formed the fondest memories of his mother;Fripp was a haven for Conroy in place to escape the worries of the everyday routine. )-Optional (These three reasons can be used as topic sentences for each body paragraph)

II. Body

The first paragraph---

- Topic sentence ( a. that summarizes the main idea of the 1st body paragraph; b. the first condensed argument that is used to illustrate your thesis statement, which is your answer to the task question)

--Details from your notes that help support/illustrate/prove /describe the topic sentence.

-Does every sentence in the paragraph relate to the essay question?

-Does every sentence help you prove your thesis statement?

-Does every sentence support your argument?

-Did you use quotation marks for words or phrases quoted from the listening passage?

- Did you paraphrase some notes instead quoting all the time?

-Did you begin a new paragraph?

The second paragraph---

- Topic sentence ( a. that summarizes the main idea of the 1st body paragraph; b. the first condensed argument that is used to illustrate your thesis statement, which is your answer to the task question)

--Details from your notes that help support/illustrate/prove /describe the topic sentence.

-Does every sentence in the paragraph relate to the essay question?

-Does every sentence help you prove your thesis statement?

-Does every sentence support your argument?

-Did you use quotation marks for words or phrases quoted from the listening passage?

- Did you paraphrase some notes instead quoting all the time?

-Did you begin a new paragraph?

Paragraph 3---

- Topic sentence ( a. that summarizes the main idea of the 1st body paragraph; b. the first condensed argument that is used to illustrate your thesis statement, which is your answer to the task question)

--Details from your notes that help support/illustrate/prove /describe the topic sentence.

-Does every sentence in the paragraph relate to the essay question?

-Does every sentence help you prove your thesis statement?

-Does every sentence support your argument?

-Did you use quotation marks for words or phrases quoted from the listening passage?

- Did you paraphrase some notes instead quoting all the time?

-Did you begin a new paragraph?

III. Conclusion

- Did you restate your ideas in a different way?

- Respond personal to the most important fact.

-If there is a consequence related to the topic, describe it ( it can either be found in the listening passage itself or add your logical prediction of such a consequence.)