HOW TO WRITE GOOD ESSAYS?

1. Identify the keywords in the question. (Hints may be given in the question. For example, locational/physical/ecological factors limit the area to search already and words like favourable confines the answer to positive aspects already)
2. Plan the outline before you start writing the essay. (Don’t worry that it wastes your time. A good outline helps you to write better.)
3. Have equal weighting in different parts of the essay. (Students are likely to fail for incomplete essay. Therefore good timing is important!)
4. Simple & straightforward introduction. (Should be of one paragraph which is less than 10 lines)
5. Clear topic sentence for each paragraph. (Marker will then have a clear structure and “MAY” sometimes overlook the details too. Good luck!)
6. Support the answers with examples (especially contemporary issues), data, and diagrams. (At least 3 discretionary marks must be awarded for good examples, data and diagrams)
7. Summarize ideas in flow chart (especially when time is running short)
8. No contradiction in the answers.
9. Integration of geographical concepts. (Have a small conclusion if you have lots of arguments before you go on!)
10. Focus on a few in-depth arguments instead of general description. (Remember, this is HKAL, not HKCEE.)
11. Solutions always based on problems. (Therefore, identify the problems first)
12. Look at issues from different perspectives during evaluation. (Remember that there are always 2 sides of a coin. Nothing is definitely correct or incorrect)
13. Self reflection in the conclusion (especially for value question like environmental conservation)

Extra 5 marks are awarded as discretionary marks for each essay. Students can almost get extra 20 marks out of the 4 essays answered. How to obtain this 20 marks? The criteria are similar to the effective communication in HKCEE.

Visit "How to have effective communication" (under HKCEE) if you want to know more?