Cheat sheet: How to create an epic French essay.
Big title...I know.
Do you often wonder why some students never seem stress and get well above the expected mark in French while you are still trembling at the idea of writing your next piece?
Maybe it has nothing to do with 'how fluent' they are. Actually, I can guarantee you these students aren't necessarily better than you in French. They just have a method. A method that they have developed, tested, learnt and can now apply to any written work they will ever have to produce in French.
The coolest part is that it is all true and tested, you can write an epic essay without difficulties. It does require knowledge and organisation but it is more manageable than you think and will leave you plenty of time for other fun stuff!
So follow these tips and you too will soon be producing epic essay in no time.
Text type. Spend some time working out which is your favourite text type. I recommend you really focus on two or three if you can manage and have time. A formal (or informal) letter letter, a speech and a diary entry would be ideal. Stick to working mostly on your choices, but know what is expected of you. Understand how to open and close a formal letter for example, the tone and register that are expected.
Must haves list. If you don't have this list either next to you or tatooed in your brain, you are going to miss the mark. I am a bit obsessed with this but it's because I care and because it works. What is on the list ? Well..pretty much everything you have ever learnt in French! So many students do not show off their knowledge and command of tenses, grammar and expressions in essay, it's heartbreaking to think of all those hours doing drills and not seeing them put into practise.
Make a plan. I wish I had got a dollar every time I heard...'what plan...no..I don't really work this way'. Writing without a plan in another language is pretty ambitious and risky. Please please pretty please, make a plan. A small one, a simple and straight forward one, a dot points one..anything that will guide you from start to finish and will avoid repetitions of words as well of ideas.
Have a few ready made sentences. You know that one size fits all kind of things? Have a list of sentences that work well in every situation, formal, informal, speeches, letters. Make sure they are supercharged with words like "lequel" or use the subjunctive or maybe a rhetorical question. This is really really worth spending a bit of work setting up as it will serve you for ever.
Create a template. Once you have created one killer speech or diary entry that you are super pleased with, use it as a template for the next one. Obviously, you will have to change the vocab and a few things here and there, but it doesn't have to be really different. Don't forget, no one remembers or even know your previous work so doing it again and again is perfectly acceptable, especially if you have nailed the perfect essay.
I would love to know if you have any tips to share or how you manage each essay.
If you need any help with any of the above points, you can always contact me. I'll be happy to have a chat about making a personalised plan of attack for you.
ps...sometimes, a few sessions of private French tutoring can make a world of difference in your confidence and ability. The French Hack allows you to buy 1,5 or 10 hours of Private French Tutoring online.
