am i ready for grade 12 essay

• ESSAYS GRADE 12 NOTES - LITERATURE STUDY GUIDE
• The structure of an essay
• Steps to writing an essay in the exams
• Narrative essays
• Descriptive essays
• Reflective essays
• Discursive essays
• Argumentative essays
• Writing an essay from a picture
• Essay checklist
• What is expected from you in the exam

To write a successful exam essay, you need to give yourself time to plan your ideas and write a draft. Once you have edited and corrected your draft, your final essay should be a well-structured and interesting piece of writing. In this section, you will learn how to express yourself using the rules that will earn you marks in the final Grade 12 exam.

1. All about essays

1.1 the structure of an essay.

An essay must have an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

Introduction The introduction is the first paragraph of an essay. It should catch the reader’s attention and suggest what the essay is about (the topic).

Body The longest part of an essay is the body of the essay. It is divided into paragraphs. Each paragraph usually contains one main idea about the essay topic.

Conclusion The last paragraph in an essay is the conclusion. It brings the essay to an end. No new information is given in the conclusion, but it often brings together some key points or ideas.

• Coherent - expressed in a clear way that is easily understood
• Logical order - Arranging information so that the points follow each other in an order that makes sense.

1.2 Steps for writing an essay in the exams

There are four main steps involved in writing an exam essay:

Step 1: Choose your topic and type of essay Step 2: Plan your essay Step 3: Write and edit your draft essay Step 4: Write your final essay

Step 1: Choose your topic and type of essay Topic In the essay section of the exam, there will be about eight topics. You need to choose one of these topics on which to write your essay. You only need to write one essay.

Essay type A particular topic may suit one type of essay better than another type of essay. For example, if a topic asks whether you agree or disagree, then use the argumentative essay type. The table below shows brief descriptions of the five essay types. See pages 9 to 38 for more information on each essay type.

Step 2: Plan your essay Decide which type of essay you think is most suitable for the essay topic. Remind yourself of the features of this type of essay. Plan your essay by writing down your ideas for the content of the essay. The content refers to the main ideas (points or details) in your essay – what it is mainly about. It must be relevant to the topic. Once you have written down a few ideas, you can organise them by numbering them. This will show the order of your paragraphs for the structure of your essay. There are many different ways to plan an essay. For example, you could use a mind map. Use the planning method that works best for you. There are examples of planning tools on pages 5 and 6.

Ways to plan an essay

A plan helps you think about what ideas you want to include in your essay. It also helps you put your ideas into a clear structure. You will earn marks for showing your planning. You can use a mind map or an ideas list to plan your essay.

• An essay must be between 250 to 300 words long.
• The way you write your essay creates a style of writing. The words you chose and the length of your sentences are two examples of how a writing style is created.
• Think about your audience to help you chose the right register for your essay. Register can be formal. For example; if your audience is a teacher or informal if your andience is for example a friend.
• The tone of the essay is the feling the write gives the writing. For example, the tone could be playful or serious.

Step 4: Write your final essay Write your final essay by rewriting your draft. Make sure that you make all the changes you marked in your draft so that your final essay has no mistakes and clearly expresses all your best ideas. When you have finished your final essay, cross out your planning and draft essay. If you do not do this, the examiner may mark your draft and not your final essay.

2. The five essay types

There are different types or genres of essays. Each type is written for a different purpose. To prepare for the exam, you need to revise how to write five types of essay:

The main features of each type of essay and guidelines for writing each type of essay are given in this section. To prepare for the exam, practice writing the different types of essays.

2.1 Narrative essays

A narrative essay tells a story or describes a sequence of events. It can be written from any perspective (first person or third person narrative). The first person narrator will use the pronouns “I” or “we”, while the third person narrator will use pronouns such as “he”, “she”, “they” and “them”. A narrative essay can include dialogue (speech between characters in the story) and often includes interesting descriptions. This helps the reader to imagine what is happening, so the story comes alive.

A learner’s example of a narrative essay using the four steps   Step 1: Choose the topic and type of essay

• This learner chose this essay topic because it fitted a narrative essay type: I am an old desk in a classroom and this is my story…

Note: Write a narratiove if the word "story" is in the description. Always give your essay a title.

Step 4: Write the final essay Note:   By including her edits from her draft essay, the learner greatly improved her final essay.

word count: 262

Main features of a narrative essay that are shown in this learner’s story

Activity: Writing a narrative essay

Here are some narrative essay topics to help you to practice your writing skills:

• Write a story that includes the following words: Suddenly there was absolute silence... NOTE: The words given in the topic MUST be included somewhere in your essay.
• Write a story that begins with the following words: It was the greatest day of my life. NOTE: The words given in the topic MUST be used in the first sentence of your introduction.

2.2 Descriptive essays

In a descriptive essay, the writer describes an experience, an event, a situation, an object or a person. The purpose is to allow the reader to imagine what is being described as clearly as possible. Writing a descriptive essay is like creating a picture with words, rather than telling a story.

A learner’s example of a descriptive essay using the four steps

Step 1: Choose the topic and type of essay

This learner chose this essay topic because it fitted a descriptive essay type: The scene in the waiting area of a clinic OR a doctor’s surgery. Note; The word scene in the topic sentence suggests that a descriptive essay is appropriate for this topic

word count: 271

Main features of a descriptive essay that are shown in this learner’s essay

Activity: Writing a descriptive essay Here are some descriptive essay topics to help you to practise your writing skills:

• Write an essay on the following topic: Life with my neighbors
• Write an essay on the following topic : It was a dream come true! NOTE: The words given in the topic MUST be included somewhere in your essay.
• Write an essay on the following topic : An amazing performance.

2.3 Reflective essays

A reflective essay is written to explain what the writer thinks, and/or feels, about an object, an idea, a situation or an experience. It is subjective (based on the writer’s personal experience) and uses first person pronouns (“I”, “we”, “us”). A reflective essay usually includes the writer’s emotional reactions or feelings. It could be about, for example, a dream, your hopes for the future or a past event.

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Subjective - Your own personal feelings and point of view

A learner’s example of a reflective essay using the four steps

Step 1: Choose the topic and type of essay This learner chose this essay topic because it fitted a reflective essay type: Things I would like to achieve by the time I am 30. A reflective essay will be about what you think and feel about a topic. It shows your emotions, hopes and dreams.

Step 4: Write the final essay

Note:  Leave a line between each paragraph to make your essay easy to read.

word count: 260

Main features of a reflective essay that are shown in this learner’s essay

Activity: writing a reflective essay.

Here are some reflective essay topics to help you to practise your writing skills:

• Write an essay that includes the following words: ‘I wish I hadn’t ...’ NOTE: The words given in the topic MUST be included somewhere in your essay.
• Write an essay that includes the following words: As I looked at that photograph ... NOTE: The words given in the topic MUST be included somewhere in your essay.
• Write an essay that includes the following words: This experience has made me realise that ... NOTE: The words given in the topic MUST be included somewhere in your essay.

2.4 Discursive essays

The word “discursive” comes from the word “discourse” which means the sharing of thoughts and ideas. A discursive essay presents both sides of an argument. Its purpose is to tell the reader about various sides of a topic. This could be the advantages and disadvantages of something, or the reasons for or against a particular point of view. It must be objective (looking at both sides equally), and give a balanced view. In the conclusion, the writer usually gives a summary of the main points, and suggests, or recommends, some action or way forward. In the conclusion, the writer may state the opinion, or view, with which he or she personally agrees. However, the reasons for that decision must be clearly shown in the essay.

Objective - giving a general point of view

A learner’s example of a discursive essay using the four steps

Step 1: Choose the topic and type of essay This learner chose this essay topic because it fitted a discursive essay type: Freedom of choice has both advantages and disadvantages Discuss this statement.

• In a discursive essay you must present BOTH sides of an issue. For example, the advantages AND disadvantages of a topic.

Word count: 300

Activity: Writing a discursive essay

Here are some descriptive essay topics to help you to practise your writing skills:

• Sport can unite or divide people. Discuss your views.
• Do subjects offered at school prepare you for life? Discuss your views.
• Wearing school uniform is very important. Do you agree? Discuss your views on wearing school uniform.

2.5 Argumentative essays

In an argumentative essay, the writer expresses his or her opinion or viewpoint on a topic. The purpose of the essay is to try to convince, or persuade, the reader to agree with that opinion. The writer’s opinion about the topic is clear throughout the essay. It is a subjective essay, and strong personal opinions may be expressed.

In an argumentative essay you must take a stand on a topic and then support your point of view.

A learner’s example of an argumentative essay using the four steps

Step 1: Choose the topic and type of essay This learner chose this essay topic because it fitted an argumentative essay type: Today young people are influenced more by their friends than by their parents. Do you agree?

Step 2: Plan the essay This learner used a list to plan her essay.

Step 3: Write and edit the draft essay

Word count: 282

Main features of an argumentative essay that are shown in this learner's essay

Activity: writing an argumentative essay.

Here are some argumentative essay topics to help you to practise your writing skills:

• Most teenagers today do not pay much attention to leading a healthy life. Do you agree?
•  Technology has changed the lives of teenagers. Do you agree?
• Should alcohol and cigarettes be advertised in the mass media? Discuss your views.

2.6 Writing an essay from a picture

There is always a question in the exam that asks you to write an essay based on a picture. You only need to write an essay about ONE of the pictures. Choose which picture you are going to write about. Then you need to decide what type of essay you are going to write. The content of your essay must link with the picture. Looking closely at the picture, identify information you can use in your essay. For example, the picture below shows a man who is:

• Laughing/smiling
• Dressed smartly in a shirt and tie
• Holding a baby
• Speaking/listening on the telephone
• Writing something in a book/diary

There are five different types of essay that could be written about this picture, as shown below.

A learner’s example of an essay from a picture using the four steps

Word count: 297

Activity: Writing an essay from a picture

2.7 essay checklist, 3. what is expected from you in the exam.

In the exam, you must write one essay that is no less than 250 and no more than 300 words long (about 1 to 1 1/2 pages). The essay is worth 50 marks out of 100 marks in the exam - half the total marks for Paper 3. Examiners will give marks for your essay based on:

• Content and planning (30 marks)
• Language, style and editing (15 marks)
• Structure (5 marks)

The rubric on the next two pages is a table the examiners use to mark your essay. It shows the five levels of achievement that the examiners can award an essay, from the lowest achievement (Inadequate column) to the highest achievement (Exceptional column). The table also describes the skills the examiner looks for when marking. For example, when marking an essay’s content, the examiner will assess how well the ideas relate to the topic, and whether they are well planned and organised. The rubric is a useful guide for you to use when practising your essay writing because it reminds you of the skills the examiner will be assessing when marking your exam.

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Reading and Writing Personal Narratives

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• Grade 12 ELA Module 1: Full Module
• Grade 12 ELA Module 1: Overview
• Grade 12 ELA Module 1: Zip Folder of PDF Files
• Grade 12 ELA Module 1: Zip Folder of Word Documents
• CCSS Standard:
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• L.11.12.2A ,
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• Leslie Marmon Silko ,
• Malcolm X and Alex Haley
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X ,
• Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit

In This Module

• unit 1: "I’m For Truth, No Matter Who Tells It"
• unit 2: "Remember The Stories, The Stories Will Help You Be Strong"
• unit 3: Personal Narrative Essay

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You made it. You should feel proud of reaching this point! There’s still critical work to be done before graduation, so it’s important to stay focused.

Your checklist, make sure you’re on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.

Meet with your school counselor at the beginning of the year so you can adjust your course schedule and register for additional standardized tests, if necessary. Continue to meet throughout your senior year to check in on your college application progress. Be proactive about these meetings. Don’t wait for your counselor to reach out to you.

Don’t have a counselor? You have more resources available to you than you probably realize. Talk with your teachers, school administrators, coaches or assistant principals. You can even contact college admission officers. All of these people would be happy to help you think about your future. All you have to do is ask!

Finalize your college list

It’s time to complete your research and decide on the final list of schools you’ll be applying to. Work with your school counselor to ensure you have a list that excites you, meets your needs, and matches your academic credentials.

If you have a first choice college, discuss the possibility of applying Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA). Just make sure that you’d be happy to attend each and every college on your list (not just your ED or EA choice).

Register for standardized tests, if necessary

Make sure you understand what the testing requirements are for each school on your list. Consult the official ACT and SAT websites for official exam dates and other registration information.

Remember: The College Board and the ACT both offer exam fee waivers for eligible students. If you’re concerned registration fees might impose a financial burden on your family, talk to your school counselor about a fee waiver.

Fill out and submit your college applications

Use your college applications to showcase your strengths and tell your personal story. To do this well will take time, effort, and careful attention to detail, so be mindful of deadlines and avoid waiting until the last minute.

Pro Tip : In the Apply section of our website, you’ll find helpful resources like an Application Guide and Dictionary to support you through the process.

Submit all required supporting school forms

Touch base with your school counselor and teachers to make sure everything gets to each  college you apply to, including your official high school transcript and letters of recommendation.

Pro tip: Consult the Recommenders and FERPA section in your Common App account to monitor when your transcript and letters of recommendation have been submitted to each college.

If you're applying for financial aid, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Your FAFSA should be done as soon as possible beginning October 1. Some colleges will also ask you to complete the CSS Profile . Consult the Financial Aid Resources tab in your Common App. Pay careful attention to specific financial aid deadlines and requirements for individual colleges so you don’t miss out on any money you are eligible for.

Pro tip:  Don't forget about scholarships! Also within the Financial Aid Resources tab in your Common App account you can connect with Scholar Snapp , a free service from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation that helps you apply to hundreds of scholarships around the country. Qualified applicants can even apply directly for The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Cooke College Scholarship Program  using Common App.

Review your acceptances and make your decision

This is the most exciting part! Take time to review your admission offers and compare financial aid packages . Most colleges offer special admitted students programs designed to help you make your decision, so visit your top choice schools, if possible. Your parents and school counselor can also help you with this decision-making process.

When you have made your decision, you will need to notify the college you choose of your commitment and submit a financial deposit by May 1st. You cannot submit a deposit to more than one school. You will also need to notify the colleges that you do not plan to attend of your decision. This is an important step in helping to open up seats for other students who may be on a waitlist for those schools.

Continue to work hard and maintain your grades

Even after you complete your applications and receive admission offers, your entire year of grades still counts. Some colleges require midyear grades to be sent, and the college you choose to attend will receive your final high school transcript at the end of the year. College acceptances are contingent upon successful completion of your coursework, and a noticeable slip in academic performance could alter your scholarship eligibility or offer of admission.

Congratulate yourself on making it to the finish line. You are on your way! You are ready for college, and college is ready for you. Don’t forget to thank your parents, counselors, teachers, and mentors for helping you reach this milestone. And remember - those same adults are there to cheer you on and offer support as you continue on your journey.

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English essay topics for grade 12

Persuasive essays where you need scholarly and essays for your ideas effectively in a good grades. Essay. Kids with samples.

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Twelfth Grade (Grade 12) Writing Essays Questions

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Essays Topics for Grade 12 and Grade 11 for 2021

Essays Topics for Grade 12 and Grade 11 for 2021: Writing an essay for grade 12 and grade 11 can be a challenging task for both teachers and students in terms of creating and crafting a high-quality essay,  and finally editing and grading them.

Different Essay Types for Grade 12 and Grade 11

Narrative essay.

Examples of Narrative Essays Topics:

• Your favorite vacation with your family
• A trip you will never forget
• A time you made friends in an unusual circumstance
• Your first day at a new school
• Talk about something that scared you a lot

Reflective Essays

Discursive Essays

Argumentative Essays

Expository Essays

Descriptive Essays

Ho to write an effective essay

common Essay Topics in South African Schools

• Verbal Punishment
• Death Penalty in South Africa

List of Descriptive Essays Topics for Grade 12 and Grade 11

• Imagine that your teacher wants to teach a new subject for the next few weeks. Your teacher will take suggestions, and then let the students vote on the new subject. What subject should your class choose? Write an essay to support your choice and to persuade the other students to vote for your choice.
• Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
• Should teachers have to wear uniforms or have a dress code?
• Since the invention of nuclear weapons we have had a long period of GLOBAL peace and stability. Are nuclear weapons global peacemakers or killing devices?
• Should boys and girls be in separate classes?
• Is the death penalty effective?
• To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?
• What age is appropriate for dating?
• Pretend you woke up one day and there were no rules. People could suddenly do whatever they wanted! Explain what the world would be like. Use your imagination!
• Should student’s textbooks be replaced by notebook computers?
• Should students be allowed to have cell phones in elementary and high schools?
• Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations?
• Should money be spent on space exploration?
• Is fashion important?
• Are we too dependent on computers?
• If you had the opportunity to bring any person — past or present, fictional or nonfictional — to a place that is special to you (your hometown or country, a favorite location, etc.), who would you bring and why? Tell us what you would share with that person
• Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
• Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
• In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?
• The destruction of the world’s forests is inevitable as our need for land and food grows. Do you agree?
• Many parents give their children certain chores or tasks to do at home. Should children have to do chores or tasks at home? Be sure to explain why you think it is a good idea or a bad idea. Include examples to support your reasons.
• Should the voting age be lowered to thirteen?
• Should the government place a tax on junk food and fatty snacks?
• Should more be done to protect and preserve endangered animals?

Requirements to pass Grade 12 | Matric

Hey,  Grade 12  Learner! Do you know what it takes to obtain your Grade 12 Certificate?  All matric students in South Africa are required to register to write at least 7 subjects and they may not fail more than one subject. Failing more than one subject means you have failed matric. Thus, in order to pass you need to meet the following requirements:

• Obtain at least 40% for your Home Language
• Pass two other subjects with 40%, an
• Get 30% for three other subjects

Career Times is here for you:  We have compiled all useful career resources for you to take your career to the higher levels, such as: Schools Directory , Career Options , Jobs , as well as study resources for other Grades ( Grade 11 , Grade 10 , and Grade 12 ) All the best!

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When Should You Start Writing Your College Essays?

What’s covered:, why are college essays important, types of college essays, when are college essays due, where to get feedback on your college essays.

For many students, summertime means relaxing, spending time with friends, traveling, or hanging out at the beach. But for rising high school seniors, it often feels like the prelude to perhaps the most anxiety-provoking time in life thus far — college application season.

Many students dread the start of the school year because it means they’ll have to complete their applications while continuing their schoolwork, keeping their grades up, and participating in extracurriculars. And there’s no denying it will be stressful.

But there is a way to alleviate some of that stress: start working on your essays — and get a head start on your college applications.

Perhaps you think essays aren’t all that important. But for the most part, you’d be wrong to assume that. At the most competitive colleges and universities, there are usually at least four academically-qualified candidates for every open spot. So, these schools need to go well beyond grades and test scores to assess applicants. In fact, generally speaking, essays account for about 25% of your overall application at the top 250 schools.

Now that many colleges have become test-optional — and still others have become test-blind — in the admissions process, the other components of your application carry even more weight. So, don’t overlook the importance of your essays.

Essays aren’t equally important across the board. Several factors, such as the size of the school and the strength of your academic and extracurricular profiles, play a role in its relative significance. And, truth be told, a stellar essay isn’t going to make up for a very weak profile. But it could be enough to push a borderline candidate into the acceptance (or rejection) pile.

Most colleges and universities accept the Common Application and/or the Coalition Application. When completing these applications, you will be asked to address one of the essay prompts provided (both include a topic of your choice), which you can send to any college that accepts these apps. This significantly reduces the amount of time you will need to spend on your essays.

Many schools also ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. These are generally shorter than Common or Coalition App essays. While the prompts themselves are specific to the schools, you will likely see some common themes emerge, such as the “why us” essay” or short responses asking you to describe your academic and career goals. While you shouldn’t reuse essays in their entirety, you can often apply similar ideas and even full passages to multiple supplements.

Bear in mind that some colleges accept neither the Common App nor the Coalition App and instead have a school-specific application, which will usually require you to write one or more unique essays. In some cases, you may be able to reuse parts of other essays, but make sure you’re actually addressing the prompt and not trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole.

Essays, including supplements, are due at the same time as the rest of your application . Application due dates vary, but most schools have early decision/early action deadlines around October and regular decision deadlines in January or February. Some colleges offer early decision II plans, which usually have deadlines at the same time as their RD deadlines. You can find out exact deadlines for specific institutions via your Common App or Coalition App accounts or via the school’s admissions website.

Other colleges, usually less selective ones, have rolling admission deadlines, meaning they will continue to evaluate applications until they have filled their freshman class. It’s in your best interest to complete your essays and apply earlier rather than later because you never know how many qualified applications they will receive or when they will close off applications.

Ideally, you should start working on your essays as soon as possible, preferably in the summer before application season. This will give you ample time to brainstorm, write, edit, get feedback, and revise.

The Common App opens on August 1st, but the prompts are usually released in February. School supplements, meanwhile, are typically released when the Common App opens.

Feedback is an important part of the college essay and application process. By starting early, you’ll give yourself ample time to get another set — or several sets — of eyes on your work.

And you don’t need to look far. The CollegeVine community is an excellent resource for getting feedback on your essays. We offer both peer and expert review services , so you can feel rest assured you’re submitting your best work.

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Research-Based Writing Curriculum

Ready Writing

An evidence-based writing curriculum has a new importance in today’s rigorous standards. Designed to address the demands of the standards, Ready Writing interweaves the writing standards with grade-level science and social studies themes to develop thoughtful, analytical writers. Through teacher-led instruction that fosters independence, students engage actively with source texts, learning to research for evidence and acquiring writing strategies that last for life. Our research-based writing curriculum’s strong teacher support simplifies implementation with in-class, step-by-step strategies and tips to help students become fluent, fluid writers. The program:

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