Practice 4: Write a short Problem/Solution essay about any issue you consider worth analysing.

My brother has been very bad at maths since he was at school. He has problems to understand the different issues maths is about and it is hard for him to learn. Although he studies a lot of maths, he always fails and he sometimes feels a little sad and depressed. My parents and I are looking for solutions to try that he feels better within himself, and to try to get higher marks at maths.

One solution to this problem would be to give him extra classes of maths. Although my parents have to pay for these classes, these classes are for his own benefit. Another solution to this problem is to buy him maths games with the aim that he learn a lot of maths while he is playing computer games. He really loves all types of games and this would be very useful for him. A last solution is that my father knows something about maths and he can teach him during his spare time. In this way, he could study more maths with my father and he would be his "second teacher".

To sum up, although it is very difficult for my brother to learn maths, with all these solutions we can get positive results and we have to try that he does not feel sad or depressed, because there is no reason to feel in this way.

Practice 3: Write a short Opinion essay positioning yourself against something most people agree (but you do not).

Many people think that zoos are a good way of protecting endagered animals. However, I don't agree. Animals must live in their natural spaces because it is the only way of living free and in their own space. Although a lot of people say that animals are looked after and protected in zoos there are some disadvantages that we must have in mind.

One disadvantage is that people who work in zoos do not feed and clean animals as they must. Workers in the zoo do not worry about improving their life giving them food or water, and a lot of animals die. Another disadvantage is that animals can't reproduce in a free way in the zoos. It is necessary for them to live in their natural spaces for this. A last disadvantage is that animals live in very small spaces in the zoos, for that reason they hurt themselves accidentaly when they are playing.

To sum up, endagered animals have to live in their natural spaces because in many zoos they are mistreated and workers do not look after them as well as they should.

Practice 2. Write an outline for an essay. Include a thesis statement, supporting ideas and details.

I. The risks of having arms at home and how arms promote violence.

II. Having arms at home is dangerous for children and adults life.
  A. Children can confuse them with toys.
  B. You can kill somebody by mistake.

III. Arms promote violence.
  A. It wil be more deaths because of arms.
    1. More people will die.
    2. More suicides by firearms.
  B. If arms are employed for hunting:
     1. There will be less number of species.
     2. Animals can be distinguished.

IV. Arms are expensive.
   A. More money employed in arms.
     1. Less money employed in necessity things: food, clothes, etc.
   B. People who hunt have to pay for do it in appropiate places.

V. Because of having arms at home, many deaths happen by mistake and arms only promote violence among people.

Childhood: come back, please.

The memories I have of my childhood are varied. I remember when my mother told me stories for sleeping when I only was 5 years old. She also played with me in the park every afternoon after lunch and I was really happy at that time. When you grow, you realize that childhood is a wonderful time in your life, for that reason it is essential that children have a good childhood and that they enjoy every second of this splendid period. Childhood is time for dreaming; a harmless epoch in which dreams always come true. Childhood is also a right for everybody, that's why every child have to have a plate of food and a home where he or she can take shelter. It is a time for playing and not for working, as we can see in many countries children without right to a decent life. This is something that we must change.

Youth, divine treasure.

Everybody passes through it. It is said that it is a time that people miss when it leaves. It is a period to enjoy, to live free and fearless; a time to fall in love with life. Many people think that this epoch is the better of our life, and I agree with them. Why? When you are young, it seems that you can control all the movements you do; everything under your feet. But the most important aspect is not the age: you can be a lot of years old and you feel yourself with a free spirit and with a lot of desire of living. If your soul does not grow old and you feel better within yourself, you will be young for the rest of your life.

Christmas time

Christmas is coming, and with this period the meetings with friends, the reunions with the family and the presents under the Christmas tree. Christmas also is synonym of national lottery, watching TV below the blanket and, unfortunately, it is also time for studying. But what happens with all that people who live in the cold street and who have got anything to survive? All of us should look back. While we want a lot of things and we are not easily satisfied, they have to look for food in the rubbish and live on somebody else's charity. It is time that the society becomes aware and we help to all that people who are sleeping in the street. In this form we will feel better about ourselves and we will improve the quality of life of that people.

Hobbies

Having a hobbie it is a useful form to use your spare time. Some of my favourite hobbies are reading, going out with my friends and writing. Reading is a pleasant way of developing intellectual capacity and learning many things about other aspects and cultures. When you are reading, you go into magic worlds and you learn a lot of vocabulary. It is an amazing sensation that everybody should feel. Going out is a good way of communicating with other people and also meeting new people. There are a lot of places to visit with your friends and you can spend a great time with them. Finally, my third hobbie is writing. When you are writing, you have the power to express by yourself and give your own opinion without you are influenced by other people. There are many healthy hobbies which with you can enjoy a lot during your spare time without need of unhealthy ones, like smoking or drinking.