article sample essay leaving cert

Really Useful Links for Writers: Leaving Cert Essay Writing

Paul FitzSimons

• 29 May 2014

I have good news – the weather will be beautiful next Wednesday. The sun will shine, the skies will be clear, the temperature will be in the twenties. How do I know that? Because it’s the first day of the Leaving Cert Exams.

Besides being the unofficial start of summer, Day 1 of the Leaving is also English Paper 1, the culmination of two years’ work for around fifty thousand English language students.

The Leaving Cert English exam is divided into two papers – Paper 1, which is all about comprehension and composition and Paper 2, which covers The Single Text , The Comparative Study and Poetry. Like the other two-part exams Maths and Irish, English 1 and 2 happen on two different days – the first Wednesday and Thursday mornings of the schedule. Maybe this is to give brains and hands a chance to recover from a hectic morning of essay-writing.

Besides having the aptitude to tell a good story, writing essays at Leaving Cert level requires certain acquired skills, most of which we learn over the years of study prior to the exam. However, there are some aspects of writing the perfect essay that we don’t necessarily pick up or, with the deluge of knowledge that we’re trying to take in, have slipped from our memories. Thankfully, there are plenty of online resources that will fill in those gaps and also offer some additional advice on writing, organisational and time-saving that will prove invaluable on the day.

On the ever useful website LeavingCertEnglish.net – seriously, I wish this had been around in my day – we are given an invaluable guide to preparing for and then sitting down to English Paper 1. Their pages include advice on approaching each essay, what needs to be covered to achieve a passing mark and what flourishes will help to get that all-important A.

After sitting his Leaving Cert in 2011, student and blogger Aidan Curran decided to take the lessons he learned during that traumatic year and share them on his website. His post How To Get An A In English Essay Writing takes us through everything we need to remember coming up to and during the exam. He reminds us that, as essay-writing is not something we can memorize, it makes it both the easiest and most difficult part of the exam.

Most of the above applies to Paper 1 of the exam. Of course, there are also some essays to be written for Paper 2, which deals with curriculum’s prescribed texts, such as the play, novels and poetry. The Clevernotes website offers us some invaluable advice on tackling the second English paper compositions, suggesting that, in order to form a cogent and coherent response to the question asked, an essay must always contain an introduction, a number of well-focused body paragraphs and a conclusion.

For some slightly more tongue-in-cheek advice on essay writing, we can watch video blogger Clisare’s video on Entertainment.ie. She takes us through her unique thoughts on writing both English and Irish essays. She does offer some interesting insight but the fact that she advises us to remind the teacher that ‘Irish is a dead language’ suggests that we should probably take most of her tips with a grán salainn.

If you feel an online tutor will be able to help, check out TutorHunt .

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” – Sydney J. Harris

A Whole Website Dedicated To It.

LeavingCertEnglish.net has all the advice, information and sample exams we need to tackle the Paper 1 essay.

“”Stick to the topic. Have plenty of ideas. Identify problems but also offer solutions.”

http://leavingcertenglish.net/2012/03/inspiration/ .

Them’s The Rules.

LeavingCertEnglish.net takes us through six important rules for writing the perfect essay.

“It’s really important to grab the reader’s attention. Use a quote, or a series of rhetorical questions, a list, or a vivid description.”

http://leavingcertenglish.net/2011/05/six-rules-of-essay-writing/

From The Horse’s Mouth.

Recent Leaving Cert student Aidan Curran takes us his advice on Essay-writing, based on his own experience.

“Obviously, when you get the essay titles first you say “That’s it, I’m screwed, we’ll call it a day”. But if you just look at them, you’ll realise that they can be changed to your strengths.”

http://aidancurran.com/how-to-get-an-a1-in-english-essay-writing-aidan-curran/

It’s Not All About Paper 1, You Know.

English Paper 2, which deals with the subject’s prescribed texts and poetry, also involves some essay writing. Clevernotes tells us how to tackle it.

“The most basic principal of essay writing is that it should be structured. Your essay must form a cogent and coherent response to the question asked.”

https://www.clevernotes.ie/english/hl/leaving-cert/how-to-write-a-paper-two-essay/

And Lastly, Some Proper Serious Advice (Or Maybe Not)

Vlogger Clisare gives us her unique take on Essay Writing.

“Always end English Language essays with ‘…and then I woke up.’ Teachers love that.”

http://entertainment.ie/wtf/WATCH-How-to-write-a-leaving-cert-essay/191520.htm

(c) Paul FitzSimons

About the author

Paul FitzSimons is a screenwriter and novelist and has written the novel ‘Burning Matches’ and a number of scripts for film and TV. He has worked as a storyline writer on RTE’s ‘Fair City’. His short stories are published in ‘Who Brought The Biscuits’ by The Naas Harbour Writers. Paul likes crime thrillers, good coffee and Cadbury’s chocolate. He doesn’t like country-and-western music or people who don’t indicate on roundabouts.

Paul also runs the  Script Editing service Paul | The | Editor .  paulfitzsimons.com

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Reading comprehension, poetry - bishop (2023/24), poetry - dickinson (2023/24), poetry - heaney (2024), poetry - hopkins (2024), poetry - ní chuilleanáin (2024), poetry - plath (2024), poetry - rich (2023), poetry - boland (2025), poetry - donne (2023/24), poetry - yeats (2023), algebra topic.

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• Leaving Cert. English (Higher) 2012: Paper 1 Section II Composing
• Back to the question >

Preparation

• Information
• Clarity of purpose (30%).
• Coherence of delivery (30%).
• Efficiency of language use (30%).
• Mechanics — grammar and spelling (10%).
• This title gives you the opportunity to take a number of different approaches but remember it must be a personal account. Your ideas should be at the heart of the essay.
• The essay should reflect your own views on the subject. Show a personal outlook.
• If you are passionate about the subject, you are more likely to write a good essay. Passion can be very persuasive. You can employ language of persuasion and/or argument in this essay as you could argue or persuade the reader of your personal view on the matter.  
• Think about what you consider to be a ‘marvel’ of today’s world. Why do you feel this way?
• You may use the texts in the paper to give you ideas for your essay.
• You will be rewarded for employing some of the conventions of a magazine or newspaper layout, e.g. headline, sub-headings, etc.
• Shape your response in a manner appropriate to the register of a magazine or newspaper.
• Think about the role played by memory and the past in our lives. Some ideas could include how we are shaped by our childhood, the importance of history to a nation, the negative or positive effects of holding onto the past, etc.
• Try to make your article interesting and entertaining.
• Provide a ‘hook’ at the start of the article to make your reader want to read your piece.
• Be careful with structure. You should have a clear introduction and a firm conclusion.
• Never forget your purpose, your audience and your language register (appropriate style, vocabulary and tone).
• Read the above quote. Your story must be inspired in some way by it.
• You must write a short story. You can take a variety of approaches but generally, all short stories have a beginning, middle and end, have at least one character, have some sense of tension, climax and resolution.
• Ask yourself questions to create ideas — where, what, who, why, when and how?
• Plan your answer carefully and methodically.
• Beware of creating an overlong timeline. You have limited space and time. It would be impossible to cover a character’s entire life in 2-4 A4 pages.
• Try to stick with 1-3 main characters.
• You have a long time to write this essay. Re-read what you have written quickly to check it for mistakes.
• Create atmosphere and images for the reader — it will improve your writing.
• Share your main character’s thoughts with the audience. It is interesting when the character is saying one thing and thinking something else.
• Good short stories always have some kind of tension. The tension could be within the character or it could arise from a situation or challenge.
• If you like literature this may be the essay for you.
• Think about the importance of literature in people’s lives. Some ideas could include immersing oneself in another world, allowing people to explore ideas and concepts safely, a means of escape, a way to enjoy language, as a way to create empathy, etc.
• Remember your task is to persuade. Convince your audience.
• Remember to pay attention to the genre — a popular magazine.
• The language you use should reflect the genre in which you are writing.
• Identify purpose, audience, language, style, register and tone to give you a clear idea what is needed.
• Try and draw the reader into the piece through anecdotes or amusing observations.
• Remember, your answer should be light-hearted and entertaining, not serious, but it can also be reflective.
• Try and make links between your paragraphs in terms of ideas so that your essay flows.
• Remember your audience and adapt your language accordingly. You are addressing an international gathering of young people.
• You must tell the audience what you believe helps to define Ireland’s distinctive national identity. Some ideas could include the fact that we are an island, our troubled history, an obsession with the weather, emigration, etc.
• It would be wise to greet the audience initially, give them your name and tell them why you are speaking.
• Reach out to the audience and ensure they are listening. A good way to do this is to ask real or rhetorical questions. Another effective way to maintain audience engagement is by using humour.
• You must have a definite end to your speech. You could thank the audience for their attention and open for questions. However, there are many other effective possibilities.
• Your story must include a young character that is eager to leave home.
• Remember your central character must be faced with making an important decision. Try to create a scenario that would interest the reader.
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Leaving Cert Papers, News, Notes, Tips and Resources

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3 thoughts on “English”

no english marking schemes?

Excellent help and support for our country’s certificate exams which we are considering a review for. Thank you.

Would request a print out of the 2009 or 2010 exam paper please, for professional work at the Ministry of Secondary Education, Yaounde Cameroon. Thanks.

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• Feb 16, 2023

Mastering Leaving Cert History: A Guide to Writing Sample Essays

Updated: Feb 17

Leaving Cert History is one of the most challenging subjects for Irish students, especially when it comes to writing essays. The exam requires students to write two essays on topics chosen from a list of options. These essays carry a significant amount of marks and can make or break a student's chances of securing a good grade. However, with the right approach, mastering Leaving Cert History essays is possible. In this blog, we will provide tips and insights on how to write sample essays for Leaving Cert History.

1. Understanding the Essay Structure

The first step to writing a great essay is to understand its structure. An essay has three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide background information on the topic. The body should include the main argument, supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion should summarise the main points and restate the thesis.

2. Choosing the Right Topic

Choosing the right topic is crucial for a successful essay. The Leaving Cert History syllabus provides a list of options for essays. It is essential to choose a topic that interests you and that you are familiar with. The topic should be narrow enough to provide a focused argument but broad enough to allow for enough research and analysis.

3. Research and Analysis

Research and analysis are crucial for a well-written essay. Start by reading through relevant texts and taking notes. Use primary sources, such as diaries, letters, and speeches, to support your argument. It is also essential to analyze the information and present a clear argument, using evidence to support your claims.

4. Writing Style and Grammar

Writing style and grammar are essential for a good essay. Use clear and concise language, avoiding slang and colloquialisms. Avoid long and complex sentences that can be difficult to understand. Make sure to proofread your work to avoid spelling and grammatical errors.

5. Time Management

Time management is crucial during the Leaving Cert exam. Make sure to allocate enough time to each section of the exam, including essay writing. Plan your essay before you start writing, including a clear thesis statement, main argument, and supporting evidence. Leave enough time for proofreading and editing.

In conclusion, writing a Leaving Cert History essay can be challenging, but with the right approach, it is possible to master it. Understanding the essay structure, choosing the right topic, research and analysis, writing style and grammar, and time management are all essential components of a successful essay. Practice writing sample essays, and seek feedback from your teachers to improve your writing skills. With these tips and insights, you will be well on your way to writing successful Leaving Cert History essays. Good luck!

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Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert English 2025

The 2025 guide is for students who plan to graduate in 2025. If you are graduating in 2026, please use the Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert English Guide 2026 .

Leaving Cert English 2025 notes, sample essays, text analysis, examiners’ advice, video – it’s all in there. Contents:

Essentials Paper I

Section I Section II Quotations in essays Speech/Talk/The Language of Persuasion Article / Opinion piece / Discursive Essay / Language of argument Report/The language of information Personal essay Letter – Letter to the Editor – Personal letter Descriptive essay Short story

Introduction Themes Style Sample essay: “In King Lear the villainous characters hold more fascination for the audience than the virtuous ones.” (2010) Sample essay: “In the play, King Lear, the stories of Lear and Gloucester mirror one another in interesting ways.” (2006) Sample essay: “Reading or seeing King Lear is a horrifying as well as an uplifting experience.” (2006) Sample essay: “ In King Lear honour and loyalty triumph over brutality and viciousness. ” (2010) Sample essay: ” King Lear is not only a tragedy of parents and children, of pride and ingratitude, it is also a tragedy of kingship “. (2010) Short notes on other recent questions (2021, 2018, 2016 – both titles from each year)

Frankenstein

Themes Style Quotations Characters Key question Sample essay: “The consequences of Victor Frankenstein’s passion for scientific knowledge and experimentation in Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, are both fascinating and disturbing.” (2022) Sample essay: “Is the Creature a child? Discuss the idea of parenthood and childhood in relation to Frankenstein.” Sample essay: Discuss the role of Robert Walton in Frankenstein. Consider Walton’s contribution to the themes and style of the novel. Sample essay: Discuss the importance of companionship in shaping the reader’s understanding of the characters and the events of Frankenstein. Sample essay: Discuss the narrative purposes served by Mary Shelley’s inclusion of letters between various characters throughout her novel, Frankenstein. (2022) Sample essay: Discuss how the use of imagery and symbolism plays an important part in the themes of Frankenstein.

Comparative

General guidance Link words Cultural Context General Vision and Viewpoint Theme or Issue Comparisons: making a comparative table (examples Educated, Never Let Me Go, Ladybird , Frankenstein, Rebecca, The Shawshank Redemption, Pride and Prejudice, Knives Out , Sive, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Where the Crawdads Sing)

Unseen poetry

General guidance Sample answer

Prescribed poetry

General guidance

Eavan Boland

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually The War Horse Child of Our Time The Famine Road The Shadow Doll White Hawthorn in the West of Ireland Outside History The Black Lace Fan My Mother Gave Me This Moment The Pomegranate Love Sample essay: “Boland’s reflective insights are expressed through her precise use of language.” Write your response to this statement, supporting your answer with suitable reference to the poetry on your course.

Emily Dickinson

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually “Hope” is the thing with feathers There’s a certain Slant of light I felt a Funeral, in my Brain A Bird came down the Walk I heard a Fly buzz – when I died The Soul has Bandaged moments I could bring You Jewels – had I a mind to A narrow Fellow in the Grass I taste a liquor never brewed After great pain, a formal feeling comes Sample essay : “Dickinson’s use of an innovative style to explore intense experiences can both intrigue and confuse.” Discuss this statement, supporting your answer with reference to the poetry of Emily Dickinson on your course.

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Preludes Aunt Helen A Game of Chess Journey of the Magi III, Usk IV, Rannoch, near Glencoe East Coker Sample essay: “The poetry of T.S. Eliot often presents us with troubled characters in a disturbing world.” Write a response to this statement with reference to both the style and the subject matter of Eliot’s poetry. Support your points with suitable reference to the poems on your course

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually God’s Grandeur Spring As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Dragonflies Draw Flame The Windhover Pied Beauty Inversnaid I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day No worst there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief Sample essay: “Hopkins’ innovative style displays his struggle with what he believes to be fundamental truths.” In your opinion, is this a fair assessment of his poetry? Support your answer with suitable reference to the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins on your course. (2013)

Patrick Kavanagh

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually Iniskeen Road: July Evening Shancoduff Advent A Christmas Childhood Epic Canal Bank Walk Lines Written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin The Hospital On Raglan Road Sample essay: “Aspects of Kavanagh’s poetry could be seen as dated and irrelevant, but his unique poetic language has enduring appeal.” Do you agree with this assessment of his poetry? Support your points with suitable reference to the poetry of Patrick Kavanagh on your course.

Derek Mahon

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually Grandfather Day Trip to Donegal Ecclisiastes After the Titanic As It Should Be A Disused Shed in Co. Wexford  Rathlin The Chinese Restaurant in Portrush  Kinsale, Antractica Sample essay: “Mahon uses language and imagery to transform personal observations into universal reflections.” Write your response to this statement with reference to the poems by Derek Mahon on your course.

Sylvia Plath

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually Black Rook in Rainy Weather The Times are Tidy Morning Song Finisterre Mirror Pheasant Elm Poppies in July The Arrival of the Bee Box Child Sample essay: “Plath makes effective use of language to explore her personal experiences of suffering and to provide occasional glimpses of the redemptive power of love.” Discuss this statement, supporting your answer with reference to both the themes and language found in the poetry of Sylvia Plath on your course.

Tracy K. Smith

Introduction Detailed analysis of each poem individually Joy (Elegy One) Dominion Over the Beasts of the Earth The Searchers Letter to a Photojournalist Going In The Universe is a House Party Museum of Obsolescence Don’t you wonder, sometimes? It’s Not The Universe as a Primal Scream The Greatest Personal Privation I am 60 odd years of age Ghazal Sample essay: “Tracy K. Smith’s demanding subject matter and formidable style can prove challenging.” Discuss this statement, supporting your answer with reference to the poetry of Tracy K. Smith on your course.

This guide aims to replace a revision course for 2025. Everything is in one place. We know how hard it can be, and it is our passion to make it easier for the students who come after us. Our team, composed of people who got 625+ points, distilled our own best notes, past paper answers and tips on each part of the course – so that you don’t have to fight these battles on your own or reinvent the wheel. Whether you want 625 points, or to simply maximise your points, the Leaving Cert English 2025 guide will – guaranteed – have useful insights to make your life easier.

This Leaving Cert English 2025 guide is especially useful if:

✔ you are stuck at a given grade despite all your effort

✔ your teacher’s approach isn’t perfect for you

✔ you don’t know what to do to improve

✔ you are counting English for points

You will get:

✔access to the key Leaving Cert English skills video

✔access to 625Lab: we will give you feedback on one typed up essay corrected. Use the 625Lab submission form

✔priority access for Leaving Cert study advice. Email [email protected] with your query

✔notes as detailed above (383 pages, or 125 thousand words)

What does the guide  not  cover ?

The guide has a wealth of useful information. As the syllabus required each student to choose from over 40 individual texts and over 50 poems it was neither required, nor feasible to cover everything. 

Does it come in the post? It’s a download, so there’s no need to wait for the postman. You automatically get a download link straight into your email inbox. If you run into any problems with the download, we will sort you out – simply reply to the email you get from us.

Can I print it?

Yes. All notes are printable.

• Post author: Martina
• Post published: August 1, 2021
• Post category: English

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Sample Personal Essay

This is a personal essay (I found it in an old foolscap a few years ago) from when I was in Leaving Cert. It’s not terribly original and the ending just kind of tails off pathetically but rather than fix it up I decided to leave it as I had written it at 17. It should give you a strong sense that there is a real difference between personal essays and short stories.

A Farewell to Adolescence

One of the scariest things about being in Leaving Cert. is realising that you are the oldest pupils in the school. In the first couple of days it gently hits you that the people who once intimidated you so much are all gone. Any intimidation that goes on now is probably your esteemed self complaining (loudly) in the presence of first years about how cheeky and wild they are. At this stage you usually find yourself commenting on the fact that your own year were NEVER that rude and boisterous, and you begin to despair for the youth of today. Where, oh where, did they ever go wrong?

It is about now you realise that you’re beginning to grow up. Talking about the ‘youth of today’ sets off alarm bells in your head because you’ve started to distance yourself from this section of society. You no longer include yourself in the category of ‘teenager’ or ‘adolescent’. Technically, you’ll be a teenager until the end of your nineteenth year, but being as mature and responsible as you are, you handily disregard this fact!

After the first couple of days in Leaving Cert, it not-so-gently whacks you full-in-the-face that other people have also started to regard you as a young adult. Teachers, parents, and adults in general expect you to think and act more responsibly, as befits your new position in society. THAT’s when you discover the role of young adult has as many drawbacks as advantages.

The first problem encountered is that of choosing a career! Of course, you’d always realised that EVENTUALLY you’d have to decide what to do with the rest of your life. But never in your wildest dreams or worst nightmares did you imagine just how difficult it would really be. The careers teacher bombards you with information about points, open days, college prospectus’, CAO-CAS forms, subject choices, apprentices and requirements. It vaguely registers somewhere in the back of your mind that you’ve heard all this before (perhaps in last years careers class???) but you weren’t really listening (at the time) because it was just kind of boring and irrelevant. Right now it’s about as far away from irrelevant as it can possibly be, and your head is in a whirl. Oh, to be back in first year when everything was simple and all anyone seemed to talk about was how wild and cheeky you were!

Added to this burden of deciding what to do with the rest of your life, is the workload of the average Leaving Certificate pupil. You seem to spend at least three hours every night doing homework alone. Wondering when you’ll get around to revising fourth year work is useless – you simply DON’T HAVE THE TIME! Every teacher seems to have some comment to make about how little work you’ve done, and how much you’ve left to cover. Being fulfilled, happy individuals, however, you don’t despair and it never even enters your head how hopeless everything is…

The last (and in my opinion the worst) part of saying farewell to adolescence is that of being responsible for your own destiny. Every teacher and parent in the country seems to adopt the policy of constantly telling you that how you do in the Leaving Certificate Examinations in June is entirely up to you! Teachers remind you daily that they’re not afraid of work and they’re doing the best they can for you. If you don’t pull up your socks and get down to work there’s nothing they can do about it. Their most commonly used phrase abound this time is “I can’t do the work for you!” You almost begin to believe the unspoken, follow-on-statement “I would if I could but I can’t”. Thus the weight of the world merrily thuds down onto your shoulders and this ‘growing-up’ process, this ‘farewell to adolescence’ seems less and less attractive every minute.

All is not doom and gloom however, and whilst the negative side of growing up is alive and well, there is also another, more desirable side blossoming satisfactorily, if you look at the other side of the coin. You begin to notice the extent to which your family life changes. Apart from a few sensitive areas, you’re pretty much a free agent. Your parents no longer freak out if you leave the house for more than half an hour. You don’t ask them any more if you can go out, they ask you if you are! It’s not childish teenage disco’s you’re going to either – it’s pubs and nightclubs. For the lucky minority who are already 18, it’s not even illegal! The smoker who started smoking in national school suddenly realises that he’s no longer breaking the law. You can even legally have sex!

A whole new world of possibility opens out before you, and somehow, life doesn’t seem so bleak anymore. You don’t get asked what age you are going into the cinema! Your mother doesn’t wait until you’ve gone to bed to watch the video she’s hired out – unless of course it’s an “adult” movie of the coloured kind that you don’t really want to watch anyway. And definitely not with your parents! Another advantage is the summer job which provides money, but more importantly, independence. I personally HATE having to ask my parents for money, and if I do, I have to tell them what it’s for. When you’ve got your own money, you can do what you like with it and are answerable to no-one.

All in all, growing up has both advantages and disadvantages. The process is both rewarding and painful, joyous and sad. Luckily this transition must only be experienced once in every lifetime because being “stuck in the middle” is quite an awkward confusing time. Overall my ‘farewell to adolescence’ will be a thankful one. I’ll be saying my goodbyes happily enough!

6 responses to “ Sample Personal Essay ”

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