WRITING AN ESSAY An essayalways has 3 basic parts: 1/ Introduction 2/ Body 3/ Conclusion 1. Introduction: General statement Thesis statement 2. Body: Paragraph 1: Topic sentence Supporting Idea 1 Supporting Idea 2 Paragraph 2: Topic sentence Supporting Idea 1 Supporting Idea 2 Paragraph 3: Topic sentence Supporting Idea 1 Supporting Idea 2 3. Conclusion: Restatement or summary of the main points. Final comment. Kinds of essays: 1/ Narrative 2/ Decription 3/ Advantages / Disadvantages 4/ Cause – Effects 5/ Comparision – Contract 6/ For / Against (Argumentative) 7/ Analysis and classification Eg: - 2001: In about 200 words, give your opinion about the statement: “ Knowledge is power” Page 1 - 2002: How do you explain the golden maxim: “Never leave till tomorrow what you can do today” -2003: In about 200 words, write about “The country life and fresh air”. Suggestions: The attractions of country life. The importance of fresh air. How country life is different from town life. - 2004: In about 150 words, write about “The importance of books”. Suggestions: The type of books to be read. How books should be read. The advantages of reading books. I. Introduction: General statement. Thesis statement. + General statement: - Rhetorical questions: Eg: “Do you like doing household chores?” Everyone knows how the story of Cinderella end but did you ever think how she spent help olays before she met the prince? - Quotation: Eg: “Fish and visitors” wrote B.Franlin “begin to smell after 3 days”. “ Without books” as Lenin said “There is no knowledge, no socialism and there is certainly no communism”. - Incident /story / dramatic. - Starting with an opposite (turn about) Eg: People often think “Experience is the best teacher” is an old cliche. But I completely agree with it. - Starting importance of topic. - The funnel (from general to narrow). + Thesis statement: - Direct statement: Eg: - The main problems facing students in our school are lack of facility for studying, lack of experienced teaching staff and lack of suitable curricula. Page 2 - If I could change one thing for my hometown, I think it would be fact that there is no sence of community here. People don’t feel connected, they don’t look out for each other and they don’t get to know their neighbours. - Indirect statement: Eg: I completely agree with “…………………” for following reasons. Some errors in thesis statement: + Announcement: Eg: - The overpopulation is the main topic of this essay. - I want to talk about one of my most embarrassing experiences. + Too broad statement: Eg: - My parents have been the most enfluential people in my life. - Crime is major concern of everyone in our society. + Too narrow statement: Eg: - My parents have only one child. - Because I was late for work yesterday, I was called in to see the boss. + Thesis statements contain more than one idea: Eg: - The overpopulation has got many disadvantages but it also faces many problems. II. Body: Paragraph 1: Topic sentence Supporting idea/ example/ relevant/ evidence Your own experience,… + Connectors/ linking words. Paragraph 2: Topic sentence …………………………… …………………………… Words of transition: Relationship between ideas Words of transition Ordering according to time Next, then, now, immediately, soon, before, after, meanwhile, gradually, finally, suddenly, previously, when,first, second, at last,… Ordering according to space Below, above, under, bejond, near, far, in front of, in the middle of, to the right, to the lift, outside, across, … Ordering according to importance More important, more/ equally important, first, second, third, finally,… Addition In additiom,also, moveover, further, further more, besides, too, again,… Page 3 Emphasis In fact, indeed, certainly, again, undoubtedly, surely, truly, actually, to repeat,… Causes/ effects So, because, since, theryone, consequently, accordingly, than. As a result, for this reason,… Contract/ concession On the contrary, on the order hand, even though, although, inspite of, while,… Comparison Like, similarly, likewise, in the same way, by comparison,… Examples For example, for instance, illustration, specially,… Summary In conclusion, in brief, in short, to conclude, to summarize, to sum up, on the whole, or I have shown, finally,… Marking an outline: Outlining is a way of organizing your thoughts before your write. An outline is like a plan which shows the main parts and points of an essay which you can follow as you write. A good out outline makes clear the thesis to be developed and that central idea. Once an outline is written, the actual writng should be easy. + Some steps of outlining: 1. Brain storming: Write down as many ideas as possible about the topic that occur in your mind. 2. Choose which ideas are reclevant. 3. Rearrange in good order. 4. Choose suitable examples or evidence to support. WRITING TOPICS 1. Write an essay of about 200 words to express your view about whether education reform should be test-oriented or ability oriented? 2. Some people say that TV programs should be more educational than entertaining. Others disagree. Give your opinion, and provide specific examples. 3. Some people say that studying the English language in an English speaking country is the best but not the only way to learn the language. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? (about 200 words) 4. The world is experiencing a dramatic increase in population. This is causing problems not only for poor, developing countries, but also for industrialized and developed nations. Describe some of the problems that overpopulation causes and suggest at least one suitable solution. (write no more than 200 words) Page 4 5. Some people say that traffic accidents are caused by the increasing number of motorbikes. Others blame for man’s fault. Which point of view do you agree? State at least three relevant evidences. (write no more than 200 words) Page 5 . WRITING AN ESSAY An essayalways has 3 basic parts: 1/ Introduction 2/ Body 3/ Conclusion. good order. 4. Choose suitable examples or evidence to support. WRITING TOPICS 1. Write an essay of about 200 words to express your view about whether education