Unit 6 How to Interpret Essay Titles

7/30/2019 Unit 6 How to Interpret Essay Titles

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How to interpret essay titles

The first step in writing any essayis to read and interpret the essaytitle correctly. Let us look at thefollowing example:

What steps do you think should betaken to reduce pollution?


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In this essay question, the wordstep is the organizing word andthe general subject is pollutionYou do not need to describepollution itself; the title assumes

that you already know whatpollution is. The title alsoindicates that pollution, at the

moment, is bad. You could,therefore, use this idea as partof your introduction:


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Pollution is nowadays one of themost serious threats to all living

things on the planet. There are,however, many steps that can be

taken to remedy this situation.


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The first sentence is a generalstatement about the general subject.The second sentence is the topicsentence: it gives the direction of theessay and tells you how to organize it.

Now study the essay titles below and: (a) find the word(s) in each question

which will help you to organize youressay

(b) decide what the general subject ofthe essay is.


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2. What are the most effective ways to reduceunemployment in Europe?

3. What are the disadvantages of using computers in theworkplace?

4. Food additives should be banned. Discuss.

5. What are the main benefits of investing money inspace research?

6. The main cause of the destruction of the environmentis the burning of fossil fuels. Discuss.

7. Discuss the advantages of sex education in the schoolcurriculum at secondary level.

8. The best solution to urban traffic problems is to banall cars from city centers. What is your opinion?

9. Tobacco advertising in the media should be banned.What is your opinion? Give your reasons.


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Unemployment throughout Europe is a major

problem. However, there are several effective wayswhich can be implemented to tackle the situation.

Computers have brought enormous benefits to theworkplace. However, at the same time, there are manydisadvantages associated with using such technology.

The use of addictives in foods is a matter of somecontroversy. Not surprisingly, therefore, there aremany arguments for and against this practice.

The enormous sums of money spent on research intospace travel is an issue that is arousing more and morecontroversy. Such investment has, however, broughtmany benefits to the world.


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The burning of fossil fuels has contributed enormously

to the destruction of environment. However, there aremany other, no less, important causes.

Sex education at secondary level is a much debatedissue. However, such education does have manyadvantages.

Although banning cars from city centers is a good wayto solve current traffic problems, there are, in myopinion, many other measures that can and should betaken.

Banning tobacco adverts on television and in other areasof the media does provoke considerable opposition. Asfar as I am concerned, however, such advertising should

be allowed for many reasons.


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How to link your introduction

to your essay title In the last exercise, you looked at interpreting

essay titles and writing a suitable introduction.

In other words, you were looking forward fromthe essay title to the introduction. As you write,however, you also need to look back at whatyou have written, as well as forward.

In the introductions below, look for theorganizing words and decide what the generalsubject is. Then write down a possible essaytitle for each one.


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Example:

To many people boxing is a cruel sport, which ought

to be banned. In my opinion, however, it should notbe stopped for many reasons.

If you look at the topic sentence first, you will

see that there are several clues to the title. Theessay is about your opinion and the reasons.The general sentence shows you that thegeneral subject is boxing. Look at the following

titles and you will see that the introductionexpresses the general subject and focus or topicof the title:


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Boxing should be banned. What isyour opinion of this statement? Giveyour reasons. - What is your opinionof boxing? Give your reasons.


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01 Capital punishment is an issue about which peoplefeel very passionately. However, there are many strong

arguments against this issue.02. Banning smoking inpublic places is an issue that

gives rise to endless controversy. There are, therefore,many arguments for and against.

03. Road deaths in Europe are still a major problem. Thissituation could, however, be improved enormously byadopting a wide-ranging package of measures.

04. Over recent years, poverty has increased in many

parts of the world with disastrous consequences.05. The legalization of cannabis is a subject that has

aroused considerable debate. There are, however, anumber of benefits to be derived from making the drug

legal.


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06. Recycling waste paper, glass and scrap metal is obviouslya sound method for reducing pollution. Even so, anumber of equally important measures exist to tackle the

problem.07. In some cases a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but

there are also certain circumstances where it can be ofenormous help.

08. Both public and private means of transport haveadvantages and disadvantages.

09. Corporal punishment, in one form or another, has beenpart of the educational system in many countries for along time. As far as I am concerned, however, such

punishment is unacceptable.10. Now that oil resources are becoming rapidly depleted,

more attention is being focusedon alternative forms ofenergy.

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Unit 6 How to Interpret Essay Titles