TIPS ON WRITING A TIPS ON WRITING A GOOD ESSAYGOOD ESSAY

For and Against and opinion For and Against and opinion essaysessays

What’s an essay?What’s an essay?

An essay is a piece of writing that analyses and evaluates a topic or issue.  Fundamentally, an essay is designed to get your opinion on a particular matter.

It usually has five or more paragraphs. An essay is written about one topic that has several main points. The main points are introduced in an introductory paragraph and supported in body paragraphs. The conclusion is the last paragraph.

Types of essaysTypes of essays

There are many, but in this PowerPoint

will concentrate on :

For and Against EssaysOpinion Essays

For and Against For and Against EssaysEssays

• They present both sides of an issue, discussing points in favour and against of a particular topic, or the advantages and disadvantages of a particular question.

• The writer’s personal opinion might be stated in the conclusion (last paragraph).

Opinion EssaysOpinion Essays• They present the writer’s personal

opinion concerning a particular topic, clearly stated and supported by reasons or/ and examples.

• The writer’s opinion must be included in the introduction, and summarised or restated in the conclusion.

A good essay must A good essay must includeinclude

• An introductory paragraph, in which you clearly state the topic to be discussed.

• A main body, in which different aspects of the topic are stated in separate paragraphs, and are exemplified or justified.

• A concluding paragraph, it summarises the main points in the essay, and your opinion is stated, or restated. You may also include here a balanced consideration of the topic.

Tips for a good introductionTips for a good introduction (to get the reader interested in your essay)(to get the reader interested in your essay)

1) A surprising fact, perhaps including statistics

Figures of gunshot deaths have rocketed in the USA. In fact, a third of the population living in the USA will have pulled the trigger of their guns by 2025.

2) A question Southern America takes pride in its shooting culture, but should children be allowed to use guns at an early age?

3) A quotation

“Put your sword back into its place”, Jesus said, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword”. Jesus would definitely say no to free gun access in the USA.

4) An anecdote I will never forget the way I felt when I listened to the news on September 11th.I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought “How can people be so merciless?”

5) A cultural reference

All of us have ever wished to be like John McClane in Die Hard taking the law into his own hands. However, it does not justify the easy access to guns these days.

6) A definition (least interesting)

Gun control generally refers to the policies that regulate the sale and use of firearms to reduce the harmful effects of violence.

The main bodyThe main bodyThis is the most important part of your piece of writing.

You should divide it into different paragraphs, each dealing with one single idea and introduced by a topic sentence which summarises the topic of the paragraph.

To make your ideas easy to understand:1. go from general to specific, that is, first give a general idea and then expand it.

2. Avoid unnecessary repetition by using pronouns to refer back to nouns already mentioned.

3. Use connectors to join sentences and show the connection between ideas (contrast, purpose, addition, ...)

If you are asked to write an opinion essay, in the body you should support your opinions giving different arguments. Use each paragraph to present your arguments for or against.

If it’s a “for and against” essay, in the body you should present both the arguments for (or advantages) and the arguments against (disadvantages). Again, useparagraphs to introduce each argument.

Tips for a good Tips for a good conclusionconclusion

• It is the paragraph that summarizes the main idea or presents a conclusion.

• The reader expects the conclusion to do some or all of the following: rephrase the question, summarize the main ideas,

give your opinion, if you haven’t given it already.

• Look to the future (say what will happen if the situation continues or changes)

• The reader DOES NOT expect new information in the conclusion. Never add a new idea just because you have thought of it at the end!

• It shouldn’t be very long, and it can be similar to the introduction, but presented in different words.

Your conclusion ‘wraps’ up the essay. We don’t put something valuable, Your conclusion ‘wraps’ up the essay. We don’t put something valuable, like money or gold, hidden in the wrapping paper, so don’t put new like money or gold, hidden in the wrapping paper, so don’t put new

information or important ideas in the conclusion. information or important ideas in the conclusion.

• Plan your writing and write a first draft.• A paragraph for each section. The paragraph starts with

a topic sentence.• Use a variety of vocabulary and grammar structures.

Use synonyms or paraphrase.• Avoid contractions and don’t get emotional.• Keep to the topic. Don’t write about things that have

nothing to do with the task.• Use, but don’t overuse, linking words to join ideas. They

are also an important part in stringing together sentences and paragraphs.

• Pay attention to punctuation. Your text may be confusing if you don’t use commas and periods adequately.

• Stick to a maximum of two/ three arguments.• Back up your arguments with examples and details.

USEFUL CONNECTORS• Addition: Moreover, For example,

Besides, In addition, What is more,...• Contrast: But, Yet, Whereas,

Nevertheless, However, On the other hand, Although, Even though, Though, Despite, In spite of, Unlike, Even if,...

• Cause: As, Since, Because, Because of, Due to, Owing to, ...

• Result: So, Therefore, As a result, Consequently, For this reason, Thus, …

• Purpose: To, In order (not) to, So as (not) to, So (that), In case, …

• Other useful expressions: On the one hand ...On the other hand, Actually,

In fact, Talking of, In other words, As far as ….is concerned, Otherwise,

Regarding, In short, To sum up, In conclusion, ...

YOUR TURNCHOOSE ONE TOPIC TO WRITE AN ESSAY. - Corrupt politicians should never keep their seats. - Terrorism: a threat to western civilizations. - Is social justice fair these days? - Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction.- I