IGCSE ESL

Essay writing
This ppt covers info about the topic on essay
writing. Enjoy!
 Contents of this template
1. Overview

2. Content to include

3. Language

4. Organisation

5. Intro

6. Body

7. Conclusion

8. General tips

9. Intro tips

10. Tips for body paragraphs- 1 & 2

11. Conclusion tips

12. Sample question with answer

 Overview
An essay deals with a serious topic. An article
is a text written to for a general audience on a
particular topic. An essay is a more specific
type of article that presents an argument or
point of view.
 Overview
The purpose of an essay is to present an
argument or point of view and give examples
or reasons to support it. The topic will be a
question or an issue which people generally
have different opinions about. The essay could
present both sides of the argument, or just one,
depending on the instructions given in the task.
 Overview
An essay should be written in a formal or
neutral register and should be well organised,
with an introduction, main body and a
conclusion. It should include language
appropriate for expressing opinions, agreeing
and disagreeing. The vocabulary required will
depend upon the topic.
 Task fulfilment (whether the essay

Content to fulfils the task, how relevant the

content is and an awareness of style,

include register, purpose and audience).

Development of ideas (the
detail/explanation provided).
 Range (complexity of grammatical
and lexical structures).
Accuracy (the level of grammatical

Content to and lexical accuracy, the type of

errors and whether these impede

include communication).
Organisation (whether ideas are
organised and sequenced effectively,
the range of linking words/phrases
and other cohesive devices).
 Language
✓ Think about the audience that the essay is for.
✓ The tone of most essays should be neutral or formal .
✓ Your essay should clearly present opinions related to the topic.
✓ Include a range of grammatical structures (different verb forms and
tenses conditional forms , a variety of sentence structures) and a range
of lexical structures (words, set phrases, collocations (words which
typically go together.)
✓ Avoid writing very simple sentences with the same grammatical
structures and simple repetitive vocabulary.
 Organisation
- An essay should be well organised, with an introduction, main body and a
conclusion. It should include well-developed ideas.
- You should use linking words/phrases which suit a more formal type of
writing (e.g. furthermore, however, in conclusion, etc.) to link ideas in
sentences and paragraphs.
- One way to structure your essay is to have a balanced argument focusing
on one side of the argument, then on the other side of the argument.
 Briefly outline the argument that the
essay will discuss. Engage the reader

Intro to make them interested in the topic,

for example, ask a rhetorical question
to make a point and create a stronger
effect.
 Present one side of the argument.

Body
Support your ideas with examples
and/or reasons. Present the other side
of the argument. Support your ideas
with examples and/or reasons.
 Conclusion
This should briefly summarise what you have said and what you think about the
argument. You can link your conclusion back to the beginning and/or encourage
the reader to decide what they think about the same viewpoint. Alternatively, an
essay can be one-sided. You present one side of the argument, supported with
examples and/or reasons. In this case, the organisation of your essay would be
the same as above, with either one extended paragraph for the main body, or two
or more shorter paragraphs each presenting a different reason to support your
point of view.
 Tips
General
• Avoid repetition of vocabulary.
• Use a range of linking words to link ideas within
and between paragraphs.
• Avoid using pre-learned language for
introduction and conclusion. It may sound
unnatural.
• Avoid colloquial or ‘chatty’ language.
• Avoid contractions.
 Tips
General
• Fulfil the task with relevant ideas.
• Use discursive or argumentative style.
• Use formal or neutral register.
• Think about the audience that the essay is for.
• Organise and sequence ideas effectively.
• Employ more complex structures and topic
related vocabulary.
 Tips
Intro
• No heading is required for an essay.
• Engage the reader using rhetorical questions.
• Present the thesis statement.
• Present both viewpoints.
• Avoid overlong introduction.
• Use time fixers and generalization phrases if
required.
• Make your introduction captivating.
 Tips
Body 1-2
• Avoid copying the comment given in the task.
• Paraphrase the ideas by changing the
structures and vocabulary where possible.
• Try to avoid too many different ideas.
• Develop the ideas well and in depth.
• Use topic sentence, supporting sentence and
closing sentence.
• Use introducing and addition phrase. (Body-1)
• Use contrasting and addition phrase. (Body-2)
 Tips
Conclusion

• Summarise the argument and express your

overall opinion.
• Conclusion should reflect the argument
presented in the main body of the essay.
• Avoid overlong conclusion.
• Make use of conclusion and opinion phrases.
 Sample question
In class, you have had a discussion about whether internet is bad for young people. Your teacher has asked you
to write an essay about it. In your essay, give your opinion about whether internet is bad for teenagers.

Here are some comments from your classmates:

➢ It is a source of learning more languages.

➢ Teenagers spend more time playing games.
➢ Young people do not spend enough of time with their family.
➢ Internet helps to improve their standard.

Now write an essay for your teacher. The comments above may give you some ideas and you should also use
some ideas of your own. Write about 120-160 words.
 Sample answer
Intro: Is the internet bad for young people? It is now easier than ever to access the internet, whether
you are using a computer, phone or tablet. There is no doubt that many young people are spending more
and more time online, with both positive and negative consequences.

Body 1: One advantage of the internet is that young people can do research for their schoolwork and
homework. This often helps teenagers to widen their knowledge and improve their grades. Another
positive aspect of the internet is that people can practice foreign languages by chatting to friends in other
countries. This is also good way of keeping in touch with friends and family around the world.

Body 2: On the other hand, there are also negative consequences. Some young people become addicted
to online gaming and this can mean that they waste too much time playing these games. This can have a
negative effect on their schoolwork, the amount of exercise they get and their social lives. ln addition,
excessive internet use can mean that some young people hardly talk to their families because they are
always on the computer.

Conclusion: To sum up, spending time on the internet can have a negative impact on young people, but it
also has many advantages. Personally, I think the internet is an incredible tool and the benefits of
internet access outweigh the dangers. However, we should be careful not to use the internet excessively.
Thank you!