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Essay

Guide to write an essay

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29 views4 pages

Essay

Guide to write an essay

Uploaded by

mam00145
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Theory

STRUCTURE - ESSAY

An ESAY is a formal document which the writer uses to present an opinion, supported by a set of
arguments. It has a specific structure.

➤ THE INTRODUCTION

The first paragraph, THE INTRODUCTION, is used to put the subject into context. An effective way of
doing this is to explain what the general opinion about the subject is, and a typical sentence used for this
purpose could be:

In today's society, many people believe that .....

A more effective tool often used in introductions is THE HOOK.

➤ THE HOOK

So, what is a hook? It's a piece of writing at the beginning of your essay that engages the reader. A hook
sparks a person's curiosity and makes an introduction standout.

There are several kinds of hooks:

• Interesting Question Hook

• Strong Statement/Declaration Hook

• Fact/Statistic Hook

Why do some students pass their exams and some fail?

This question is an example of a question hook for an essay on education. The reader looks at the intriguing
question and wants to know the answer, so continues reading the essay.

Online classes are more effective than in-person classes.

This statement is an example of a strong statement hook for an essay on education. The reader looks at the
thought-provoking statement and is intrigued, so continues reading the essay.

Almost two-thirds of adults in the US have lived in a home where a gun was present.

This factual sentence is an example of a statistical hook for an essay on crime. The reader looks at the
thought-provoking statistic and is intrigued, so continues reading the essay.

The hook is usually followed by a THESIS STATEMENT.

➤ THE THESIS STATEMENT

A very powerful technique in the construction of an introduction is the use of a THESIS STATEMENT.
This is a sentence, located in the introduction, which informs the reader what is going to be discussed in the
rest of the document. Examiners look for these elements when marking.

This is a typical thesis statement for a Cambridge First (FCE) essay:


I will consider idea one, followed by the second and third ideas and I will give my opinion as the
conclusion.

This is a typical thesis statement for a Cambridge Advanced (CAE) essay:

This essay will consider the quality of being alike and the cost of uniforms for parents, concluding with the
most important aspect to be taken into account.

➤ MAIN BODY OF THE ESSAY

The paragraphs in the middle of the document, the main body, are used to discuss the individual arguments
the writer wishes to consider in the process of forming an opinion.

The main body of an essay can be used to present a set of arguments which will then be used to justify the
opinion given in the conclusion.

Alternatively, the main body can be used to present two opposite sides of an argument, leading to the
conclusion.

➤ FINAL PARAGRAPH

The writer's opinion is then given in the final paragraph, the conclusion.

The conclusion of an essay should not repeat what has already been said. Instead, it should use those ideas to
develop a summary and then an opinion.

A common sentence to introduce the conclusion is:

Taking all these ideas into account, I am absolutely convinced that....

➤ THE LANGUAGE

The language needs to be formal, which means you need to take care with the vocabulary and not use
colloquial terms. You should also avoid using contractions, and where possible use the passive in the main
body of the document. Sentences using 'I' should only appear in the THESIS STATEMENT in the
introduction, and when giving your opinion in the conclusion.

➤ LINKING

An essay is an excellent opportunity to use good quality linking terms, both within sentences, between
sentences, and very importantly between paragraphs, to show why two paragraphs may express opposing
ideas.

➤ USEFUL PHRASES

Here are some useful phrases that can be used for essays:

• Stating an aim:

I will discuss both points of view and express my opinion...

• Expressing personal beliefs:

In my opinion... I believe that... It seems to me that ...


• Reporting general opinions: • Expressing contrast:
Many people feel that ... However, ....
It is generally believed that ... Having said that ....
The commonly held view is that .... Despite that ....
• Looking at different sides of an argument: • Expressions which add information:
On the one hand .... Additionally....
On the other hand .... What is more, ....
In contrast .... Furthermore, ....
• Summarizing or concluding: Moreover, ....
In conclusion,....

On balance, ....

Taking these ideas into account, ....

Summarizing, ....

Before writing, you need to consider the following:

• What style should I use?

Essays are formal documents, in which opinions are expressed. Use appropriate discourse markers to show
how the ideas expressed are related.

• Who am I writing this essay for?

Essays are an open discussion of ideas, and so can be read by anyone.

• What information should I include?

A good essay includes clearly-stated opinions supported by well-chosen examples and convincing reasons
for each point discussed.

• What is the function of this essay?

The function of an essay is to put forward a set of arguments leading to the expression of an opinion about a
subject.

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