ESSAY WRITING

Few students find essay writing easy. Well, practice makes perfect and by the time students hit their final year, most of them find it a piece of cake.

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Here are some rules to help you as they apply to all types of essay, no matter what the topic is.

                                           THE DOs

o Include a topic sentence/theisis in the introduction which should reveal the main idea of the essay.

o The introductory sentence should serve as a general idea on the topic and  the thesis should be introduced after it.

o Your essay must be a minimum of 3 paragraphs (introduction--body--conclusion). Respect the length (220-250 words).

o Use linkers or transitions between paragraphs and sentences.

o Respond to the prompt /title of the essay-write the content that reflects and develops the  question that has been asked. The title might be complicated and consist of several parts. Make sure you cover every point of the essay prompt.

o Be clear, specific and include examples.

o Make a draft first.

o Use proper style (formal) and format (paragraphing).

o Use advanced vocabulary (level B2 or C1).

o Cite examples (from your o   wn experience).

o Revise before making a fair copy.

   

                                                         

                                        THE DON'Ts

o Don't make the topic sentence the opening sentence of the essay.

o Don't use contractions (don't  ---- do not)

o Don't use slang or informal langage.

o Avoid overused “scholarly” phrases. Never write “In this paper I will ....” 

o Don't overcomplicate your sentences as they will become hard to read.

o Don't use 1st person pronouns (I, we, me, us...) (Use the 3rd person instead.)

o Avoid making generalizations or assumptions.

                       ESSAY STRUCTURE OR FORMAT

                                          
                           

                                                                  

                                                           Introduction

The INTRODUCTION is the first paragraph of your essay. The first few sentences of this paragraph introduce the reader to the topic.The last sentence is called a THESIS STATEMENT or TOPIC SENTENCE and it clearly states the main idea of the essay. This is the most important sentence in the essay. 

                                       Body  

The BODY of the essay is usually two to three paragraphs long. Each paragraph begins with a TOPIC SENTENCE that backs up your thesis in the introduction with an example/evidence/or quotation to support it. These sentences are called SUPPORTIN IDEAS because their main function is to "support" the topic sentence.

                                                                       Conclusion

The CONCLUSION is the last paragraph of the essay. It restates the thesis and gives the reader a brief summary of the essay's main points. This paragraph is about 2-3 sentences long and it can end with a personal comment on the topic.

      The good hamburger or HAMBURGER PARAGRAPH?

The "paragraph hamburger" is a writing organizer that visually outlines the key components of a paragraph. Topic sentence, detail sentences, and a closing sentence are the main elements of a good paragraph, and each one forms a different "piece" of the hamburger.

                                     LINKERS 

Linkers are bridges that allow a reader to move from  one idea to the next without getting lost in language.

Linkers relate one idea or sentence of the text with another. They connect the ideas logically. Ideas need to be clear and should be well organised and coherent.     

Here   is the link to practise the use of linkers.

Try this link to practise linkers/connectors in an essay.