Structure of an essay

FAIZAH BAHARUDIN
 Overview of session
• Types of Essay
 Discursive vs. Argumentative
• Introduction
 Attention Getter
 Thesis Statement
• Body
 Topic Sentence
 Supporting Details
• Conclusion
 Types of Essay
• Argumentative Essay Do curfew keep teens out of trouble?
• Compare and Contrast Essay Childhood vs. Adulthood
• Narrative Essay If I could go back in time
• Descriptive Essay An inspiring book
• Cause and Effect Essay How procrastination affects grades?
• Expository Essay Explain why someone you know should be a leader.
• Discussion Essay The advantages and disadvantages of social media towards
teenagers.
 Discursive Vs. Argumentative
Discursive Argumentative
The questions end with “Discuss” Questions end with “Do you agree?”
Focus: explaining one’s perspectives and thoughts Focus: making a stand on an argument and
providing elaboration and examples to reinforce
this stand
Writing is often balanced, with arguments on both Often offers counter arguments, of it is often
sides of the issue rebutted
Purpose: clarify or discuss on the writers’ Purpose: persuade and convince the reader to the
thoughts and perspectives. writers’ point of view
Tone: Neutral Tone: Bias
 Attention Getter in Introduction
PURPOSE
1) To catch the attention and interest of the readers
2) To reveal the topic of the paragraph/essay and perhaps the manner in
which it will be developed(compare/contrast, classification, definition,
persuasive, etc.).
3) It will also set the tone of the writing: serious, humorous, sarcastic, etc.
 Method
1) Start with a startling statement, fact, or statistic which will arrest the readers' attention to
surprise, horrify, anger, or amuse them into reading more.
• Horrify: Imagine a line of dead and mangled bodies stretching for twenty-five miles—
25,000 corpses. That is the number of victims of drunk driving every year. It's hard to
believe that the number is increasing in spite of the ads and community awareness efforts.
(TS)The time has come to take more specific measures to get drunk drivers off the road.
• Startle: Buyers beware! A suit, shined shoes, a Rolex, Old Spice, and a dazzling smile don't
make someone an expert. People should not let smooth-talking advertisers, manufacturers,
and car salesmen sell them the wrong car. (TS) They can get the car that's just right for
them if they follow this advice.
Source: http://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/faculty/lcarothers/EffectiveWriting/Reflective/Attention%20Getters.pdf
 2) Start with a direct quotation from a recognized authority, a famous
person or a literary selection.

• Authority:
"Drinking kills more young drivers than any other cause," says John Smith, head of New York highway safety.
"Their corpses litter the highways of America every night." Sadly, many think that there is nothing they can do
about this except have their own designated driver or take friends' and family members' keys away. However,
studies have shown that cell phones save more people from drunken driving than most people would imagine.
• Famous person:
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that
it is stupid,” stated by Albert Einstein. Everybody has his or her own ability to learn. People are unique in their
own ways. Thus, parents should open up their minds and treat each child differently and catering to his or her
needs accordingly.

Source: http://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/faculty/lcarothers/EffectiveWriting/Reflective/Attention%20Getters.pdf
3) Start with a verbal picture that relates to the topic.

• The young driver turns up the stereo louder and smiles as he dreams of the
fun he had at the party—plenty of good music and beer. Suddenly a tree
appears from out of nowhere. He grabs at the wheel to turn the car.
Headlights swerve in the darkness. But it's too late. A patrol car screams to
find the twisted body of another kid who drank and drove. Teenagers need
to understand the effects of alcohol on their adolescent bodies.

Source: http://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/faculty/lcarothers/EffectiveWriting/Reflective/Attention%20Getters.pdf
4) Start with a contrast.

• A third-grade class gallops through a daisy-filled meadow with butterfly

nets. A ninth-grade Latin class floods the zoo for a lesson in scientific
names. High school seniors ride the Demon at Great America for physics
class. (TS) A field trip may look like time set aside for fun and games, and
most students prefer them to regular classes, but serious examination will
show that they educate in a way textbooks and lectures never can.

Source: http://www.waunakee.k12.wi.us/faculty/lcarothers/EffectiveWriting/Reflective/Attention%20Getters.pdf
5) Start with an anecdote - an incident.

• A man in Cambridge, took his neighbor to court because the neighbor

hadn't cut his grass in fourteen years. Kay Mart of Madison, sued her
neighbor because the leaves from his tree fell in her yard, and she had to
rake them. Perhaps if lines of communication had been open or if each
had shown a little more compassion to each other, it wouldn't have gone
so far. (TS) Neighbors can be a curse, but establishing a good relationship
with them is important.
What is a thesis statement?
 Criteria of a thesis statement
• The summary of the whole essay
• Written at the end of the introductory paragraph
• Written in one sentence only
Examples of thesis statement:
• The first day on a new job can be nerve-racking.
• At our school, the library is the worst place to study.
• College is a stressful situation for many people.
• Making chocolate cake can be as easy as ABC.
 2 Types of Thesis Statement
General • Contains the general idea of the whole essay.

Thesis • Example: Yoga is an exercise that brings a lot

of benefits to those who practiced it regularly.

Statement
Specific • Specifically mention 3 main ideas of the essay.

Thesis • Example: Yoga, as many people have witnessed

in the past, provides plenty of benefits to our

Statement
body, emotions and mind when it is practiced
regularly.
 Introduction - Example
Studies have shown that most of the average Malaysians are overweight or
out of shape. There are plenty of workouts being sold in stores and online
that promise to help people lose weight  quick in order to change people’s
lives. One of these workouts is Yoga. Yoga, as many people have witnessed
in the past, provides plenty of benefits to our body, emotions and mind when
it is practiced regularly. (THESIS STATEMENT)
 Activity
• Group work : 3/4 students in a group.
• Pick an argumentative topic.
• Choose one method of attention getter.
• Write a complete introduction with a good attention getter and an effective
thesis statement.
• Peer Evaluation.
 Argumentative Topics
• Is the death penalty effective?
• Should animals be used for research?
• Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
• Are beauty pageants exploitive?
• Is homework harmful or helpful?
 Basic Structure of Body Paragraph
1. Start by writing down one of your main ideas- Topic Sentence.
2. Follow by your supporting points for that main idea.
3. Next, the elaboration for that point.
Elaboration can be further description, explanation, discussion or
examples. For the purpose of the term paper, you need to include in-text
citation
4. End the paragraph with a summary sentence for each paragraph.
 Maintaining the Cohesion of the essay
• It is crucial to decide on the organization of each essay parts.
• The organization must be arranged logically to ensure the readers’
comprehension of your essay.
• Three important aspects of maintaining cohesion:
1. The topic sentence relates to the thesis statement
2. The details support the topic sentence
3. The ideas with paragraphs flow smoothly
 Methods of developing cohesion
• Repeated key words
• Synonym
• Reference words- personal pronouns, definite articles, demonstrative
pronouns
• Transition signals
 Transition Signals
Functions Transition Signals
To add an idea In addition, furthermore, also, moreover, besides, another

To show time and sequence First, second, third, next, last, finally
To contrast However, in contrast, on the other hand, nevertheless, whereas
To show results As a result, therefore, consequently, hence, thus,
To show emphasis In fact, indeed, certainly
To show an example For example, for instance, in particular, like, such as,
To conclude In conclusion, in summary, in short, in a nutshell, to conclude
 Conclusion
• Recommend a solution or a course of action
• Express hope
• Make a strong comment
• Use a quotation to create a lasting impression
• State a powerful fact related to the topic
• State consequences
• Call to action
 The Do’s in conclusion
Source: University of Cumbria

A good conclusion should:

• be more than just a summary of the essay. It should be a good end to your
piece of writing
• emphasise or reinforce your main ideas, but restate your ideas in a new
way; avoid using the same language as in your essay
• fit in with the rest of the assignment. Refer back to your introduction and
remind your reader that you did answer the question
 The don’ts in conclusion
A good conclusion should not:
• introduce any new ideas or information. This will only confuse your reader
and leave them wondering why you are mentioning new arguments right at
the end of your essay
• be too short. Aim for about 15% of your word count, so 150-200 words for a
1000 word essay
• focus on minor points. Only include the points that you think are the most
important from your discussion
 Essay title: Examine the sociological evidence of stereotypes of social
groups in the mass media. What are the causes of stereotyping in the
mass media and to what extent do they influence social attitudes?

Example 1
My essay has looked, therefore, at the problems caused by racial
stereotyping, focussing on the lack of ethnic minorities working in the mass
media. It has been seen that this bias causes a parallel bias in the
interpretation of events. Indeed, the problem is even more acute in the
United States. According to a survey conducted by the Pocock Institute
(1998), only 7% of newspaper staff are black or hispanic, which is totally
unrepresentative of the population as a whole.
 Example 2

I have done my best to show in this essay that the mass media, and particularly
television, strengthens the various stereotypes in society, although at times in
very subtle, implicit ways. Several examples have been analysed, although one
or two of these were somewhat out of date. The essay also suggested ways of
overcoming this problem, although it is not clear if it is the media which
creates these stereotypes, or if it is merely reflecting the way society already
sees itself. The media is of course a part of society as a whole. The question of
positive discrimination was discussed and it was decided that in the long run
this has a negative effect. Things will change, but only slowly.
 Example 3

It has been shown, therefore, that stereotypes have always existed in society, and probably will always
do so. The mass media is a relatively recent phenomenon, which is one reason for the widely differing
views on its role in creating and fostering stereotypical images. The actual causes of stereotyping in the
mass media have been shown to be surprisingly diverse, although there can be no argument that any
form of it which leads, albeit indirectly, to suffering in any form must not be allowed to take place. It is
society itself which must stop this from happening, as laws and regulations are often ineffective.
Things are changing, though, and in some areas very quickly; some commonplace stereotypes of only
twenty years ago and today virtually taboo. It is society which must indirectly control the mass media,
not vice versa. Malaysian must be encouraged to be less controlled by corporations and individuals
eager to please the governments of the major world powers, and, in the mass media. However, it is safe
to say that we becoming more and more vigilant to avoid this cynical manipulation.
Exercise adapted from: http://library.bcu.ac.uk/learner/writingguides/
 Recap!Main
• Attention grabber
Introduction •
•
General Statement Idea 3:
Claim/Stand Elaboration
• Thesis Statement Topic Example
Sentence Elaboration of example
Concluding Sentence
3
Main Idea 1: Topic Elaboration
Example
Sentence 1 Elaboration of example
Concluding
Conclusio • Restatement of Thesis Statement
n Suggestion/Hope/Call to Action

Elaboration
Main Idea 2: Topic Example
Sentence 2 Elaboration of example
Concluding Sentence