WRITING AN ESSAY a possible variant What

WRITING AN ESSAY (a possible variant)

What plan should we keep in mind? • • Introduction Paragraph 1 of the body Paragraph 2 of the body Conclusion Let’s consider each of the items in detail!

Plan for your essay (extended form) Introduction of a topic Introduction Paragraph 1 Different views on the problem The importance of the problem Your position to the problem Topic sentence Supporting sentences Paragraph 2 Topic sentence Restating your position Conclusion A short summary

What is a TOPIC SENTENCE? • It is a sentence which CONTAINS AN IDEA TO DEVELOP BY MEANS OF OTHER SUBSEQUENT SENTENCES IN THE PARAGRAPH • In an essay it is USUALLY THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE PARAGRAPH, DEFINING WHAT THE PARAGRAPH IS GOING TO BE ABOUT • It always SETS THE TONE FOR THE LANGUAGE ORGANISATION OF THE PARAGRAPH

What is a TOPIC SENTENCE? Example 1: Many people keep pets because of several reasons [controlling data to be developed in the paragraph] Example 2: Fast music can be stimulating while gentle music has a calming effect

What is a TOPIC SENTENCE? Example 3: The mass media are often badly used Example 4: Television has bad effects of people Example 5: People in Vietnam have several different ways to keep healthy: a balanced diet, proper exercise and a happy mood Example 6: While some people are convinced of the necessity for doing physical education, others prefer to lead a passive life. Example 7: Is it necessary and right to clean up our environment at the cost of industry?

What is a TOPIC SENTENCE? Let’s look at topic sentences inside an essay… The importance of animals to people is not always recognized. We should pay more attention to how we look after and protect animals. Do you agree? [your teacher’s position] This essay will consider the necessity for treating animals as living creatures, having the equal right to live and, thus, keeping favorable conditions to preserve the wildlife [topic sentence of Animals have always been not only the objects of aesthetic admiration for people but also the 1 st paragraph] indispensable faithful natural beings to keep at home and exploit as a workforce… [topic sentence of However, there are people who wouldn’t hesitate to murder an animal if it yielded profits. . . the 2 nd paragraph]

What is a TOPIC SENTENCE? Food for thought What topic sentences may there be for the following subjects? 1) Should government spend money on space exploration, or should they spend the money on problems here first? 2) Who should protect the environment – individuals or governments? 3) People naturally resist making changes in their lives. What kind of problems can this cause?

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? • It is a sentence which IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE TOPIC SENTENCE AND SERVES A MEANS OF ARGUMENTATION • In a paragraph THERE SHOULD BE UP TO 4 SUPPORTING SENTENCES (to fulfil the requirements for the needed volume) • In a paragraph SUPPORTING SENENCES MUST BE ARRANGED IN LOGICAL ORDER

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? THE LOGICAL ORDER OF SUPPORTING SENTENCES CAN BE PROVIDED THROUGH: • ENUMERATION; • EXEMPLIFICATION; • COMPARISON / CONTRAST; • CAUSE-AND-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP; • CLASSIFICATION; • DEFINITION; • TIME ORDER; • SPACE ORDER • THE COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? ENUMERATION • IS USED TO LIST EXAMPLES OR REASONS • THE TRANSITION SIGNALS USED HERE ARE: FIRST OF ALL, FIRST(LY), SECOND(LY), THIRD(LY), NEXT, LAST (FINALLY), IN ADDITION, BESIDES, MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE, ALSO, THE FIRST + NOUN, THE / A SECOND + NOUN, ONE + NOUN, ANOTHER + NOUN, AN ADDITIONAL + NOUN, ANOTHER POINT IS THAT, FURTHER TO WHAT IS SAID ABOVE • THE EXAMPLE OF THIS TECHNIQUE IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? ENUMERATION

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? EXEMPLIFICATION • IS USED TO INTRODUCE AN EXAMPLE • THE TRANSITION SIGNALS USED HERE ARE: FOR EXAMPLE, FOR INSTANCE, E. G. , NAMELY, (LET’S) TAKE … AS AN EXAMPLE, SUCH AS, AS AN ILLUSTRATION, IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER, A (GOOD) CASE IN POINT • THE EXAMPLE OF THIS TECHNIQUE IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? EXEMPLIFICATION

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? COMPARISON AND/OR CONTRAST • IS USED TO COMPARE AND / OR CONTRAST THINGS • THE TRANSITION SIGNALS USED HERE ARE: LIKEWISE, ALSO, IN CONTRAST, INSTEAD, AFTER ALL, LIKE, TOO, ON THE OTHER HAND, RATHER, UNLIKE, SIMILARLY, IN THE SAME WAY, NEVERTHELESS, ON THE CONTRARY, AT THE SAME TIME, EQUALLY IMPORTANT, STILL • THE EXAMPLE OF THIS TECHNIQUE IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? COMPARISON AND/OR CONTRAST

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? CAUSE & EFFECT • IS USED TO ESTABLISH CAUSE-AND-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP • THE TRANSITION SIGNALS USED HERE ARE: CAUSE (0 F), REASON (FOR), (THE) EFFECT, (THE) CONSEQUENCE, (THE) RESULT, THEREFORE, SO, AS A RESULT, AS A CONSEQUENCE, CONSEQUENTLY, BECAUSE OF THIS, THUS, HENCE, FOR THIS REASON, SMTH. CAUSES, SMTH. RESULTS IN, SMTH. LEADS TO, SMTH. PRODUCES, DUE TOM BECAUSE OF, ON ACCOUNT OF, OWING TO, THROUGH, BECAUSE, AS, SINCE, NOW THAT • THE EXAMPLE OF THIS TECHNIQUE IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE

What is a SUPPORTING SENTENCE? CAUSE & EFFECT