WRITING ESSAYS

What is an Essay?
An essay is a composition that discusses, describes or explains one topic. It can be serious or funny. It can describe personal feelings or state your opinion, or it can just explain facts.

TYPES OF ESSAYS
An Expository Essay is one that explains, analyzes, or shares information. How-to essay Informative essay An Argumentative Essay is one where the writer presents his or her opinion and tries to convince the reader to agree. Opinion essay Problem-solution essay

EXPOSITORY

VS

ARGUMENTATIVE

Explains something, or Provides information, or Clarifies a process, or Defines a concept Usually begins with a statement of purpose Develops with facts, reasons, incidents, examples, or statistics (FRIES) Enhances the readers understanding Objective, not dependent on emotion

*Convinces the reader to accept a particular point of view, or * Convinces the reader to take a a particular action * Often about a controversial issue * Usually begins by stating the believe or the action the reader is to accept * Supports the argument with FRIES * States logical reasons to support the writers point of view * Recognizes/refutes an opposing argument * Usually concludes with the strongest argument * Often plays on the emotion of the reader

The BASIC Structure of an Essay

Paragraph 1: Introduction
Tells the reader what you are going to say and gives a quick list of the topics you are going to cover.

Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4: Body

One paragraph for each of the topics that you listed in the introduction. Each paragraph begins with the topic sentence. The rest of the paragraph explains or proves the topic sentence.

Paragraph 5: Conclusion
-

Reinforces the ideas of the introduction.

Useful Language
Giving an opinion:
In my opinion, Personally, I think I believe that I feel very strongly that To my mind I (completely) agree I disagree with it seems to me that

Giving facts:
It is a fact that It is widely known that There is/are definitely It is true that

Referring to other peoples ideas:

Many people say Many people believe that

Reason and Result:

This is because As a result, Therefore My main reason is Another reason is

Addition:
Whats more, In addition,

Furthermore, Moreover, Too As well Also

Concluding:
To sum up, To conclude, In conclusion, It is clear that

PAY ATTENTION to the use of CONNECTORS

(CHECK THE TABLE in the Moodle Platform)

MAKE YOUR ESSAY LIKE A HAMBURGER WITH LARGE FRIES S

(The Top Bun) F A C T S R E A S O N S I N C I D E N T S E X A M P L E S

Topic Sentence (meat), Detail 1 (lettuce), Detail 2 (tomato), Detail 3 (cheese) Topic Sentence (meat), Detail 1 (lettuce), Detail 2 (tomato), Detail 3 (cheese) Topic Sentence (meat), Detail 1 (lettuce), Detail 2 (tomato), Detail 3 (cheese)

T A T I S T I C S

FRIES

(The Bottom Bun)