Academic Writing IMarch 27th 2012

From paragraph to essay• Today: A look at basic essay structure.

A paragraph

A group of related sentences that discuss one main idea.

Essay• A piece of writing comprised of several paragraphs about

one topic.

• Complexity of topic means it must be divided into several paragraphs.

Essay• Has three main parts:

• Introduction (introductory paragraph)

• Body (at least one paragraph, usually 2 or more)

• Conclusion (concluding paragraph)

Introduction• Consists of two parts:

• 1. A few general statements.• - attract reader’s attention.

• 2. Thesis statement.• - state the main idea of the essay.• - names the specific topic.• - gives a general idea of essay’s contents.

Body• Consists of one or more paragraphs:

• Each paragraph develops a subdivision of the main topic.

• Number of paragraphs in the body varies.

Conclusion• A summary or review of the main points discussed in the

body.

Other elements

• Unity and coherence….of course

• Transition signals and repetition of key nouns.• • These link the paragraphs together.

Introduction• Consists of two parts:

• 1. General statements.• • - introduce the general topic.• • - capture the reader’s interest.

Introduction• 2. Thesis statement• • - states the specific topic.• • - may list subtopics or subdivisions.

• - can show the pattern of organization.• • - is usually the last sentence in the intro paragraph.

Introduction• Kinds of introductions:

• - funnel

• - attention-getting• (anecdote – interesting story• survey (or other statistics),

quotation, question, setting the scene, definition)

• http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/encomium/writingdemo/wa/unit1/u1_l1b_a.htm

Introduction• Funnel introduction• - wide at the top, narrow at the bottom.

General statements

thesis statement

Funnel introductionMoving to a new country can be an exciting, even exhilarating

experience. In a new environment, you somehow feel more alive. Seeing new sights, eating new food, hearing the foreign sounds of a new language, and feeling a difference climate against your skin stimulates you senses as never before. Soon, however, this sensory bombardment becomes sensory overload. Suddenly, new experiences seem stressful rather than stimulating, and delight turns into discomfort. This is the phenomenon known as culture shock. Culture shock is more than jet leg or homesickness, and it affects nearly everyone who enters a new culture-tourists, business travelers, diplomats, and students alike. Although not everyone experiences culture shock in exactly the same way, many experts agree that it has roughly five stages.

Attention-getting introduction• Anecdote (dramatic, interesting, or funny story).

• Surprising statistics or facts.

• Historical background.

Attention-getting introduction (interesting story)

On November 14, 1963, a few miles of the southern coast of Iceland, the crew of a fishing boat noticed smoke on the horizon. Thinking that another fishing boat was on fire, they went to investigate. When they got closer, they discovered that the smoke was not from a boat on fire; rather, it was from an undersea volcano about to erupt. The next day, ash, cinders, and pumice were blown 1,000 feet into the air. The fishermen had witnessed a rare event-the violent birth of an island. The volcano continued to erupt for about four years, eventually creating an island about 1 square mile in area and 560 feet in height. The birth of Surtsey, as the island in named, offered scientists an extraordinary opportunity to learn how life takes hold on a sterile landmass.

Thesis statement• Most important sentence in the introduction.

• It states the specific topic of the essay.

Thesis statement

• Specific topic.

• Native Americans have made many valuable contributions to modern U.S. culture.

• Young people in my culture have less freedom than young people in the United States.

• Winning the lottery can affect a person’s brain.

Thesis statement

• Sometimes the thesis statement lists the subtopics of the essay.

• Native Americans have made many valuable contributions to modern U.S. culture, particularly in the areas of language, art, food, and government.

• Young people in my culture have less freedom than young people in the United States in their choice of where they live, whom they marry, and what their job is.

Thesis statement• Sometimes the thesis statement shows the pattern of

organization the essay will follow.

• When buying a used car, use these four strategies to get the best price.

• There are several differences between a divorce lawyer and a corporate lawyer.

• My best friend and I spent an entire summer building a tree house in my grandmother’s old apple tree.

Logical division of ideas

Comparison/contrast

Chronological order

Key FeaturesKey FeaturesThesis Statement

states the main idea of the essay in a complete sentence, not in a question.

states an opinion, position, or attitude on a topic. It doesn’t just state the topic, itself.

is usually at the end of an introduction.

often lists subtopics.

does not directly announce your main topic.

Key FeaturesKey FeaturesMain Idea in a Complete Sentence

The sport of cross-country running.

Why do I want to be a teacher?

This is not a complete sentence.

The sport of cross-country running has allowed me to get in better shape and meet some interesting people.

Being a teacher is a great profession, because it allows me to work with students and be creative.

This is a question, not a statement.

Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement

A Complete SentenceA Complete SentenceAnother Example

The problem of pollution in big cities.

Why should marijuana be legalized?

This is not a complete sentence.

The problem of pollution in major cities can bealleviated by limiting the number of cars allowed todrive on city streets and creating more efficient publictransportation systems.

Marijuana should be legalized because it is not anymore addictive than tobacco and it can providenumerous medicinal benefits for those suffering fromterminal illnesses.

This is a question, not a statement.

Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement

Thesis statement problems

• Too general:

• A college education is a good investment.

• Better:

• A college education is a good investment for four reasons.

Thesis statement problems• Just an announcement:

• I am going to write about sports injuries.

• Better:

• Avoid sports injuries by taking a few simple precautions.

• Avoid sports injuries by taking these three simple precautions.

Thesis statement problems• An obvious fact:

• The Internet is a communication superhighway.

• Better:

• The explosion of the Internet has had both positive and negative consequences.

Body paragraphs• Like supporting sentences in a paragraph.

• Used to develop your topic and prove your points.

Concluding paragraph

• The final paragraph.

• Three purposes:

• 1. Signal the end of the essay (begin with a concluding transition signal).

• 2. Remind the reader of the main points (2 ways).

• 3. Leave the reader with your final thoughts on the topic.

Concluding paragraph

• Some final thoughts:

• Make a prediction.

• Suggest results or consequences.

• Make a recommendation or suggest a solution.

• Quote an authority on the topic.

Essay types• Logical division of ideas.

• The “basic” essay.

Logical division of ideas• Basic pattern

• Divide topic into subtopics.

• Discuss each topic in a separate paragraph.

• Useful for essays:• explaining causes, reasons, types, kinds, qualities,

methods, advantages, and disadvantages.

Three keys of logical division essays• 1. Divide topic into subtopics. Discuss each topic in a

separate paragraph.

• 2. Write a thesis statement that indicates logical division.

• 3. Use transitions between paragraphs to guide readers from one subtopic to the next.

Logical division of ideas (Examples)

• Thesis statement may indicate the number of subtopics:

• “Native Americans have made valuable contributions to modern U.S. culture in four main areas.”

Logical division of ideas (Examples)

• Thesis statement may also name the specific subtopics

• “Native Americans have made valuable contributions to modern U.S. culture, particularly in the areas of language, art, food, and government.”

Logical division of ideas (Examples)

• A colon (:) can be useful for lists of two or more topics.

• “The father of Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, believed that the human mind had three separate parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.”

Logical division of ideas (Examples)

• Paired conjunctions (both….and….) can be a good way to list two subtopics.

• “Puppies, like children, need both love and discipline to become responsible members of society.”

Journal• FOR THURSDAY

• Write three thesis statements on these topics:

• - University life.• - Violence in video games.• - Cheating in school.

• Choose ONE of your thesis statements and write an introduction paragraph.