mass media english i dr. ruba asbahi. copyright 2008 presentationfx.com | redistribution prohibited...

Mass Media English I Dr. Ruba Asbahi

Copyright 2008 PresentationFx.com | Redistribution Prohibited | Image © 2008 clix/sxc.hu | This text section may be deleted for presentation.

Essays• Before we begin, let us first understand

the steps required for essay writing since we will often need to use our writing skills when we work in media.

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What is an Essay?• An essay is a form of writing often written

from the writer’s point of view. • It always consists of an introduction,

body, and conclusion. • The main idea of the essay is stated in

the introduction in the form of a thesis statement.



The Introduction• The introduction usually consists of some

historical background information related to the topic + a thesis statement indicating the main idea or ideas to be discussed.



What is a thesis statement?• The thesis statement tells the reader what

the essay will be about, and what point you, the author (the writer), will be making.

• It is the “map” of the essay.



A Thesis Statement:

• Is the initial building block of the essay. • Is "a basic argument” that clearly describes

what the essay is expected to demonstrate.• Is a way to explain to the reader why the

subject is important.• Is a sentence that summarizes the argument

you plan to make in your essay, and the supportive evidence you plan to use to back up that argument.



The Thesis Statement• A thesis can be implicit or explicit.• Implicit means that the ideas are implied

and not clearly stated (they are stated indirectly).

• Explicit is when the ideas are clearly stated and it is obvious what will be specifically discussed in each body paragraph.



Examples• For example, let us consider the following

thesis statements on the impact of mass media.

• Implicit thesis: There are many impacts of mass media.

• Explicit thesis: The mass media has an impact on society and culture.



Example 1• In the first example “There are many

impacts of mass media,” we can see that the impacts of mass media are not specified and therefore, the author leaves it up to us to find it out in the body of the essay. (The reader does not know what these impacts are, and has to look for them in the essay).



Example 2• In the second example “the mass media

has an impact on society and culture,” the impacts are being specified to society and culture. As a result, we expect to have two main paragraphs in the body of the essay that discuss each of the two ideas. (The first paragraph will talk about the impact of media on society and the second paragraph will talk about the impact of media on culture).



The Outline• After we decide what our thesis is, and

before we write the essay, a writing plan is required. This plan highlights the main aspects of the essay and focuses on the main points.

• An outline is a plan that serves as the skeleton of the essay and identifies its major parts.



Outline SampleTitle

I. Introduction A. Background information B. Thesis statement (implicit/explicit)

II. Body III. Conclusion A. Paragraph 1: Topic Sentence A. Restate thesis

Supporting details B. Opinion//Solution

Concluding sentenceB. paragraph 2: Topic Sentence

Supporting detailsConcluding sentence

C. paragraph 3: Topic Sentence Supporting detailsConcluding sentence



After the Outline• Once the outline is set, you are ready to

begin writing your essay!• In the body of the essay, the topic you

have chosen must be explained, described, or argued.

• Write the body paragraphs.



The Body• The body of the essay should be made

up of two main paragraphs or more.• Each idea discussed in the essay should

be developed in a separate paragraph, and each idea should be supported with evidence. Types of evidence can include: examples, facts, statistics, and evidence.

• Each body paragraph will have the same basic structure.



The Body• Each main idea that you wrote down in

your outline will become one of the body paragraphs. If you had three or four main ideas, you will have three or four body paragraphs. (If we look at our outline sample, we will find that we had three main ideas, which means three body paragraphs).


The Body• In formal English, each paragraph has

three principal parts. These three parts are the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and the concluding sentence.

• Remember that each paragraph is a group of related sentences, which develop one main idea.


The BodyI. The Topic Sentence• The main idea in the paragraph is the

topic sentence. • The topic sentence tells the reader what

the paragraph is about.• Every paragraph in the essay must have

a topic sentence.


The Body• The main idea of the topic sentence

controls the rest of the paragraph. Usually it is the first sentence in the paragraph, but not necessarily. It may come after a transition sentence; it may even come at the end of a paragraph.


The BodyII. The supporting sentences in a

paragraph develop the main idea expressed in the topic sentence and provide the details such as facts and examples. When the topic sentence comes first, the supporting sentences answer the questions the readers will develop in their minds after reading the topic sentence.


The BodyIII. The concluding sentence can either

return the reader to the topic at the beginning of the paragraph or act as a connection to link the information with that coming up in the next paragraph. When the topic sentence comes last, the supporting sentences build up arguments and examples to make a case for the main idea contained at the end.


The Body• Useful Tip: No writer starts with a perfect

paragraph. Well formed paragraphs are the result of drafting and revising. There is no set length to a paragraph, but in university essays it is easier to work with paragraphs that are between four and eight sentences long.


The Body• Remember, a topic sentence often comes

at the beginning of a paragraph. However, this is not always true.

• The topic sentence is the most general sentence in a paragraph. What does "most general" mean? It means that there are not many details in the sentence, but that the sentence introduces an overall idea that you want to discuss later in the paragraph.


The Body• Once you have developed each of your

body paragraphs, one for each main point, you are ready to continue.

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