organizing essay

Seminar-Workshop on Academic Writing University of Mindanao

September 13, 2008

Prof. Alben P. Sagpang

Main Parts of an Essay Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Introduction About the topic

• What is it all about?• What is its purpose?• What you intend to achieve?• Why is it important?

Interesting! Encouraging!

Murphy (2007); Hall (2007); Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Introduction Thesis statement

• An answer to essay question, or• List of subtopics, or• Indicates what you believe or intend to prove, or• Pattern of organization of essay;• Normally the last sentence


Body Contributes to the central theme

Discusses subtopics, one by one

Paragraph begins with topic sentence

Well-explained supporting arguments, examples, or evidences

Sentences/paragraphs are logically ordered and/or interlinked

With linking sentence to the conclusion


Conclusion Wraps up the essay Reminds what just said Sums up main ideas Shows briefly that you have answered the essay question Paraphrases the thesis statement Reinforces your argument (from Intro) using a strong

statement


Essays

Cause/Effect

Compare/Contrast Argumentative

Block Organization of Cause/Effect Essays

Pattern A

Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Introduction 1st cause

2nd cause

3rd cause

Transition paragraph 1st effect

2nd effect

Conclusion


Pattern B


Introduction 1st cause

Transition paragraph 2nd cause

3rd cause

4th cause

Effects

Conclusion


Pattern C


Introduction Effects

Transition paragraph 1st cause

2nd cause

3rd cause

Conclusion


Pattern D


Introduction 1st effect

2nd effect

3rd effect

4th effect

Conclusion

Block Organization of Compare/Contrast Essays


Introduction

BODY

Similarities 1. 1st Point of comparison 2. 2nd Point of comparison

Differences 1. 1st Point of comparison 2. 2nd Point of comparison 3. 3rd Point of comparison

Conclusion

Point-by-Point Organization of Compare/Contrast Essays


Introduction

BOD Y

1. 1st Point of comparison

2. 2nd Point of comparison

3. 3rd Point of comparison

4. 4th Point of comparison

Conclusion

Point-by-Point Organization of Compare/Contrast Essay: A Sample


IntroductionThesis statement: One way to decide between two job offers is to compare them on important points

BOD Y

1. Salary 2. Benefits 3. Opportunities for advancement

4. Workplace atmosphere 5. Commuting distance from home

Conclusion

Block Organization of Argumentative Essays


Introduction Includes explanation of the issue

BODY

Block 1 Summary of other side’s arguments Rebuttal to the 1st argument Rebuttal to the 2nd argument Rebuttal to the 3rd argument Block 2 Your 1st argument Your 2nd argument Your 3rd argument

Conclusion

Point-by-Point Organization of Argumentative Essays


Introduction Includes explanation of the issue and a summary of the other side’s arguments

BODY

1. Statement of the other side’s 1st argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument

2. Statement of the other side’s 2nd argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument

3. Statement of the other side’s 3rd argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument

Conclusion May include a summary of your point of view

Tips on Writing the First Draft Understand the essay question(s)

Generate ideas through mind mapping and free writing• Mind mapping (Interconnecting new ideas generated from

main topic) Clarifies key ideas and their relationships Helps organize essay

Murphy (2007); Hall (2007)

Tips on Writing the First Draft• Free writing (Writing without stopping)

Does not have to make sense Just to get started and generate more ideas

Don’t worry too much about your introduction

Write your first draft in a way that is easier for you

Focus on your basic structure/argument


Why Use Mind Mapping?To organize a lot of data

– gives you an overview on a topic

To see how difficult concepts develop

To generate new ideas and new ways of seeing the world

Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

Why Use Mind Mapping?Clarify ideas and their relationships

Link ideas

Identify relative importance of ideas

Achieve deeper understanding


Why Use Mind Mapping?Combine current knowledge with new knowledge

Focus on ideas efficiently

Make better decisions

Have a permanent record of thoughts

Enhance organizational memory Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

Use of Mind MapsSummarizing

Making lecture/seminar notes

Planning your writing – small or large

Reviewing for exams and tests


How to Mind MapWrite the central idea in the centre of the page on a

large piece of unlined paper

Do not pause or edit this stage. Related ideas will group themselves naturally if you just keep going. Organizing linear connections comes later


Workshop 1 - Mind Mapping Think about the roadblock that seems to be affecting

you most at the moment in reaching your acdemic goals.

Mind-map the roadblock; then consider potential solutions (over, under, around or through).

Time allotted: 5 minutes


Workshop 2 – Free WritingThink about the academic roadblocks that seem to be

affecting you most at the moment or that might affect you in the future.

Free-write these academic roadblocks; then consider potential solutions (over, under, around or through).

Time allotted: 10 minutes


Features of an A Essay• A sense of Unity

• Clear argument outlined in the Introduction

• Argument based on wide range of sources

• Paragraphs relate clearly to the central argument

Murphy (2007)

Features of an A Essay• Paragraphs are in order of importance and are

linked

• Plenty of evidence and examples

• Thoroughly and accurately referenced

• Conclusion restates and summarizes the argument

• Well Presented

Murphy (2007)

Thank You...


organizing essay

Documents

argument block

argumentconclusion oshima

orpattern of organization

argument rebuttal

issue body block

conclusion murphy

essay questionparaphrases

sides arguments rebuttal