*ESSAY DEVELOPMENTAdapted from: Harris B Leonhard, Discoveries in Academic Writing, Thomson Heinle Publishers, 2002Smalley,Ruetten and Kozyrev, Refining Composition Skills Rhetoric and Grammar, Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 2002

*Learning Outcomes By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

identify the parts of an essay in academic writing manage and organize materials for academic writingwrite an effective introduction, body and concluding paragraph and essaysupport opinions with factual details by using quotations and statisticsreinforce factual statements with additional factual details

*Overview of Essay DevelopmentAn essay has more than one paragraph and has three major parts:

IntroductionBodyConclusion

Introduction Hook, Thesis Statement, MAPSBody Topic Sentence, Types Of Order in Body ParagraphsConclusion Complete conclusion, effective conclusion

*IntroductionThe introduction usually contains:

background information or hooka thesis (which limits the topic and states a precise opinion) a list of subtopics or MAP* points for the body paragraph* (MAP = Message, Audience and Purpose)

*INTRODUCTIONHookquestion hookasking questions will cause the reader to think about the topic, limit to one question, too may will confuse the reader

quotation hook quoting an expert will give the discussion credibility; cite sources correctly

dramatic hook describing a scene or telling a story provides drama

funnel hook stating general points as background for your limited subject presents a funnel like progression from general to specific

refutation hook in this kind of hook, summarize an opponents point of view or opinion. In the thesis however, state your point of view.

*INTRODUCTIONThesis Statement

most important element of an essaycontains the writers limited subject, opinion or attitude and possibly a MAP

An Effective Thesis Statement:

is a complete, grammatical statement.is not too specific or general.is on one limited subjectcontains the writers precise opinion

*INTRODUCTIONA Complete Thesis Statement

contains limited essay topicis arguableshows the method of the papershow the audience of the papershow the purpose of the papercontains the MAP points for the paper (optional)

*INTRODUCTIONMAP Message, Audience, Purpose

is the list of main points which you will discuss in the essay.each MAP item will become a paragraph topic.

Example:

However, there are several problems, with forcing children to comply. (thesis statement) Forcing children to comply can cause a breakdown in communication between the children and the parents, rebellion and failure in schools. (MAP)

a breakdown in communication between the children and the parents (one paragraph)Rebellion (one paragraph)failure in schools (one paragraph)

*BODYThe body paragraphs contain:

topic sentences which follow the MAP points in the thesistransition introducing each sub-topicrepetition of the essay topic and precise opinion from the thesisrelevant and generous convincing supporting details and coherencea closing remark showing the relevance of the support

*BODYTOPIC SENTENCES

Complete topic sentences include the following:

A transition signal or phrase eg first, second, finally.A restatement of the essay topic. Use synonyms, different word order and different word formsExample: (Limited Essay Topic) Discuss three reasons you chose your major.One reason I chose engineering is _____________.Another reason for my choice of major is ________.Finally, I decided on engineering because _______.Include a MAP pointExample: One reason I chose engineering is due to it marketability.Topic sentences recall the precise opinion from the thesis.Example: Culture shock has three main stages: excitement, frustration and humor. (the writer explains the three stages, not two or four)

*BODY TOPIC SENTENCES

5. Method of development should be clearly stated in the topic sentences.

MethodTermsCauseClassificationCompareEffectDifferenceProcessReasonCategory, Kind, TypeSimilarity, DifferenceEffect, Benefit, InfluenceDifferenceWay, stage, step, phase

*BODYUSE OF CONTENT WORDS TO DEVELOP SENTENCES

6. Unless the essay topic is personal, use content words (not pronouns) in the thesis statement, topic sentences, sub-topic sentences and conclusion.Example: Thesis: Living In the Dorm Benefits Non-native speakers in Three Ways

First, by living in the dorm non-native speakers (not they) can make friends with native speakers (topic sentence)

*BODYSUPPORTING DETAILS

Support topic sentences with appropriate supporting facts/opinions.

Ideas and opinions are supported with facts, statistics, quotations and similar kinds of information.

These can be obtained from external sources such as books, magazines, newspapers, websites, personal interviews, etc.

*BODYSUPPORTING DETAILS

Facts are objective statements of truths.E.g. At sea level, water boils at 100 degree celcius.E.g. Women live longer than men.E.g. Lung cancer among women is increasing.

Opinions are subjective statements based on a persons beliefs or attitudes.E.g. Men are better drivers than women.E.g. Engineering students do not need to take a lot of English courses.E.g. Malaysians are only superficially friendly.

Source: Oshima & Hogue, 2006*BODYSUPPORTING DETAILSHowever, opinions must be supported with factual details so as to convince the audience.

Sometimes, even statements that are considered facts need further support.

Use reporting verbs when using information from external sources to support opinions.say, quote, state, assert, claim, etcE.g. Soft sensors or inferentials must be working properly. (As quoted from one of the senior APC engineers: Otherwise your life will be miserable talking from experience.) (p46)

*BODYSUPPORTING DETAILSFACTS AND OPINION EXAMPLE

As the chart above shows, gold is now trading above its 200-day moving average a line in the sand between a bear and a bull market. However, the researcher do not believe in trading in and out of gold. Gold, after all, is real wealth. When you sell, you are compensated in dollars.

*BODYORDER OF BODY PARAGRAPHS Types Of Order in Body Paragraphs

Chronological Order: Process and TimeOrder of Importance: RankingOrder of Familiarity

*

BODYCHRONOLOGICAL ORDER Process Order

You begin with the first stage or phase and end with the last stage or phase

Example: (MAP item): Culture shock has three main stages: excitement, frustration and humor. Topic sentence 1: In the first stage, everything in the host culture is exciting and new.Topic sentence 2: In the frustration stage, the visitors start having problems. Topic sentence 3: After the frustration stage, the .

*

BODY CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Time Order

Begin with the first event and proceed logically in time until you get to the most recent event i.e. from past to present.

Thesis: To fully appreciate the essence of Malaysia and her people, it is necessary to look back to the fifteenth century or even earlier...Topic Sentence 1: In 1400s, the Portuguese arrived at the shores of MalaccaTopic Sentence 2: Then In the 1500s, the Dutch took over and conquered the PortugueseTopic Sentence 3: Later in the 1700s the Dutch handed over Malacca to the BritishTopic Sentence 4: Finally, in 1957, Malaya obtained her independence from the BritishConcluding Paragraph: In conclusion,....

*

BODYORDER OF IMPORTANCERanking

This involves ranking the MAP points based on the order of importance: equal order, descending order and ascending order, order of familiarity

i. Equal order: No best shows that each MAP point is equal in value

Thesis: Living In the Dorm Benefits Non-native speakers in Three WaysTopic Sentence1: First, by living in the dorm non-native speakers can make friends with native speakers. Topic Sentence 2: Second, non-native speakers can practice their English in the dorm Topic Sentence 3: Third, non-native speakers can learn about the customs in the host country.

*

BODYORDER OF IMPORTANCERanking

ii. Descending order: Best first

Begin with the most important (largest or strongest) and end with the least important (smallest or weakest) point.Usually to make the reader realize the gravity of an issue, placing the most important point at the very last adds a dramatic effect.

Thesis: Life In Taiwan has been greatly influenced by US culture in the foods, the leisure time activities and the holidays.Topic Sentence1: The first and most important influence the US has had on Taiwan Topic Sentence 2: Second, .. Topic Sentence 3: In addition to the foods and the hobbies,

*

BODYORDER OF IMPORTANCERanking

iii. Ascending order: Best last

Begin with the with the least important (smallest or weakest) point to the most important (largest or strongest) point.

Thesis: Tornadoes are classified according to the severity of the tornadic storm as defined on the Fujita WindDamage Scale: weak, strong, violent.Topic Sentence1: The weakest tornadoes classified as F0 and F1 cause light to moderate damage. Topic Sentence 2: Next, in rank of severity are F2 and F3 (strong) which cause significant to severe damage. Topic Sentence 3: The most dangerous and frightening tornadoes are the violent F4 and F5 tornadoes, or killer tornadoes, which cause devastating to incredible damage.

* BODYORDER OF FAMILIARITY

Points are ordered according to how well known, familiar or common they are.

It is to describe familiar ideas before you go to unfamiliar ones.

Thesis: Tornadoes are classified according to the severity of the tornadic storm as defined on the Fujita WindDamage Scale: weak, strong, violent.Topic Sentence1: The most common tornadoes are the weak ones, classified as F0 and F1 which cause light to moderate damage. Topic Sentence 2: Next, in terms of frequency are F2 and F3 (strong) tornadoes which cause significant to severe damage. Topic Sentence 3: The least common yet most dangerous and frightening tornadoes are the violent F4 and F5 tornadoes, or killer tornadoes, which cause devastating to incredible damage.

*WRITING THE CONCLUSIONA complete concluding paragraph contains:

a paraphrase of the thesisa summary of the main pointsa closing remark (final comment)

Rules for effective conclusion:

follow the essay logicallydo not bring up new MAP pointsrecognize all MAP points in the summary

*The End