writing quality essays

ENGLISH

TECHNIQUES IN WRITING

SMK DATUK BAHAMAN

10th August 2015 1RAJA MOHAN A/L K.KRISNAN

- A PIECE OF WRITING ABOUT A CERTAIN TOPIC/SUBJECT

-MADE UP FROM A NUMBER OF RELATED PARAGRAPHS THAT DISCUSS THE SAME TOPIC/SUBJECT.


TYPES OF ESSAYS

DESCRIPTIVE

ARGUMENTATIVE / DISCUSSIVE

NARRATIVE

FACTUAL

OPEN TOPIC

REFLECTIVE


DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY PERSON

PLACE

EVENT

THING

Remember to use the Present Tense


ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYCURRENT ISSUES- Make a stand – Agree or Disagree

- Give reasons / opinion


NARRATIVE ESSAYSTORY- Answer usually begin or end with a

given sentence- Remember to use the past tense


TASK CW1: CHOOSING A TOPIC

A CHOICE TO BE MADE FROM 5 ALTERNATIVES


POINT TO REMEMBER CW # 1

DON’T START WRITING UNTIL YOU ARE SETTLED AND

SURE


TASK CW2: PLANNING TO WRITE

DO A MIND MAP BASED ON THE TOPIC YOU

HAVE CHOSEN


WHICH PERSON WHY

CAN KEEP SECRETS

UNDERSTANDING

GIVES GOOD

ADVICE

FATHER

37 YEARS A DOCTOR


POINT TO REMEMBER CW # 2

PLAN YOUR ESSAY. SPEND 5 TO 10 MINUTES ON IT. ORGANISE THE SHAPE OF YOUR ESSAY


-DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS:

-THE INTRODUCTION

-THE DEVELOPMENT

-THE CONCLUSION


-ONE PARAGRAPH

-CONTAINS THE MAIN IDEA AND STATING THE SUPPORTING DETAILS/POINTS WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL PARAGRAPHS (THESIS STATEMENT)

- MUST BE INTERESTING TO CATCH THE READERS’ ATTENTION.


Ways to Begin SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 SAMPLE 3 SAMPLE 4 SAMPLE 5 SAMPLE 6 SAMPLE 7 SAMPLE 8

1. DIALOGUE 2. LISTING 3. QUESTION 4. PERSONAL

EXPERIENCE 5. FAMOUS SAYING 6. GENERAL

STATEMENT 7. OPINION 8. IDIOM


DIALOGUE

“ Write about a person that influence you the most”, the teacher said to us when she gave us homework for the weekend. Well, I hate writing essays but if I have to do it then the only person I can think of is my father.


LISTING

Kind, understanding, caring and as charming as Tom Cruise – that is my father, Mr. Ahmad. Because of all those criteria that I have mentioned, he is the man that I admire most in my life.


QUESTION

Do you have someone that is truly important in your life? Well, I certainly do. And, that person is my father.


PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I wanted to own a bicycle so much. Every

afternoon, I would sit alone at my verandah, watching my friends. They were happily cycling their BMXs around in front of me. I was green with envy. One evening, my father came back late. From afar, I could see that he was carrying something heavy on his shoulder. I was trying to figure it out, but it was dark. When he got closer, “here’s your bicycle!”.


FAMOUS SAYING “Time and tide wait for no man”.


GENERAL STATEMENT (avoid this)

Everyone needs a friend. We cannot live without our friends. Friends are always there when we need them. They can help us when we have any problems. My best friend is my father.


OPINIONMy mother is the best mother on earth.

Because of everything that she has done to us - her children, no doubt she deserves to be awarded that title.


IDIOM “A friend in need is a friend indeed”.

That is very familiar. My best friend fits the saying very well as he never fails me whenever I need him. My best friend is my father.


- MINIMUM OF 3 PARAGRAPHS

- CONTAINS THE SUPPORTING DETAILS / POINTS TO SUPPORT THE MAIN IDEA IN THE INTRODUCTION (THESIS STATEMENT).

- ONE PARAGRAPH DISCUSSES ONLY ONE POINT (the point is put in a sentence called the ‘TOPIC SENTENCE’). The Topic Sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph.

- MUST HAVE A TOPIC SENTENCE & A CONCLUDING SENTENCE.


-A SUMMARY OF THE MAIN POINTS DISCUSSED

- BRINGS THE ESSAY TO A LOGICAL END AND GIVING A SENSE OF COMPLETION.


The Teacher I Admire Most

Over the years, I have had several teachers. Each has influenced me in a different way. However, there is one who stands head and shoulders above the rest. Cik Faridah Hanum is the teacher I admire most because she is hardworking, innovative and interested in people(THESIS STATEMENT).

THEREFORE!- THE POINTS IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL PARAGRAPHS ARE:

1. She is hardworking 3. She is interested in people

2. She is innovative LET US SEE!10th August 2015 26RAJA MOHAN A/L K.KRISNAN

Topic Sentence: I have never met a teacher as hardworking as Cik Faridah.

Support : 1. Always prepares her lessons carefully – clear & concise.

2. All assignments are marked and returned promptly.

3. Actively involved in various school activities & the PTA


NOW YOU TRY!!!

Smoking can be an expensive habit (topic sentence). _____

______________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

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Topic sentence: Smoking cigarettes can be an expensive habit.

Support: 1. Cigarettes cost about RM 4.00 a pack. 2. The average smoker smokes two packs a day. 3. The annual expense for this smoker is RM 2,920.00. 4. Because of the smell, the smoker must also pay for extra cleaning of clothes, curtains, etc.

Conclusion: It is obvious that smoking is in fact an expensive habit. 10th August 2015 30RAJA MOHAN A/L K.KRISNAN

TRY AGAIN!!!

TOPIC SENTENCES:

1. One of the reasons why I like Kuala Lumpur is its lively atmosphere.

2. Making a bowl of instant noodles is so easy even my little sister could do it.

3. Smoking cigarettes can endanger our health.

4. Pollution can be reduced by recycling wastes.

5. Surfing the internet is an interesting pastime.


Example No. 1 Topic sentence: One of the reasons why I like Kuala

Lumpur is its lively atmosphere.

Support: 1. The streets are always busy 2. Plenty of things to do day and night 3. It’s a centre of entertainment 4. Bustling shopping centres

Conclusion: In Kuala Lumpur you will certainly never feel bored as there are so many things to do and see.


Example No. 2 Topic sentence: Making a bowl of instant noodles is so easy

even my little sister could do it.

Support: 1. Secretly watched her do it 2. Took out a bowl and placed noodles in it 3. Pour hot water and she waited for two

minutes 4. Put in the seasoning and it is ready

Conclusion: Making instant noodles is certainly very simple


Example No. 3 Topic sentence: Smoking cigarettes can endanger our health.

Support: 1. Cigarettes contain toxic chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar

2. Carcinogens in them may cause cancer such as lung, mouth and larynx cancer

3. Smoking also endangers the unborn foetus 4. Second hand smoke is a danger to other people

around the smoker

Conclusion: Smoking is indeed a dangerous habit, not only to the smoker but to other people as well.


OVERVIEW Every essay must have a minimum of 5

paragraphs (Intro, 3 developmental paragraphs, conclusion)

Intro – to introduce the topic of the essay / must be clear & interesting

Development – consists of 3 main points / each paragraph discusses only 1 point

Conclusion – short paragraph summarising all the main points discussed in the development.


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