ESSAY

Essay is a group of paragraph written about a single topic and central main
idea. It must have at least three paragraphs, but a five paragraph essay is a
common length for academic writing.

THE STRUCTURE OF ESSAY

1. The Introduction
This is the first paragraph of an essay. It explains the topic with general
ideas. It also has a thesis statement. This is a sentence that gives the main idea. It
usually comes at or near the end of the paragraph.
2. The main Body
These are the paragraphs that explain and support the thesis statement and
come between the introduction and the conclusion. There must be one or more
paragraphs in the main body of an essay.
3. The Conclusion
This is the last paragraph of an essay. It summarizes or restates the thesis
statement and the supporting ideas of the essay.
CHALLENGE

UNDERSCORE THE THESIS STATEMENT OF THE

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH BELOW.

1.

Before I traveled to the UK last year, I thought that British food was just

fish and chips, roast beef, apple pie, rice pudding and endless cups of tea. These
foods are popular in Britain, but during my travels, I discovered that there is so
much more to eating in the UK. People from all over the world have made their
home in Britain, and they have brought with them their own food. Even in small
towns, you can find Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurants, amongst others. The
UK can be divided into different regions that each has its own characteristic foods
influenced by the culture of the people who live there.

2.

Everybody knows the koala, that sweet Australian animal that resembles a

teddy bear. Although koalas look like toys, they are actually strong climbers and
spend their days in treetops. Mothers of koalas carry their babies around from tree
to tree in a pouch, or pocket, on their stomach. Although there were millions of
koalas in Australia in the past, they are now protected species animal. As a result
of human population growth, deforestation and hunting, the number of koalas has
declined.

WRITE AN OUTLINE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING ESSAY

1. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Thesis Statement :_______________________________________________
2. BODY
a. Topic Sentence

:_________________________________________

Supporting Sentence :_________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence :_________________________________________
b. Topic Sentence

:_________________________________________

Supporting Sentence :_________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence :_________________________________________

3. CONCLUSION

:_______________________________________________

WRITE AN OUTLINE BASED ON YOUR OWN ESSAY

1. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Thesis Statement :
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. BODY
a. Topic Sentence

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence :
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence :
_______________________________________________________________
b. Topic Sentence

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence :
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence :
_______________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION

:_______________________________________________

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Introductory Paragraph

: the first paragraph in essay

The purpose

: to get the readers attention and to introduce the subject of

the essay to them.

GUIDELINES

It must be relevant to the topic; it should not introduce material not covered in the
essay.

It should not preview the points that will form the body of the essay.

There should be at least two sentences before the thesis statement. In other words,
the introductory paragraph should be a minimum of three sentences.

Then thesis statement should come in the end of the introductory paragraph.

TYPES
1. Anecdote: a brief story that illustrate the topic. (It can be based one our
own experience or someone else)
My younger brother was a good student until our parents got
divorced. Then, while my parents lives became a war zone over property
and emotions, my brother withdrew into himself and left abandoned and
unloved. He needed to feel that he was a part of something. Thats when
he got involved with a gang at his high school. The gang he joined became
his family and was more important to him than anything. My parents
didnt notice until my brother got badly hurt in a gang fight. I am
convinced that gangs are a direct result of the breakdown of the
traditional family.
The teenager hated to be at home. His parents were always fighting
at least on the rare occasions that both of them were at home at the same
time. His mother was on drugs, and his father was an alcoholic. He felt
totally alone at home, but he was with his fellow gang members, he felt as
if he belonged. He loved being with the members of his gang and would
do anything for them and with them. This all too common example

illustrates why I think that gangs are a direct result of the breakdown of
the traditional family.
2. Interesting facts or statistics: It can be expanded trough reading news
paper and journal.
It is estimated that there are nearly 5,000 gangs in the United
States with a total of almost 250,000. In fact, in inner cities, where gangs
are most common, 7 percent of all teenagers are gang members. Why are
all these young people choosing to be gang members? In my opinion,
gangs are a direct result of the breakdown of the traditional family.
3. Historical introduction: It simply provides general historical background.
Gangs have existed in the United States for at least 100 years. At
the turn of the twentieth century, there were many gangs in big East Coast
cities. These gangs were mostly made up members of the same ethnic
group and primarily protected the neighborhood where their families lived.
Nowadays, however, gangs members have little to do with protecting their
relatives. Its my belief that gangs are a direct result of the breakdown of
the traditional family.
4. General to specific: It begins with a general statement of the larger topic,
and then each sentence narrows it down until we get to the specific thesis
statement.
It is difficult to grow up in this society. A teenager can get into all
kinds of trouble with school, smoking, drugs, and dating. One of the worst
kinds of trouble that a teenager can get into is getting involved with a
gang. Gang members commit crimes and get hurt or killed all too often.
Why do teenagers get involved in gangs? I think that gangs are a direct
result of the breakdown of the traditional family.

THESIS STATEMENT
1. It is the main idea of an essay that must be statement, not a question
Dogs are good companion NOT are dogs good companion?
2. It must contain topic and controlling idea

Topic is the subject of the essay, what the essay about

Controlling idea is what the writer is going to say about the topic
1. There are three main relationships that men have with women.
2. Many animals find security in blending in with their environment.
The topic is bold and the controlling idea is underlined

Some thesis statements may also have a third component called a predictor

The predictor tells the reader how many body paragraphs there will be in
essay and what their content will be.
1. Wars in the twentieth century were fought for three main
reasons: ethnic, economic and religion.
2. Living in a city is more exciting than living in the suburbs because
of the many people, the variety of things to buy and the fun places
to go.

CHALLENGE
Read these thesis statements and find the topic, the controlling idea and predictor (if it
is found).
1. Since they were first domesticated, dogs have helped human beings a lot
2. Discrimination, lack of economic opportunity, and inferior education are the three
main causes of poverty today.
3. There are many types of dogs
4. Its beauty, history, and location make Bromo a fascinating place to visit
5. An English setter and a Gordon setter have a few obvious differences, but they are
mostly similar
6. There is considerable evidence to show that there is life on other planets
7. Three characteristics of the houses in my country show that it gets very cold there
in winter: the thick walls, the two door entries and the steep roofs.

CONNECTION/ BRIDGE/ LINKING SENTENCE

1. It is a first sentence in body paragraph of essay moving position of a topic
sentence. It may happen as the thesis statement has a predictor and clearly
shows what the topic for each paragraph will be. A topic sentence should be
moved within or end of the paragraph as the bridge is used.
2. It also may become last sentence in body paragraph of essay which isnt
functioned as concluding sentence, but to be a bridge to the following
paragraph.

Example:
1. Thesis statement:

There are several central figures with similar characters in a novel: Roy, Azzam
and Arai.
2. 1st paragraph (first model)
A good figure in a novel should not be found only in the present. A novel
in the past may has it. Roy, a figure created by Gola Gong is very helpful and
brave. The adventurer likes to help his friend whose life is in trouble. In one
novel, the author wrote how Roy saved a girl from bandits. Roys bravery was
also shown as he faced a gang breaking his friends party. This kind of
personalities will also be discovered in Azzam.
3. 1st paragraph (second model)
A good figure in a novel should not be found only in the present. A novel
in the past may has it. Roy likes to help his friend whose life is in trouble. In one
novel, the author wrote how the adventurer saved a girl from bandits. The boys
bravery was also shown as he faced a gang breaking his friends party. Roy, a
figure created by Gola Gong is very helpful and brave.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
It is functioned to leave the readers with a clear understanding of what the point of
your essay is.
THE PARTS
Example (entitled homeless people)

Summarize ( all topics in the body of essay should be included)

In summary, they need to feel physically safe, the need for a dependable
food source, and the need for medical care when necessary are essential
for all of us.

Restatement ( to explain in other expressions)

In short, all people want to feel safe in their environment, and to do so
requires that you have these three things.

Final comment (to state a fact or express an opinion)

In conclusion, the next time you see homeless people, try to look
beyond your fear and think about how insecure they must feel in their
environment. For them, life in this world is a day to day struggle to
survive.

CHALLENGE
Write a thesis statement and a paragraph as the first body of it containing linking
sentence in the beginning and the end of it.
Thesis Statement
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
1st body
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

NARRATIVE ESSAY/ CHRONOLOGICAL ORDERING

Definition

: a story or an account of a sequence of events in the order in which

they happened. The events must be ordered according time.

Paragraph Type
Narrative

Transitions
First, second, third, etc.
At first
Next
After that
Later on
Then
finally

Other Linking Words

In the morning
In the afternoon
In the evening
Until then

Common purposes:

To write a biography

To write a history

To write a process of something (procedure)

To write a journey, experience, etc.

A good Narrative should consist of:

An introduction which sets the scene (place, time, character (s), etc),
creates an interesting mood/ atmosphere to make the reader want to
continue reading, and/ or begins dramatically to capture the readers
attention.

A main body which develops the series of events clearly, gives vivid
description of the people/ places involved, etc.

E.G.
Going to a new school can be exciting, but for an international student, the first
day on campus can be confusing. When I first arrived at State University, I was
overwhelmed by the size of the campus and the number of people I saw hurrying from
building to building. I did not know what to do or where to go. Fortunately, I found three
helpful people who saved me from total confusion.

The first person who helped me was the Director of the dormitory, Mrs. Stanton.
She helped me register at the dormitory and took me up to my room. Since my roommate
had not yet arrived, Mrs. Stanton showed me all around the dorm (as I soon learned it
was usually called). She showed me where the bathroom was, where the recreation room
was, and where the cafeteria was. She very carefully explained to me all of the dormitory
rules and told me she hoped I would enjoy my stay there.
After checking into the dorm, I went down to the cafeteria where I met another
kind person, Robert Long. He saw me sitting along and came over to me to ask if I
needed any help. He said that I looked a little lost. I told him that I was a new student
from Honduras and that I was not lost, just overwhelmed. He told me that I should not
worry; he said that he was confused and overwhelmed his first day at State, too. Then he
took me over to the Administration Building to help me find an advisor. Before he left me
there, he gave me his telephone number and asked me to call him if I ever needed any
help in the future.
At the Administration Building I met my advisor, Dr. Torres, who proved to be
extremely helpful. He very kindly explained to me how to register for classes and what to
expect at State University. Dr. Torres gave me some information about the International
Student Association and suggested that I go to one of their meetings. I was pleased to
know that foreign students on campus have an organization. After Dr. Torres gave me all
the necessary information about registering classes and purchasing books, he told me to
come see him any time that I have any questions.
All of these people, Mrs. Stanton, Robert Long, and Dr. Torres were very kind to
me that first day. They made me feel welcome and at home at time when I was feeling
lost and lonely. I will never forget these people.
CHALLENGE
While you were working in an office, an earthquake occurred. Write what you did
and how you believed the steps you had took can save you from the disaster.

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY/ SPATIAL ORDERING

Definition

: containing or consisting a description

The arrangement of the details in a descriptive paragraph depends on
the subject. The selection and the description of details depend on
the describers purpose

Paragraph Type
Descriptive

Transitions

Other Linking Words

To the left
To the right
In front of
Behind
On top of
Under
Above
Next to

DESCRIBING PLACE/ THING

Set in the heart of southern England, London is one of the biggest and busiest
cities in Europe. A truly international city, London attracts million of visitors every year
from all over the world, yet never loses its own unique charm.
London has many impressive sights to see, ranging from the historical beauty of
St. Pauls Cathedral and Big Ben to Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. In
this city of contrasts, you can be walking along one of the busiest streets, yet still be less
than a mile from one of the many huge, peaceful parks. London is a great cultural center,
too; the National Gallery contains one of the finest collections of classical paintings in the
world.
London is also well known for other things apart from its monuments and art
galleries. Shoppers will enjoy visiting the department stores on Oxford Street or they
could try Harrods, the most exclusive shop in London. For evening entertainment, the
choice of theaters is enormous. From the famous Southbank Theater complex to the
smaller theaters on Covent Garden, there is no end of plays to see. Soho and its pavement
cafes are also worth visiting.
London is an exceptional place, a truly modern city that has managed to keep its
traditional style and sense of history. You may get exhausted in London, but one thing is

certain; you will never get bored, as Dr. Johnson once said, When a man is tired of
London, he is tired of life.

DESCRIBING PEOPLE

Commonly arranged based on appearance, personality/ behavior, life/

lifestyle/beliefs
To have an impressive acquaintance is amazing. Even it gives us new impression
sometimes. When I began working at Hilcrest Nursery School three years ago, I was
introduced to Sharon Dunn, the schools headmistress.
Her smart appearances and warm, friendly expression made me like her
immediately. She is a small boned, smiling woman in her fifties, with twinkling blue
eyes and soft, silver curls. Although she dresses simply she always manages to look
elegant.
She is a very fair minded person who treats everyone at the school with equal
respect. Despite clasping her hands nervously when she is upset, she is actually very calm
which is shown by her ability to keep her temper in the most difficult situations. Her
quiet voice and gentle, caring manner make her popular with the children.
Ms. Dunn has no children of her own: however, she says that she feels like a
mother to all of the children in her school. In fact, she has no time for family life, since
she dedicates her life to her job. Besides taking care of various administration task
everyday, she always takes time to talk to the teachers and parents. In addition, she often
holds meetings with the schools Board of Directors, as well as with staff and parents.
To my mind, Sharon Dunn is a dedicated professional who is a wonderful role
model, not only for the children but for the teachers, as well. A western woman should
imitate her.
CHALLENGE
You and a friend had dinner at an expensive restaurant last night. The waiter was
incompetent, and the food was not good. Write your disappointment about those by
describing what happened.

EXPOSITORY ESSAY/ LOGICAL ORDERING

Definition

It comes from the term expose, meaning reveal.

It is supported by information, explanation, facts (example) or illustration.

It can be value judgment/ opinion (Mr. Ngadimin is a nice person) and factual
statement (The English language has borrowed many terms from Arabic).

Paragraph Type
Expository

Transitions
First, second, third, etc.
However
On the other hand
In fact
For example
Therefore
Furthermore
Finally
In short
In conclusion

Other Linking Words

CHALLENGE
A gift (such as a camera, a soccer ball, or an animal etc) can contribute to a childs
development. What gift would you give to help a child develop? Why? Use reasons and
specific examples to support your choice.

THE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAY

To compare

: To discuss how two people, places, or things are similar

To contrast

: To discuss how two people, place, or things are different.

This paragraph is also used to talk about advantage and disadvantage of

something

Pattern A (point by point)

Pattern B (all of one/ all of the others)

No two people are exactly alike, and my two older brothers, Nhan and Hung are
no exceptions, when I think of them, I think of Rudyard Kiplings words:
East is East, West is West, Never the twain shall meet.
Even though they have the same parents, their considerable difference in looks,
personality, and attitude toward like reflect the differences between Eastern and Western
cultures.
Like the majority of oriental men, Nhan is short, small and has a full moon shaped
face. His smooth white skin and small arms and feet make him look somewhat delicate.
Nhan always likes to wear formal, traditional clothes. For example, on great holidays or
at family rice celebrations, Nhan appears in the traditional black gown, white pants and
black silky headband, all of which make him look like an early twentieth century
intellectual.
In contrast to Nhan, Hung, who is his younger brother by ten years, looks more
like an American boxer. He is tall, muscular and big boned. He is built straight as an
arrow and his face is long and angular as a western character. Unlike Nhan, Hung has
strong feet and arms, and whereas Nhan has smooth skin, Hungs shoulder and chest are
hairy, large and full. Unlike Nhan, too, Hung likes to wear comfortable T shirts and
jeans or sport clothes. At a formal occasion, instead of wearing formal clothes, Hung
wears stylish Western style suits.
Nhan and Hung also differ in personality. I do not know how my father selected
their names correctly to reflect their personalities. Nhans name means patience, and
his patience is shown in his smile. He has a smile of ancient Chinese philosopher that

western people can never understand. He always smiles. He smiles because he wants to
make the other person happy or to make himself happy. He smiles whenever people
speak to him, regardless of whether they are right or wrong. He smiles when he forgives
people who have wronged him. Nhan likes books, of course, and literature and
philosophy. He likes to walk in the moonlight to think. Nhan also enjoys drinking hot tea
and singing verses. In short, in our family, Nhan is the son who provides a good example
of filial piety and tolerance.
Hung, on the other hand, does not set a good example of traditional respectful
behavior for his brothers and sisters. His name means strength, but his strength is self
centered. As a result, unlike Nhan, Hung only smiles when he is happy. When he talks to
people, he looks at their faces. Because of this, my eldest brother Nhan considers him
very impolite. As one might expect, Hung does not like philosophy and literature; instead
he studies science and technology. Whereas Nhan enjoys tea and classical verses, hung
prefers to take sun baths and drink Coca Cola while he listens to rock and roll music.
Like many American youths, Hung is independent; in fact he loves his independence
more than he loves his family. He likes to move out of our house and live in an apartment
by himself. He is such an individualist that all the members in my family say that he is
very selfish.
My brothers differences do not end with looks and personalities. Concerning
their attitudes toward life, they are as different as the moon and the sun. My eldest
brother Nhan is concerned with spiritual values. He is affected by Confucian, Taoist and
Buddhist theories. These theories consider that the human life is not happy. Therefore, if
a man wants to be happy, he should get out of competitiveness of life and should not
depend on material objects. For example, if a man is not anxious to have a new model
car, he does not have to worry about how to make money to buy one. Or, if he does not
have a car, he does not have to worry about the cost of gas. My older brother is deeply
affected by these theories, so he never tries hard to make money to buy conveniences.
In contrast to Nhan, my brother Hung believes that science and technology serve
human beings and that the west defeated the East because the West was further advanced
in these fields. Therefore, each person must compete with nature and with other people in
the world in order to acquire different conveniences, such as cars, washing machines, and

television sets. Hung is affected by the western theories of real values; consequently, he
always works hard to make his own money to satisfy his material needs.
In accordance with the morality of the culture of my country, I cannot say which
one of my brothers is wrong or right, but I do know that they both want to improve and
maintain human life on this earth. I am very luck to inherent both sources of thought from
my two older brothers.
CHALLENGE:
More and more people are relying on the internet as their major source of news
and information. What advantages does the internet have for the average person? What
disadvantages could it have now or in the future?