TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD COMPOSITION

1st STEP - Analysis of the title

The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :

Subject Focus Comment

2nd STEP - Brainstorming

Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and
superficial ideas.

3rd STEP - Organization

The organization changes according to the kind of essay you are going to write.

A. In the case of an essay by listing you can follow the scheme below :

Introducers : establish the 1st paragraph Pre-topic sentence (background information)

topic focus and the point of
view 2nd paragraph Introductory sentence (In fact/For example X has
three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3… ) about how
the work will be organized

expressing your opinion in

this phase Remember you are not
Developers :
define the ideas anticipated
in the introduction, present
Point 1 (First, Firstly …)
examples and details to
support them 3rd, 4th, 5th
Point 2 (Then / Secondly …)
paragraphs
Modulators :
Point 3 (The third argument / Thirdly …) *
sentences that consent a
passage from a point of view,
context or aspect to another

Terminators : paragraphs Personal opinion and conclusion :

that conclude the ideas in a th Now you can express your opinion and make
6 paragraph
logical and psychologically reference to your personal experience *
satisfying way
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.

EXAMPLE
Develop the title given following the table below.
 Qualities for Success in the 21st Century

1st STEP - Analysis of the title

The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :

Subject Focus Comment

 Reasoning by list and examples,
Qualities for Success in the 21st Century
expressing opinion
2nd STEP - Brainstorming

Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and
superficial ideas.

Subject Focus Comment

Reasoning by list and examples,
Personal qualities for success success in the 21st Century
expressing opinion
Identification of qualities
Reasoning on flexibility (what
it is, why it is necessary)
Reasoning on honesty (what it
is, why it is necessary)
Reasoning on creativity (what
it is, why it is necessary)
Reasoning on perseverance
(what it is, why it is necessary)
Reasons for your choice,
results of reasoning

3rd STEP - Organization

▪ what personal qualities 1st paragraph Pre-topic sentence (background information)

will be needed for success
in the 21st century?
▪ Possibly the four most 2nd paragraph
essential attributes are …
Introductory sentence (In fact/For example X has
three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3… ) about how
the work will be organized (listing)
expressing your opinion in
this phase Remember you are not

▪ flexibility (what it is, why

it is necessary, example) Point 1 (First, Firstly …)
▪ honesty (what it is, why it
is necessary, example) 3rd, 4th, 5th , Point 2 (Then / Secondly …)
▪ creativity (what it is, why 6th
it is necessary, example) paragraphs Point 3 (The third argument / Thirdly …)
▪ perseverance (what it is,
why it is necessary, Point 4 (Finally…) *
example)

Personal opinion and conclusion :

▪ as today, so in the future 7 paragraph Now you can express your opinion and make
th

reference to your personal experience *

* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below .
B. In the case of an essay by arguments for and against you can follow the scheme below :

Introducers : establish the 1st paragraph Background information

topic focus and the point of
view 2nd paragraph How the work will be organized
Suitable verbs : going to, will, intend, look at, deal
with

Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase

3rd paragraph Arguments for
Developers : Introductory sentence (There are three
define the ideas anticipated points…)
in the introduction, present Point 1 (Firstly …)
examples and details to Point 2 (Secondly …)
support them Point 3 (The third argument …) *
4th paragraph Arguments against
Modulators : sentences that Introductory sentence (Three points /
consent a passage from a aspects can be …)
point of view, context or Point 1 (First, …)
aspect to another Point 2 (Then / secondly …)
Point 3 (Thirdly …) *

Terminators : paragraphs 5th paragraph Personal opinion and conclusion :

that conclude the ideas in a Now you can express your opinion and make
logical and psychologically reference to your personal experience *
satisfying way
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.

EXAMPLE
Develop the title given following the table below.
 Should smoking be allowed in public places?

1st STEP - Analysis of the title

The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :
Subject Focus Comment
Smoking Smoking in public places? Answering, expressing opinion
2nd STEP - Brainstorming
Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and superficial
ideas.
Subject Focus Comment
Smoking Smoking in public places? Answering, expressing opinion
Present situation
Reasons for the present law
Reasons of the smokers
Reasons of the non-smokers
Effects on health
Psychological aspects
Social, economic and political
aspects etc.

3rd STEP - Organization

 people are more aware of 1st paragraph Background information

the dangers of smoking
today
 smokers are separated
from non-smokers in most
countries
 I’m going to examine … 2nd paragraph How the work will be organized
Suitable verbs : going to, will, intend, look at, deal
with

Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase

 smoking not illegal 3rd paragraph Arguments for
 passive smoking causes Introductory sentence (There are three
cancer? No proof points…)
Point 1 (Firstly …)
Point 2 (Secondly …)
Point 3 (The third argument …)
 a dirty habit 4th paragraph Arguments against
 cause of fires Introductory sentence (As regards the
 non-smokers need a smoke- arguments against, three points/aspects can
free environment be …)
Point 1 (First, …)
Point 2 (Then / secondly …)
Point 3 (Thirdly …)*

 separate smokers 5th paragraph Personal opinion and conclusion :

 special tax on cigarettes … Now you can express your opinion and make
reference to your personal experience
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below :

Table of linkers :
To give order Firstly - at first - initially - and - then - immediately
afterwards - later on - some time - later - in conclusion
To indicate consequence As a result - as a consequence - consequently - thus - therefore
because of that
To indicate continuation And - moreover - besides - furthermore - in addition to
To indicate simultaneity Meanwhile - while - in the meantime
To contrast or contradict Instead - yet - but - on the contrary - even if - even
though - however - on one hand / on the other hand - nevertheless
- in spite of …
To rephrase In other words - that is to say - this means that - i.e.(Latin : id
est) - to put it another way
To exemplify That is - namely - e.g. (Latin : exempli gratia = for example) -
for example - for instance - an example of this is -
To express opinion In my opinion - I am of the opinion that - as regards me - as far as I
am concerned - as concerns me - to my way of thinking - to my mind
- I personally believe that
To conclude Last - finally - to conclude - summing up - to wind/wrap/sum up