The word essay means to venture or to attempt, so in writing an essay, you are simply attempting to explain

a given topic. An essay is futher defined as a kind of prose that gives a written account of the writer’s feelings,
experiences, and opinions. An essay could be about any topic – funny or serious, sardonic or ironic, amusing
or sad, entertaining or informative.

An essay has three parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion.

The introductory paragraph presents the main topic and arouses readers’ attention. It is the first thing that
readers see annd it initially determines the kind of response from the readers. To catch your readers’
attention, you may use any of the following:

1. Ask a question. The rest of the introduction, and the thesis sentence in particular, will provide the
answer.
a. Did you ever stop to think what you were doing one year ago? Most people don’t. Wrapped up in the
present or busy looking toward the future, they don’t take much interest in the past. But if you do
ask yourself about the recent past, you can discover who you really are and what is important to you.
b. Is sex a good stress reliever?
c. Think of a person you really care about – your girlfriend, your mother, or someone else you really
love. Would you be willing to give just one minute to save that person from a lifetime of great pain?
2. Startling statement.
a. One person in four in the United States will have cancer at some point in their life. One person in
four! Think about it.
3. Quotation
a. There is an old saying that “Marriages are made in heaven.”
b. “Titles distinguish the mediocre, embarass the superior, and are disgraced by the inferior.”
c. “Do not let your academics interfere with your education.”
4. Statistical Figure
a. “A recent survey by the SWS claims that over 50% of the Philippine population are living below the
poverty line.
5. Abbreviated Story
6. An Anecdote.
7. A definition
a. The dictionary defines marriage as a legally recognized, close and intimate union of a man and a
woman. The two people in love who decide to get married are entering into a legal contract set up
by society. What are the legal implications of two people getting married? What are their obligations
as defined by the society around them?Lawyers and judges have offered very different opinions on
the subject.
8. Disagree with accepted wisdom.
a. Most people believe that if you work hard, you will be rewarded. There is a whole set of proverbs to
back up this belief, and little children are always told the benefits of perseverance. But all around us
we can see examples of how hard work simply does not pay off, and how some people who do not
work at all seem to get richer and richer.
What to avoid in the Introduction:

1. Never give an outline. The readers will get into the body of the essay soon enough.
2. Never announce that you do not know much about the topic.
3. Never be too general.

The Body

The body refers to the part where the writer discusses and explains his/her thoughts about the topic he/she
is developing.

You may use any of these modes:’

a. Narration, where you use the strategies of telling stories to present your idea.
b. Definition, where you explain terms clearly and expand such definitions by giving examples and
illustrations
c. Description, where you use imagery and vivid details to explain your point.
d. Cause and effect, where you discuss why and how things happen.
e. Comparison and Contrast, where you site the similarities and differences between ideas
f. Classification and division, where you arrange the ideas you are explaining into a systematic
organization.
g. Process analysis, where you give information by means of step-by-step instruction.

Conclusion

The conclusion is the part where you bring your essay to a close. It is as important as your introductory
paragraph since it is the last impression that will be left in the readers’ mind.

Good conclusions work in different ways:

a. They answer the question “So what?”

b. They emphasize the important points. Points mentioned in the main body paragraphs are stated
briefly and directly.
c. They raise an important question and answer it.
d. They may employ a quotation.
e. They can show the need for a change in attitude or behavior.

What to avoid in the Conclusion

a. Never simply repeat your thesis.

b. Never give a bare summary.
c. Avoid phrases like, “In conclusion.”
d. Never say that you are not sure of yourself.
e. Never give orders or deliver a sermon.
f. Avoid overstatement.
g. Never make points that have no connection with the thesis statement.