WRITING

1. THESIS STATEMENT

2. PARAGRAPH WRITING
 WEEK 13
3.1 Writing thesis statement
•Topic sentences
•Supporting sentences
3.2 Paragraph writing
•Introduction, body, conclusion
•Cohesion and coherence
LET’S DISCUSS THE NEXT THREE SLIDES

Describe the structure of the essays and paragraphs.

STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY – CAN YOU DESCRIBE IT?
ORGANISING YOUR ESSAY

• A well structured essay will help your reader follow

your ideas systematically and logically
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
▪ The introduction paragraph is much like a headline of a news story which serves to
entice the reader to read this story.
▪ The introductory paragraph contains the theses statement
▪ The thesis statement summarises the overall message of the essay.
▪ It should be impactful and maybe even controversial. Nothing will draw a reader
into a story more than a solid hook.
• As an example, a good hook written for an essay about the current economic crisis
could be "Many Malaysians will be living under freeway off ramps in the near
future if something isn't done about the jobless rate and economic downturn soon."
An effective hook will bring the readers in.
• A well-developed introduction paragraph includes a strong thesis statement is
important.
PARAGRAPH WRITING

WRITING THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

A good introductory paragraph

➢ gets your reader’s attention,

➢ introduces your topic, and
➢ presents your stance on the topic through a thesis statement.
 THESIS STATEMENT
The thesis statement, usually the last sentence in the introductory
paragraph,
▪ is written as a complete sentence and not as a question.
▪ is the strongest statement in the essay.
▪ carries a single idea, that is the controlling idea, by asserting,
or stating a stance, attitude, opinion or intent.
▪ defines the scope of the topic.
CONTINUATION…
• The thesis statement is king. It drives the essay. Think of the thesis statement
like a snapshot of the entire work, or as a brief synopsis of what is to come.
• It should include the individual topics of each body paragraph.
• Thesis statements should have structure. It should avoid ambiguity. It is a direct,
focused statement that tells the reader exactly how the essay's argument will
be presented.
• A strong thesis statement could be drawn from the topic sentences of each
body paragraph, but cannot be repetitious. It has been said that if the thesis
statement is strong, reading the essay is unnecessary because the reader
already will know what the essay is about.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT
• An effective thesis statement performs several functions at
once.
• It makes an assertion or claim that your audience can agree
with or oppose, as well as answers the questions "how," "why"
and "so what?"
• It predicts the content that will follow in the body of the
essay, and sometimes even lists the paragraph topics as a
kind of road map for the reader.
QUALITIES OF A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT
• Your thesis statement should be as short and specific
as possible. A clear, concise, and assertive thesis
statement ensures that your reader fully understands
your interpretation of the topic.
• All topic sentences in the body paragraphs should
refer back to the thesis statement so that your essay
does not lose focus.
A GOOD THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD NOT CONTAIN
DETAILS
Choose one with economy of expression:

A. Some problems with SMK Bukit Pandan is that it needs a larger

playground, an air conditioned gym, an auditorium, restrooms
connected to each classroom, running water in the classrooms,
and a number of other physical changes to the building.

B. SMK Bukit Pandan needs several changes to its facility to make

it a better school.
DO THESE THESIS STATEMENTS NEED REVISION?
• The National Service Training was an interesting experience
• Everyone owns a mobile phone nowadays
• Many people study English
• My family has several pets
• Tertiary education promotes better living
• Car pooling is a good idea
• The canteen food at my school is bad

Read out your thesis statements and compare them with that of your friends.
What can you conclude about developing effective thesis statements?
ANSWERS: DO THESE THESIS STATEMENTS NEED REVISION?
• The National Service Training was an interesting experience due to several
reasons.
• Everyone should own a mobile phone nowadays as it provides several
benefits.
• Many people study English as the language is important in several aspects.
• My family has several pets because are many advantages in owning pets.
• Tertiary education provides several benefits in promoting a better life.
• Car pooling is a good idea which provides many benefits.
• The canteen food at my school is bad
 IDENTIFY THE THESIS STATEMENT BELOW

School uniforms and why students wear them has been

a topic of concern and debate for as long as these
clothes have been around. People often argue that
wearing uniforms in educational institutions make
people appear all equal, give a sense of community,
and teach discipline. There are, however, more
disadvantages to wearing uniforms than advantages.
 BODY OF THE ESSAY:
TOPIC SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS
 WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH?
• A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a
single topic. Learning to write good paragraphs will help you as
a writer stay on track during your drafting and revision stages.
• Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in
following a piece of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if
those ideas aren't presented in an organized fashion, you will
lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing).

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/paragraphs_and_
paragraphing/index.html
TOPIC SENTENCE
• The topic sentence should identify the main idea and point of the
paragraph.
• The supporting details in the paragraph (the sentences other than
the topic sentence) will develop or explain the topic sentence.
• The topic sentence should not be too general or too specific. When
considering the options, look for a topic sentence that is general
enough to show the paragraph’s main idea instead of just one of
its details. The answer should be specific enough that the reader
understands the main idea of the paragraph.
https://owl.purdue.edu/engagement/ged_preparation/part_1_
lessons_1_4/index.html
AVOID THE FOLLOWING IN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

Try to avoid the some of the more hackneyed openers:

➢ “Have you ever wondered why…”

➢ “Webster’s dictionary defines…”
➢ “X is a very important issue facing Malaysia
today…”
IDENTIFY THE THESIS STATEMENT AND TOPIC SENTENCES BELOW

There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the
world.
First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have
access to medical services at a reasonable price.
Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught
by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university.
Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian
cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada
is a desirable place to live.
MOVING BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS:
ACHIEVING COHERENCE
DEVELOPING YOUR PARAGRAPHS
 ADEQUATE DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR PARAGRAPHS:
SUPPORTING POINTS
Writers should be wary of paragraphs that only have two or three sentences. It indicates
that the paragraph is not fully developed if it is that short.
Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-developed:
• Use examples and illustrations
• Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
• Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
• Use an anecdote or story
• Define terms in the paragraph
• Describe the topic
• Offer a chronology of an event (time segments)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/paragraphs_and_paragraphing/index.html
COHESION AND COHERENCE
Read this.

http://aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/Files/Cohesion/Cohesion.html
 COHERENCE
• Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You
can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal
bridges. examples
Logical bridges
• The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sentence
• Successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form
Verbal bridges
• Key words can be repeated in several sentences
• Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences
• Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences
• Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences
TRANSITIONS AND SIGNPOSTS
• Two very important elements of paragraphing are signposts and transitions.
Signposts are internal aids to assist readers; they usually consist of several
sentences or a paragraph outlining what the article has covered and where
the article will be going.
• Transitions are usually one or several sentences that "transition" from one idea
to the next. Transitions can be used at the end of most paragraphs to help the
paragraphs flow one into the next.
CONCLUSION
WRITING THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS
• Your conclusion wraps up your essay in a tidy package and
brings it home for your reader.
• Your topic sentence should summarize what you said in your
thesis statement.
• Do not simply restate your thesis statement, as that would be
redundant.
• Your conclusion is not the place to introduce new ideas.
WHAT DOES THE CONCLUSION DO?
1. it summarizes the essay

2. it shows you proved the point you set out to make

3. it gives the reader a sense of completion

4. it leaves the reader remembering your main point

 Wait, that sounds kind of like the introduction!

So, what is the difference between

the introductory paragraph & the concluding paragraph?

The difference is in the approach to the topic.

Think of these two paragraphs as funnels, one
leading toward the body of your essay, while
the other leads the reader away from the body.

• The introduction begins with a

general approach to the topic and
then moves toward the more specific
aspect(s) of it

• The conclusion begins with the more

specific aspect(s) and moves toward
the general topic of your essay
WHAT MAIN POINT DID YOU WANT TO MAKE IN YOUR ESSAY?

• Did you make that point?

• Summarize it in your conclusion.

• Often you can use the introductory paragraph

as a guide. This will help you come full circle
and give your reader a sense of completion.
 Perhaps you began your essay by saying:

"There are three classes at school that I

absolutely can’t wait to go to every day."

Then you might make this the first sentence of your

conclusion:

"Gym, Math, and Art are the three classes I

look forward to the most."

Do you see how the first is more general

and the last is more specific?
STRATEGIES FOR ENDING THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

1. Perhaps add a quotation or surprising insight from the

materials you researched.
2. Suggest some action to take or a solution to an issue.
3. Bring up questions for further study.
4. Point out broader consequences of the points you've
made.
WHAT NOT TO INCLUDE IN THE CONCLUDING
PARAGRAPH:
1. Overused phrases: "in conclusion," "in summary,“ "in
closing“
2. A new idea or subtopic
3. Supporting evidence or details (these should be in the
body of the essay)
 PRACTISE EXERCISE
ORGANISING IDEAS IN A ESSAY ON BTS
 ORGANISING IDEAS IN A ESSAY

Thesis Statement:
Members of BTS have several qualities that make them
superstars; extraordinary attractiveness, incredible
talent and exemplary manners
 PARAGRAPH 1: MAIN IDEA 1
Topic Sentence:
One of the qualities that marks BTS as superstars is their attractive physical
attributes. Each and every member of the group is visually appealing in their
own way. For example, the lead member is ______. Due to their extraordinary
attractiveness, BTS has gained superstar status.

Supporting details:
?????
PARAGRAPH 2: MAIN IDEA 2

Topic Sentence:
The final reason members of BTS are superstars because
they are popular with fans for their good manners on
and off the stage.

Supporting details:
 PARAGRAPH 3: MAIN IDEA 3

Topic Sentence:
The final and most significant -- incredible talent.
Supporting details:
PARAGRAPH 3: MAIN IDEA 3

Topic Sentence:
good manners on and off the stage.

Supporting details:
PARAGRAPH 4: MAIN IDEA 4

Topic Sentence:
Finally, and most significantly, members of BTS are
superstars because –talent.

Supporting details:
 CONCLUSION
BTS...
TUTORIAL TASK
Prepare an outline for an essay “Is Social Media
Harmful or Beneficial to Young Adults?
Refer to the next slide for the essay structure.
YOUR OUTLINE SHOULD FOLLOW THE STRUCTURE BELOW:
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION INCLUDING THESIS STATEMENT

BODY
PARAGRAPH 1– MAIN POINT
TOPIC SENTENCE
Including 3 supporting facts, evidence, and examples

PARAGRAPH 2 – MAIN POINT

TOPIC SENTENCE
Including 3 supporting facts, evidence, and examples

PARAGRAPH 3– MAIN POINT

TOPIC SENTENCE
Including 3 supporting facts, evidence, and examples

CONCLUSION
COLCLUSION - RESTATE THESIS