A LEVEL WRITING BOOKLET

2020-2021
1ST & 2ND TERM

compiled from different

sources
The Sentence

SUBJECT AND VERB

Presentation
English sentences have a subject and a verb. The subject often comes before the verb. A
sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a form of punctuation: a period, a question
mark, an exclamation point.

RULES EXAMPLES
The subject tells who or what does
Lisa goes to school every day.
something
It can be a noun or pronoun They are at the meeting.
It can be a person, place, thing or an idea Horses are beautiful animals
It can have more than one word Ayşe and Ali work together.
There are kinds of verbs. Action verbs (e.g.
walk, read, drive, listen) express an idea.
Linking (or state) verbs (e.g. be, see, look, The baby looks happy.
become, taste, smell) connect the subject and
the rest of the sentence

Practice 1

Circle the letter of the subject of each sentence.

Example:

1 My aunt and uncle like coffee and tea.

a my aunt
b my uncle
c my aunt and uncle

2 The school does not have a library.

a The school
b have
c a library

3 Kate and Anita will speak at the meeting.

a speak
b meeting
c Kate and Anita

4 Every morning, Yang gets out of bed and stretches.

a morning
b bed
c Yang

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5 The living room and the dining room are painted blue.
a The living room
b The living room and the dining room
c the dining room

6 The traffic on Canyon Drive is terrible every morning.

a The traffic
b Canyon Drive
c morning

7 We planted roses and lilies in the front garden

a garden
b roses and lilies
c We

8 The park has picnic tables, benches, and swings.

a swings
b picnic tables
c The park

9 Every family on my street has a dog.

a dog
b family
c street

Practice 2

Read each sentence. If it is correct, circle Correct. If it is incorrect, circle No subject or No

verb.

1 My name Roberto. [Correct, No subject, No verb]

2 The capital of South Korea is Seoul. [Correct, No subject, No verb]
3 Seoul big city. [Correct, No subject, No verb]
4 Is more than 2,000 years old. [Correct, No subject, No verb]
5 Our new teacher seems like a nice person. [Correct, No subject, No verb]

Practice 3

Write the words and phrases in the correct order to make sentences.

Example:

1
lost my phone

I lost my phone.

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2
speaks three languages Chandra

__________________________________________________.

3
my car A mechanic fixed

__________________________________________________.

4
plays the trumpet Wynton Marsalis

__________________________________________________.

5
is very quiet Katya‟s boyfriend

__________________________________________________.

6
is boring Joyce‟s job

__________________________________________________.

7
our compositions Professor Baker corrected

__________________________________________________.

SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT

Presentation
In an English sentence, the subject and verb must agree. This means that a singular subject
needs a singular verb. A plural subject needs a plural verb:
Singular subject + singular verb: The teacher is late.
Plural subject + plural verb: The teachers are in a meeting.

Practice 1

Underline the verb that matches the subject in each sentence.

Example:

1 The dirty clothes on the floor [is, are] Jack’s.

2 The air in the rom [smell, smells] bad.
3 Most of the work [is, are] finished.
4 Tigers [is, are] good swimmers.
5 The living room and the dining room [is, are] very cold.

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6 Some of the grass [is, are] brown.
7 My brother Robert [drive, drives] too fast.
8 Many teenagers [drive, drives] too fast.
9 The weather [is, are] going to be bad all week.
10 The music [sound, sounds] beautiful.
11 The musicians [is, are] very talented.

Practice 2

Complete each sentence with the singular or plural form of the verb in parentheses.

Example:

1 The names are (be) hard to pronounce.

2 My hand __________________________________ (hurt) from typing all day.
3 All the students __________________________________ (know) the answer.
4 The printer on the third floor __________________________________ (be) not working.
5 Loud music __________________________________ (give) me a headache.
6 The boys __________________________________ (need) a haircut.
7 Bears, sharks, and snakes __________________________________ (have) an excellent
sense of smell.
8 All the houses on my block __________________________________ (have) porches.
9 Transportation in my city __________________________________ (be) fast and
convenient.
10 The gardener __________________________________ (come) every Tuesday.
11 All of my work __________________________________ (be) finished.

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 HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH

What is a paragraph:
A paragraph is a group of sentences about the same topic. The beginning of a paragraph has a
sentence that states the topic. All of the other sentences in the paragraph are about the same
topic.
A well organized paragraph has 3 main parts: Topic sentence, supporting sentences and
concluding sentence.

A) Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. It gives the writer‟s main
idea. It is like the key which you use to enter a room. You unlock the door of your
paragraph by using this key sentence.

B) Supporting Sentences
The supporting sentences are sentences which explain the topic sentence of the
paragraph. They give details and support the main idea by explaining and sometimes by
giving examples.

C) Concluding Sentence
The concluding sentence is the last part of a paragraph. It usually repeats and restates the
topic sentence. It can include the writer‟s feeling, opinion or thoughts about the topic. It
summarizes the information in a paragraph. In a way it locks the door of the paragraph
which was unlocked by the topic sentence. Concluding sentence usually starts with
phrases like “In conclusion”, “To conclude”, “All in all”, “To sum up” etc.

SAMPLE PARAGRAPH

* Topic Sentence
Summer is my favourite season.

* Supporting Sentences
a) First, it is not cold. You can wear light clothes like shorts, t-shirts. You don‟t have to
wear coats, jackets, boots or carry an umbrella.
b) Next, the days are longer so you can wake up easier in the morning and you can even
walk around at 9 pm in the evening.
c) Finally, most schools are on holiday during summertime. Students can relax and rest.
For example, they can go on a vacation, rest and swim.

* Concluding Sentence
To sum up, among all the seasons, I prefer summer because I relax and have fun when I
am on holiday.

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* Exercise
Circle the topic sentence and the concluding sentence of the paragraph. Underline the
supporting sentences.

Being a doctor is very difficult. To begin with, doctors study at least 6 years at
the university. After 6 years of education, they continue to study 4-6 years
more for their professional development. When they finally start working in a
hospital, they have a very busy routine. They start the day very early in the
morning and sometimes they do not even sleep at night. They check many
patients and write prescriptions. Sometimes, they operate the patients. They
also have to follow all the new techniques and approaches in the field of
medicine because they want to help their patients. In conclusion, doctors do not
have an easy job. They work a lot but save many patients.

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 DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH

Description of a person

When you are describing a person, you should mention the following points in this order:

1) General information about the person. Name / age / when and where you met etc.
2) Physical appearance and clothes
3) Personal qualities / personality.
4) Hobbies and interests (if it is known)
5) Comments and feelings.

* In your paragraph you should also use some transition signals and connectors like
because, because of, so, also, in addition, furthermore, moreover, first, second, finally,
but, however, for example, etc.

* In the conclusion part of your paragraph you should start with phrases like In conclusion,
All in all, To sum up etc.

Example

A Close Friend

Jack is my friend at school. We met 2 years ago. I asked him the way to the
cafeteria and we started talking. He is 15 years old and he is very handsome. He is
tall and slim with pale skin and curly hair. He has a great sense of style, so he
always looks well dressed even in casual clothes. Jack is also very outgoing. He is
always friendly and loves jokes. He has a fantastic sense of humour and he always
makes me laugh. However, he can sometimes be immature. For example, he acts
like a child when his mother does not buy him clothes. Jack is very keen on water
sports. He likes sailing and he spends a lot of time on his boat. In addition, he
enjoys squba diving. He loves to see life under the sea. All in all, Jack is a very
nice person. It is a pleasure to be with him and I really enjoy his friendship. I am
sure we will always be close friends.

Description Words

Social status
Married / single / divorced / (with / without children)

Personal judgement
handsome / beautiful / goad-looking / cute / gorgeous / attractive / ugly (fairly / quite / very)

Physical Appearance
a) Tall / short / of medium height
b) Slim / thin / heavily built / well-built / overweight / fat / skinny / plump / broad or narrow
shouldered.
c) Hair  Dark / fair / blonde / brunette / grey / red / straight / wavy / curly /
Long / short / shoulder length / bald

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d) Complexion  dark / fair / sunburned / pale / olive skinned / black
e) eyes  dark / brown / hazel / blue / green / grey / large / small / narrow / wide /
squinting
f) eye-brows  thin / thick / busy
g) eye - lashes  thick / long
h) nose  straight / pointed / turned-up / hooked /
i) chin  pointed / double
j) Special features  high cheek bones / beard / moustache / side burns / mole / dimple /
wrinkles / freckles / fringe
k) clothes  fashionable / new / old / expensive / smart / elegant / conservative / casual /
formal

Personality
generous peculiar energetic
mean strange greedy
stingy observant honest X dis honest
talkative self-centered adventurous
silent charming flexible
intelligent strict-minded respectable
smart narrow-minded cunning
wise broad minded conventional
bossy for sighted independent
rude rigid humurous
kind stable serious
impatient x patient excited clever
cheerful outstanding old-fashioned
lazy stern mean
hardworking easygoing thoughtful
selfish happy jeolous
sociable sad furious
shy careful aggressive
kind-heated careless reliable
stubborn naive nervous
sentimental faithful snobbish
sensitive loyal
sophisticated absent-minded
Description of a place
When you describe a place, you tell what it looks like and where things are. A paragraph
describing a place should have these parts.
1) General information about the place including a general statement. For example “My
backyard is quite and comfortable place to relax.”
2) Details about the place like what special things can be seen, what can you do there and so
on.
3) Comments and feelings about the place.
* In your paragraph you can also use structures like:
there is / there are, preposition of place (in, on, under, next to, opposite etc.), descriptive
adjectives (an old town, a peaceful place etc.) and phrases of location (is situated /
located, in the north / east / west of ..., in the center / heart / middle of)

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Presentation
Model Paragraph
The Public park
The public park near my house is a great place to relax and have fun. It has many enjoyable
features. When you enter the park, on your left you will see two volleyball nets set up on the
grass. Behind the volleyball nets, there is a beautiful blue swimming pool surrounded by a tall
fence. In the summer, it is usually full of people in brightly colored swimsuits laughing,
splashing, and swimming. Next to the pool on the right side, there is a colorful new
playground. It is busy all the time with lots of energetic children. In the middle of the
playground, there is a structure that looks like a big mushroom. On hot days, it sprays water
into the air to keep everybody cool. Behind the playground, there is a big green soccer fields.
A jogging track goes all around the field. On the track, you can see people walking, jogging,
and even riding bicycles. To the right of the soccer field, there are outdoor basketball courts
that are always in use. You can hear the sound of the basketballs bouncing on the pavement
and the laughing and shouting of the players. Finally, in between all these places, there are
grassy areas with picnic tables, grills for cooking, and shady trees. You can see people
relaxing on blankets in the grass, and you can smell meat cooking on the grill. I love to spend
time at the park. It is an enjoyable, relaxing place.

AN IDEAL SEASIDE RESORT

Brighton is a large town on the south-east coast of England. It is located only an hour
from London. It is a charming seaside resort and the perfect destination for a peaceful
weekend. Brighton has several tourist attractions. The first stop for tourists is the Royal
Pavilion. This building is a beautiful Indian-style palace which was built in the 19th century.
Brighton‟s most famous attraction is the lively Palace pier, with its fantastic funfair and
amusement arcades (parks). Both young and old can have fun there. In addition, there are
plenty of places to go shopping in Brighton. The town center has a large modern shopping
center. There are also narrow roads full of lovely antique shops. These shops are crowded
with tourists. The nightlife in Brighton is exciting. There are a lot of music and dance clubs.
These places are extremely popular with younger people. The area is also well-known for its
fashionable restaurants. These restaurants offer a variety of international cuisines. Brighton is
a town, but it has something to offer everyone. You may spend your time shopping and seeing
the sights, or you may relax and enjoy the fresh sea air. This city is an idea choice for a few
days away from the city.

A. Read the paragraph and label the parts with these headings.
 Nightlife / eating out part _____
 Recommendation part _____
 Things to do / see part _____
 Name, location part _____

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 FASCINATING LISBON

Lisbon, one of the oldest capitals in Europe, is situated on the west coast of Portugal.
Its rich history, colorful traditions and more modern attractions make it a fascinating city. (1)
Anyone who is lucky enough to visit Lisbon can find plenty of things to see and do. For a
start, the magnificent Castle of Saint George is a must. The castle, which is built on a hill,
offers a fantastic view over the city. Directly below the castle is Alfama, the oldest part of
Lisbon. Visitors can walk along its narrow streets and see the fish sellers. Belem is the city‟s
port and tourists can visit the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, a beautiful monastery from the 16th
century. Baixa, the busy shopping area of the city, offers a great variety of souvenirs and
elegant designer clothes. (2) Lisbon‟s nightlife is exciting and varied. Visitors can have a
drink in Bairro Alto, and listen to Fado - traditional Portuguese music. They can also enjoy
delicious sea food at first-class restaurants. There are also many trendy night clubs in the area.
(3) Lisbon is a wonderful city. If you want to experience the beauty and fascination of a great
European capital, it would be the perfect holiday destination for you. (4)

PHRASES of LOCATION

.............. is situated / located ..............

.............. in the north / east / west / south-east etc. of ..............
.............. on the south / east / west / north etc. coast of ..............
.............. in the center / heart / middle of ..............

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 NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH

When you write a narrative paragraph you describe an event. This event can happen either in
the present time or in the past time. Chronological time order is important in narrative writing.
When you are narrating an event in the past, you should include these parts.

1) What is the event? / When did it happen? / How did you feel about it?
2) Details about the event. What happened? / Feelings about the event.
3) Find comments about the event

* When you are describing an event in the past you should use past tense. To correct
sentences and ideas use past time expressions, prepositional phrases and time clauses.
The time words which can be used are:
first / then / later / after that / next / finally / before / after / when / until / as soon as / etc.

NARRATIVE

Sample Texts

THE WORST MOMENT OF MY LIFE

Last Saturday was the first day of my holiday. I jumped out of bed. I felt really happy,
and quickly got ready to leave for the airport. “Spain, here I come!” I shouted as I got into the
lift and pressed the button. Ten seconds later, the lift made a strange sound and stopped
suddenly. I couldn‟t believe it! I cried for help and heard a woman‟s voice outside. “There is
no electricity.” She said. “Be patient. I‟ll try to get help.” I waited and waited and eventually
someone came, but it took them a long time to rescue me. When I got out of the lift, I looked
at my watch. It was too late to get to the airport in time! I went back upstairs to my flat -not in
the lift this time- and sat on the sofa, feeling really miserable. When I turned on the TV, there
was a travel program on. “Hello holidaymakers,” the presenter said happily. “This week we‟re
in Spain and we are having a fantastic time! I think that was the worst moment of my life.”

A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER

I was sick and tired of going to the same place every year, so last year my family and I
decided to travel round Britany for two weeks in a camper van. At night I was driving along
the road when I noticed there were no more signposts. Suddenly I realized that we were lost.
There were no lights anywhere, so I stopped the camper van for the night. The following day,
I woke up and the camper van was moving by itself. We were floating on the sea! I called for
help immediately. Meanwhile, my wife was trying to stop water from coming into the van.
After a while, a boat arrived and pulled us back to the beach. A couple of hours later we were
home, safe and sound! From then on, we decided to stay in a hotel for our holidays.

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 TRANSITIONS

TRANSITIONS OF SEQUENCE
 First/ In the first place  Second / secondly
 Third / thirdly  Next
 Before that / beforehand  Afterwards / After that
 Finally  Eventually

TRANSITIONS OF ADDITION
 Additionally  Furthermore
 In addition (to)  moreover
 Similarly  Likewise
 In the same way  Besides
 Not only ... but also

TRANSITIONS OF CONTRAST
 However  Nevertheless
 Although / though / even though  In spite of / despite
 In contrast to  On the other hand
 Whereas / while  On the contrary

TRANSITIONS / CONNECTORS OF CAUSE AND EFFECT

 Therefore,  Consequently,
 As a result, (of)  Thus
 For this reason  Because
 Because of  In order to
 So that

Linking words and phrases are used to show relationship between ideas. They can be used to
join two or more sentences or clauses (a clause is a group of words which contains a subject
and a verb).
Here‟s a list of the most common linking words and phrases:

1. Adding ideas and information: and, also, as well, as well as, in addition, in addition to,
besides, apart from, both ... and, too, furthermore, moreover, what is more

Examples:

 The film was boring and long.

 The film was boring. It was also long.
 The film was boring and long as well.
 The film was boring as well as long.
 The film was boring. In addition, it was long.
 The film was boring in addition to being long. (in addition to + Ving / a noun)
 Besides being boring, the film was (also) long.
 The film was boring besides being long. (besides Ving / a noun)
 The film was boring. Besides, it was long.
 Apart from being boring, the film was also long.
 The film was both boring and long.

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  The film was boring. It was long, too.
 Sue is a clever student. Furthermore / moreover / what is more, she is a kind girl.

2. Contrasting ideas: but, yet, However, nevertheless, nonetheless, On the other hand, In
contrast, yet, still, While, Whereas, Although/even though, despite/despite the fact that, In
spite of/in spite of the fact that, regardless of, instead of, etc.

Examples:

 He works hard, but he doesn‟t earn much.

He works hard. However, he doesn‟t earn much
(Nevertheless/Nonetheless),

(But is more informal than however. It is not normally used at the beginning of a
sentence.)

 While/Whereas some countries are rich, others are poor.

Some countries are rich while/whereas others are poor.
 Unlike in the UK, the USA has cheap petrol

(While, whereas and unlike are used to show how two things are different from each other.)

 I disagree with Tom. On the other hand, I agree with everything David says.
 Ahmet is hardworking, yet (but) his twin brother is lazy.
 The working conditions in this company are quite good. Still, the job itself is
extremely boring.

 Although/Even though/Though + a clause, main clause.

Although/Even though/Though he works hard, he can‟t get good grades.
He can‟t get good grades although/even though/though he works hard
Though can be used at the end of a sentence.
The athletes were exhausted. They were extremely happy, though.

 Despite/In spite of + a noun / Ving , main clause (S+V).

Despite/In spite of her old age, she still goes for long walks every day.
Despite/In spite of being old, she still goes for long walks every day.

 Despite the fact that/In spite of the fact that + a clause, main clause
Despite the fact that/In spite of the fact that she is old, she still goes for long walks
every day.

 The plan for a new office building went ahead regardless of local opposition.
 Nowadays some people use public transport instead of going by car.

3. Giving a reason: because, since, as, because of, because of the fact that, due to, due to the
fact that, owing to, owing to the fact that, the reason for, the reason why, etc.

Examples:

 I was late for school because/since/as the traffic was heavy.

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  Because of/due to /owing to + a noun / Ving, main clause.
Because of/Due to /Owing to the heavy traffic, I was late for school.
She failed the exam because of/due to/owing to not studying regularly.

 Because of the fact that/due to the fact that /owing to the fact that + a clause, main
clause.
Because of the fact that/Due to the fact that/Owing to the fact that she didn‟t study
regularly, she failed the exam.

 The reason for + noun / Ving- The reason for the car accident was (the fact) that the
driver didn‟t see the cyclist.
 The reason why - The reason why he had a car accident was (the fact) that he didn‟t
see the cyclist.

4. Giving a result: so, therefore, as a result, consequently, as a consequence, hence, etc.

 It was raining, so I took an umbrella.

 He didn‟t feel well. Therefore/As a result/Consequently/As a consequence, he left
the office early.
 Someone has removed all the evidence. Thus, it is now impossible for the police to
continue their investigation.
 Crime is on the increase; hence the need for more police.

5. Giving examples: For example, For instance, A striking (notable) example of this, To give
a brief example, To take a simple example, One illustration (example) of this, such as, like,
namely, in particular, etc.

 There are several problems to consider. For example/For instance, the is a lack of
public transport.
 A striking (notable) example of this is the number of students who leave university
with debts of up to £30,000.
 To give a brief example, a company is much more likely to sell its products abroad if
its customers do not need exchange currency.
 To take a simple example, it is just more straightforward for tourists to travel abroad
if they do not need to worry about exchanging currency.
 One illustration of this is the rise in the number of women who chose to take the bus
in 2007.
 He is keen on doing sports, such as skiing, tennis and swimming.
 In this country we eat a lot of junk food like hamburgers.
 It was another color, namely blue.
 I enjoyed all the boos you lent me, but in particular I liked “Wild Swans”.

6. Sequencing ideas: The former. .... the latter, First(ly) / Second(ly) / Third (ly) / Finally
(lastly), etc.

 Marketing and finance are both covered in the course. The former is studied in the
first term and the latter is studied in the final term.

(It‟s rare to use “fourthly”, or “fifthly”. Instead, try the first point, the second point, the
third point and so on.)

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7. Summarising: In short, In brief, To conclude, In conclusion, To sum up, In summary, On
the whole, Inn a nutshell, All in all, Al things considered, As (it) was previously stated, etc.

 To sum up, the film was a complete waste of time.

(We normally use these words at the beginning of the sentence to give a summary of what we
have said or written.)

Practice 1

Join the sentences using the words in brackets.

1. Amanda is polite. She is thoughtful, too. (as well as)

...............................................................................................................................................

2. Professor Wilson teaches at the university. He does research for the Science Institute, too.
(besides)

...............................................................................................................................................

3. Studying abroad is exciting. Students learn about another culture, too. (what is more)

...............................................................................................................................................

4. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is also one of the most beautiful.
(besides)

...............................................................................................................................................

5. This sofa is uncomfortable. It is also expensive. (in addition to)

...............................................................................................................................................

6. They are very rich, but they live a simple life. (despite)

...............................................................................................................................................

7. The children tried to save the injured bird. It died. (however)

...............................................................................................................................................

8. He spent hours preparing the meal. It tasted awful. (despite)

...............................................................................................................................................

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9. The plane ticket was extremely expensive, so she borrowed the money from her parents.
(the reason why)

...............................................................................................................................................

10. Eve doesn‟t study very hard. She is very clever. (although)

...............................................................................................................................................

11. There was a power cut yesterday, so I didn‟t finish my work. (due to)

...............................................................................................................................................

Practice 2

Choose the correct answer,

1. .................. the athletes were exhausted, they were extremely happy.

a) Although b) Yet c) Besides

2. My grandfather is quite old. .................., he is in great shape.

a) As well b) Still c) While

3. Paris is not only the center of European fashion, .................. also a cosmopolitan city
which never sleeps.
a) but b) yet c) nor

4. He is probably one of the most famous authors of our times. .................., he leads a
simple life and avoids the public eye.
a) Despite b) Nevertheless c) Therefore

5. More and more people are becoming aware of the dangers facing our planet. ..................,
we still have a lot of work to do before our environment is safe again.
a) Neither b) In spite of the fact that c) On the other hand

6. .................. his inexperience, he wasn‟t able to find a job easily.

a) Besides b) Owing to c) Although

7. Mr. Barnaby can be a bit stubborn at times. .................., he is a very friendly man.
a) So b) Despite c) However

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 ESSAY WRITING
Title

General
↓
Introduction
Specific

Thesis Statement (A+B+C)

Topic Sentence A
............................................
............................................ Supporting Sentences (a1/a2/a3 ...)
............................................

Topic Sentence B
............................................
Body ............................................ Supporting Sentences (b1/b2/b3 ...)
............................................

Topic Sentence C
............................................
............................................ Supporting Sentences (c1/c2/c3 ...)
............................................

Concluding Sentence (Restatement of the thesis

statement)

Conclusion Final Thoughts

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Essays generally have the same structure. There is always an Introduction, a body and a
conclusion. Each section has a different function that helps the essay to achieve a strong and
coherent argument.

The Introduction Paragraph

The introduction paragraph is the map of the essay and creates a central argument. It states
same general views about the topic, narrows down and then it ends with a specific point in the
thesis statement. An introduction paragraph which has a clear thesis statement is like a key
which opens the door of the topic.

Thesis Statement

Thesis statement defines and states the essay‟s main idea. It is the summary sentence of the
essay. The order of the ideas in the thesis statement should be reflected in the same way in the
body part of the essay. The controlling idea of a thesis statement tells the reader how many
body paragraphs there will be in the essay and what their content will be.

* Sample Thesis Statement

* Smoking is unhealthy because it causes narrowing of the arteries (body 1), heart
problems (body 2) and lung cancer (body 3)
* You can learn a foreign language in the classroom (body 1), at home (body 2) or in a
foreign country (body 3)
* Doing sports has two advantages as staying healthy physically (body 1) and being
healthy mentally (body 2).

The Body Paragraphs

In the body paragraphs, the writer develops the ideas which were already stated in the thesis
statement. Each idea, forms a different paragraph.

A body paragraph consists of a topic sentence, supporting sentences and supporting examples
which explain the topic sentence.

* Sample Body Paragraph Structure

Topic  Reasons for going to a university
Thesis  Students go to university for a variety of reasons such as academic interest,
future career, or social life.

Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence  First, many students attend university to study a particular subject deeply
Supporting Points
 Students can choose a major. (For example engineering, finance)
 Universities have different facilities that help students learn (For
example labs and etc.)

18
Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence  Another common reason for going to a university is that a university
education often leads to a better career in the future.
Supporting Points
 For certain professions like doctors, lawyers etc., a university degree
is a requirement.
 Companies hire university graduates and pay higher salaries. For
example, multinational companies like Coca-Cola, P & G prefer
university graduates.
Body Paragraph 3
Topic Sentence  Finally for some students, making friends and having an active social life
are important reasons for going to university
 Students have the chance to meet people who come from different
places. (For example: They can even meet people who come from
other countries like African countries)
 Universities have different clubs. Student can join these clubs and
have a colorful social life. To illustrate, dance clubs, sport clubs are
social places.

The Concluding Paragraph

The concluding paragraph is the last paragraph of the essay. It has 3 parts:

a) Restatement of the thesis

b) Summary of the body paragraphs
c) Write‟s final thought / comment / recommendation / solution.

The concluding paragraph usually starts with transition signal words like In conclusion / To
summarize / In summary / To sum up / As it has been stated / All in all etc.

Sample Concluding Paragraph

Thesis: Tourists visit Istanbul for several reasons including sight seeing, shopping and
discovering a new city.

Concluding Paragraph:
In conclusion, tourists visit Istanbul to see historical places of interest, to shop in the
famous bazaars and to see a different culture. If you haven‟t been to Istanbul before,
now it is time to visit it.

19
Use the prompts given on the left hand margin to write about the job of a company manager.
You can add your own ideas too. Try to use frequency adverbs and connectors.

A COMPANY MANAGER

Introduction

manager
big company
intelligent
well-educated
earn
stress
A company manager has not only a busy daily routine but also a lot of extra
responsibilities.

Body Paragraphs

working hours A typical day of a company manager is quite busy.

meetings
supervise
decisions
letters
phone
work hard

travel Besides these daily tasks, a company manager also has extra duties.
business lunch /
meet other businessmen
decide / salaries
listen / complaints /
suggestions
try / solve problems plan /
develop products

Conclusion

important job
tiring
stressful
no time / family / friends

20
 GYPSIES

Nomadic People /
wanderers
dark
live every continent /
mostly Europe
call themselves “Roman”
Roman=man
language: Romany
Population / world: 8 million
A Gypsy‟s life is difficult, but it is unique.

travel / horse-drawn caravan The life of a Gypsy is not always easy and comfortable.
never settle down / long time
live / tent / camp / outside
cities
no comfort / cold / dirty
children / not go / school
no regular work
no health care
beggars
collect trash

work: metalsmiths On the other hand, a Gypsy has a unique life.

horse-traders
fortune-tellers
tinkers
flower sellers
entertainers
love: music / dance
play: fiddle / guitar / darbuka
wear: bright colors,
ornaments
closely - knit family
Gypsy Chief: authority

Gypsy life is hard / but In conclusion

cheerful, happy people
not settle down / because /
love independence
enjoy freedom

21
 RANK ORDER / ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
ESSAYS

In a rank order essay ideas are organized and listed from most important to least important or
from least important to most important. The former type is more common. Rank order essays
usually discuss the benefits, the problems, the qualities of a certain topic.

Title

Introduction

Thesis Statement
X has different benefits
as (A), (B)

Topic Sentence
Body I a, a, a, a, The first benefit of
(Benefit A) (supporting sentences X is (A)
about A)

Topic Sentence
Body II b, b, b, b, Another benefit of
X is (B)
(Benefit B) (supporting sentences
about B)

Conclusion

In conclusion / All in all ... etc

+
Restatement of the thesis statement
+
Writer‟s own idea or comments

22
The Signal Words

First / Second / Third ...

First of all / Secondly /
The most important benefit / quality ...
Another benefit / problem / quality ...
The next benefit / quality ...

Sample Thesis Statements

* Walking to work has several benefits as doing exercise and saving money.
Body I Body II

* Television provides us with many benefits including giving instant news,

Body I
educating and entertaining.
Body II Body III

* A successful teacher has 3 qualities as being knowledgeable, explaining clearly and

Body I Body II
caring about students.
Body III

Sample Topic Sentences

* The first benefit of walking to work is doing exercise.

* Another benefit of walking to work is that you can save money.
* The most important benefit of television is giving instant news.
* Educating people is another benefit of television.
* Besides all the other benefits, entertaining is also another important benefit of TV.
* One of the most important qualities of a good teacher is being knowledgeable.
* Secondly, a successful teacher should explain the subject clearly.
* The last important quality of a successful teacher is that he/she should care about he/his
students.

The Benefits of Television

Technology has developed rapidly in the 20th century. Two important areas of
development have occurred in communications and transportation. In communications, the
development of computers, faxes, and television are examples. Television is one of the most
important inventions of the 20th century. It has many effects on society, some good and some
bad. People generally discuss or write about the harmful effects of TV. However, television
provides us with many benefits, including instant news, education, and entertainment.

One of the most important benefits of television, is providing us with instant news
about things happening around the world. We are able to see the effects of an earthquake, a
war, or a famine in other countries. People also enjoy watching discussion programs about
world affairs and current problems within Turkey.

23
 Another benefit of television is that it provides a way of educating children. For
example, there are lessons on television for secondary and university student. In addition, a
person can learn another language if they follow certain language programs. A third example
is that people can learn about other customs, countries, and people around the world. For
instance, there are various documentary programs that give interesting information about
other countries, including their people, animals and plant life.

A final benefit of television is that it gives free and interesting entertainment to people
of all ages. Children enjoy watching cartoons after finishing their homework. Young people
enjoy watching concerts and music shows. People who come home tired from work enjoy
watching game shows and films.

In conclusion, there are several benefits of television in our daily lives. In my opinion,
television is a useful invention. We get news about local and world events. Also, we can be
entertained in our free time and enjoy ourselves when we are bored.

Qualities of a Successful Teacher

There are lot of different kinds of jobs in the world. Some people prefer professional
careers such as becoming a doctor, a nurse, a teacher or a lawyer. Some people prefer going
into business and working in an office or managing a company. In order to find a good job,
you must finish your university education and then select the right job. How can you select
the proper job for you? You must know the qualities necessary to be successful in the job you
are interested in. One important job necessary for the development of a country is teaching.
As in the case of all occupations, there are some important qualities that a person should have
in order to be a successful teacher including having knowledge of the subject taught, being
able to explain the subject clearly and caring about students.

The most important quality is having knowledge of the subject taught. This means that
a teacher must have a general university education in his field of teaching and some
experience in teaching. If a person does not have enough knowledge in his field, he cannot
successfully teach his student. Moreover, a successful teacher attends seminars and
conferences in his own field of teaching to learn new techniques and materials of teaching.
Finally, he must have some knowledge of pedology so he can cope with the problems of their
students.

A second quality is his ability to explain clearly the subject to his students. If a teacher
cannot explain information at the level of his students, they will not be successful. For
example, teaching techniques used for university students are different from teaching
techniques used with secondary school students. Also, some teachers explain the topic too
technically or do not give enough examples for the students to understand sufficiently.
Teachers must have a lot of patience and be willing to review material already taught in class
in different or more simple ways if he finds that some of the students do not really understand
what has been given in class.

Finally, a teacher should care about his students. He should be aware of them as
individuals and be willing to listen to their problems when necessary. He should be able to
find ways to help slower students so that they can keep up with the others in the class. In

24
addition, it is important that a teacher set a good example by his actions, advice and teaching
activities.

In conclusion, teachers must be knowledgeable, be able to explain the topic clearly,

and care about their students. In this way, a person will be a successful teacher. In my
opinion, being a teacher is one of the most difficult professions because a person must devote
himself to teaching and helping his students. Also, it is an essential profession because
students are the hope of a country. Students become future leaders, inventors and problem
solvers.

Problems of a large City

There has been an increase in the number of people who prefer to live in a big city in
the recent years. Some people prefer cities because of the employment opportunities while
others come for education. There are also various cultural activities for all people in the cities.
Besides all these facilities, large cities have many problems including crime, traffic and high
cost of living.

The most important problem of big cities is crime. Every year there are thousands of
reports about theft and murder. For example, according to the recent statistics 10 thousand
people were murdered in New York City last year. Because of the cosmopolitan structure of
big cities, all sorts of people including criminals live in large cities. As a result of this, the rate
of crime is very high in crowded cities.

Another problem which large cities face is traffic. Due to the high population, traffic
jam can be seen everywhere in a city. People spend 1-2 hours commuting in cities such as
Istanbul, Paris and New York. Public transportation is not sufficient in these kind of cities
because of overpopulation.

The last problem of big cities is that the cost of living is very high. People spend a
huge amount of money for housing, transportation and food. The rents of houses are
extremely high especially in cities like Istanbul. The cost of food is also very expensive
compared to small villages. Thus, a person needs a lot of money in order to survive in a city.

In conclusion, there are some serious problems of metropolitan cities in terms of

crime, traffic and cost of living. It is true that these cities offer attractive lifestyles and
opportunities to many people. However, the hidden problems should also be taken into
consideration. So, if you are planning to move to a big city, think twice!

25
 ADVANTAGES AND/OR DISADVANTAGES
ESSAY

This kind of essay discusses the advantages (positive sides / benefits) and/or disadvantages
(negative sides/drawbacks) of a given topic.

If the writer discusses only advantages OR disadvantages, rank order format can be used.

Title

Introduction

Thesis Statement
X has different benefits
as (A), (B)

Topic Sentence
Body I The most important advantage /
Advantage / a, a, a, a, disadvantage of X is (A)
Disadvantage A

Topic Sentence
Body II Another advantage / disadvantage
b, b, b, b, of X is (B)
Advantage /
Disadvantage B

Conclusion

In conclusion / All in all ... etc.

+
Restatement of the thesis statement
+
Writer‟s own idea or comments

26
 Being Old

Most people believe that youth is the best time of life because young people have
energy and willingness to do anything. Some people believe adulthood is the best time of life
because that is when people are the most productive. Most people agree that life is very short
and they grow old too quickly. Although many people believe that old age brings a lot of
problems related with mental and physical health, there are three important benefits of being
old, such as having a lot of free time, having wisdom gained by experience and gaining
respect from others.

One important benefit of being old is that old people have a lot of free time because
they don‟t have many responsibilities. Most older people are retired. They don‟t have to get
up early and go to work. The whole day belongs to them. They can do anything they want.
For example, they can go fishing or travel around the world. They can visit art museums, art
exhibits, go to concerts, theaters and movies. They can also develop hobbies like painting,
playing an instrument, gardening and so on. Moreover, they don‟t have children to raise
because their children are already adults. They may have grandchildren, but they can enjoy
being with their grandchildren without the responsibility of taking care of them.

Another benefit of being old is having wisdom gained by experience. Old people have
lived for many years. They have seen many things. They have worked and experienced many
things. Every experience has given them more knowledge. In other words, they achieve
wisdom through experience. People can learn many things from old people. They can give
young people a lot of advice. They can also entertain young people with stories of experiences
they have had.

Finally, most people treat older people with more respect. In Turkey, especially in
villages and towns, the eldest members of the family are considered the head of the family.
The other members ask them their opinions about everyday matters before they make
important decisions. On the other hand, in cities young people show respect by visiting the
elderly and inquiring after their health. In addition, young people give their seats to the elderly
on crowded buses and minibuses. Whether they live together or not, members of the family
show respect to the elderly by listening to their ideas.

In conclusion, being old is not such a bad period of our lives. We will all get old one
day and discover the benefits of being old. Actually, every stage of life is wonderful. The
most important thing to remember is to find pleasure during all periods of your life, including
old age.

The Disadvantages of Being Rich

Because we have to buy all our needs and services with money, having enough money
has become more important. Many people believe today that if they have a lot of money, they
will be happy because they will be able to have anything they want. However, an excessive
amount of wealth does not bring happiness. In fact, there are two important disadvantages of
being rich as being too busy to enjoy life and family, and not having close friendships.

The most important disadvantage of being rich is being too busy to enjoy life and
family relations. Most wealthy people are businessmen or owners of a company or service.

27
First of all, people want to have a good job that pay well. They want their families to have a
good standard of living. Moreover, the more money they make, the more money they would
like. Therefore, they work all the time, even on the weekends. They do not have enough time
to spend with their family. For example, they do not go to the cinema or on a picnic with their
family. Furthermore, they don‟t join their children in school activities or help them with their
homework.

The last disadvantage of being rich is that they may not be able to develop close
friendships. When a person is wealthy, there are always people wanting to become friends.
However, if he lost all his money, most of these people would disappear. Therefore, rich
people have great difficulty in understanding who their real friends are. For this reason, some
of them want to live isolated from others. They buy homes that have walls around them.
Another reason for being isolated from others is that rich people can be afraid of some people
who threaten them. For example, poor people see these rich people spending a lot of money
carelessly at holiday resorts and casinos. The poor people see their family suffering from a
lack of money; perhaps they can‟t buy enough food or clothes for their family. Thus, many
people can dislike wealthy people and even threaten them.

In conclusion, there are some disadvantages of being wealthy. In my opinion, wealthy

working people must be careful to balance their time, so they can have a healthy life. They
need to be with their family and develop other interests outside work. Those who are very
wealthy and don‟t work need to learn to help people. Like Sabancı, they can build hospitals,
schools and dormitories or give scholarship to students. There are many ways to help. In this
way, they can be happy when they see others who are happy. Moreover, other people won‟t
resent their being wealthy.

* If the essay discusses both advantages AND disadvantages, a transition paragraph or a

transition sentence is needed.

Transition Paragraph / Sentence: This paragraph or sentence intends to show the reader
that the topic will be discussed from another aspect. That is, the writer will pass from
advantages to disadvantages. This can be done by writing a paragraph after the advantages
part of the essay or writing a sentence emphasizing the change in the disadvantages paragraph
of the essay.

Sample Transition Paragraph

Being old has advantages as having a lot of free time and being experienced. On the other
hand, there can also be some disadvantages as being unhealthy and being old fashioned.

Sample Transition Sentence

— On the other hand, there can be same disadvantages of being old as being unhealthy and
being old fashioned.
— Being old has not only advantages but also some disadvantages.
— Besides the advantages of being old, there are also some disadvantages which are seen in
old age.

28
 Advantages and Disadvantages of

Introduction

Thesis Statement
both advantages and
disadvantages of (X)

Body I Topic Sentence

Advantage A The first advantage of (X) is A.

Body II Topic Sentence

Another advantage of (X) is B.
Advantage B

Transition (X) has not only advantages but

paragraph also disadvantages

Body III Topic Sentence

Disadvantage C One important disadvantage of
(X) is C.

Topic Sentence
Disadvantage D An equally important
disadvantage of (X) is D.

Conclusion

In conclusion / All in all ... etc.

+
Restatement of the thesis statement
+
Writer‟s own idea or comments

* Advantage = benefit
Disadvantage = drawback

29
 Being an Only Child

The family structure is the heart of any society. Some societies are based on a nuclear
family structure, some on extended and a few on a tribal structure. The number of children
desired by families in a society are determined by many factors - generally economic and
religious factors. In a world of overpopulation, family planning is becoming more and more
popular. A result of this is the concept of families with only one child. Do you think it‟s a
good thing to be an “only” child in a family? Before an answer can be found, it is necessary to
examine the advantages and disadvantages of having an only child. Although there are two
advantages of having an only child, the disadvantages of being an only child outweigh the
advantages.

There are two main advantages of being an only child: the child can have more
attention and better lifestyle. First of all, the family can give the child a lot of care and
attention. The parents of only children are able to devote more time to being with the child.
They don‟t have to divide their time among other children. For example, these parents are
able to spare more time for their children‟s school work. They either help the child themselves
or provide professional help for him/her. In addition, the child will undoubtedly have more
material things. His/her parents generally buy the most expensive toys and take the child to
amusement centers like Tatilia.

An equally important is the economic advantage an only child has. The child can have
better educational opportunities, medical help, be fed better, and have better clothing than the
children with brothers or sisters. Everyone knows how hard it is for a family with two or three
children. Money never seems to be enough. The budget has to be divided into so many pieces.
Education and medical help are very expensive. An emergency operation can deplete all the
savings of a family or leave them in debt. Feeding and clothing two or three children is, of
course, more difficult than when you only have one child to consider. Only children don‟t
have the problem of wearing their older brother or sister‟s „hand-me-downs‟. They can have
the most stylish and expensive clothing.

On the other hand, there are greater disadvantages of being an only child. Three of
them are feeling lonely, being spoiled and having difficulties in making decisions. First, only
children generally feel lonely. They haven‟t got any brothers or sisters to “fight with” or to
play with. One results is that only children don‟t learn how to share with other children, and
later in life, with their friends so they become selfish. Another possible result is that some
single children can become more passive if they aren‟t introduced to group play early in life.
Children can only learn to communicate, play and study in a group and as a result learn to
become sociable.

The second disadvantage which is related to the first is that only children tend to
become more spoiled or self-centered. Again, if only children stay at home exclusively until
primary school, they don‟t learn to share their toys and thoughts with others. In addition, only
children receive a lot more attention from their parents. Their parents tend to give them
everything they demand. Because they don‟t have to worry about the expenses of several
children, they generally buy the best things for their child and try to give him/her the best
education. Only children can become spoiled if they are allowed to always have their own
way.

30
 Finally, and the most important of all, only children sometimes have difficulty in
making decisions for themselves. Parents of only children tend to want to “help” their
children more. This is due to the fact that they concentrate all their energies and hopes on this
one child. Thus, because their parents are always helping them and guiding them, they may
have difficulty in making decisions for themselves and depend on their parents more than
normal. Another example of pressure exerted on only children is being directed and
eventually forced into professions that the mother or father wished they had entered when
they were young. In this way, these children lack the courage of deciding about their own life
even when they become adults.

In conclusion, although there are economic and personal care advantages of being an
only child, an only child may feel lonely, may become more spoiled or passive, and have
difficulty making decisions for himself. In a world where family planning is becoming more
and more popular as a result of overpopulation problems, families must recognize these
problems before deciding to have only one child. More important, parents who only want one
child or those with only one child should make sure that they are not guilty of creating
problems for that child. I believe that having at least two children is more beneficial for the
children. They learn to share and give each other support. The closeness of having a brother
or sister cannot be compared with any other relationship.

31
 COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY

In a compare and contrast essay, the similarities and differences of two things are discussed.

The language which is used in this kind of essay is generally comparative and superlative
structure. The following structures can be used in a compare and contrast essay.

the same / a like / similar / be like / similarity / too / either / and so / neither ... nor / both /
however / whereas / on the other hand / on the contrary / although / though / even though /
despite...

There are two methods in a compare and contrast essay as block method and point by point
method.

Block Method

In block method, all the similarities are grouped in ore paragraph. Similarly, all the
differences are grouped in another paragraph.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF X AND Y

Introduction

Thesis Statement
X and Y have similarities
and many differences

Body I Topic Sentence:

Similarities X and Y have some similarities

Body II Topic Sentence:

On the other hand, X and Y
Differences
have some differences

Conclusion

* The Thesis Statement of a block method in compare and contrast essay announces the
reader that the essay will discussed the similarities and differences generally.

32
Sample Block Organization Thesis Statements

* There are both similarities and differences between Istanbul and İzmir.
* Ayşe and Fatoş have not only similarities but also differences.
* The differences between BMW and Ford outweigh the similarities.

Sample Compare and Contrast

Essay (Block Method)

What are the similarities and differences between two of your best friends?

Jane and John

My university years are the times which I can never forget. Besides academic studies,
I had so much fun. The main reason why I had so much fun was because of my wonderful
friends. I had so many friends from different cultures and backgrounds and they have
contributed my life a lot. Among all of my friends Jane and John have a different place.
Although both of them were my best friends they had few similarities and many differences.

Jane and John had a few similarities. First of all, they were born in the same month so
they had the same horoscope; Virgo. Jane was very neat similarly, John was very neat and
gave a lot of importance to details. For example, they both were interested in decoration and
kept their rooms very clean in the dormitory. Secondly, not only John but also Jane was very
honest. Honesty was the most important similar quality that they had.

Besides their few similarities, John and Jane had many differences. To begin with,
John was a very outgoing person while Jane was more introvert. At the weekends, John had
fun in many different parties. On the contrary, weekends were times for relaxing and reading
books for Jane. John was also very sportive and because of this he was very athletic. On the
other hand, Jane was overweight due to her inactive lifestyle. Not only doing but also
watching sports was a burden for Jane. Because of their different departments, they had
different interests and they had different dreams about their future. While John was studying
architecture and dreaming of becoming a famous architect, Jane was studying English
literature and hoped to become a successful teacher.

As it can be seen, Jane and John had two different personalities with few similarities
and a lot of differences. Despite all the differences they had, they were both my best friends
and I had so much fun with them. I am still in touch with both of them. They are both very
successful people and they also have very nice families. I am definitely sure that our
friendship will last forever.

On Your Own or With Company?

Most days it feels like you have more load than your shoulders can carry. There are
constant meetings to attend, lots of homework to do, bills to pay, hearts to mend, stomachs to
fill. When you feel lost in all this chaotic vicious circle, generally one common alternative
springs up in our minds: travelling. Travelling can help us get away from all the monotonous
commitments we have to do each day. However, before setting off, you should decide

33
whether to travel alone or with others. There are a lot of differences between travelling alone
and travelling with other people.

The first difference is the issue of safety. You may come across several safety
problems when you travel alone. Lots of unexpected things might happen while you are
travelling. For example, you might get lost, you might be robbed, or might even become ill.
However, when there is someone by you, you will overcome these problems more easily.
Your company and you support each other whenever you need help.

Freedom is one other difference between the two forms of travelling. When you travel
alone, you are your own boss. That is, you can go to sleep and you can wake up whenever you
want. You can go somewhere any time you want, and you can stay there as long as you want.
In contrast, when you travel with someone, you depend on him/her. Sometimes you have to
make sacrifices and vice versa. You may have to wait for each other in several places
although you do not want to. In short, when you travel alone you are as free as a bird, but
when you travel with someone, there is always a guardian with you.

The final and the most remarkable difference between travelling alone and travelling
with someone is the opportunity of socializing. When you travel alone, you have to
communicate with the local people yourself. This will make a lot of contributions to your
personality and your knowledge. You will learn to be more outgoing, courageous and
intellectual thanks to this chance. If you have company with you while you are travelling, you
will not be as lucky, though. There will always be that person and maybe he will do all the
talk instead of you, or maybe you will sort out your problems yourselves without contacting
anybody. In brief, travelling alone will open a lot of new doors for you whereas travelling
with someone else will limit you.

To cut a long story short, travelling alone and travelling with a friend/friends are both
valuable experiences. One should never miss the window of opportunity to go somewhere.
Like all great travelers, you will have seen more than you will remember, and you will
remember more than you will have seen.

34
Point by Point Method:

In a point by point method the similarities and differences between two things are discussed
by focusing on different points of comparison.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF X AND Y

Introduction

Thesis Statement
X and Y have similarities
and differences in terms
of (A) and (B)

Body I Topic Sentence

Similarities and X and Y have some similarities
and differences in terms of A
differences in
terms of (A)

Body II Topic Sentence

similarities and X and Y also have some
similarities and differences in
differences in
terms of B
terms of (B)

Conclusion

Sample Point by Point organization Thesis Statements

* A BMW and a Ford have similarities and differences in terms of their comfort and price.

* Istanbul and Ankara are two cities which have similarities and differences about their
location, climate and social activities.

*** In some topics, the similarities can be very few and unimportant. In that case, focus on
the differences.

35
 OUTLINE

Differences in Gender

I. Introduction
Thesis: Gender becomes a basic part of a child‟s identity which is reflected in the
way they play, speak and view friendship.

II. Body
A. The Games
1. boy
a) large group
b) each boy has a role
c) complicated rules
d) each boy tries to win
2. girls
a) smaller groups
b) want to be liked
c) not interested in winning
d) play fairly & take turns

B. Language
1. boys
a) use commands
b) speak directly
2. girls
a) mild form of language
b) use tag questions

C. Friendship
1. boys
a) doing things together
b) discussions on sports and computer games
2. girls
a) talking
b) gossip

III. Conclusion
Children learn to behave like boys and girls early in their lives.

36
 Differences in Gender

When a married couple learn that they are going to have a baby, they wonder whether
it is a boy or a girl. Nowadays, sonograms enable them to find out the sex of the baby during
pregnancy. As soon as the parents learn the baby‟s sex, they start to prepare accordingly. That
is, if the baby is a girl, they prepare the baby‟s room and clothes in pink. However, if it is a
boy, everything has to be blue! In fact, the differences in gender start even before birth and
infants learn what it means to be a girl and a boy very early in life. Their sex at birth, female
and male, becomes a gender - a way of thinking, speaking, and acting that is considered
feminine and masculine. Gender becomes a basic part of a child‟s identity which is reflected
in the way they play, speak and view friendship.

First of all, the games which boys and girls play are quite different. Boys play in large
groups in which every boy knows his place. Some are leaders; others are followers. Boys
compete with each other for leadership. The games they play often have complicated rules
and each boy tries hard to win. On the other hand, girls play in smaller groups. Sometimes
they play with only one or two “best friends”. Most girls want other girls to like them, and
this is more important to them than winning. Girls are more interested in playing fairly and
taking turns. For example, when girls jump rope, they take turns holding the rope.

Gender also plays a role in the ways children use language. Boys often use commands
when they talk to each other. For instance, they say “You go first”, “Throw the ball”. Girls, in
contrast, use a milder form of language. Instead of using commands, they will say, “Let‟s try
it this way”, “Let‟s do this.” They try to direct the other girls without sounding bossy. By
using the form “let‟s”, they also emphasize the fact that the girls all belong to the same group.
In addition, girls often use tag questions. For example, girls might say “This is an adorable
shirt, isn‟t it?”. By adding tag question to their speech, they are giving other people a chance
to agree with them. In a similar situation, unlike most girls, boys would often speak more
directly and say “I want that blue shirt.”

Another difference between boys and girls is in the way they think about friendship.
For most boys friendship means doing things together such as playing football or computer
games. Talking is not an important part of friendship for most of them, yet girls usually
identify their best friend as someone with whom they talk frequently. For girls, talking with
friends and agreeing with them is very important. Girls also like to gossip, to talk about other
people and their lives. However, boys will be less interested in personal talk and more
concerned with discussions of sports and computer games.

To sum up, children learn to behave like boys and girls early in their lives. These
masculine and feminine characteristics are reflected in their games, their language and their
friendships. The roles they undertake as little boys and girls continue into their adulthood and
create the differences between the roles of men and women in society.

37
 CAUSES AND / OR EFFECT ESSAYS

CAUSE ESSAY

In a “cause essay” we try to explain why certain things happen and what are the reasons for
this.

EFFECT ESSAY

In an “effect essay” we try to explain the consequences, results of certain issues.

Connectors and Transition Signals in “cause” and “effect

Cause

* because / since / when / as / because of the fact that / owing to the fact that

Children lose creativity because / since they watch too much TV.
effect / when / as / cause
because of the
fact that /
owing to the
fact that

* because of / due to / as a result of

John has heart trouble because of his smoking habit.

effect due to / as cause
a result of

* due to / result from / is a result of / is caused by

Air pollution is due to / results burning of fossil fuels

effect from / is a result cause
of / is caused by

Effect

* result in / cause (o) / lead to

Careless driving can result in / an accident

cause cause / lead to effect

* so / as a result / consequently / Thus / hence

They sat in the sun for a long time so they got sunburned.
effect  As a result cause
 Consequently
 Thus
; hence

38
 Cause and Effect Transition Practice

A. Combine each group below so there will be only one sentence. Use one of the words
below to connect the sentences. You may have to make some structure changes. More
than one connector may be correct.

due to because because of since

1. We have more free time to do what we want. Technology has made our work easier.

........................................................................................................................................

2. People get a lot of stress. There is more pressure at work.

........................................................................................................................................

3. Some people eat too much. They have too much stress.

........................................................................................................................................

4. We don‟t get enough exercise. We have machines and computers to do our work for
us.

........................................................................................................................................

B. Combine each group below into one sentences. You may have to make some structure
changes. More than one transition may be correct.

consequently result in as a result cause lad to so

1. Excessive drinkers usually are late and they do not do their work on time.
............................., they may lose their jobs and turn to stealing to get money.
2. A father who drinks too much sometimes hits his wife or children. .............................
his wife may divorce him.
3. Some people have a lot of problems ............................. they eat too much.
4. The movements of the earth‟s surface can ............................. landslides.
5. Earthquakes can also ............................. fires and tidal waves. These
............................. a lot of damage and the death of thousands of people.

39
 CAUSES OR EFFECTS ORGANIZATION

CAUSES OF X

Thesis Statement
(X) has causes as (A) and
(B)

Topic Sentence ______

The first cause of (X) is (A) Cause I (A)

Topic Sentence 2 ______

Another cause of (X) is (B) Cause II (B)

Conclusion
(Restatement of the
Thesis Statement +
Writer‟s own idea or
solution.

Sample Thesis Statements

* Car accidents have three important causes which are careless drivers, mechanical failures
and weather conditions.
* Air pollution is caused by exhaust gases from vehicles, burning of fossil foals.
* CO2, CFL, methane are 3 important gases which cause Greenhouse Effect.

40
Sample Topic Sentences

* The first cause of car accidents is careless driving.

* One of the causes of car accidents is mechanical failures.
* Another reason for air pollution is burning of fossil fuels.
* Release of methane gas is another factor which causes Greenhouse Effect.

EFFECTS OF X

Thesis Statement
X leads to some effects
as (A) and (B)

Topic Sentence 1 ______

The first effect of (X) is (A) Effect I (A)

Topic Sentence 2 ______

Another effect of (X) is (B) Effect II (B)

Conclusion
(Restatement of the
thesis statement +
Writer‟s own idea /
comment or solution.

Sample Thesis Statement

* Air pollution has an adverse effect on our health and environment.

* Car accidents lead to injuries and death of people as well as financial loss.
* Stress affects our physical and mental health negatively.

Sample Topic Sentences

* One of the most important effects of air pollution is on our health.

* Another effect of air pollution is on the environment.
* Last but not least, stress affects our mental health adversely.



41
 CAUSES OF CRIME IN A BIG CITY

Every country has constitutions and laws to govern citizens so that everyone can live
peacefully together. This is necessary because people live, work and travel together. Due to
the increase of population, however, social problems have also increased. One of these
problems is crime. Crime has become a serious problem during the last century, especially in
the large cities of the world. Although there are laws against crime, there is a lot of crime and
most prisons are crowded in the world. In large cities, the most common crimes include
burglaries, car theft, and small street crimes of pickpocketing and purse snatching. Although
most people know that unemployment is the most important cause that leads to crime, there
are also contributing factors of alcohol, drug addiction and inadequate education.

The major single factor leading to crime is unemployment. People need money to live;
that is, they need enough money to buy food, clothing, educate their children, have a house
over their heads and so on. When people are unemployed, their needs don‟t disappear. They
still need food, clothing, and have to pay rent. Most unemployed people try to find work;
some find jobs that don‟t pay very much and some become street sellers. However, some
unemployed people turn to crime so that they can have money. Some of them can steal cars or
rob houses to support their families while others turn to pick-pocketing, purse snatching, or
mugging people on the streets to get money. Thus, crime increases when unemployment
increases.

Another factor that leads to the increase of crime is the development of bad habits due
to the failure of overcoming problems. Many people who have serious work pressure, family
problems or financial difficulties face their problems and try to solve them. However, some
people prefer to run away. They generally try to forget them by turning to alcohol or drugs.
First, when a person drinks alcohol, he behaves differently. For example, he can start fights or
do other actions that he would not normally do. If he becomes an alcoholic, he can spend all
his money on drinks and his wife can‟t pay the household bills or feed and cloth their
children. Eventually, this can result in his entering a life of crime to support his family or it
can lead to the breakup of the family. Moreover, people who use drugs can also cause crime.
Drugs are very expensive. After people become addicted to drugs, they need stronger doses to
satisfy their addictions. Most of them start stealing and committing crimes in order to buy the
drugs they need.

The last factor leading to crime is an inadequate education. People who haven‟t been
educated usually have difficulty understanding the ways of society. They can easily be
persuaded to do illegal activities. These people can be tricked easily into thinking that
particular activities are not harmful or illegal. They can make friends with the wrong people
and end up doing criminal activities. Moreover, since they have not developed skills or expert
knowledge in a particular field, they can‟t find job easily. For this reason, they can turn to
crime to obtain the necessary money to live on or to raise a family. If we don‟t educate our
youth, they can cause harm to other and do things which are against the law.

In conclusion, the increase of crime creates cancerous problems in every society. In

my opinion, in order to reduce crime, we must eliminate the sources of it. We need to educate
people and try to find ways to decrease unemployment.

42
 CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION

Nowadays the world is facing many environmental problems which have serious
consequences. One of these problems is air pollution. Air pollution can be defined as the
contamination of the air that we breathe with the increase of polluting gases like CO2,
methane and so on. There are many problems which contribute to air pollution, but three of
them stand out. Air pollution is caused by exhaust gases from cars, uncontrolled factory
releases and burning of coal.

The most important cause of air pollution is exhaust gases from cars. Nowadays there
are more and more vehicles on the roads as the society gets more affluent. All these vehicles
emit CO2, so there is an increase in the level of CO2 in the air. There are filters which control
the emission of CO2 in the cars. These filters should be checked and changed regularly.
However, the government does not have enough control on this issue. The number of cars
which join the traffic and the exhaust systems of these cars are not controlled by the
government. The citizens also do not act responsibly. They prefer the convenience of driving
to their destinations instead of taking public transportation as in the case of the traffic jam in
Istanbul. As a result of these actions, millions of cars without proper control join the traffic
and cause air pollution.

Another factor which causes air pollution is uncontrolled factory gases. The
manufacturing of products in factories to meet the growing demands of society creates air
pollution. These factories release polluting gases into the atmosphere during production. Most
of the factories do not take the necessary precautions and obey the rules. Unfortunately, the
gases which are released are not controlled regularly. In addition to this, most factories are in
the residential areas. For example, there are many factories in the residential areas of big cities
like Istanbul, Kocaeli, Izmir. As it is seen, in the developing world that we live today,
factories affect our environment a lot.

The last cause of air pollution is burning of low quality coal for heating. In
underdeveloped countries where the population is generally poor, people use low quality coal
for heating. Coal releases toxic gases while burning and these gases create air pollution. The
governments are not successful enough in controlling the places where low quality coal is
used. Moreover, other forms of energy are very expensive to use. Although natural gas is
widely being used in many big cities, there are still some people who cannot afford natural
gas and prefer low quality coal instead. For example, in the shanty towns of Istanbul high
amounts of low quality coal is used and this pollutes the air of the city. As it can be
understood, burning of low quality coal leads to polluted cities.

In conclusion, smog coming from the vehicles; exhaust gases released by factories and
burning of coal cause air pollution, which creates more health and environmental problems. In
my opinion, the authorities should take measures to reduce air pollution. They should
encourage people to use public transportation and renewable energy sources.

43
 CAUSES OF DIVORCE

There has been an increase in the number of people getting divorced in recent years.
According to statistics one in three couples get divorced in the first years of their marriage.
This situation can be attributed to several reasons, two of which are financial problems and
addiction.

One reason why spouses divorce is financial difficulties. If the couple has difficulty in
meeting their needs, they may feel depressed and unhappy. Due to these negative feelings,
disagreements start at home. In time, these arguments turn into conflict, which may become
difficult to resolve. In such a condition, divorce becomes unavoidable.

Another cause of divorce is addiction. Addiction of any kind is bad. However, alcohol
addiction is worst. For example, an alcoholic husband may resort to violence against his wife
when he is drunk. It is not easy for the wife to endure such a pain even if she loves her
husband. This time, alcohol may be the reason for ending the marriage.

To conclude, no one gets married to have a divorce. However, sometimes conditions

such as financial problems and alcohol addiction may bring about divorce. If couples are
tolerant to each other and try to solve their problems by communicating, they can continue
their marriage.

EFFECTS OF WATCHING TOO MUCH TV

Discoveries and invention of devices are always welcome until we find a way to abuse
their benefits and become adversely affected by them. The television was also invented with
positive thoughts in mind - education and communication would be worldwide and people all
around the world would learn about the lifestyles in other parts of the world. So far it has
educated and entertained people in many different ways. However, we are now realizing that
people have started to watch too much TV in our century; many have even become addicted
to it. Unfortunately, watching too much TV has various physiological and psychological
adverse effects on human beings.

One of the most important effects of watching TV in excessive amounts is causing

physiological health problems. The first of these is eye-strain. It is true that there are
specifications for watching TV; TV should be at least 5 meters away from the eye, the room
should be adequately lit, and TV should be placed at the same height with our eyes. However,
these do not prevent our eyes from getting tired if we keep watching TV for a long time
because we put too much strain on our eyes for a long time. Another physiological effect is
obesity, which is widely observed in people who like watching TV and eating snacks every
day (there is even a term “TV snacks” to refer to fast food that is suitable for eating in front of
the TV). TV is such a powerful machine that people cannot get away from it - it is addictive.
They even start to eat their meals in front of it and this inactive lifestyle leads to obesity in
time.

Apart from the physiological effects, TV also causes psychological effects. One is a
result of being exposed to violence. After seeing so many violent scenes on TV, people start
considering violent actions normal and they lose their sensitivity to their environment. In
addition to this effect, the interpersonal communication among people decreases. Being

44
insensitive to the suffering of other people causes people to become alienated. Also, after
coming home from work people seek to relax in front of the TV, and generally people prefer
watching TV to talking to each other. This issue is very important since lack of interpersonal
relationships mostly end with divorces.

In conclusion, inventions are meant to be beneficial for human beings, if we know

how to benefit from them. TV is one of such inventions that need to be used for the right
purpose only - being educated and entertained for a reasonable period of time. We may, then,
be safe from or at least reduce the adverse physiological and psychological effects of
watching too much TV.

EFFECTS OF STRESS

Stress has become a major problem in everyone‟s life regardless of what kind of job
they do. People especially those living in cities suffer from it to a great extent. Stress leads to
not only psychological problems but also physical and social ones.

One effect caused by stress is psychological problems. Due to excessive stress in work
life, people experience problems such as anxiety, panic attack or insomnia. These people feel
anxious or cannot sleep as a result of hectic city-life. If they cannot manage to cope with such
stress, they are bound to have psycho-somatic problems mentioned above.

Physical problems also result from stress. A person who has too many responsibilities
is very likely to suffer from hypertension, migraine headaches and even more serious illnesses
such as cancer. Illnesses caused by stress may deteriorate the quality of life and make the
person vulnerable to every disease.

Another effect of stress which is worth mentioning is social isolation. A stressful

person may refuse to socialize due to his condition. For this reason, a weak social life may
originate from too much stress.

To conclude, stress is an unavoidable part of daily life and according to experts, a

moderate amount of stress is necessary to lead an active life. However, too much stress can
bring about serious psychological, physical and social problems, which may become difficult
to overcome.

45
 CAUSES AND EFFECTS ORGANIZATION

Causes and Effects of (X)

Thesis Statement Introduction

(X) has some causes which
lead to several effects.

Cause I (A)
Topic Sentences
The first cause of (X) is (A)

Cause II (B)
Another cause of (X) is (B)

As it is seen (X) Transition

has some causes as (A) paragraph
and (B). These causes
lead to some effects as
(C) and (D) Effect I (C)
Topic Sentence:
The first effect of (X) is (C)

Effect I (D)
Topic Sentence:
The second effect of (X) is (D)

Conclusion
(Restatement of the
thesis + Writer‟s own
idea / comment or
solution)

** Transition paragraph can also be written as a transition sentence as the first sentence of
“effect” part.
*** The number of body paragraphs can vary depending on the number of causes and effect
which are discussed.

46
Sample Transition Paragraphs

* Air pollution does not only have causes but also effects which are seen on our
environment and on our health.
* Mental problems, peer pressure, problems in the family and curiosity cause people to be
drug addicts. On the other hand, these causes lead to some effects on the individual,
family and society.

Causes and Effects of Absenteeism

I‟m a student attending Marmara University this year. I‟m learning English in the Prep
Department. Since my family lives in Istanbul, I‟m lucky because I can live at home. We live
fairly close to the school so I don‟t have any transportation problems. Most of the students
attending Prep Class attend regularly, do their homework on time and study. They want to be
successful and pass their final exam in June. However, there are some students who are absent
sometimes and a few that are absent frequently. There are several reasons for absenteeism
which lead to long term and short term effects.

First of all, some students are occasionally late to class or miss one or two hours in a
day. The main reasons for lateness is oversleeping or being caught in traffic congestion. For
example, students frequently have to study and have a lot of homework. For this reason, they
go to bed late. Sometimes this leads to oversleeping in the mornings. Another reason students
may oversleep is because they have a job and have to work in the evenings. Therefore, they
have to do their lessons and homework very late and have difficulty getting up in the
mornings. Another example is the traffic situation in Istanbul. There are frequent traffic jams,
especially when it rains. For example, students who live very far from school are frequently
late because of traffic tie-ups. Sometimes, students who use more than one vehicle to get to
school can be late because vehicle connections are missed.

The other cause for longer periods of absenteeism is being ill or having an accident.
Students, like anyone else, can get the flue, have an accident, or get a disease. These events
can cause him to be absent from class for a day to several days. One example is a student who
was absent from school for four weeks because she got hepatitis. Another example is the
student who fell down in his soccer game and broke his leg badly, thus preventing him from
coming to class for two weeks. A third cause of absenteeism is getting “spring fever”. This is
a strange illness which occurs when the weather gets warm and nice, especially in springtime.
Some students don‟t want to go to class. They prefer to go somewhere with their boy or
girlfriend or go with their friends to a movie or picnic. Some students escape to attend a
football match.

These absences naturally affect their studies and success. In fact, absences can have
short-term effects and long term effects. Adverse short-term effects of absenteeism include
lack of understanding which can lead to getting behind in their studies and not being able to
pass quizzes and achievement exams. In turn, these short-term effects lead to even worse
long-term effects: failing the final exam or not being able to enter the final exam by passing
the allowed absent hours.

A few hours of absenteeism or a short illness generally results in a student not clearly
understanding a particular subject or subjects taught during this absence. For example, when a

47
student is absent regularly for the first class because of oversleeping or being late in traffic
congestion, he can‟t follow what is being taught in the following class periods. Some students
gather with their classmates and try to catch up what they have missed. However, some
students get behind the class. Getting behind can have a snowball effect and a student can get
more and more behind. This can lead to the student not being able to pass his quizzes or
exams.

Continual absences and failure on achievement exams can lead to failing the final
exam. Many students who are frequently absent feel they can study by themselves better.
However, these students are the ones who generally can‟t pass their final exams. Success is a
result of attending regularly. Regular attendance and study are essential to success. Another
long term result of excessive absences is not being allowed to enter the Prep School final
exam. If a student passes the 90 to 100 hours of absenteeism he is allowed, he won‟t be
accepted into the final. As a result, he must repeat the Prep Class again the following year.
Therefore, he loses another year of his life.

In conclusion, there are several causes of absenteeism. These causes can result in a
student not understanding his lessons and getting behind in his studies. In extreme cases of
absenteeism, students may fail their final exams or be refused admittance to the final exam
and have to repeat Prep School again. I believe attending school regularly is essential to pass
the class and each student must be responsible for his own attendance. No one can force a
student to attend. However, students should be made aware that failure of passing means that
their parents must finance them for an additional year and they will not be able to continue
with the rest of their classmates and friends.

Women’s Liberation

Since the middle of the 20th century, women around the world have been seeking
greater independence and recognition. No longer content with their traditional roles as
housewives and mothers, women have joined together to create the so-called “women‟s
liberation movement”. While the force behind this international movement varies from culture
to culture and from individual to individual, the basic causes in the United States can be
traced to three events: the development of effective birth-control methods, the invention of
labor-saving devices for the home, and World War II.

The first cause of the liberation of women was the development of effective birth-
control methods, freeing women from the endless cycle of child-bearing and rearing. As a
result of having a choice as to when and if to bear children, women acquired the freedom and
the time to pursue interests outside of the home. Because of the development of birth-control,
women could delay having children or avoid having them altogether; consequently, women
had the opportunity to acquire an education and/or pursue a career.

Another event was the development of mechanized labor-saving devices for the home,
resulting in more leisure time and freedom for women. For example, fifty years ago, a
housewife spent an average of twelve to fourteen hours per day doing housework. Due to the
invention of machines such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines and dishwashers, a
housewife can now take care of her daily housework in about five hours.

48
 The final event that, at least in the United States, gave impetus to the liberation of
women was World War II. During the war, most men were serving in the military.
Consequently, women had to fill the vacancy in the labor force. Women by the thousands
went to work in the factories and then took over businesses as well as changed diapers and
baked cookies.

These three events planted the seeds of great change in society, and the effects of
his change are being felt at all levels: in the family, in business, and in the government.

One of the biggest effects of the greater independence of women is being felt in the
home. The traditional husband-wife relationship is undergoing a radical transformation.
Because so many women are working, men are learning to share the household tasks of
cooking, cleaning, and even caring for children. In some families, there has been a complete
reversal of the traditional roles: the husband stays home, while the wife earns the family‟s
income. It should be pointed out, however, that this is the exception, not the rule. In most
families in the United States, the husband still earns most of the money, and the wife still does
most of the housework.

The effects of women‟s liberation are being felt not only in the home but also on the
job. More and more women are working, and they are demanding equal salaries and equally
responsible positions. It is not uncommon for a woman to be the president of a corporation
these days. In fact, many businesses encourage women to advance to high management
positions, and every year, the nation‟s schools produce more women doctors, lawyers and
accountants.

Politics and government are still other areas that are feeling the effects of this
movement. Although the U.S. doesn‟t appear ready to accept a woman president, as some
countries of the world have, women are being elected to public office in increasing numbers.
The U.S. currently has several women governors, which is the highest office in a state. A few
years ago, this would have been unthinkable.

In conclusion, women in the U.S. are acquiring greater independence, which is causing
sweeping changes in society: at home, at work and in politics. While men may not be happy
with some of these changes, they should remember that it was the men who created the
conditions leading to the liberation of women: men made war, male scientists developed birth
control, and businessmen earned a lot of money selling vacuum cleaners and dishwashers.

49
 OPINION ESSAY

An opinion essay is written to persuade or convince the reader that your opinion is right. In an
opinion essay, your opinion must be stated clearly and supported by justifications. In a way,
the writer becomes the “defense attorney”.

Useful Language in an opinion essay

* While you are stating your ideas, you can use some structures:
I believe / think / feel (that)
I strongly believe / In my opinion / It seems to me (that)
I agree / disagree with the idea (that) / I am for / against...
* While you are listing your viewpoints, you can use some structures:
In the first place / First of all, / To start with / The first important reason / Another major
reason

Opinion Essay
(X)

Introduction

Thesis Statement
I believe that (X) should not be
allowed because of (A) and (B)

Topic Sentence I
The first reason why I
Reason I (A)
believe (X) should not
be allowed is (A)

Topic Sentence II
Another reason why I
think (X) should be Reason II (B)
banned is (B)

Conclusion
(Restate your thesis
statement / writer‟s final
comments / solutions)

50
Sample Thesis Statements

* In my opinion smoking should not be allowed in public places because second hand
smoking can cause cancer and public places should be clean for all to enjoy.
* I support the idea that watching TV is useful because you can learn the instant news and
spend your free time by having fun.

Sample Topic Sentences

* The first reason why I strongly believe that smoking should be banned in public places is
that it can cause illnesses in non-smokers.
* Secondly, another major reason for banning smoking in public places is that these places
should be clean for all people to enjoy.

51
SAMPLE ESSAYS

WHY STUDENTS SHOULD EAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY

A lot of people, especially young people, go through the day without having breakfast.
Many people believe that it is not necessary, or they say that they don‟t have time for that, and
begin their day with no meal. I believe that everyone should eat breakfast for some reasons as
physical and mental health.

The first reason why I think you should eat breakfast before going to school is for your
health. When you skip breakfast and go to school, you are more likely to feel tired and sleepy,
so in the long run you can get ill easily. It‟s very important to have breakfast and not let your
stomach work empty. Otherwise, you will give harm to your immune system, which may lead
to serious diseases.

The other reason for eating breakfast is that it is good for your mental health. If you
don‟t have breakfast, your brain is not going to function as well as it can because you have no
energy and no strength. When you try to learn something and have nothing in your stomach,
you are going to have a lot of trouble succeeding and focusing on your studies because you
have spent the entire previous night without food. Consequently, you will have concentration
problems.

To conclude, you have to realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day,
and it is essential for your health, your school and your defense mechanism. It is better to
wake up earlier and have a good breakfast than run to school without eating anything. If you
want to do something good for your health, eating breakfast is a good way to start.

The Right to Die in Dignity

A difficult problem that is facing society today is euthanasia, another word for “mercy
killing”. Thousands of young people are in comas because of accidents, and old people are
terminally ill because of incurable diseases. They are all kept alive in artificial ways, usually
at the direction of a doctor. They have no chance to recover completely, but the American
legal system does not allow doctors to end their lives whereas some European countries do.
However I believe that terminally ill patients should be allowed to die for three important
reasons.

The first and most important reason that terminally ill patients should be allowed to
die is that the patients have no chance of recovery. They can never lead normal lives and must
be kept alive by life-support machines. They may need a machine to breathe and a feeding
tube to take in food. These patients are more dead than alive and will never get better. For
example, in 1975, a British girl, Karen Quintan, became unconscious after she swallowed
some drugs and drank alcohol. She was kept alive by machines for months. Her parents knew
that her body and brain would never be normal. Therefore, they asked the court to allow their
daughter to die, and the judge agreed.

The second reason is that medical costs are very high. The cost of a hospital room can
be as much as five hundred dollars per day and even more. The costs of medicines and
medical tests are also high. The family of the patient is responsible for the expenses.

52
Consequently, they would be a terrible financial burden for them for period of time. In the
case of Karen Quintan, the parents had to pay for her room and medical expenses for the
months that the doctor kept her alive by using life-support machines.

The third reason is that the family suffers. The nurses can only give the terminally ill
patient minimum care. The family must spend time to care for the special needs of their loved
one. They should talk, touch, and hold the patient even though he or she may be in a coma.
For example, Karen‟s parents visited her every day even though she was unable to speak or to
see. Moreover, it‟s very difficult to watch a loved one in a coma because the parents realize
that his or her condition won‟t improve.

In conclusion I strongly believe that because terminally ill patients have no chance to
live normal lives, they should be allowed to die with dignity. Therefore, the family should
have the right to ask doctors to turn off the life-support machines or to stop further medical
treatment of a terminal patient.

53
 FOR and AGAINST / ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY

An argumentative essay is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered from

opposing points of view. You should present both sides in a fair way by discussing them
objectively. In this kind of writing, the writer not only gives information but also presents an
argument with PROS (supporting ideas) and CONS (opposing ideas) of an argumentative
issue. The writer acts as a judge in the introduction and body parts of the essay. The writer
should be objective until the end of the essay. The writer‟s own idea about the issue is
presented in the “conclusion” part.

Structures and words in an Argumentative Essay

* pros (supporting ideas) / supporters / supporting idea / supporting point / support(v) /

* Cons (opposing ideas / opponents / opposing idea / opposing point / oppose(v)

* think / believe / assert / claim / state / support / oppose / to be for / to be against / argue /
to be in favor of / point out /

54
 For and Against / Argumentative Essay

(X)
Thesis Statement
(X) is an argumentative
issue which is being
discussed a lot. Some people
Introduction
support (X) where as others
are against it. Before making
a decision whether (X) is
beneficial or not the pros
and cons of the issue should
be discussed.

Topic Sentence:
Supporters of (X) claim Supporters‟ first point (A)
that (X) is beneficial
because of (A)

Topic Sentence:
Supporters of (X) point out Supporters‟ first point (B)
that (X) is also beneficial
because of (B)
Transition Paragraph:
There are supporters of (X)
which claim that (A) and (B).
On the other hand, there also
opponents who assert that (X)
is not beneficial because of
(C) and (D)
Topic Sentence:
Opponents of (X) assert Opponents‟ first point (C)
that (X) is harmful
because of (C)

Topic Sentence:
Opponents also state that Opponents‟ first point (D)
(X) is not beneficial
because of (D)

Conclusion
(Restatement of the
thesis +
WRITER‟S OWN
IDEA)

55
** Transition paragraph can also be written as a transition sentence as the first sentence of
“Opposing” part.

** The number of body paragraphs can vary depending on the number of pros and cons
which are discussed.

Sample Transition Paragraphs

* The supporters of the idea that smoking should be banned in public places assert that it
can cause illnesses among non-smokers and public places should be clean. On the other
hand opponents are against this idea and they claim that this is against human nights.

* Euthanasia has not only supporters who claim that mercy killing should be legalized but
also opponents who state that this is against religion.

Sample Thesis Statements

* Euthanasia is an argumentative issue which is being discussed a lot. Before a decision is

made whether it should be legalized or not, the pros and cons of the issue should be
discussed.

* Banning smoking in public is a popular topic. In order to make decision whether smoking
should be banned or not it is necessary to examine the ideas of supporters and opponents.

56
SAMPLE ESSAYS

PRIVATE OR STATE UNIVERSITIES

In the modern world, a good education is essential to find a specialized job. This
means that students must graduate from a university if they want to live comfortably.
Therefore, universities are very important for both the states and for individuals. In Turkey,
all universities were owned by the state and there were no private universities 30 years ago.
However, there are lots of private universities today. Some people support private universities
whereas some people are against them. In order to better understand whether private
universities are beneficial or not, let‟s examine the pros and cons of this issue.

Supporters of private universities claim that private universities provide their students
better education and social facilities because they can afford to have the best teachers and
facilities. In fact, it is true that the facilities in private universities are much better than the
ones in state universities. Supporters argue that private universities have modern buildings,
computer and science labs and facilities for sport and social activities. For example private
universities have computer labs with many computers available for their students whereas
state universities almost never have a computer lab or only one or two. They also have science
labs which provide a way for science students to perform many experiments.

As it has been mentioned above, private universities supply their students with better
education facilities. It is necessary to examine these by taking a look at what the opponents
assert about the topic before deciding which side is right.

The main point cited by the opponents is that the system of private universities does
not agree with the law of “equality” in society. In democratic countries, all citizens are equal
according to the laws. However, the system of private universities does not obey the
“equality” concept. This is because very few students can afford to attend these universities.
Only rich students and extremely successful students who can get a scholarship can enter
private universities. Even students with a scholarship that don‟t have to pay the high tuition
costs have difficulty covering the costs of books and other materials needed at these
universities.

The opposition also believes that the quality of education in private universities is
lower than the quality of education in state universities. They assert that anyone who can
afford the expenses of a private university can attend whether they are intelligent or not. In
fact, most of the students who enter private universities have low grades. Therefore, the
quality of education in private universities is very low in spite of the superior education
facilities. The opponents state that better quality facilities do not always result in higher
success. In other words, better facilities are not a substitute for intelligence. It is impossible to
disagree with this opinion.

In conclusion, private universities have some advantages such as providing better

educational facilities. However, they have some disadvantages, too. First, the system of
private universities does not support equality. This may cause some problems in our society
such as separating people by classes-the rich and the poor. Secondly, any rich student can
attend these universities even though they weren‟t successful in high school. This leads to a
low quality of education in private universities. I think private universities mustn‟t be
established. Every student should have equal rights in education. This is very important for

57
the development of the society. Finally, only the students who are intelligent enough and
deserve a good education should be able to attend universities.

IS MONEY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE

Money is certainly something which is often discussed in today‟s world. Hardly a day
goes by without the subject of money being raised in most people‟s lives. However, it is
highly debatable whether it is more important than other considerations, such as health and
happiness, which some people consider to be of greater significance.

To begin with, supporters argue that having money enables people to influence others.
Wealthy businessmen, for example, are often the most highly respected members of society,
and business tycoons are often consulted by world leaders, who then make policies which
affect the whole population. As a consequence, money can be seen as the single most
important factor in daily life.

Secondly, from the point of view of the individual, money is vital for survival.
Western society is structured in such a way that, without money, people are deprived of the
means to obtain proper nutrition and health care. Furthermore, in some cases where state
benefits are inadequate, the inability to pay heating bills can indeed become a matter of life
and death. This is clearly illustrated by the fact that, according to Social Services, the majority
of deaths due to hypothermia each winter occur among low-income groups.

While some people support the importance of having money, the others think that
there are certain issues in life, which cannot be bought or sold.

Opponents claim that one of the factors in life which is undoubtedly of greater
importance than money is health. As Izaak Walton said, “health is a blessing that money
cannot buy.” What is more, money is of little consolation to those who are suffering from
health problems. Despite the fact that money can pay for the best medical care available, this
is no guarantee of a longer life.

In addition, most people would agree that personal happiness easily outweighs money
in importance. Even if an individual is extremely rich, this does not necessarily lead to
happiness. In some cases, the contrary is true and vast wealth brings with it a whole range
problems and insecurities. Genuine happiness cannot be bought and is usually independent of
financial status.

On the whole, although there are those who would rank money as the single most
important thing in life, the vast majority would disagree. Money, I think, has an important
part to play but perhaps the world would be a more harmonious place to live in if this were
kept in proportion, and society put more emphasis on moral issues.

58
 CENSORSHIP IS NECESSARY IN MODERN SOCIETY

Censorship is an issue which frequently generates a great deal of heated debate, with
supporters maintaining that it is vital in order to protect society, and opponents saying that it
is an unjustifiable restriction of public access to information.

Supporters claim that, all countries have secrets which must be safeguarded for
reasons of national security. For instance, if an enemy country were to acquire such highly
sensitive information, the effects could be catastrophic. Consequently, the governments have
to have the power to restrict access to information concerning areas such as the armed forces
or particular aspects of foreign policy.

Secondly, it is often argued that censorship is necessary to prevent the broadcast and
publication of obscene material which is considered offensive of harmful to public morals.
Many people feel that, without censorship the public would be constantly subjected to
material that the majority would find offensive. For this reason, the government has a duty to
impose certain restrictions on the mass media by censoring films and texts which contain
explicit scenes of sex, violence or foul language.

As it is seen, supporters of censorship believe that the protection of society can be

maintained through censorship. In contrast, the opponents claim that this is an attack to the
freedom of choice and is also a way of deceiving the society.

Opponents of censorship point out that when it is abused by governments, censorship

becomes an instrument used to misinform society and maintain power. In order to control the
flow of information which reaches the public, repressive regimes try to put constraints on the
media, thus denying citizens the right to get information owing to fact that governments
believe it may lead them to seek greater freedom.

Furthermore, it is generally felt that mature adults are able to make informed choices
about what they watch, read and listen to and should, therefore, be permitted to make their
own decisions. For example, some comedians use offensive language and taboo subjects in
their performances. Critics of censorship argue that the only people who will watch or listen
to such material are adults who have made a conscious decision to do so. Thus, it is claimed,
it is unjust to censor material like this since it is not forced upon people who may
subsequently be offended by it.

All things considered, I think it can be concluded that a certain degree of censorship is
always necessary. The best course of action would be attempt to achieve a balance between
the requirements of the country and the public on the one hand, and individuals‟ rights on the
other.

59
 SHOULD CLONING BE ALLOWED

There are several methods of reproduction. Of course, all living things reproduce. One
celled animals multiply by splitting into two. Birds lay eggs. During this century, people have
found a way to have “test tube” babies. The latest method is cloning. Cloning is the
replicating of a cell from a plant or animal so that it grows into an exact duplicate of that plant
or animal. For the last twenty years, scientists have been experimenting cloning cells, plants
and then animals. Scientists claim that cloning can bring us many benefits, but some people
are afraid that cloning can be dangerous. One fear is that human beings will be cloned. Before
a decision can be made about whether cloning is beneficial or not, it is necessary to examine
the pros and cons of the issue.

Supporters of cloning give several reasons for their claim. The most important reason
for the necessity of cloning is that it can help our health. For example, scientists have
produced cows that supply necessary proteins and drugs for certain deficiencies. Moreover,
scientists have produced better quality vegetables in this way. Finally, advocates of cloning
feel that this technique will be useful in finding a solution to terminal diseases such as AIDS
and cancer. Supporters believe that by replacing the cell which causes AIDS or cancer with a
healthy one, we can get rid of these diseases.

The second reason why some people support cloning is that they feel they could create
perfect human beings. Throughout history, there have been thoughts about creating the perfect
human. These people believe that it is now possible to create a perfect human body in order to
make the world a better place. For example, by creating open-minded, friendly and wise
people, the world would probably be a better place to live in.

As you see, there are two main reasons why people support cloning to improve our
health and to create a perfect human to help the world. However, there are many opponents of
cloning who would like to have cloning banned. The two most important reasons given by
businessmen, religious people and normal everyday people are religious beliefs and abuse of
cloning itself.

One reason why many religious people all over the world are against cloning is that it
goes against their religious beliefs. They believe that the creation of living things is the work
of God, not scientists. These opponents feel that people have no right to poke their noses into
God‟s business. Opponents are strongly against the cloning of people and believe that God
will get angry and punish humanity. In other words, cloning may result in the end of the
world.

The second reason why so many people whish cloning to be banned is that they feel it
will be used wrongly. Many people believe that it can used for people‟s own benefits.
Scientists can make a lot of money and rich people can make clones f themselves. In fact, rich
and powerful people may decide that this is a good way to take over the world.

To sum up, cloning is still a huge problem that awaits an answer. There are great
potential benefits like curing terminal diseases. On the other hand, it can be misused. In my
opinion, cloning should be allowed. However, before giving permission, governments should
consider all the possible effects of it and prepare regulations for its use.

60
 NUCLEAR ENERGY

With the increase in the demand of energy, people are trying to find alternative energy
sources. Today the most widespread energy sources are fossil fuels. However the fossil fuels
are polluting the environment and they may be used-up in the near future. This reality causes
many people to look for an alternative energy source. One form of alternative energy source is
nuclear energy. Using nuclear energy is an argumentative issue which is being discussed a lot.
There are both supporters and opponents of nuclear energy. Before a decision can be made
whether nuclear energy should be used or not, it is better to analyze the pros and cons of the
issue.

Supporters of nuclear energy point out that nuclear energy is the only solution to the
future lack of energy problem. Advocates of nuclear energy assert that nuclear energy is
renewable and can never be used up. According to the supporters, if we start using nuclear
energy all around the world, there will never be a problem in the future about lack of energy.
They also note that this might bring peace to the world since energy sources are the main
reasons for wars in the world. Nuclear energy can provide us infinite and limitless energy.

The reason why some people support nuclear energy is that they think this form of
energy does not pollute the environment like fossil fuels. They say that fossil fuels release all
the dangerous gases to the atmosphere and pollute the environment. However, nuclear energy
does not cause pollution because there is no release of gas in nuclear energy. If the nuclear
wastes are dumped in a proper way, nuclear energy is totally clean. They also assert that
nuclear energy is safe because, the power plants are controlled a lot and the chance of having
an accident in the power plant is very low. So according to the supporters, nuclear energy is
the best source of energy and it is not dangerous as many people think.

As it can be seen there are supporters of nuclear energy claim that this form of energy
is beneficial where as there are also opponents who assert that nuclear energy should be
abolished.

The opponents of nuclear energy oppose the idea of using nuclear energy as an
alternative source of energy because they think it is too dangerous to be used. According to
the opponents, nuclear power plants are potential bombs which can cause catastrophic
accidents. An explosion in the power plant may lead to the deaths of millions of people. They
give Chernobyl as an example to the their claim. So for the opponents, nuclear energy is the
worst and most dangerous alternative to fossil fuels.

Another point cited by the opponents of nuclear energy is that nuclear energy is not
the only energy source which is renewable. There are also other renewable and less dangerous
alternative energy sources which can be used in the solution of energy problem of the world
such as wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro electrical energy. These source are both clean and
renewable. So opponents believe that nuclear energy is not the only chance we have. Other
forms of energy should be considered before nuclear energy.

In conclusion, nuclear energy has supporters claiming that this is our only solution for
our future whereas there are opponents who believe that nuclear energy can cause the end of
the world. I think other forms of renewable energy should be developed and used instead of
nuclear energy. Otherwise we me can destroy the future of our world.

61
EXTRA MATERIAL

62
 PROCESS WRITING

Process writing is used when you are explaining the steps of doing a certain task. In
this kind of writing you use either “imperatives” (Open the box, put some water, etc.) or
“passive structure” (the liquid is poured, the water is heated, etc.). The transition signals that
are used in process writing are: First, second, third ..., next, after that, then, finally, etc.

Sample Paragraph

HOW TO OBTAIN SUGAR

Raw sugar obtained from sugar beet or sugar cane has to be refined in factories to be
ready for every day use. This is the process of obtaining sugar:

In the factory, first the raw sugar is mixed with sugar syrup to dissolve impurities.
Then, by centrifuging the sugar crystals are separated from impurities. Next, the partially
purified crystals in water are dissolved in a melter. After this, to remove the remaining
impurities the solution of water and sugar is filtered in a vacuum pan. As a next step, the
solution is boiled in a granulator. In this way, the solution evaporates and sugar crystals are
formed. Finally, the sugar crystals are dried with heated air and packaged in crystal form.

Task: Write a paragraph about the process of canning fish.

63
Assignment:

Study the information and write a paragraph describing the process of canning fish.

THE PROCESS OF CANNING FISH

delivery cleaning washing

place: cannery
(a factory where
food is canned)

adding salt

purpose: prevent
weighing washing the growth of
microorganism

adding liquid

liquid: mixture
putting into of oil and sterilizing
cans preservatives
method: heating

fish

storing cooling
can
place: warehouses

64
GRAPH READING

According to the results of a survey carried out by, ------------- in ------------- for -------------

(Prices) remained steady / stable / the same

did not change
reached a peak
fluctuated
leveled out

(Prices) increased dramatically

rose sharply
went up rapidly
climbed abruptly
decreased steeply
fell slightly
dropped steadily
declined gradually
dipped slowly

There was a sharp increase in prices / population / number / amount of

rapid rise
steady fall
gradual decline etc.

--------------- increased by 10% / 5 million

--------------- increased to 5 million

Time expressions:

Between ----------- and -----------

From ----------- to -----------
Until -----------
After -----------
Before -----------

In the following year(s) / month(s) / week(s) / day(s)

Afterwards
Following the (increase) in -----------

65
What Is a Graph?
A graph is a diagram that exhibits a relationship between two variables.
Each variable is represented by one axis on the graph.
How Do You Interpret a Graph?
To understand a graph, you must answer the following questions:
1. What is the subject of the graph?
2. What do the horizontal and vertical axes represent?
3. What trend or pattern does the graph reveal?
4. What are the implications of the graph? What predictions can you make, or what
conclusions can you draw?
Figure 1 is an illustration of how to interpret a graph.
1. Subject of the graph: This graph shows the growth of the population of the United States
from 1790 to 1980 and estimates growth to 2050.
2. Horizontal axis: The horizontal axis represents years, with fifty-year intervals marked.
Vertical axis: The vertical axis represents, the population in units of 100 million.
3. Trend or pattern: The population of the United States began to increase dramatically
around 1850 and continued to accelerate through 1980.
4. Implications and predictions: If this trend holds, the population of the United States will
double itself between 1980 and 2050.
The complete interpretation reads as follows: This graph shows the growth of the population
of the United States from 1790 to 1980 and estimates growth to 2050. The horizontal axis
represents years in fifty- year intervals. The vertical axis represents the population in units of
100 million. The trend revealed by this graph is that the population of the United States began
to increase dramatically around 1850 and continued to accelerate through 1980. If this trend
holds, the population of the United States will double itself between 1980 and 2050.

Figure 1 Growth of the population of the United States of America from 1790 to 1980,
with an estimate of continued growth to 2050. (Based on figures from the U.S. Bureau of
the Census.)

500

400
Population in millions

Projected

300
World
War II
200 World
War I
Civil
War
100
Depression

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050

Years

66
Study the graph which shows the number of people who reported UFO’s in the U.S.A.
last year. Fill in each blank with a word from the box in its correct form. Use each word
only once.

reach rapid
remain a peak
slow steep
increase fall
steady decrease

During the early part of January last year, the number of UFO reports were at around
three or four per week. It (1) _____________ _____________ for about two weeks.
However, on January 16, a science fiction film about visitors from outer space was shown on
TV and, as a result, the number of reports from people who claimed they had seen UFO‟s rose
sharply and (2) _____________ _____________ of 23 per week. So, General Tyler, who is
responsible for the investigation of such reports, decided to write an article on the subject. In
his article, which was published on January 30, he wrote that all UFO reports could be
explained quite naturally by civil and military aircraft movements. Following this
explanation, there was a (3) _____________ _____________ in the number of reports.
However, some people were not convinced by this article. On February 17, Martin Hogarty, a
reporter, published an article in which he criticized General Tyler and claimed that Tyler was
not telling the truth. As a result of this, the number of people who reported UFO‟s (4)
_____________ _____________ to about 9 per week.

General Tyler was interviewed on TV on March 27 and he was able to produce some
very convincing evidence for the article he had written. As a result of this TV broadcast, the
number of people who reported UFO‟s (5) _____________ _____________. This number
was even lower than that at the beginning of the year.

67
 CV SAMPLE

Ahmet Kara

Adress : Elma st. No:3/8

Caddebostan, Kadikoy, 34402, Istanbul, Turkey
Telephone : +90 550 444 44 44
E-mail : ahmet28kara@zmail.com

Personal Information
Place and Date of Birth: Istanbul, Turkey, 15 March 1990
Marital Status: single

Educational Information
2012-2014 : Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
2010-2014 : Istanbul Technical University
Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey
Bachelor of Engineering
2006-2010 : Kadikoy Anatolian High School
1998-2006 : Cumhuriyet Elementary School

Work Experience
August 2014-Present : Sales Representative, Inta Cosmetics, Istanbul, Turkey
• Developing new marketing and sales strategies
• Conducting financial needs analysis and recommending
appropriate products to meet client‟s needs

Sep. 2010- Feb. 2011 : Trainee, Cunto Chemistry, Istanbul, Turkey

• Research and development department
• Marketing and sales department
Skills
Languages : English (Advanced)
German (Elementary)
Computer : Word, Excel, Autocad

Objective
I am looking for an entry-level position in an international company.

References
Name : Dr. Mehmet Ot
Business Professor
Address : Box 146
Marmara University
Goztepe, Istanbul
44565 Turkey
Phone : +90 514 511 1111
E-mail : mehmet@gmail.com

Other references can be shown upon request.

68
 SAMPLE COVER LETTER

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to apply for the advertised position of Assistant Sales Manager in York
Chemicals. As a graduate of Chemical Engineering in Istanbul Technical University with a
MBA in Marmara University, I welcome the opportunity to become a part of the York
Chemicals team and utilize my skills to assist its clients.

As you can see from my attached resume, I have been educated in the field of Chemical
Engineering and Business Administration. I have developed my skills in several internship
and cbu projects. My supervisors commended me for my communication and creative
problem solving skills and for my ability to work well with many different people within our
team.

I look forward to discussing the position in York Chemicals with you further. If you
have any questions, please contact me at + 90 555 111144 or ahmet28kara@zmail.com Thank
you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Ahmet Kara

Attached: resume

69