The keyhole Structure is specifically a diagram representing the structure of a Support & evidence: depending on the type of paper,
per, support and evidence
standard essay. Sheridan Baker (1977) called this diagram "The Keyhole" and
offered it as a checklist for ensuring that beginning students didn't forget what
their essays needed to include. Thus considering it as very fundamental to
writing. Familiarity with this format will provide both teachers and students
with the foundation for becoming an accomplished and articulate writer on
any topic.
So we basically start with the keyhole title or the title of the essay.
Then we have the first part which is the beginning paragraphs or the
Introduction. We can actually consider it like a kind of funnel that
gradually draws the reader in until the paragraph narrows into the thesis
statement. An Introduction should contain the following
First is the Opening invitation. In this paragraph, this is the part where the
writer would try to ease the readers in or stimulate their interest. That is why
it’s called opening invitation, from the word invitation, the writer asks or
encourages the readers to read their written text.
Then followed by the Thesis or Thesis Statement. So This statement contains
the paper’s main idea and tells the reader what the paper will be about.
Next we have is the Middle Paragraphs or also called the Body of the
essay. Body paragraphs are the most important part of an essay. Here
is where the reader either buys into the writer’s discussion or heads for
the door. To the keep the reader interested, the body paragraphs
should contain the following:
A Topic Sentence: this sentence, usually the first, states the main idea of the
paragraph. Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the main idea as
stated in the topic sentence.
can take many forms: references to a text or historical document; facts; quotes
from artists, witnesses or experts; data, or any other relevant information that
supports the main idea.
Explanation & argument: this is the heart of the analysis or argument; clearly
and thoroughly demonstrate how the writer’s support and evidence supports
the main idea. This is the part where the writer is making the reader
understand how the evidence proves his/her point.
Then we have the Final paragraphs or the conclusion. This is the
closing part of the essay. This is where the writer wraps up all his
ideas in his/her essay.
Thesis reworded - An effective essay restates its thesis statement -- says it
again using different words. Repeating the thesis statement at the end of the
essay refreshes the writer’s main point for the reader.
A clincher is the sentence or limited group of sentences at the end of the
concluding paragraph. An effective clincher leaves the audience with a
strong final impression of the essay. ... This should not be new information but
can be a repeat of an important piece of evidence already provided in your
essay.
Then lastly the Final sentence which signals the reader that this is the end of
the paragraph.
Essay Writing Pointers
Essay writing needs meticulous planning and scrutiny, but it does not have to
be a tedious effort.
The following tips can assist both students and teachers in preparation for
classroom essay writing.
1. Discussion – You cannot just jump right in the activity of giving the
students a specific topic to write an essay about. It calls for a complete
and well-organized composition based on facts, figures, reasoning,
examples, or anything else that will demonstrate the student's
understanding of the topic of discussion is required for discussion.
Let’s take for example you will assigned the topic “Online computer
game addiction”, It is best to present facts and researches first that has
something to do with the topic that will help the students gain a deeper
understanding of the topic to be discussed.
2. Explanation – There is also a necessity to elaborate a notion or idea
first to our students by describing how it works, what it consist of or
what its causes are. So in this cases, you are giving the students a
vivid and clear picture of the idea that will be asked to write about.
3. Analysis - Analytical means breaking something down into a number
components or discussing something in such a way that it becomes a
dissection of the whole. Its primary goal is to explain something bit by
bit to enhance understanding. There are different ways to do this
a. Cause and Effect: One way of analyzing something is to
discuss the cause of something, and its effect on other things.
b. Comparison and Contrast: Another way of analyzing
something is to compare and contrast things among themselves.
c. Classification: Classification is yet another method of
analyzing things, to learn of their nature.
4. Definition – this necessitates the use of a statement sentence format, in
which the term to be defined is first placed in its category, followed by
a list of its distinguishing features. It introduces the term, concept, or
idea being defined, presents clear and specific information about the
term, and uses examples to clarify it. In other words, this is an essay
one writes to provide the reader with the definition of a word.
However, it's more in-depth than simply writing a dictionary
definition. There is a need to be able to put the definition in the
writer’s own words, as well as provide examples of how that word is
used in various contexts. One also needs to be able to discuss both the
literal and implied meaning of the word.
5. Comparison - A comparison essay compares and contrasts two
things. That is, it points out the similarities and differences (mostly
focusing on the differences) of those two things. ... The important
thing in any comparison essay is that the criteria for comparison
should remain the same; that is, the same attributes should be
compared. I think, for this we can ask our students to do an essay of a
comparison of two characters in a story discussed, or maybe, ask them
to write something about the cultural values of the country of the story
discussed and our cultural values here in the Philippines. If there are
any similarities or differences observed.
6. Identification - It requires assertions demonstrating one's
understanding of "who" or "what" someone or something is. It is best
to indicate "where" a person or item can be found, or "under what
category" it fits, before distinguishing features.
7. Trace - involves a quick assessment, usually chronological or
historical, expressed in phrases that illustrate progression and
sequence. This Shows the order of events or progress of a subject
or event that a writer is writing about.
8. Summary - It emphasizes the most crucial elements in a topic's debate.
Only the most important information is provided, while minor details
are omitted.