On the IZTECH SFL Writing Booklet

The Writing Booklet is prepared by the Izmir Institute of Technology SFL Curriculum
Development Unit for the students who study in the preparatory class in 2022-2023 academic
year. The aim of this booklet is to teach academic writing to the students, starting from the basic
information on academic writing, then moving on to paragraphs and the opinion essay. The
Writing Booklet is designed as an in-class material, rather than a self-study material. However,
necessary parts may be assigned as homework if the instructor deems it necessary.
The booklet includes a total of seven chapters, three of which are to be covered in the fall
semester, with the remaining four to be covered in the spring semester. Each chapter focuses on a
different writing style and a different theme. The students read model texts, learn paragraph/ essay
organization, practice different grammatical structures and vocabulary in every chapter. At the
end of the chapters, excluding Chapter I, they are assigned a writing assignment. The chapter
objectives are listed at the beginning of every chapter. The students are also provided with checklists
to evaluate and check their work for every assignment.

AUTHORS:

Ozlem Ceren Ti.itiinciioglu

Seda Can Payda

Sedef Onderli Aydemir

PROOF-READERS:

D. ipek Balc1

Gok<;en Dursun Yakut

Pelin Okyay

SedaAltmer
Contents
CHAPTER IV Cause / Effect Paragraphs...................................................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER V Comparison & Contrast Paragraphs.................................................................................................... 19
CHAPTER VI Introduction to Essays....................................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER VII Opinion Essays................................................................................................................................... 42
PART l...................................................................................................................................................................... 43
PART2...................................................................................................................................................................... 54
PART3...................................................................................................................................................................... 64
References................................................................................................................................................................... 71
1
2
II. ORGANIZATION

A. Read the sample paragraph and answer the questions.

The Reasons for Living in a Plastic-Polluted World

Plastic pollution or plastic waste, which is one of the problems that our world is facing today, is caused by thre

1. What is the main idea of the paragraph? Which sentence has helped you find it?

2. How many causes does the paragraph focus on? Which sentences introduce them?

3. Are there any words that introduce or show cause relationship in the sentences?

4. How does the writer end the paragraph?

You have just read a well-organized paragraph which focuses on the causes of plastic pollution. A
cause/ effect paragraph explains the reasons why something happens or the results of something.
Each cause or effect is clearly described and is related to the topic in this paragraph type. A
cause/ effect paragraph focuses on either causes or effects.

The following paragraph focuses on the effects of plastic pollution:

3
B. Read the paragraph and answer the questions.

The Effects of Plastic Pollution

Living with plastic waste has certain effects on marine life, land, and human health. To start with, marine life is in

1. Identify the topic sentence of the paragraph.

2. Underline the major supporting sentences in the paragraph.

3. Circle the words that show effect relationship.

4. How does the writer end the paragraph?

As it was seen in the other academic paragraph writing chapters of the booklet, a cause/ effect
paragraph also consists of three parts: a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding
sentence.
1. The Topic Sentence of a Cause/Effect Paragraph:

To be able to write an appropriate topic sentence for a cause/ effect paragraph, you need to limit
the topic that you are going to write about. In other words, you need to clearly state whether your
paragraph will focus on the causes or effects. Therefore, the topic sentence of a cause/ effect
paragraph must explicitly state whether the focus is on the causes or effects. The controlling idea
in a topic sentence gives the focus of cause/ effect paragraphs.
For example, in the first sample paragraph, The Reasons for Living in a Plastic-Polluted World, the
topic is plastic pollution. However, this topic is too general to write about. Thus, in order to limit
the topic, you need to write a proper topic sentence which includes the controlling idea. Do not
forget that, for cause/ effect paragraphs, the controlling idea of the topic sentence is the part
where the readers see what the paragraph is going to focus on: the causes or the effects.
4
 topic

controlling idea

topic controlling idea

5
 6. Being a vegetarian is beneficial to the environment in three ways.

7. Population growth in cities has brought about three important changes to the
environment.
*Famine: a long period when people living in a particular area do not have enough food, and many
of them suffer and die (Cambridge Learner's Dictionary, n.d.)

Exercise 2: Read the following topics and write a topic sentence for each one.

Topic Topic Sentence (Topic + Controlling

Idea)
1. The causes of air pollution

2. The effects of air pollution

3. The causes of forest fires

4. The effects of forest fires

2. Supporting Sentences of a Cause/Effect Paragraph:

Supporting sentences in a cause/ effect paragraph consist of the causes or effects of the topic.
After making the focus of the paragraph clear in the topic sentence, whether the paragraph will
focus on the causes or effects, you need to list each cause or effect in the supporting sentences. By
writing supporting sentences in a cause/ effect paragraph, you give details/ examples and/ or make
explanations about the causes/ effects of the topic. While listing the supporting sentences,
remember to use transitions to list the causes/ effects.
Exercise 3: Read the following paragraph and complete the missing major supporting sentences.
The Causes of Soil Pollution
There are three reasons why soil pollution occurs. (!)
. To grow crops well, farmers use fertilizers to increase the efficiency of land, and they also use pesticides to kill u
.Factories produce huge amounts of waste which includes chemicals and dangerous substances. When industrial was
.It is a kind of material which remains in soil for a lot of years, and it does not decay. However, while remainin

6
Exercise 4: Read the following paragraph and fill in the blanks with one of the options below to
complete the missing minor supporting sentences. There is one extra.
Environmental Benefits of Recycling
Recycling has three positive impacts on our environment. First, it reduces the use of natural resources. (1) .S

a. Using recycled materials to produce products requires less energy than using raw materials to
produce the same things.
b. If the recyclable materials are not thrown in garbage dump sites and used in the recycling process,
landfill waste will not be a serious problem anymore.
c. Recycling process does not contribute well enough to make our world a livable place as it is
pretty much time-consuming.
d. When the recycled materials are used in the process of making new products, natural sources
like trees, metals, and water can be preserved.

3. The Concluding Sentence of a Cause/Effect Paragraph:

Like in other academic paragraphs, to write a concluding sentence for a cause/ effect paragraph, there
are two methods that you can use:
a. Restate the topic sentence (use different words and different grammatical structures).
b. Summarize the main points (causes/ effects) that you use throughout the paragraph.
You can choose one of the methods and write your concluding sentence. Remember to use a
signal word at the beginning of the concluding sentence.

You can see some examples of concluding sentences in cause/effect paragraphs:

Topic: Topic Sentence:

The causes of There are three reasons why our world is facing water scarcity problem.
water scarcity
Concluding Sentence:
In conclusion, water scarcity occurs as a result of three major factors.

Topic: Topic Sentence:

The effects of Diseases, migration, and loss of habitats are the consequences of water scarcity.
water scarcity Concluding Sentence:
To summarize, water scarcity results in diseases, migration, and loss of habitats.
Topic: Topic Sentence:
The causes of Plastic pollution is a global problem because of three main causes.
plastic pollution Concluding Sentence:
All in all, these are the three major reasons that contribute to plastic pollution.

7
 Topic: Topic Sentence:
The effects of Plastic pollution negatively affects different parts of the environment, namely
plastic pollution water, land, and air.
Concluding Sentence:
In short, negative effects of plastic pollution are seen on water, land, and air.

Exercise 5: Restate the following topic sentences to write a concluding sentence.

TopicSentence:
Topic Sentence:There
Global
arewarming happens
three main effectsbecause
of noiseof three important factors.
pollution.
ConcludingSentence:
Concluding Sentence: __

Now, let's see the outline of the sample paragraphs you have read:
Sample Paragraph 1:
Topic Sentence: Plastic pollution or plastic waste, which is one of the problems that our world is
Sample
facing Paragraph 2: by three main reasons.
today, is caused
Topic
Major Sentence:
and Minor Living with Sentences:
Supporting plastic waste has certain effects on marine life, land, and human
health. 1 cause: Plastic is very cheap and easy to
st

Major and Minor Supporting Sentences:

obtain.
st
1 effect: Marine life is in danger because of plastic pollution.
 single-use plastics
nd
2 cause: Plastic  thedoesdeath
not decompose.
of animals after eating plastics
nd
2 effect: Plastic pollutes
long ourtoland.
process decay

rd
3 cause: Human  reducing
activitiesthe efficiency
lead ofwaste.
to plastic land
rd
3 effect: The final
 not impact
disposingof plastic pollution is seen on human health.
products properly
Concluding Sentence:  chemical substances
In conclusion, in are
these plastics a health
the three problems
factors that bring about plastic
Concluding Sentence: All in all, these are the three negative effects of plastic pollution.

8
Exercise 6: Read the paragraph given below and then complete the outline.
Why Do Animals Face *Extinction?
Animals which are in danger of becoming extinct are called as endangered animals. There are three major reasons

*Extinction: when a particular type of animal or plant stops existing (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary
English, n.d.)

Topic
Sentence:

Major &
Minor
Supporting
Sentences:

Concluding
Sentence:

III. LANGUAGE FOCUS

A. How to Achieve Coherence in Cause/Effect Paragraphs
1. Use transition signals to achieve coherence throughout your paragraph. Remember to use
correct punctuation with the signals you use. You can see the detailed use of these signal words,
with correct meaning and punctuation, below:

9
 To introduce causes:

Because/Since/As:
They are used to introduce a cause and they can appear at the beginning of the sentence or in the
middle of the sentence. If they appear at the beginning of the sentence, use a comma:

 The urbanization rate is increasing each day because a lot of people are in search of better
job opportunities in big cities.
Because a lot of people are in search of better job opportunities in big cities, the
urbanization rate is increasing each day.

I The urbanization rate is increasing each day. Because a lot of people are in search of better job
opportunities in big cities.  XXX
Do not use 'because' as in the last sentence given above. You need to use it together with
the result part of the sentence.

 A lot of people migrate to big cities as they want to have better job opportunities.
As a lot of people want to have better job opportunities, they migrate to big cities.
 Several people are trying to find better jobs in big cities since these cities offer better
working conditions.
Since big cities offer better working conditions, several people are trying to find better jobs
in these cities.
Because of I As a result of I As a consequence of I Due to:
Each one of these phrases is followed by a noun or a noun phrase. When they appear at the
beginning of a sentence, they are separated from the other part of the sentence by a comma:

 Several animals can lose their habitats because of the changes in climate.
Because of the changes in climate, several animals can lose their habitats.
 Many buildings were destroyed as a result of the hurricane.
As a result of the hurricane, many buildings were destroyed.
 Many people will need to migrate in the near future as a consequence of severe famine.
As a consequence of severe famine, many people will need to migrate in the near future.
 We witness important changes in weather conditions due to global warming.
Due to global warming, we witness important changes in weather conditions.

10
 To introduce effects:

So:

It is used to show an effect. It is used in the middle of a sentence and a comma is used before so:
 Air pollution is a serious problem in big cities, so it is not a good idea to move to these cities.

Therefore,
Thus, These expressions are used to show effect(s). They are
Hence, used between sentences and a comma is placed after
As a result, them:
As a consequence,
Consequently,

 Global warming is increasing the average temperatures. Therefore, ice is melting in the
world and sea levels are rising.
 We are not careful enough about the amount of water we use. Thus, it is possible that we
will not have enough water soon.
 The increase in air pollution has great risks for people's health. Hence, the number of heart
and lung diseases has increased a lot in recent years.
 Plastics are thrown in water carelessly. As a result, a lot of sea animals lose their lives.
 Most of the people do not pay attention to the use of plastics. As a consequence, we face the
problem of plastic waste.
 Burning fossil fuels produce a huge amount of carbon dioxide. Consequently, this situation
leads to air pollution.

While writing your supporting sentences (major), use transition signals to list them. In this way, your
paragraph will flow smoothly:

Transitions for listing causes and effects:

The first cause/effect The second cause/effect The third cause/effect
One of the most important reasons The second effect of ... The last/final result of ...
why...
The first reason why .... Another reason for ... Finally, ...
The main/major/significant Also, ... Lastly, ...
/primary/important cause of ...

11


12
Exercise 7: Combine the two sentences to form one sentence by using the transition given in the
parenthesis. Do not change the meaning of the sentences.
1. The extreme weather conditions cause animals to leave their homes. Global warming has been
a great threat to the habitats of animals. (since)

2. The environment becomes an unlivable place for animals, plants, and human beings. Most
factories do not use air filters to increase the quality of the air that they release. (therefore)

3. Vegetarian diets require the production of more crops and vegetables. Vegetarian diets can help
reduce air pollution and greenhouse emissions. (as a result of)

4. Every person should try to recycle their waste as much as they can. Recycling can be the most
efficient way to reduce pollution and save the planet. (so)

5. Electric cars have a much lower emission rate compared to petrol vehicles. Electric cars contribute
a lot to reduce air pollution. (because of)

6. Vehicles, industrial machines, and events that take place in city life are the major causes of
noise pollution. Many people are suffering from physical and psychological impacts of noise
pollution. (consequently)

13
2. List the causes/effects in an order. You can order them according to time, space, and emphasis.

Time: If a cause or effect gives rise to another cause or effect, the paragraph should be organized
in the order of time.
Space: Some cause/effect paragraphs can be organized in terms of the places where the
causes/ effects are seen.
Emphasis: If some causes and effects are more important than others, the paragraph can be
organized starting with the least important one to the most important one or the other way around.
Ordering the causes/ effects according to their importance is the most common way we use in our
paragraphs.

IV. WRITING ASSIGNMENT

1. Look at the five facts given below and complete the missing word in the sentences. In each
sentence, the missing word is the same. By finding the missing word, you are going to identify an
environmental problem.

a. Every year, 7.3 million hectares of forests are lost because of

b. 1.6 billion people across the globe depend on forest products for their livelihoods, which
contributes more to -----

cItf.churrent raete of continues, it will take less than 100 years to

destroy all the rainforests on earth.

d. The rate of is equal to the loss of 36 football fields every minute.

14
15
4. Write your paragraph: Use the outline you have prepared and write a cause/effect paragraph
on the topic you have chosen. (120-180 words)

Nante Surnante: Class:

Assignment: Writing a cause/ effect paragraph Date:

16
17
Write your second draft: Make necessary corrections according to your friend's feedback and write
your second draft. (120 - 180 words)

Nante Surnaine: Class:

Assignment: Writing a cause/effect paragraph (2nd draft) Date:

18
CHAPTERV
Comparison & Contrast Paragraphs
Leisure Activities

In this chapter, you will learn...

- to find similarities and differences between two

topics.
- to organize comparison I contrast paragraphs.
- to use structures for comparison and contrast in a
sentence.
- to write a comparison I contrast paragraph.

19
 I. WARMUP

A. Play the leisure activities game. Work in groups and brainstorm different leisure activities
and make a list in 2 minutes. The group which has written the highest number of activities
wins!

B. Ask and answer the questions below with your partner.

1. Do you think it is necessary to have a hobby? Why?

2. What is your favorite pastime? What do you like about it?
3. Which one do you think is more enjoyable, reading books or watching movies?

II. ORGANIZATION

A. Read the sample paragraph below and answer the questions.

TWO OF MY FAVORITE ACTIVITIES
may help increase your imagination. You can think of new things after you watch a movie. Books also have interesting sto

1. What is the main idea of the paragraph? Which sentence has helped you to find it?

2. How many similarities between watching movies and reading books does the author mention?

3. Which words or phrases has helped you to understand the similarities mentioned in
this paragraph?

4. How does the writer end the paragraph?

20
 topic
controlling idea

21
 Here is another comparison & contrast paragraph, but this time it focuses only on differences.

TWO STYLES OF READING

some devices like e­book readers, tablets, etc., you need an additional device to read them. You also have to transfer e­book

Now let's review this paragraph's outline:

Topic sentence: E-books (A) and printed books (BJ are distinct from each other in three aspects.

Major and minor supporting sentences:

1st difference: reading experience
A- digital screen
B - physical page 2nd difference: ease of use
A- needing another device
B- being able to read it right away 3rd difference: size
A- little in size
B- take up more space

Concluding sentence: In conclusion, these different features of e-books and printed books show us that they are in

22
 Notice how the controlling idea changed to include both similarities an

-
-

-
-

-
-

23
 III. LANGUAGE FOCUS

When you write a comparison & contrast paragraph, you need to use certain words and/ or
phrases so that your readers will be able to understand and follow your points more easily. There are
different structures for comparison and contrast.
Exercise 1: Reread the three paragraphs in this chapter (Two of My Favorite Activities, Two Styles of
Reading, and Basketball vs. Football:) and complete the chart below with the structures that show
differences and similarities.

Similarldes (Comparison) Differences (Contrast)

 too  in contrast
 not only ... but also  on the other hand
 as ... as  but
 similar to  although
 and  differ from
  different(ly) from
 
 
 
 

You will review how to use these structures in sentences in the next part.
A. Structures for comparison

Within a sentence Between two sentences

similar to similarly
(just) like likewise
as ... as
also
too
both ... and ...
not only ... but also ...
and
-

Within a sentence:
 Use 'similar to' and'(just) like'with a noun/ noun phrase.
Just like I similar to painting, drawing helps you use your imagination and reflect it on paper.

 'As ... as'is a comparative structure. You should use it with an adjective or an adverb.

Solving puzzles is as beneficial as playing chess for our brains.

24
You can read in English as easily as in your native language. You just need to choose the right
book and practice a lot.

 Use 'also'before the verb or after to be.

Swimming is a good exercise for people as it is beneficial for the whole body. Pilates also offers many
benefits for a person's body.
Swimming is a good exercise for people as it is beneficial for the whole body. Pilates is also a great
option because of its many benefits for a person's body.

 Use 'too' at the end of a sentence with a comma.

Science fiction books take place in a time and place that is different from our world. Fantastic books
tell stories of imagined worlds, too.

 Use parallel structures with 'both ... and', and 'not only ... but also'.
Both Encanto and Moana are animated movies made by Disney, and they tell the stories of young
heroines who try to save their families.
You can reduce your stress not only by playing an instrument butalso by doing exercise.

Between two sentences:

 Use 'similarly', and 'likewise' at the beginning of a sentence and put a comma right after them.
Some parents are worried that the video games that their children play might be addicting.
Similarly, I Likewise, social media apps targeting teenagers make them spend majority of their
time online.
B. Structures for contrast
Within a sentence Between two sentences
unlike in contrast
differ on the other hand
different(ly) from however
but
whereas / while
although

Within a sentence:

 Use 'unlike'with a noun/ noun phrase.

Unlike a small party, big events require hosts to invite many people.

 Use 'differ (in)' as the verb of a sentence.

Throwing a small party and planning a big event differ in the number of people you will invite.

25
  Use 'different from' and 'differently from'with a noun/ noun phrase. 'Different' is an adjective,
and 'differently' is an adverb.
Throwing a small party is different from planning a big event.
You should plan a big event differently from a small party.

 Use 'but' in the middle of the sentence with a comma.

I want to improve my photography skills, but the equipment that I need are very expensive.

 Use 'while I whereas' at the beginning or in the middle. Be careful about the use of commas.
While I Whereas older people tend to spend less time on social media, teenagers are likely to spend
hours online.
Older people tend to spend less time on social media, while I whereas teenagers are likely to spend
hours online.

 Use 'although' at the beginning or in the middle. Be careful about the use of commas.
Although some people think that American football and rugby are the same sports, there are a few
differences between the two.
There are a few differences between American football and rugby although some people think
that they are the same sports.
Between two sentences:

 Use 'in contrast', 'on the other hand' and 'however' at the beginning of a sentence and put
a comma right after them.
Football is widely played and followed in our country. In contrast, I On the other hand, I However,
golf is not very popular among people.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct word or phrase that show comparison / contrast.

On the other hand too unlike although

likewise just like but

1. Hiking is one of my favorite activities itis difficult to do in cold weather.

2. Horseback riding is a quite expensive hobby, golf.
3. My friends are interested in rap music. , I prefer classical music more.
4. Riding a bicycle is very environmentally friendly. , electric scooters do not
contribute to the air pollution.
5. I love baking, itis very time consuming.

26
6. solo video games, you need to cooperate with other players in co-op games.
7. Watching movies with subtitles is a good way to learn a new language. Listening to music by
looking at the lyrics is a beneficial activity,

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences with the given words in parentheses. Try not to change the
meaning of the original sentence.
1. According to research, the performance level during evening exercise is different from
morning exercise since people perform better in the evening. (differ from)

2. When you go to a shopping mall, you are surrounded by sales ads. Similarly, in online
shopping, there are many ads that make you buy new things. (both ... and)

3. The art of photography involves capturing pictures. However, filmmaking requires creating
a story out of different recordings. (whereas)

4. Twitter is a social networking site where people share photos and videos. Instagram is also
an app that allows users to put up photos and videos. (similar to)

5. While a work experience can help you save money, you cannot earn any money when you
are volunteering. (in contrast)

6. Blogging and keeping a journal are enjoyable hobbies because you can write about your
own experience in the way you like. (as ... as)

27
28






29
3. Write your paragraph: Write a comparison/ contrast paragraph about a book of your choice
and its movie/TV series adaptation. (120- 180 words)
Nante Surnante: Class:
Assignment: Writing a comparison / contrast paragraph Date:

30
 Checklist for Your Paragraph
Organization & Content:

☐ There is a topic sentence, and it shows the main idea of the paragraph.

☐ There is a controlling idea, and it is about a similarities / differences or both.

☐ There are enough supporting ideas and examples / explanations.

☐ My paragraph ends with an effective concluding sentence.

☐ My concluding sentence starts with a signal word.

☐ All my sentences are relevant to the topic.

☐ I used comparison / contrast signals to make smooth transitions.

Sentence Structure:

☐ I used a good range of grammatical structures.

☐ I used grammatical structures correctly.

Vocabulary:

☐ I used a good range of appropriate vocabulary.

☐ I used related vocabulary correctly.

Mechanics:

☐ I checked my paragraph for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

☐ The paper format is appropriate for academic writing.

☐ I wrote only one paragraph.

31
Write your second draft: Make necessary corrections according to your teacher's feedback and write
your second draft. (120 - 180 words)

Nante Surnaine: Class:

Assignment: Writing a comparison / contrast paragraph (2nd draft) Date:

32
33
 I.WARM UP

A. Answer the questions with your partner.

1. Complete the sentence below with a comparative adjective.

I have become a (more) person since I started university because _

2W. hat skills are important for a university student?

II. ORGANIZATION
A. Read the sample paragraph below and answer the questions.

BECOMING A UNIVERSTIY STUDENT

he help of their good management skills, students never miss deadlines and will be able to balance their studies and social l

1. What is the main idea of the paragraph?

2. What key skills are required for university students?

B. Complete the outline of the

paragraph. Paragraph Outline

Topic Sent.

Major 1.
supporting
2.
points
3.

Cone. Sent.

34
C. Now read the essay written on the same topic and answer the questions below.

BECOMING A UNIVERSTIY STUDENT

People experience a number of milestones in their lives. As they grow up and start to
encounter new things, explore new environments, and meet new people, they learn different things
and grow as individuals. These milestones may be related to their education, career, or social
life. These are all equally important and may require people to pick up new skills. Especially in
education, when students graduate and start a new school, they need to acquire new skills to
adapt to their new learning environment. Research, time management and social skills are three key
skills for a university student to master.

First area that students need to improve their skills in is research. At university, students
get to write essays, reports, research papers, theses, etc., and it is of utmost importance that they
know how to find reliable sources to use in their work. Not every piece of information,
especially on the internet, is to be trusted, and a student should be able to tell the difference
between misinformation and facts. Moreover, good research skills are required to avoid
plagiarism. Students should be aware of the techniques to do research properly. Therefore, they
can use the information they have learned correctly in their work.

Secondly, time management skills are incredibly necessary for university students. They are
given a good deal of tasks and they need to meet specific deadlines for these tasks. If a student has
good time management skills, meeting the deadlines will not be an issue for him/her. In addition,
a student might greatly benefit from their good time management skills to ensure balance between
his/her social and academic life. In this case, they can both spend time with their friends and have
success in their classes.

Lastly, social skills are essential for students to have. They are in a completely new
environment and meet so many new people at university; therefore, they will greatly benefit
from having good relationships with their friends. Getting on well with their friends can be
helpful in class when they are doing teamwork, or out of the class when they want to have some
fun. Furthermore, it will be beneficial for students to be on good terms with their teachers. If
they feel comfortable communicating with their teachers, students can easily ask for help. As a
result, they have the chance to learn better.

All in all, university is a great place to learn, have new friends and improve as a person, but
it also poses some challenges for students to overcome. Developing fundamental skills related to
doing research, managing time, and bettering their interpersonal relationships will definitely help
students throughout their university life. By mastering all these skills, university students can be
academically and socially successful by balancing their academic studies and social life.

35
1. What is the main idea of the essay?

2. Where can you see the sentence which is similar to the topic sentence of the paragraph on page
36?

3. Why were the first four sentences written in the first paragraph?

4. Where does the author mention each key skill in detail?

5. How does the writer move from one paragraph to another?

6. Why is the essay longer than the paragraph?

D. Look at the organization of the sample essay and complete the outline with the letters A-F.
reminds the main idea/ summarizes the major points
gives background information about the topic
mentions each major point
gives the main idea of the whole essay for the first time
presents the final comments on the topic
explains, exemplifies, and / or gives details about the major points

Essay outline

Introductory paragraph 1.
2.

Each body paragraph 3.

4.

Concluding paragraph 5.
6.

36
Letters Words Sentences Paragraphs Essay

37
 INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH
General statements
Thesis statement

Topic sentence BODY PARAGRAPH I

Topic sentence
Supporting sentences

Major sup. senc.1

7..,. Minor sup. sent.
Major sup. sent. 2 BODY PARAGRAPH 2
7..,.Minm sup. sent. Topic sentence
Supporting sentences

Major sup. sent. 3

7.,.Minor sup. sent.
BODYPARAGRAPH3
Concluding sentence Topic sentence
Supporting sentences

CONClUDI GPARAGRAPH
Restatement I summary
Final comment

How is an essay organized?

1. Introductory paragraph:
 attracts the readers' interest
 presents the topic of the essay
 gives background information
 moves from general to specific
 ends with a thesis statement: topic + controlling idea+ (subtopics)

Researchl, time management£ and social skills3 are three key skills for a university student to master.
2. Body paragraphs:
 start with a topic sentence and a signal word
 include several supporting sentences with at least two major points
 may or may not have a concluding sentence
 are ordered according to the order of the subtopics in the thesis statement
3. Concluding paragraph:
 signals the end of the essay
 includes the restatement of the thesis statement or a summary of the major points
 ends with a final comment such as a recommendation, warning, prediction, etc.
38
Exercise 1: Some sentences were taken out from the essay. Place the sentences in the essay.

Topic: What are the disadvantages of online education?

A. online lessons are not effective.

B. there are two main disadvantages of online education
C. their communication skills might weaken
D. students cannot benefit from practical lessons in online education
E. online education affects students' social life negatively

Not the Best Way to Study

After the global pandemic started in 2019 with the spread of COVID-19, people were forced to
find new ways to create social distance. For example, they started using contactless payment
methods, shopping online, and doing bureaucratic arrangements from home more than ever
before. As the virus was spreading dramatically, even online concerts were organized. The area of
education was not an exception as most of the institutions around the world needed to adopt
online education as a part of their educational policies and practices. The effects of pandemic are
less severe now, but there are still students who get online education. Although it has gained
popularity, 1. _

The first disadvantage is that 2. . Students mostly socialize in schools. They help each
other, play games, attend social activities together, etc. Unfortunately, these things cannot ever
be done in online education. Young students who have social problems may even feel more
anxious and depressed unless they have an opportunity to socialize. That is, some critical
disorders may occur. Besides these problems, 3. .This is a very important skill for our century,
and if they cannot have an opportunity to improve it, they will confront with lots of problems in
their lives and businesses.

Secondly, 4. .Lack of interaction and eye contact with the teacher make students
less engaged. Therefore, their attention span is shorter in online lessons, and they get easily
distracted. As a result, they usually end up texting a friend or playing a game during a lesson. What
the teacher
says remains as background sound in the end. In addition, 5. . For instance, a student who
studies chemical engineering has to take laboratory lessons in which they conduct some
experiments. Although most of the experiments are available to watch in some platforms, they
cannot have a chance to touch the things and do it all on their own. That is, there is no
interactivity while only watching them. This is like being treated from a doctor who has never been
in a surgery.

To summarize, online education period is tough for students because they cannot socialize
and get an effective education. That is why I believe that students should be on their desks and
in their classes not to miss out any opportunities during their educational life.

39
Exercise 2: Read the essay again. Complete the outline of subtopics, major and minor points.
Write topic sentences in full but use phrases for major and minor points.
Outline
I. Introduction

Thesis Statement:

I I B. o d y

A. Topic sentence:

1. Major point 1:

a. Minor points(s):

2. Major point 2:

a. Minorpoint(s):

B. Topic sentence:

1. Major point 1:

a. Minor points(s):

2. Major point 2:

a. Minorpoint(s):

III. Conclusion

Restatement I Summary: To summarize, online education period is tough for students because they
cannot socialize and get an effective education.

Final comment: That is why I believe that students should be on their desks and in their classes
not to miss out any opportunities during their educational life.
40
III.WRITING ASSIGNMENT

Nante Surnante: Class:

Assignment: Completing an outline Date:

Read the thesis statement below. Complete the outline of subtopics, major and minor points with
your partner. Write topic sentences in full but use phrases for major and minor points.
Topic: What are the ways to expand a student's social circle at university?
I. Introduction

Thesis Statement: University students can expand their social circle in two ways.
II. Body Paragraph 1

A. Topic sentence:
1. Major point 1:

a. Minor point(s):
2. Major point 2:
a. Minor point(s):

Body Paragraph 2
B. Topic sentence:
1. Major point 1:

a. Minor point(s):
2. Major point 2:
a. Minor point(s):

III. Concluding paragraph

41
CHAPTER VII
Opinion Essays

In this chapter, you will learn...

- to express your opinion in an academic essay.
- to begin and end an essay properly.
- to support your opinion with explanations
and examples.
- to write an opinion essay in an organized way.

42
background
info. Intro.

Thesis st.

43
 Topic sent.

Major pt 1.

Body P. 1

Major pt 2.

Topic sent.

Major pt 1. Body
P. 2

Major pt 2.

Con
c.

44









45
We can say that a thesis statement has two parts:

Topic + Controlling idea (What do you think
about the issue?)
I think students in this situation should work
I am in favor of homeschooling
In my opinion, e-books are better than print
books
Subtopics (Why do you think so?)
because there are two main advantages for
students to start working at young ages.
for two reasons.
as they are lighter, cheaper, and more
environmentally friendly.

Some problems in thesis statements:

too general Climate change is quite bad. X
possible
Climate change is dangerous for the world for three main reasons. ✓
improvement

too specific It is much better for students to live with their family because it is more
comfortable. X
possible It is much better for students to live with their family because it is more
improvement
comfortable, cheaper, and more fun. ✓

announcement In this essay, I am going to mention the reasons why students should learn a
foreign language. X
possible
Due to two reasons, students should definitely learn a foreign language. ✓
improvement

fact More than half of the world's population lives in big cities. X
possible In my opinion, living in big cities is better as they offer opportunities in terms of
improvement
work, education, and entertainment.✓

question
Why is public transportation better? X
possible
I think public transportation is better for four reasons. ✓
improvement

others' opinion
Many people believe that online shopping is more advantageous for two
reasons. X
possible
I believe that online shopping is more advantageous for two reasons. ✓
improvement

46
Exercise 1: Tick (✓) the sentence(s) which can be a proper thesis statement. Identify the problem in
the others.
1. Why is cyberbullying dangerous to individuals?
2. Many people believe that cyberbullying harms individuals in two ways.
3. In my opinion, cyberbullying should be punished because it harms people in two ways.
4. This essay will mention why cyberbullying should be punished.
5. Almost a third of the internet users suffer from cyberbullying.
6. Cyberbullying is the act of threatening or harassing a person with the use of technology.
7. I believe cyberbullying may harm both the victim and the society severely, so it should be
punished.

Exercise 2: Analyse the thesis statements below. Find the topic. controlling idea. and subtopics in
each one.
Example: I prefer to live in a big city because of three reasons. (topic+ controlling idea)_(subtop_ics)

1. It is more beneficial for students to study in another city from their parents because of being
more independent, responsible, and emotionally strong.
2. Because of the reasons such as being more environmentally friendly, cheaper, and more
relaxing, people should prefer using public transportation.
3. Learning a foreign language is a must for young people to be successful at school, find a prestigious
job and experience new cultures.

Exercise 3. Add two or three subtopics to the thesis statements. You will support the given topic
and controlling idea with reasons.
1. I prefer living in a small town because

2I.think living abroad is very challenging due to

3L. earning software programming is one of the key skills of our century to _

47
Exercise 4. Write thesis statements for the following paragraphs. Note that the two paragraphs are
the same; however, you need to write a thesis statement that supports social media in the first one,
and that is against social media in the second one.
Topic: Do you think social media is beneficial for young people?
Paragraph 1

THE YOUTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Internet was introduced in 1960s and it has been in our lives since then. We use it in so many different fields in our

Paragraph2

THE YOUTH AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Internet was introduced in 1960s and it has been in our lives since then. We use it in so many different fields in our

Exercise 5. Write thesis statements for the following topics.

a. Do you think smoking in public must be forbidden?

b. Do you think university students should live in dormitory?

48
B. Body Paragraphs
An opinion essay generally has two or three body paragraphs depending on the number of
subtopics. As you see in the example again, each body paragraph focuses on one of the reasons:
Body paragraph 1: Reason
helping students a lot in their future business life
1 Body paragraph 2: Reason
learning to manage their life
2

Each body paragraph is made up of a topic sentence and supporting sentences (main points and
supporting details) like the academic paragraphs you have written so far. They are all connected to
the thesis statement. See how they are related and connected to each other by following the arrows
in the diagram below:

Miruu:
Major point 2
-- 1 I
Miruu: oints

Major point 2

Mm.9.!_oints

Now let's have a look at the components of a body paragraph one by one:
A. Topic sentence: As you know, a topic sentence presents the main idea of a paragraph. It is generally
the first sentence of the body paragraph. It starts with a signal word such as firstly, secondly, finally
etc. to maintain coherence.

49
50
As you see, major points explain or prove the topic sentence. After you write your topic sentence, try
answering questions such as "How can I prove this reason? How can I make it clearer? How can I
make it more convincing?" so that you can find proper major points.
C. Minor points: Every major point is followed by at least one minor point. A minor point can be
an example, an explanation, statistical data, some facts etc. Do not forget that they must be
directly connected and related to the major point. Have a look at the minor points below:
To begin
Topic with, electric
Sentence 1 cars give less harm to the environment than fossil fuel cars.

They do not release dangerous gases to the atmosphere.

Minor point Whereas a car that uses fossil fuel emits exhaust gases and

51
II. WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1

Nante Surnante: Class:

Assignment: Completing an essay Date:

The following is an incomplete essay. Read the introduction, add your thesis statement, and write
two body paragraphs.
Topic: Do you prefer to live in a big city or in the countryside? Why?

When we walk on a busy street in a city, we can come across people from all walks of life;
people who are working, doing shopping, meeting friends, etc. They all must have a reason to live
in a city. Also, in our daily conversations, we frequently compare city life to country life. While
some people always dream of moving to the countryside one day, some ofus enjoy the city life more.
When we look at our country, we can see that the majority of people choose to live in big cities as
population
in the cities is larger.

52
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

53
 Checklist for Your Assignment
Thesis Statement

☐ My thesis statement clearly answers the given question.

☐ My thesis statement clearly shows my opinion.

☐ My thesis statement presents the controlling idea and subtopics/reasons.

Body Paragraph

☐ Both of my body paragraphs start with a topic sentence.

☐ The topic sentence in each paragraph is introduced with a transition signal (firstly, to begin with,
secondly etc.) to show how one paragraph is related to the other.

☐ They each include at least two major points to support the topic sentence and the thesis
statement.

☐ They include enough details to explain the main ideas.

Sentence Structure:

☐ I used a good range of grammatical structures.

☐ I used grammatical structures correctly.

Vocabulary:

☐ I used a good range of appropriate vocabulary.

☐ I used related vocabulary correctly.

Mechanics:

☐ I checked my assignment for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

☐ The paper format is appropriate for academic writing.

54
55
Concluding Paragraph

This paragraph starts with a transition phrase such as in brief, all in all, in summary, in
conclusion etc. It includes the summary of the subtopics or the restatement of the thesis
statement. It ends with a final comment such as a prediction, recommendation, warning etc. It
does not introduce a new point.

In conclusion, electric cars are preferable due to the advantages they offer. Such cars do not have a detrimental effe

Exercise 2: Read the thesis statements and restate them to use in a concluding paragraph.

1. It is more beneficial for students to study in another city from their parents because of being
more independent, responsible, and emotionally strong.

2. Because of the reasons such as being more environmentally friendly, cheaper and more
relaxing, people should prefer using public transportation.

3. Learning a foreign language is a must for young people to be successful at school, find a
prestigious job and experience new cultures.

56
You are given two sample essays below to examine.

Sample Essay 1

Topic: Do you think plastic bottles should be banned?

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
As human beings, every one of us relies on food and water. We eat meals, snacks, and we
drink water and beverages so many times in a day. Sometimes we buy and carry packaged food and
drinks with us in some containers and we mostly carry a water bottle with us. When it comes to
options for bottles, we come across plastic, metal and glass ones. In our age, plastic bottles are
the dominating choice for people, which means most people prefer to drink water or other drinks
from a plastic bottle. In my opinion, however, plastic bottles should be banned because of the
harm they cause for the environment and for the people.

Firstly, plastic bottles cause great harm to the environment both in the production stage
and after they are used. Because of the great demand for them in the market, they are produced
in huge quantities. This production process requires a big amount of energy. Also, around 2,5
tons of carbon dioxide is released every year during the water bottling process. On top of that,
when we use a plastic bottle, we dump it in the trash, but unfortunately its life does not end
there. Most of the plastic trash goes to the landfills and stays there without decomposing for
almost 450 years. Even though we put them in a recycle bin, according to research, maximum 50%
of the plastic from a recycle bin can actually be recycled. These facts inevitably contribute to
global warming and climate change, so we should try to get rid of them with the help of a ban.

Secondly, plastic bottles may be dangerous for the human health. The type of plastic used
in bottles contains toxins, such as BPA, and microplastics. Since a plastic bottle releases these
chemicals and microplastics to the liquid inside, every time we drink something from a plastic
bottle, we drink these harmful ingredients, too. Another way how bottles harm our health is
through oceans. Some of the plastic bottle trash end up in the oceans. Due to huge amounts of
plastic waste, fish living in the sea have no choice but to be contaminated by them. In turn,
people consuming sea food are in danger of consuming these harmful plastics as well. Unless
we stop using plastic bottles, people continue to be affected badly for so long.

In a nutshell, although being a tiny everyday object that we use, harms of plastic bottles
are extremely serious. They are detrimental not only for our environment, but also for our own
health. There are damaging effects of them in their production stage, while they are in use and
after they are used. That is why the choice should not be up to people, and they must be banned
by the governments. In this way, people will start using alternatives and in time the damage
they cause can hopefully decrease in the near future.

57
Sample Essay 2
Topic: Do you think electric cars are better than fossil fuel cars?

E-DRIVING IS THE BEST!

For many centuries, people have always been in need of travelling. As a result of this
need, so many means of transportation have emerged. These include trains, planes, buses,
subways and private cars. Most people dream of owning a car as it gives the chance to travel in
a more flexible and comfortable way. The only option used to be fossil fuel cars until recently.
However, electric cars have come into the picture, and they are becoming widespread. I am in
favor of electric cars as they are more environmentally friendly, economical, and more fun to
use.

To begin with, electric cars give less harm to the environment than fossil fuel cars. They
do not release dangerous gases to the atmosphere. Whereas a car that uses fossil fuel emits
exhaust gases and causes air pollution, an electric car uses electricity, which is cleaner. That is
why it does not contribute to air pollution. In addition, their batteries can be reused and
recycled. As a result of this recycling process, the old batteries may be reused as generators for
many purposes.

The second reason is that electric cars cost less in the long run. Charging fees and taxes
for these cars are much less than the costs related to fossil fuel cars. This is mainly because of
the incentives offered to electric car users in many countries. Moreover, maintenance of electric
cars is not as costly as fossil fuel cars. For example, they do not require oil replacement,
transmission box and exhaust pipe maintenance etc.

Finally, they offer a very satisfactory driving experience. Their cool and futuristic designs are
quite appealing. Many traditional car companies have started to interpret the EV concept in
their own unique way. Furthermore, they are easier to use than traditional cars. They are
equipped with the latest technology; therefore, a driver can have a comfortable time when
driving an electric car.

In conclusion, electric cars are preferable due to the advantages they offer. Such cars do
not have a detrimental effect on the environment. Their maintenance costs are much less than
petrol cars, and the drivers can always be content while using them. Considering all these
aspects, I think everyone should choose to drive electric cars so the world can be greener. I
hope in the future I can own one, too.

58
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2
You are going to write an opinion essay on the topic given below.

Do you think having a flatmate / roommate is a good idea or not? Support your opinion with reasons and examp

1. Brainstorm: Use the chart below to brainstorm your ideas.

2. Prepare your outline: Choose the best ideas from the chart above and organize your outline below.
Thesis
Statement
Topic
sentence 1

Major
point 1

Major
point2

Topic
sentence2

Major
point 1

Major
point2

59
3. Write your first draft: Use the outline you have prepared and write an opinion essay on the topic.
(350 - 450 words)

Nante Surnante: Class:

Assignment: Writing an opinion essay 1 Date:

60
61
Opinion Essay Checklist

I. Introductory paragraph
II. My
☐
Body introduction
paragraphsattracts the reader's interest.
☐ It includes general statements which give the background information about the topic of
☐ My body paragraphs start with a topic sentence.
III. Concluding paragraph
the essay.
☐ The topic sentence in each paragraph is introduced with a transition signal (firstly, tobegin
☐ ItMy concluding paragraph starts with a transition phrase (in conclusion, to summarize etc).
with,moves
Throughout
☐ from
secondly general
myetc.)
essay to specific.
to show how one paragraph is related to another.
☐ It
It reminds the
presents the topic
reader ofof
thetheessay
mainclearly.
idea that is introduced in the thesis.
☐
☐
☐
My essay has a range of
They include several supporting simple, compound
sentencesandtocomplex
support sentences.
the topic sentence and the thesis
☐ It does not include specific details or does not give tooof
It includes the restatement of the thesis or a summary the
much main points.
information.
☐ I used a wide range of vocabulary and avoided repetition.
statement.
☐
It does
endsnotwith
introduce
the anystatement.
thesis new ideas.
☐ It
☐
☐ I used
They necessary
include transition
enough detailssignals and linkers.
to explain the main ideas.
☐ IMy
☐ thesis
used statement
formal academic presents the controlling idea and subtopics/reasons.
language.
☐ All sentences in my essay are relevant and in unity.
☐ There is a smooth transition between my ideas.
☐ I checked my essay for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

62
Write your second draft: Make necessary corrections according to your teacher's feedback and write
your second draft. (350 -450 words)

Nante Surnaine: Class:

Assignment: Writing an opinion essay 1 (2nd draft) Date:

63
64
PART3
Exercise 1: Read the essay below and find and correct the content and organization mistakes.
You can use the space on the right to take your notes.

Topic: Do you think binge-watching is harmful for people? Why I Why not?

ENTERTAINMENT- BUT AT WHAT COST?

Binge-watching means watching many episodes of a TV series one
after another for long hours. Many people do this because it is very easy
to do with the help of the streaming platforms. However, it is very
harmful for us. In this essay, I am going to talk about why it is bad.
Sitting and looking at a screen for too long poses considerable
health risks for people. When people watch TV for too many hours,
people lead a sedentary lifestyle because of long hours of inactivity. Since
our body does not move at all, we may be overweight in time and may face the
risk of some health problems related to high body fat. The blue light
coming from the screen affects our brain and it makes us difficult to have
a quality sleep at night. As a result, they cannot properly rest and face the
risk of having insomnia.
Also, we experience social isolation due to not having enough time
to see our family and friends. We may even feel like the characters in the
TV series are our friends because we watch their story all the time. Such a
delusion, unfortunately, may have really bad effects on our psychological
state ruining our sense of reality. Furthermore, when we do something
over an extended period of time, we become addicted to it. For example,
addictive behavior means unless we do that specific thing, we cannot feel
satisfied. As a result, this behavior has a detrimental impact on our mental
health.
Binge-watching is very harmful for us. It may lead to potential health
problems due to lack of activity and sleep. Besides, it affects our
psychological health by making us disconnected from reality and addicted.
We should always be mindful of time that we spend for watching our favorite
TV series and try to limit that time for our own sake. Reading books is also a
good way to be entertained, so we can also read books instead of watching
TV.

65
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 4
You are going to write an opinion essay on the topic given below.

Do you think it is good to have a campus far from the city? Why or why not? Support your opinion with reasons an

1. Brainstorm: Use the space below to brainstorm your ideas.

2. Prepare your outline: Choose the best ideas from the chart above and organize your outline below.

Thesis
Statement
Topic
sentence 1

Major
point 1

Major
point2

Topic
sentence2

Major
point 1

Major
point2

66
3. Write your first draft: Use the outline you have prepared and write an opinion essay on the topic.
(350 - 450 words)

Nante Surnante: Class:

Assignment: Writing an opinion essay 3 Date:

67
68
Opinion Essay Checklist

I. Introductory paragraph
II. My
☐
Body introduction
paragraphsattracts the reader's interest.
☐ It includes general statements which give the background information about the topic of
☐
III.
My body paragraphs start with a topic sentence.
Concluding paragraph
the essay.
☐ The topic sentence in each paragraph is introduced with a transition signal (firstly, tobegin
☐ ItMy concluding paragraph starts with a transition phrase (in conclusion, to summarize etc).
with,moves
Throughout
☐ from
secondly general
myetc.)
essay to specific.
to show how one paragraph is related to another.
☐ It
It reminds the
presents the topic
reader ofof
thetheessay
mainclearly.
idea that is introduced in the thesis.
☐ My essay has a range of
☐ They include several supporting
☐ simple, compound
sentences andtocomplex
support sentences.
the topic sentence and the thesis
☐ It does not include specific details or does not give tooof
It includes the restatement of the thesis or a summary the main points.
☐ I used a wide range of vocabulary and avoided repetition.much information.
statement.
☐
It does not introduce any new ideas.
☐ It
☐ endsinclude
I used
They with the
necessary thesis
enough statement.
transition
detailssignals and linkers.
to explain the main ideas.
☐ IMy
☐ thesis
used statement
formal academic presents the controlling idea and subtopics/reasons.
language.
☐ All sentences in my essay are relevant and in unity.
☐ There is a smooth transition between my ideas.

69
 I checked my essay for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

Write your second draft: Make necessary corrections according to your teacher's feedback and write
your second draft. (350 -450 words)

Nante Surnaine: Class:

Assignment: Writing an opinion essay 3 (2nd draft) Date:

70
71
References:

Brandon, L., & Brandon, K. (2011). Paragraphs and essays with integrated readings (11th ed.). Heinle
Cengage Learning.

Chin, P., Koizumi, Y., Reid, S., Wray, S., & Yamazaki, Y. (2012). Academic writing skills 1. Cambridge
University Press.

DeCapua, A. (2017). Grammar for teachers: A guide to American English for native and non-native
speakers (2nd ed.). Springer.

Extinction. (n.d.). In Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Retrieved from

https:/ /www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/ extinction

Famine. (n.d.). In Cambridge Learner's Dictionary. Retrieved from

https:/ /dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/ english-turkish/famine

Folse, K. S., Muchmore-Vokoun, A., & Solomon, E. V. (2010) Great writing 2: Great paragraphs (3rd
ed.). Heinle Cengage Learning.

Folse, K. S., Solomon, E. V., & Clabeaux, D. (2010). Great writing 3: From great paragraphs to great
essays (2nd ed.). Heinle Cengage Learning.

Hartmann, P. & Blass, L. (2006). Quest 2 (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Hogue, A. (2020). Longman academic writing series 2 (3rd ed.). Pearson Education.

McVeigh, J., & Bixby, J. (2020). Q Skills for success: Reading and writing 2 (3rd ed.). Oxford University
Press.

Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2020). Longman academic writing series 3 (4sth ed.). Pearson Education.

Santamaria, J. C. (2020). Q Skills for success: Reading and writing 3 (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

70+ Breathtaking facts about deforestation that will leave you spellbound. (n.d.). Conserve Energy
Future. https:/ /www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-deforestation-facts.php

Zemach, D. E., & Rumisek, L.A. (2005). Academic writing: From paragraph to essay. McMillan
Education.

72