Essay Writing

A Sample
Prompt: Some states have now made it illegal to drive while talking on a hand-held cellular
phone. Do you think this is a good law that should be passed in other states as well? Why or
why not? Explain your answer.

Topic: Cell phones and driving

Do you need to narrow your topic?

Yes: Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous.

Outline:

I. Accidents have increased due to cell phone use

A. cell phone distractions
1. Dialing a number
2. Listening to a message
3. Heated conversation
B. Both fender benders and deadly accidents have been blamed on the distraction of cell phone
use while driving

II. Driving while using a cell phone makes you less able to respond to driving conditions
A. Having one hand on the wheel offers less control
B. The time to drop the phone and steer with both hands could mean a major accident

III. Talking on cell phone causes loss of focus on driving

A. Loss of focus can have an effect on reaction time
B. When a driver talks on a cell, he focuses on the conversation, and not on driving
C. The distracted driver will be slow to decide when to brake and when to change lanes
Thesis statement States the topic and the point of the essay

Topic: Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous

Point of the essay: and because of that, should be illegal.

My thesis statement: All states can, and should, make it illegal to drive while talking on a cellular
phone.

Write the body paragraphs

Put the outlines into sentence form.

Add details for each fact.

Make sure each paragraph has only one topic.

First body paragraph

Outline:

I. Accidents have increased due to cell phone use

A. cell phone distractions
1. Dialing a number
2. Listening to a message
3. Heated conversation
B. Both fender benders and deadly accidents have been blamed on the distraction of cell phone
use while driving

Paragraph in sentence form:

In the past decade, as the popularity of cellular phones has risen, so have the number of accidents
caused by people talking on their cell phones. Whether they were dialing a number, listening to a
message, or simply in a heated conversation, they were momentarily distracted from the task of
driving, and suddenly—crash! Fortunately, many of these accidents have been minor fender-
benders. But all too many have been deadly accidents that could have been prevented by a stricter
cell-phone use laws.
Second body paragraph

Outline:

II. Driving while using a cell phone makes you less able to respond to driving conditions
A. Having one hand on the wheel offers less control
B. The time to drop the phone and steer with both hands could mean a major accident

Paragraph in sentence form:

Cell phone proponents may argue that talking on a cell phone is no more dangerous than, for
example, having a cup of coffee while on the road or talking to someone in the back seat. But unlike
a cup of coffee, which you can put down between sips, you must keep the phone in your hand. That
means that you have only one hand on the wheel while you’re driving. That makes cell phones
doubly dangerous: not only are you distracted by dialing or by the conversation; you are also driving
one-handed, which means you are less in control. If you suddenly need both hands on the wheel to
prevent an accident or to keep your car from sliding, the extra second it takes to get your hand back
on the wheel can make the difference between an accident and an accident narrowly averted,
between a serious injury and a minor one.
Third body paragraph

Outline:

III. Talking on cell phone causes loss of focus on driving

A. Loss of focus can have an effect on reaction time
B. When a driver talks on a cell, he focuses on the conversation, and not on driving
C. The distracted driver will be slow to decide when to brake and when to change lanes

Paragraph in sentence form:

Cell phones are also dangerous because when you are busy talking, especially if you really have to
concentrate on the matter you are discussing, your mind is not fully focused on the road, and this
has a significant effect on your reaction time. You will be slower to make important driving decisions
such as how soon to brake and when to switch lanes, and you will be less able to respond to
situations on the road.
Introductory paragraph – attention grabber

No matter how careful a driver you may be, when you do something else while driving, whether it’s drinking coffee,
changing the radio station, looking at a map, or making a call on your cell phone, you endanger yourself and others
because you are distracted from your driving. Even a fraction of a second of distraction is enough to cause an
accident. While no state can make it illegal to drink coffee or switch stations while driving, all states can, and should,
make it illegal to drive while talking on a cellular phone.

 
Concluding paragraph – strong sentences that sum up your points and provide your prospective.

Many people use cell phones to report accidents and emergencies, to let loved ones know they’ll be late, and to
stay in touch when they’re out of town. I’m not arguing that you shouldn’t have a cell phone in your car. What I am
saying is that you shouldn’t be driving when you’re talking on that phone. Until your state outlaws hand-held cell
phones in cars, pull over to the side of the road when you are ready to make a call. It may add a few extra minutes
to your commute, but it just might save your life.
Check the order of your paragraphs.

Check to make sure you have followed the instructions for the writing.

Check your writing. Revise and edit.

No matter how careful a driver you may be, when you do something else while driving, whether it’s drinking coffee, changing the radio station, looking
at a map, or making a call on your cell phone, you endanger yourself and others because you are distracted from your driving. Even a fraction of a
second of distraction is enough to cause an accident. While no state can make it illegal to drink coffee or switch stations while driving, all states can, and
should, make it illegal to drive while talking on a cellular phone.

In the past decade, as the popularity of cellular phones has risen, so have the number of accidents caused by people talking on their cell phones.
Whether they were dialing a number, listening to a message, or simply in a heated conversation, they were momentarily distracted from the task of
driving, and suddenly—crash! Fortunately, many of these accidents have been minor fender-benders. But all too many have been deadly accidents that
could have been prevented by a stricter cell-phone use laws.

Cell phone proponents may argue that talking on a cell phone is no more dangerous than, for example, having a cup of coffee while on the road or
talking to someone in the back seat. But unlike a cup of coffee, which you can put down between sips, you must keep the phone in your hand. That
means that you have only one hand on the wheel while you’re driving. That makes cell phones doubly dangerous: not only are you distracted by dialing
or by the conversation; you are also driving one-handed, which means you are less in control. If you suddenly need both hands on the wheel to prevent
an accident or to keep your car from sliding, the extra second it takes to get your hand back on the wheel can make the difference between an accident
and an accident narrowly averted, between a serious injury and a minor one.

Cell phones are also dangerous because when you are busy talking, especially if you really have to concentrate on the matter you are discussing, your
mind is not fully focused on the road, and this has a significant effect on your reaction time. You will be slower to make important driving decisions such
as how soon to brake and when to switch lanes, and you will be less able to respond to situations on the road.

Many people use cell phones to report accidents and emergencies, to let loved ones know they’ll be late, and to stay in touch when they’re out of town.
I’m not arguing that you shouldn’t have a cell phone in your car. What I am saying is that you shouldn’t be driving when you’re talking on that phone.
Until your state outlaws hand-held cell phones in cars, pull over to the side of the road when you are ready to make a call. It may add a few extra
minutes to your commute, but it just might save your life.