BMUC2112 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

ESSAY WRITING
 What are an Essay and the purpose of an essay?

• An essay is a "short formal piece of writing. Dealing with a single

subject" ("Essay," 2001).
• It is typically written to try to persuade the reader using selected
research evidence("Essay," 1997).
• In general, an academic essay has three parts.
• An introduction that gives the reader an idea of what they are about to learn and
presents an argument in the form of a thesis statement.
• A body, or middle section, that provides evidence used to prove and persuade the
reader to accept the writer's particular point of view.
• A conclusion that summarizes the content and findings of the essay.
 COMPONENT OF A GOOD ESSAY.

INTRODUCTION •GENERAL STATEMENT

•THESIS STATEMENT

•TOPIC SENTENCE 1
•SUPPORTING DETAILS (5WS AND IHQ)
•CONCLUDING SENTENCE
•TOPIC SENTENCE 2
BODY/CONTENT •SUPPORTING DETAILS
•CONCLUDING SENTENCE
•TOPIC SENTENCE 3
•SUPPORTING DETAILS
•CONCLUDING SENTENCE

•RESTATEMENT OF THESIS STATEMENT

CONCLUSION •SUMMARY OF MAIN POINTS
•CONCLUDING SENTENCE
FACT VS OPINION
 FACT IS STRONGER THAN OPINION
For this reason, make sure that you phrase and word your essays as if they are FACT, not
simply OPINION.
•  Facts are useful to inform or make an argument.
Examples:
• The United States was established in 1776.
• The pH levels in acids are lower than pH levels in alkaline.
• Beethoven had a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.

Opinions are useful to persuade, but careful readers and listeners will notice and
demand evidence to back them up.
Examples:
• That was a good movie.
• Strawberries taste better than blueberries.
• George Clooney is the sexiest actor alive.
• The death penalty is wrong.
• Beethoven’s reputation as a virtuoso pianist is overrated.
 COMPONENTS OF A GOOD ESSAY
INTRODUCTION
• A good introduction consists of the following:
a) General statements
• The introduction of an essay usually begins with some general statements about the topic.
• Example of general introduction.
Procrastination is the thief of time. It is the act of putting off doing something that requires
immediate attention. We tend to priorities doing things that are easier or more pleasurable
instead of completing something that is urgent but difficult or less pleasurable. There are three
reasons why people procrastinate which is when we feel overwhelmed by work, have a lack of or
no motivation to work, and fear of failure.
b) Thesis statement
• A thesis statement is usually stated at the end of the introductory paragraph. 
• The thesis statement is the most important sentence in an essay because it contains the main idea or the
scope of the entire essay.
• A thesis statement is usually written as a complete sentence.
• The following are two types of thesis statements. 
ii. Specific thesis statement
• This will contain all the main ideas that will be covered in the essay. In other words, it gives the readers an overall preview of the
essay.
• Example of the specific thesis statement.
Procrastination occurs when we feel overwhelmed by work, have a lack of or no motivation to work, and fear failure. 
ii. General thesis statement
• This will contain a general idea of what you, as the writer, plan to write about. It usually defines the scope of the essay, leaving out the
specific ideas that will be stated and covered in the essay.
• Example of a general thesis statement.
Procrastination can be attributed to a number of causes such as when we feel overwhelmed by work, have a lack of or no
motivation to work, and fear of failure
The following are some dos and don'ts when writing your introduction.

1. Don't go straight to your first main idea. Write a brief introduction to provide the background to your essay.
2.Start your introduction with an attention grabber to attract the reader's attention and arouse their interest to read
further by using a proverb, a saying, some statistics, a question, etc.
3. Don't forget to include a thesis statement that will provide the scope of the essay.
4. Don't use a question as a thesis statement. Write in a complete sentence.
5. Keep your introduction short and simple.
 BODY/CONTENT
• The main ideas are usually expanded and elaborated in a separate
paragraph.
• Keep your main ideas distinct from one another.
• If the ideas overlap, write them in the same paragraph.
• The number of body paragraphs will depend on how many main ideas or
topic sentences you plan to include in your essay.
• For our class, you are required to write only 5(FIVE) paragraphs only which
include ONE introduction, THREE body, and ONE Conclusion. 
• Each body paragraph usually BEGINS with a topic sentence.
 TOPIC SENTENCES
• Topic sentences are the MAIN IDEA of the essay written in the body paragraphs.
• In other words, each body paragraph contains a topic sentence which clearly states the main idea of that particular
paragraph.
• For example, read this sentence first.
There are many reasons why people are not coming forward to donate their organs.
• After reading it, what do you think the writer will talk about in this paragraph?
• Now read the entire paragraph.
There are many reasons why people are not coming forward to donate their organs. For some, their religions
may forbid organ donations. It is believed that the deceased may not rest in peace if his or her body is
incomplete or any part of the body is removed. Some have great fears of going for organ transplantation as
they cannot stand the pain or even the sight of surgeries. For most, it could be due to sheer ignorance,
selfishness, and indifference. Therefore, we should not blame people who do not come forward to donate
their organs as they have their own reasons and it is also their right to decide whether to donate or not.

• Can you identify the topic sentence in this paragraph?

• Does the content of the paragraph match your predictions after reading the topic sentence earlier on?
• This is why a topic sentence is essential in each body paragraph as it contains the main idea of the paragraph. 
 SUPPORTING DETAILS
• Supporting details refer to sentences that support your topic sentence.
• They usually refer to facts, examples, reasons, descriptions, elaborations, etc which can be used to
support and explain your topic sentence.
• For example, read the following paragraph.
We can save a lot of energy by simply turning off electrical equipment. Appliances left on standby mode
continue consuming energy and emitting carbon. The US Department of Energy states that 75% of all
electricity consumed in homes is standby power. Therefore, before going on holiday, unplug appliances or
they will continue draining away energy. Consider using an on-off timer to shut off electrical equipment
when they are not in use. Turn off your computer when you are away for long meetings, lunch, and at the
end of the day. If you are the last person to leave a room, switch off the lights or air-conditioners. 

• What is the topic sentence? Do the other sentences support this topic sentence?
• So, when writing your supporting details, make sure they are relevant to your topic sentence. 
• Otherwise, remove them. 
 CONCLUDING SENTENCES
• Concluding sentences are usually written at the end of each body paragraph.
• Although they are not compulsory, they help to add a sense of completeness to the entire paragraph.
• They will usually reiterate the topic sentences. 
• Read the following paragraph. 
We can save a lot of energy by simply turning off electrical equipment. Appliances left on standby mode continue
consuming energy and emitting carbon. The US Department of Energy states that 75% of all electricity consumed in
homes is standby power. Therefore, before going on holiday, unplug appliances or they will continue draining away
energy. Consider using an on-off timer to shut off electrical equipment when they are not in use. Turn off your computer
when you are away for long meetings, lunch, and at the end of the day. If you are the last person to leave a room, switch
off the lights or air-conditioners. In short, turning off electrical equipment, be it at home or at work, can help to
reduce the carbon footprint.

• Can you identify the concluding sentence in this paragraph?

• Now read the paragraph again, but this time without the concluding sentence.
• Do you see the difference?
The following are some dos and don'ts when writing
your body or content. 

1. Don't forget to include the topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph that states the
main idea of the paragraph.

2. Ensure your topic sentences are well supported and elaborated concisely with relevant facts and
examples.
3. Use appropriate transition markers to ensure that ideas in your essay flow coherently.

4. The number of body paragraphs will depend on how many main ideas or topic sentences you
plan to include in this essay. It is advisable to keep your body paragraphs between three and six
paragraphs.
5. End each body paragraph with an appropriate concluding sentence to add a sense of
completeness to it.
 CONCLUSION
• Once you have completed the last point or body paragraph, end the essay with a concluding paragraph.
• Use transition markers that signal a conclusion to begin your concluding paragraph. 

In conclusion, As conclusion, To conclude

In summary, In a nutshell, In brief,
In short, On the whole, Overall,

You can bring the essay to a close-by restating your thesis statement or providing a brief summary of the
main ideas or topic sentences and including some concluding statements.
In a conclusion, we can reduce the carbon footprint by switching off electrical equipment that is not
in use, using energy-saving products, and practicing carbon-smart driving. These are simple steps
that may bring about small changes to our environment, but if all of us were to adopt just a few good
habits, the carbon savings will surely add up. 
 The following are some do's and dont's when writing your
conclusion.
1. Use a transition marker that signals a conclusion to begin your concluding paragraph,e.g. in a
conclusion, as a conclusion, in summary, etc.
2. Don't forget to summarise the main ideas or restate the thesis statement in the conclusion.
3. End your conclusion with one or two statements to round the essay off nicely. You can also
think of an interesting or creative way to end it, such as using a relevant quotation, proverb, etc.
4. Don't introduce new ideas that have not been mentioned previously in the conclusion.
5. Keep your conclusion short and simple. 
 TRANSITION MARKERS
Transition markers are used to ensure your ideas flow together smoothly and coherently. They may be
used within sentences, between sentences, and between paragraphs. Some transition markers you can use
to help write coherently and cohesively are:

1. To indicate addition Besides that, moreover, furthermore, apart from that, in

addition to that and additionally. 

2. To indicate the contrast  However, nevertheless, nonetheless, in contrast, in spite of,

despite, on the contrary, and on the other hand.

therefore, thus, hence, consequently, as a consequence and as a

3. To indicate cause and effect result
4. To indicate comparison similarly, likewise, also, in the same way 
5. To indicate concession even though, although, though, even if
6. To indicate examples for example, for instance, in other words.

7. to indicate time relationships
8. To indicate a sequence
9. To indicate a conclusion
at the same time, at that time, in the meantime, since,
meanwhile, as/while, then.
first/firstly, second/secondly, third/thirdly, next, then, after
that, finally/lastly.
Finally/Lastly, in conclusion, as a conclusion, on the whole, in
the end, in brief, in short.
 TYPES OF ESSAYS
1) NARRATIVE ESSAY
• Narratives are basically stories or descriptions of a series of events.
• They can be written based on your own experience or imagination.
• A good narrative essay usually has a well-developed, logical, and consistent plot that consists of an
opening, a body, and an ending.
introduces the story briefly.
presents the background of the story 
The opening
introduces the characters and their characteristics 
describes the setting-time and place
presents all the actions and conflicts that lead to a
The body climax
describes all the events in the story in detail
presents the outcome of all the actions
The ending 
brings the story to an end
 EXAMPLE OF NARRATIVE ESSAY
"Looking back on a childhood filled with events and memories, I find it rather difficult
to pick one that leaves me with the fabled "warm and fuzzy feelings." As the daughter
of an Air Force major, I had the pleasure of traveling across America on many moving
trips. I have visited the monstrous trees of the Sequoia National Forest, stood on the
edge of the Grand Canyon, and have jumped on the beds at Caesar's Palace in Lake
Tahoe." The day I picked my dog up from the pound was one of the happiest days of
both of our lives. I had gone to the pound just a week earlier with the idea that I
would just "look" at a puppy. Of course, you can no more just look at those squiggling
little faces so filled with hope and joy than you can stop the sun from setting in the
evening. I knew within minutes of walking in the door that I would get a puppy… but
it wasn't until I saw him that I knew I had found my puppy."Looking for houses was
supposed to be a fun and exciting process. Unfortunately, none of the ones that we
saw seemed to match the specifications that we had established. They were too
small, too impersonal, too close to the neighbors. After days of finding nothing even
close, we began to wonder: was there really a perfect house out there for us?"
 2) DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
• A descriptive essay is an essay that describes something – an object or
person, an event or place, an experience or emotion, or an idea. The goal of
this kind of essay is to provide readers with enough detailed descriptions for
them to be able to picture or imagine the chosen topic.
• EXAMPLES OF A DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY:
"When entering the door at Lou's, two things are immediately noticeable: the
place is rarely empty and seems to consist of a maze of rooms. The first
room, through the door, is the main part of the restaurant. There is another,
rarely used, dining room off to the right. It was added during the oil well boom
of the seventies. Through the main dining room is yet another room; it guards
the door leading into the kitchen. This room contains the most coveted table in
the place. The highest tribute Lou can bestow on anyone is to allow them
access to seats at this table. This table is the family table; it is reserved for
Lou's, and her daughter Karen's, immediate family and treasured friends."
 3) EXPOSITORY ESSAY
• The expository essay is a genre of essay that requires the student to investigate an idea, evaluate
evidence, expound on the idea, and set forth an argument concerning that idea in a clear and
concise manner.
• This can be accomplished through comparison and contrast, definition, example, the analysis of
cause and effect, etc.
•  Involve less research and are shorter in length. 

The structure of the expository essay is held together by the following.

• A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay
• Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Body paragraphs that include evidential support.
• Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).
• A bit of creativity!
• A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the
evidence provided
 EXAMPLE OF AN EXPOSITORY ESSAY:
• EXAMPLE: The Importance of Straightforward Clarity and also the disadvantage.
"Throughout history and through a cross-section of cultures, women have transformed their
appearance to conform to a beauty ideal. Ancient Chinese aristocrats bound their feet as a
show of femininity; American and European women in the 1800s cinched in their waists so
tightly, some suffered internal damage; in some African cultures, women continue to wear
plates in their lower lips, continually stretching the skin to receive plates of larger size. The
North American ideal of beauty has continually focused on women's bodies: the tiny waist of
the Victorian period, the boyish figure in vogue during the flapper era, and the voluptuous
curves that were the measure of beauty between the 1930s and 1950s. Current standards
emphasize a toned, slender look, one that exudes fitness, youth, and health. According to
psychologist Eva Szekely, "Having to be attractive at this time... means unequivocally having
to be thin. In North America today, thinness is a precondition for being perceived by others
and oneself as healthy." However, this relentless pursuit of thinness is not just an example of
women trying to look their best, it is also a struggle for control, acceptance, and success."
 4) CAUSE AND EFFECT
There are generally two ways to write a cause and effect essay. The first way is to write about both the
causes and effects while the second way is to write about either the causes or the effects.
What are the causes and effects of obesity?
What are the causes of obesity?
What are the effects of obesity?

The question " What are the causes and effects of obesity?" requires you to provide points for both the causes of
obesity and the effects. Therefore, there are three ways you can write your essay.
MODEL 1 ( FOR ESSAYS ABOUT BOTH CAUSES AND
EFFECTS)
INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT

1ST CAUSE OF OBESITY

2ND CAUSE OF OBESITY

3RD EFFECT OF OBESITY

CONCLUSION
MODEL 2 ( FOR ESSAYS ABOUT BOTH CAUSES AND
EFFECTS)
INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT

1ST CAUSE OF OBESITY

1ST EFFECT OF OBESITY

2ND CAUSE OF OBESITY

2ND EFFECT OF OBESITY

3RD CAUSE OF OBESITY

3RD EFFECT OF OBESITY

CONCLUSION
MODEL 3 ( FOR ESSAYS ABOUT BOTH CAUSES AND
EFFECTS)

INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT

IST CAUSE AND 1ST EFFECT OF OBESITY

2ND CAUSE AND 2ND EFFECT OF OBESITY

3RD CAUSE AND 3RD EFFECT OF OBESITY

CONCLUSION
MODEL 4 ( FOR ESSAYS ABOUT CAUSES
ONLY)
INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT

1ST CAUSE OF OBESITY

2ND CAUSE OF OBESITY

3RD CAUSE OF OBESITY

CONCLUSION
MODEL 5 ( FOR ESSAYS ABOUT EFFECTS ONLY)
INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT

1ST EFFECT OF OBESITY

2ND EFFECT OF OBESITY

3RD EFFECT OF OBESITY

CONCLUSION
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME GUIDELINES YOU CAN
USE TO WRITE A CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY.
1. Ensure you understand the scope and requirements of the essay question. Are you required to write both causes and effects or either
one?

2. Spend a few minutes brainstorming relevant ideas to get a clear picture of how you can present your main ideas effectively.

3. If you have too many ideas, choose the most relevant or effective ones.
4. Organise your main ideas in a logical manner.

5. Write your introduction. Don't forget to include your thesis statement. Keep your introduction short and simple.

6. Present your main ideas one by one and support them with relevant and sufficient details, elaborations, or examples.

7. Each main idea should be written in a separate paragraph. 

8. Use appropriate transition markers( e.g. because, as a result, therefore, etc.) to link your ideas logically and smoothly between
sentences within a paragraph as well as between paragraphs. 

9. Use a variety of sentence structures ( e.g. simple, compound, and complex) and add appropriate figurative expressions where
necessary, such as idioms, sayings, phrasal verbs, similes, or proverbs to make your essay interesting. 

10. Write your conclusion by restating the thesis statement or summarising all the main ideas that you have presented in the body
paragraphs and provide relevant concluding statements. Keep your conclusion short and simple. 
 5) ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAYS
If you are required to write an argumentative essay, you will be presented
with a statement that is usually one-sided. 

Industrial training is unnecessary for tertiary students. Do you agree? 

In this case, you have two options- to argue for ( agree) or to argue
against (disagree). The following are two ways of writing an argumentative
essay. 
 MODEL 1: TO ARGUE FOR 

INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT  INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT 

STAND: TO ARGUE FOR ( AGREE) STAND: TO ARGUE FOR ( AGREE)

1ST REASON TO ARGUE FOR 1ST REASON TO ARGUE FOR AND 1ST REFUTATION. 

2ND REASON TO ARGUE FOR 2ND REASON TO ARGUE FOR AND 2ND REFUTATION. 

3RD REASON TO ARGUE FOR 3RD REASON TO ARGUE FOR AND 3RD REFUTATION. 

CONCLUSION RESTATE STAND: STILL ARGUE FOR CONCLUSION RESTATE STAND: STILL ARGUE FOR
 MODEL 2: TO ARGUE AGAINST
INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT  INTRODUCTION WITH THESIS STATEMENT 
STAND: TO ARGUE AGAINST ( DISAGREE) STAND: TO ARGUE AGAINST ( DISAGREE)

1ST REASON TO ARGUE AGAINST  1ST REASON TO ARGUE AGAINST AND 1ST REFUTATION. 

2ND REASON TO ARGUE AGAINST  2ND REASON TO ARGUE AGAINST AND 2ND REFUTATION. 

3RD REASON TO ARGUE AGAINST  3RD REASON TO ARGUE AGAINST AND 3RD REFUTATION. 

CONCLUSION RESTATE STAND: STILL ARGUE AGAINST. CONCLUSION RESTATE STAND: STILL ARGUE AGAINST.
• WHEN WRITING YOUR THESIS STATEMENT FOR
AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY, STATE YOUR STAND
CLEARLY WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE
WITH THE STATEMENT PROVIDED. 
• EXAMPLE: I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THE
STATEMENT THAT INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IS
UNNECESSARY FOR TERTIARY STUDENTS. 
• TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENTATIVE
ESSAY, REMEMBER TO USE THE FOLLOWING
WORDS, PHRASES, AND TRANSITION MARKERS
TO SUPPORT YOUR MAIN IDEAS OR STAND.
TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY, REMEMBER TO USE THE FOLLOWING
WORDS, PHRASES, AND TRANSITION MARKERS TO SUPPORT YOUR MAIN IDEAS OR STAND.

Besides (that), Moreover, Furthermore, Apart from that,

1. TO INDICATE ADDITION
2. TO INDICATE CONTRAST
3. TO INDICATE RESULT
4. TO MAKE THE EXISTING POINT STRONGER
5. TO INDICATE EXAMPLES
6. TO INDICATE CONCLUSION OR REPETITION
Other than this, In addition ( to that), Additionally, etc.
However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, In contrast, In Spite of
Despite, On the contrary, on the other hand, etc
Therefore, Thus, Hence, Consequently, As a consequence,
as a result, etc. 
In fact, as a matter of fact, etc.
For example, For instance, A good example is, etc.
In conclusion, To conclude, In brief, In short, etc
 THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME GUIDELINES YOU CAN USE TO
WRITE AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY:
1. Ensure you understand the scope and requirements of the essay question. Choose a stand- Do you agree or disagree with the statement
or proposition?

2. Spend a few minutes brainstorming relevant ideas to get a clear picture of how you can present your main ideas effectively.

3. If you have too many ideas, choose the most relevant or effective ones.
4. Organize your main ideas in a logical manner.
5. Write your introduction. Don't forget to include your thesis statement that states your stand clearly. Keep your introduction short and
simple.

6. Present your main ideas one by one and support them with relevant and sufficient details, elaborations, examples or refutations. 

7. Each main idea should be written in a separate paragraph. 

8. Use appropriate transition markers( e.g. however, therefore, furthermore, etc.) to link your ideas logically and smoothly between
sentences within a paragraph as well as between paragraphs. 

9. Use a variety of sentence structures ( e.g. simple, compound, and complex) and add appropriate figurative expressions where necessary,
such as idioms, sayings, phrasal verbs, similes, or proverbs to make your essay interesting. 

10. Write your conclusion by restating your stand or summarizing all the main ideas that you have presented in the body paragraphs and
provide relevant concluding statements. Keep your conclusion short and simple.