Essay Writing

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Structure Of Essay
Introduction • It explains the topic with general ideas
• It has a thesis statement which is a sentence with the main idea

Body • It explains and support the thesis statement

• There must be one or more paragraphs

Conclusion It summarizes or restart the thesis and the supporting ideas

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The Opening Paragraph characteristics

 ► Avoid Waffle

 ► Hook (Optional)

 ► General statement

 ► Thesis statement

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Continued

 ► In your opening paragraphs, you can usefully emphasize the approach you are going to
take by using phrases such as:
 ✔ In this essay I intend to explore …
 ✔ This essay will discuss …
 ✔ This essay will focus on …
 ✔ In order to discuss …, I will analyze …

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…Continued

 Start dealing with the topic of the question or assignment from the very first sentence.
 ► Say something specific in the very first sentence and continue that for the rest of the
paragraph.
 ► Indicate in this opening paragraph what approach you are going to take in the
remainder of the essay.
 ► Address the topic from the first sentence on, but don’t try to pack everything into this
first paragraph. You have the body of your essay in which to examine or discuss in detail
 ► Aim to write an opening paragraph of four or five sentences.

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Expository Essay

 ► Expository essay explores the different angles of a specific topic to provide

information in logical, straightforward and objective manner to the reader.

 ► Write should explain the topics by providing facts, statistics and examples.

 ► Based on facts and figures not on personal feelings.

 ► Writers should not reveal their emotions or write in the first person “I”.

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The Opening Paragraph

 ► Avoid writing ‘waffle’ in your opening paragraph.

 ► Waffle is making generalized, empty statements that could apply to a whole range of
topics, but which manage to say nothing relevant in answer to the question.
 ► For example:
 This is a very important issue and there are many different approaches that can be taken
in regard to it. Many experts have considered this matter, but no one has come up with
proven solutions. There are arguments for and against and many people feel very strongly
about it

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Example of Opening Paragraph

 The Internet has revolutionized the modern world, but it has also created new problems
and inequalities. Do you agree?

 It is undoubted that the Internet has gained in popularity over recent decades thanks to its
enormous benefits. As a result, the internet has obviously transformed much of our
society.

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