Essay Structure(based on paragraph structure)

Teachers: use this slide show after doing the corresponding paragraph activity (DOC file).

Created by Rebecca Soble, Fall 2010, updated Spring 2013

REMEMBER THE PARAGRAPH?• Topic sentence• Supporting sentence A– Detail sentence A1– Detail sentence A2

• Supporting sentence B– Detail sentence B1– Detail sentence B2

• Concluding Sentence • Closing Comment (optional)

Each part of the paragraph becomes a whole paragraph

• Topic Sentence becomes…

• Introduction Paragraph, with:– Background Information– THESIS STATEMENT (last)

• Each supporting section becomes…

• Concluding Sentence becomes…

• A whole paragraph, with:– Topic Sentence– Supporting Ideas/Details– Conclusion (optional)

• Concluding paragraph, with:– Conclusion that rephrases the

THESIS STATEMENT– Closing Comment

Do you remember this paragraph?Watching television is a good way to improve one’s English.

First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching television. One source of vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues. Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases. Secondly, it is possible to improve your listening skills by watching television. For example, music video programs can help your listening. Even though you may not understand everything you hear, you can get more familiar with the sounds of English and the pronunciation of words. Naturally, the more you listen, the more you will understand. In short, TV helps us to improve our English in an enjoyable way. (169 words)

Here it is again, broken into its parts.• Topic Sentence: Watching television is a good way to improve one’s English. • First Supporting Sentence and supporting details: First of all, you can learn new

vocabulary words by watching television. One source of vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues. Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases.

• Second Supporting Sentence, and supporting details: Secondly, it is possible to improve your listening skills by watching television. For example, music video programs can help your listening. Even though you may not understand everything you hear, you can get more familiar with the sounds of English and the pronunciation of words. Naturally, the more you listen, the more you will understand.

• Conclusion: In short, TV helps us to improve our English in an enjoyable way.

Let’s make the Topic Sentence into an Introductory Paragraph

• First, start GENERAL.If you want to learn English, there are many ways to do it.

• Then, gradually get more specific.Many people take courses, try to learn from books, or even pay for expensive private tutoring. But actually, one of the best ways to learn English is from TV.

• Your background info should be ONLY 2-3 sentences.• Finally, end with your THESIS STATEMENT, which clearly

states the 2-3 ideas you will include in your paragraph.Watching television can help improve both your vocabulary and your listening skills.

Compare them side-by-sideOriginal Topic Sentence

Watching television is a good way to improve one’s English.

New Introduction

If you want to learn English, there are many ways to do it. Many people take courses, try to learn from books, or even pay for expensive private tutoring. But actually, one of the best ways to learn English is from TV. Watching television can help improve both your vocabulary and your listening skills.

It MUST BE CLEAR from your THESIS STATEMENT exactly what topics you will discuss in your essay.

Watching television can help improve both your vocabulary

and your listening skills.

So your two body paragraphs will be about vocabulary (1) and listening (2).

Make the 1st section into a body paragraph.• First, start with a topic sentence, WITH A SIGNAL PHRASE.

First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching television.• Then, add the details.

One source of vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues. Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases.

• This is your opportunity to write more. You should include more details or examples than you would in a paragraph.Another source of vocabulary on television is documentary programs. Because these focus on a particular topic, you can learn a lot of vocabulary about that topic. It can be especially helpful if the documentary also has subtitles.

Compare them side-by-sideOriginal Supporting Section

First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching television. One source of vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues. Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases. (86)

New Body ParagraphFirst of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching television. One source of vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues. Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases. Another source of vocabulary on television is documentary programs. Because these focus on a particular topic, you can learn a lot of vocabulary about that topic. It can be especially helpful if the documentary also has subtitles. (123)

Let’s make the concluding sentence and comment into a complete paragraph.

• Rephrase the THESIS STATEMENT, USE a CONCLUSION SIGNAL PHRASE.

– Watching television can help improve both your vocabulary and your listening skills.

– In brief, your vocabulary and listening skills are two parts of English that can be developed by watching television.

• Add a closing comment. – If you do it for at least an hour every day, you should notice

improvement within a few weeks.

Compare them side-by-sideOriginal Conclusion

In short, TV helps us to improve our English in an enjoyable way.

New Concluding Paragraph

In brief, watching news, TV series, and music videos are great ways to develop different skills with English. If you do it for at least an hour every day, you should notice improvement within a few weeks. It will be especially helpful if you take notes while you watch, and try to practice what you learn with other people as well.

Let’s look at the whole thing!If you want to learn English, there are many ways to do it. Many people take courses,

try to learn from books, or even pay for expensive private tutoring. But actually, one of the best ways to learn English is from TV. Watching television can help improve both your vocabulary and your listening skills.

First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching television. One source of vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues. Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases. Another source of vocabulary on television is documentary programs. Because these focus on a particular topic, you can learn a lot of vocabulary about that topic. It can be especially helpful if the documentary also has subtitles.

Secondly, it is possible to improve your listening skills by watching television. For example, music video programs can help your listening. Even though you may not understand everything you hear, you can get more familiar with the sounds of English and the pronunciation of words. Another key to learning listening with television is to use subtitles. It can be good to watch the same show twice, once with subtitles and the again without them, to see how much you can hear once you know what to expect. Naturally, the more you listen, the more you will understand.

In brief, your vocabulary and listening skills are two parts of English that can be developed by watching television. If you do it for at least an hour every day, you should notice improvement within a few weeks. (312)