How to write an essay

How to present your ideas clearly and concisely when writing with

TOPIC SENTENCES.

After a class discussion on different kinds of relationships, your teacher has asked you to write an essay, giving your opinions on the following statement.

Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.

Write your essay in 120 – 180 words in an appropriate style

• Type of text?• Aim?• Style?

EssayGive your opinionFormal

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

What is the procedure for creating any composition?

P

W

REVIEW

RITE

LAN

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

How many paragraphs are we going to write? 4

How can we arrange our ideas within the paragraphs?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Introduction

Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

Advantages + disadvantages of living with others

Conclusion

Can you think of an alternative way of doing this?

2. Advantages of both

3. Disadvantages of both

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

1. Introduction

What should the introduction include?

Your opinion / a general statement / rhetorical question

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

1. Introduction

What should the introduction include?

Your opinion / a general statement / rhetorical question

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

1. Introduction

What should the introduction include?

Your opinion / a general statement / rhetorical question

Which is the best introduction?

3. Living alone and living with others are two very different experiences. Both clearly have obvious advantages and disadvantages. But which is the most enjoyable overall?

2. I once lived in a house with four other people and it was great. I much preferred it to when I lived alone. I had so much more fun.

1. In this essay, I am going to talk about the pros and cons of living alone and living with other people.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

1. Introduction

What should the introduction include?

Your opinion / a general statement / rhetorical question

Which is the best introduction?

3. Living alone and living with others are two very different experiences. Both clearly have obvious advantages and disadvantages. But which is the most enjoyable overall?

2. I once lived in a house with four other people and it was great. I much preferred it to when I lived alone. I had so much more fun.

1. In this essay, I am going to talk about the pros and cons of living alone and living with other people.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

2. Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

Make very simple contrasting statements. (TOPIC SENTENCES)

Example: - Living alone can be boring

Topic sentence Reason Specific Example

It can be boring.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

2. Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

Make very simple contrasting statements. (TOPIC SENTENCES)

Example: - Living alone can be boring

Topic sentence Reason Specific Example

It can be boring. there is nobody to keep you company.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

2. Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

Make very simple contrasting statements. (TOPIC SENTENCES)

Example: - Living alone can be boring

Topic sentence Reason Specific Example

It can be boring. there is nobody to keep you company.

When you come home from work, you will have to call someone if you feel like socialising.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

2. Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

Make very simple contrasting statements. (TOPIC SENTENCES)

Example: - Living alone can be boring

Topic sentence Reason Specific Example

It can be boring. there is nobody to keep you company.

When you come home from work, you will have to call someone if you feel like socialising.

You have more freedom.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

2. Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

Make very simple contrasting statements. (TOPIC SENTENCES)

Example: - Living alone can be boring

Topic sentence Reason Specific Example

It can be boring. there is nobody to keep you company.

When you come home from work, you will have to call someone if you feel like socialising.

You have more freedom.

You don’t have to discuss your plans with anyone.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

2. Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

Make very simple contrasting statements. (TOPIC SENTENCES)

Example: - Living alone can be boring

Topic sentence Reason Specific Example

It can be boring. there is nobody to keep you company.

When you come home from work, you will have to call someone if you feel like socialising.

You have more freedom.

You don’t have to discuss your plans with anyone.

You can throw a party whenever it suits you.

ADVICE: If you can’t think of a reason or specific example, then the topic sentence is too specific, or is not a good statement.

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

PLAN

2. Advantages + disadvantages of living alone

How can you link these ideas together?

Statement Reason Specific Example

It can be boring. There is nobody to keep you company.

When you come home from work, you will have to call someone if you feel like socialising.

You have more freedom.

You do not have to discuss your plans with your flatmates

You can throw a party whenever it suits you.

Linking words!

Which could you use to link each part together?

so however as a result due to the fact owing to the fact

therefore because

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

NOW WRITE YOUR ESSAY!

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

NOW WRITE THE CONCLUSION

Give your point of view based on what you have said in the essay. Make sure it is relevant!

TASK: Write a formal essay which gives your opinion on the following statement

“Living alone is more enjoyable than living with someone else.”

NOW REVIEW YOUR ESSAY

Have you . . .

• answered the question properly?

• arranged your answer in clear paragraphs?

• joined your ideas together with linking words and phrases?

• Included vocabulary that will impress the examiner?

• Checked for spelling and grammar errors?

• Checked that your conclusion supports your arguments?