ESSAY WRITING

An essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject. The purpose of an essay is to present an
argument or point of view about a particular topic and give examples or reasons to support it. The topic
will be a question or an issue which people generally have different opinions about.

The essay could present both sides of the argument, or just one, depending on the instructions given in
the task. So, if the instructions ask you to give your opinion, you can address just this one point of
view, or you can discuss the arguments for and against. But if the task instructions state that
arguments for and against should be included, then you should address both points of view.

The format of a one-sided argument essay: A one-sided argument essay can have two formats,
depending on whether you include a counterargument from the opposing viewpoint or not.

Paragraph 1: Introduction (including your opinion)

Paragraph 2: First point supporting your opinion with an explanation

Paragraph 3: Second point supporting your opinion with an explanation

Paragraph 4: State a counterargument (an idea from the opposing viewpoint) and counter the
counterargument (i.e., explain why this counterargument is invalid). In other words, state a point made
by people who have a different opinion from yours and explain why they are wrong.

Paragraph 5: Conclusion (including your opinion again but in different words)

OR

Paragraph 1: Introduction (including your opinion)

Paragraph 2: One or two points supporting your opinion with an explanation

Paragraph 3: One or two points (different from those of the previous paragraph) supporting your
opinion with an explanation

Paragraph 4: Conclusion (including your opinion again but in different words)

The format of a two-sided argument essay

Paragraph 1: Introduction (without your opinion)

Paragraph 2: One side of the argument

Paragraph 3: The other side of the argument

Paragraph 4: Conclusion (including your opinion)

Introduction: The purpose of the introduction is to inform the reader about the main point (topic) of
the essay and engage the reader to make them interested in the topic. The main components of an
effective introduction are:

Topic sentence:
Start your essay with a brief topic sentence that outlines the argument that the essay will discuss.
Give forceful statements rather than “I think that”, “maybe” or “perhaps”. For example, “Teenagers
love fast food.”, “Nowadays, music plays an indispensable role in our lives.”, etc.

To write an effective topic sentence, you might use adverbial time phrases and generalizations. Here
are some examples of each.

Adverbial time phrases

 Nowadays/these days/currently
 Every day/week/year
 Recently/for many years/decades
 In the past
 10 years ago
 In the last (few/five) (days/weeks/months/years/decades)

Generalization

 Almost all
 Most/many
 A large number of / The vast majority (of)
 Several/some
 Not many/hardly any/ few
 In almost all cases
 In the majority of cases
 In a large number of cases
 In most cases
 In some cases
 On the whole/ Overall
 Students
 Teenagers

Rhetorical question(s)

Use rhetorical questions (questions that don’t require an answer but make your reader think) to get the
reader interested in the topic and encourage them to read on. For example:

 How much longer do animals have to suffer?

 Could you live with yourself if you missed out on this opportunity?
 How could we possibly stand the …?
 What would happen if …?
 Could your conscience cope with …?
 Is it really worth …?
 Do you want to be part of …?
 Should students do sport at school?
 Should teenagers completely avoid fast food?
  We all love convenience food. But is it the best thing for our waistlines, our wallets and our
world?

Your opinion (if it is a one-sided argument essay)

If you are writing a two-sided argument essay, DO NOT give your opinion in the introduction.

If you are writing a one-sided argument essay, you MUST give your opinion (whether you support or
oppose the viewpoint expressed in the statement).

Here are some opinion phrases to help you express your opinion.

 In my opinion/view
 From my perspective
 From my point of view
 I concur/agree
 I believe/think (that)
 It seems to me that
 I am in favour of
 I am against the idea of
 I am strongly opposed to
 I disagree/cannot accept

You may also kill two birds with one stone and begin your essay with a rhetorical question that
introduces the topic to the reader, thus acting as a topic sentence. Here are some examples.

“Have you ever thought how school life would be if the school day started later? In my perspective,
this will have countless benefits.”

“Should students do sport at school? This is a question which people have different opinions about.”

Two-sided essay structure:

Body paragraph 1: One side of the argument either in favour or against (mention 2 different ideas)

Body paragraph 2: The other side of the argument either in favour or against (mention 2 different
ideas)

General guidelines for both kinds of essays:

 Read the question carefully and draft a plan for your essay in the blank space below the
question using a pencil. Here are some steps to follow.
 Separate the blank space into two parts, one for and one against.
 Jot down any points that come to your mind in the correct part, along with any interesting
vocabulary or expressions suitable for the task. Remember to write briefly and in bullet points.
 Decide whether you will write a one-sided essay or a two-sided essay. If the instructions in the
question state that you must include arguments for and against, then choose the best 2 points
supporting each side and write a two-sided essay. If it’s not mentioned that you must include
arguments for and against, then the choice is yours.
  Consider how you will begin your essay and how you will engage the reader at the start. For
example, write some variations of the topic sentence and rhetorical questions that you could
use.
 Choose the most effective ones and begin writing. Remember to spend no more than 5 minutes
on the plan.

Start your body paragraphs with a topic sentence rather than just jumping into the advantages or
disadvantages (especially if you’re writing a two-sided essay). or example, in an essay discussing the
advantages and disadvantages of fast food, it is better to start your first body paragraph with a topic
sentence like “There are some obvious advantages of fast food. Firstly, …” rather than just getting
into the first point and writing, “To begin with, it’s quite tasty.”.

Support your ideas with reasons, evidence, or examples. Keep in mind that the examiner knows the
evidence or examples will be made up and doesn’t expect these to be correct. Yes, you can make up
your own statistics! Just make sure it’s not overly unrealistic.

Use a variety of linking words and cohesive devices (mainly formal) to create a smooth and logical flow
in your writing. Here are some examples.

When presenting the first point (used in the 1st body paragraph of both one-sided essays and two-
sided essays)

 There are some obvious advantages of

 Those in support of … believe that …
 People who think … say that …
 The main argument in favour of/against is
 The main point/reason is
 The most important point/reason is
 The first point/reason is
 First of all
 First and foremost
 Firstly

When adding more points to the same side of the argument

 In addition,
 Furthermore,
 Additionally,
 Moreover,
 Not only … but also…
 As well as.
 And
 Another noteworthy point is …
 Apart from that
 What is more
 Besides
When contrasting ideas (typically used to introduce the opposite viewpoint in the 2nd body paragraph
of a two-sided essay

 Some people argue that …

 However
 Nevertheless
 Even though
 Although
 Despite
 In spite of
 On the other hand
 On the contrary
 By contrast
 But

When giving examples

 For example
 For instance
 One clear example is
 Such as
 Namely
 To illustrate
 In other words

When reasoning:

 Results and consequences: as a result, consequently, therefore, thus, hence, for this reason, as
a result (of), which means that, etc.
 Reasons and causes: owing to, because (of), on account of, due to, since, as, etc.

When highlighting and stressing

Particularly

In particular

Specifically

Especially

Obviously

Clearly

Conclusion

The purpose of the conclusion is to sum up what you have said and express (or re-express) your
opinion. In the conclusion:

1.Briefly summarize your main points using concluding phrases. Here are some examples.

In conclusion/To conclude/To sum up/To reiterate/On the whole/All in all/All things considered
After weighing the benefits and drawbacks/I believe that …/Thus, I am of the opinion that …

Given these points

Remember to use different words from those used to express the points in the body.

2. Give your final opinion (regardless of whether it’s a one-sided or a two-sided essay) and any solution
or suggestion if applicable.

The solution or suggestion might be part of your opinion if you’re writing a two-sided essay and want to
take a balanced view on the issue rather than siding with one side. For example, “Overall, I believe
eating fast food occasionally isn’t a problem, but fresh home-cooked food is best.” Use the opinion
phrases stated earlier in the Introduction section to express your opinion, and if it’s a one-sided essay,
make sure to use different words from those used in the introduction.

End with a strong, impactful statement that leaves the reader with something to think about.

 “To conclude, I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should pursue higher education. Why not
embrace this invaluable opportunity to fast-track your career, build your confidence, and
broaden your social circle?”
 “Overall, I believe eating fast food occasionally isn’t a problem, but fresh home-cooked food is
best. Do you not think so?”
 “After weighing the benefits and the drawbacks, it is apparent that convenience food, while
palatable, may negatively impact other areas of your life. Think about this before you reach for
your next snack!”

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