organizing essay

Seminar-Workshop on Academic Writing University of Mindanao September 13, 2008

Prof. Alben P. Sagpang

Main Parts of an Essay 

Introduction



Body



Conclusion

Introduction  About the topic • What is it all about?

• What is its purpose?

• What you intend to achieve?

• Why is it important?  Interesting! Encouraging!

Murphy (2007); Hall (2007); Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Introduction  Thesis statement • An answer to essay question, or • List of subtopics, or • Indicates what you believe or intend to prove, or • Pattern of organization of essay; • Normally the last sentence

Murphy (2007); Hall (2007); Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Body  Contributes to the central theme  Discusses subtopics, one by one  Paragraph begins with topic sentence  Well-explained supporting arguments, examples, or evidences  Sentences/paragraphs are logically ordered and/or interlinked  With linking sentence to the conclusion Murphy (2007); Hall (2007); Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Conclusion  Wraps up the essay  Reminds what just said  Sums up main ideas  Shows briefly that you have answered the essay question  Paraphrases the thesis statement  Reinforces your argument (from Intro) using a strong

statement

Murphy (2007); Hall (2007); Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Cause/Effect

Essays

Compare/Contrast

Argumentative

Block Organization of Cause/Effect Essays  Pattern A

Introduction 1st cause 2nd cause 3rd cause Transition paragraph 1st effect 2nd effect Conclusion Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Block Organization of Cause/Effect Essays  Pattern B

Introduction 1st cause Transition paragraph 2nd cause 3rd cause 4th cause Effects Conclusion

Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Block Organization of Cause/Effect Essays  Pattern C Introduction

Effects

Transition paragraph

1st cause

2nd cause

3rd cause

Conclusion Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Block Organization of Cause/Effect Essays  Pattern D Introduction

1st effect

2nd effect

3rd effect

4th effect

Conclusion Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Block Organization of Compare/Contrast Essays Introduction

B O D Y

Similarities 1. 1st Point of comparison 2. 2nd Point of comparison Differences 1. 1st Point of comparison 2. 2nd Point of comparison 3. 3rd Point of comparison

Conclusion Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Point-by-Point Organization of Compare/Contrast Essays Introduction

Â

B O D Y

1.

1st Point of comparison

2.

2nd Point of comparison

3.

3rd Point of comparison

4.

4th Point of comparison

Conclusion Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Â

Point-by-Point Organization of Compare/Contrast Essay: A Sample Introduction Thesis statement: One way to decide between two job offers is to compare them on important points 1. Salary B 2. Benefits O 3. Opportunities for advancement D 4. Workplace atmosphere  Y 5. Commuting distance from home Conclusion Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Â

Block Organization of Argumentative Essays Introduction Includes explanation of the issueÂ

B O D Y

Block 1 Summary of other side’s arguments Rebuttal to the 1st argument Rebuttal to the 2nd argument Rebuttal to the 3rd argument Block 2 Your 1st argument Your 2nd argument Your 3rd argument

Conclusion

Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Point-by-Point Organization of Argumentative Essays Introduction Includes explanation of the issue and a summary of the other side’s arguments 1. Statement of the other side’s 1st argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument

B O 2. Statement of the other side’s 2nd argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument D Y rd 3. Statement of the other side’s 3 argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument

Conclusion May include a summary of your point of view Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Tips on Writing the First Draft 

Understand the essay question(s)



Generate ideas through mind mapping and free writing • Mind mapping (Interconnecting new ideas generated from

main topic)  

Clarifies key ideas and their relationships Helps organize essay

Murphy (2007); Hall (2007)

Tips on Writing the First Draft • Free writing (Writing without stopping)  

Does not have to make sense Just to get started and generate more ideas



Don’t worry too much about your introduction



Write your first draft in a way that is easier for you



Focus on your basic structure/argument Murphy (2007); Hall (2007); Oshima and Hogue (2006)

Why Use Mind Mapping?  To organize a lot of data

– gives you an overview on a topic  To see how difficult concepts develop  To generate new ideas and new ways of seeing the

world

Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

Why Use Mind Mapping?  Clarify ideas and their relationships  Link ideas  Identify relative importance of ideas  Achieve deeper understanding

Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

Why Use Mind Mapping?  Combine current knowledge with new knowledge  Focus on ideas efficiently  Make better decisions  Have a permanent record of thoughts  Enhance organizational memory Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

Use of Mind Maps  Summarizing  Making lecture/seminar notes  Planning your writing – small or large  Reviewing for exams and tests

Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

How to Mind Map ď‚— Write the central idea in the centre of the page on a large

piece of unlined paper

ď‚— Do not pause or edit this stage. Related ideas will group

themselves naturally if you just keep going. Organizing linear connections comes later

Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

Workshop 1 - Mind Mapping  Think about the roadblock that seems to be affecting

you most at the moment in reaching your acdemic goals.

 Mind-map the roadblock; then consider potential

solutions (over, under, around or through).

 Time allotted: 5 minutes Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

Workshop 2 – Free Writing  Think about the academic roadblocks that seem to be

affecting you most at the moment or that might affect you in the future.

 Free-write these academic roadblocks; then consider potential

solutions (over, under, around or through).

 Time allotted: 10 minutes

Adopted from Student Learning Support Centre (2007) at Curtin University of Technology

+

Features of an A Essay • A sense of Unity • Clear argument outlined in the Introduction • Argument based on wide range of sources • Paragraphs relate clearly to the central argument

Murphy (2007)

+

Features of an A Essay • Paragraphs are in order of importance and are

linked

• Plenty of evidence and examples • Thoroughly and accurately referenced • Conclusion restates and summarizes the argument • Well Presented Murphy (2007)

Thank You...

Murphy (2007); Hall (2007); Oshima and Hogue (2006)