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)