How to write an essay

Essay writing - making an argument

Rules for effective communicationQuantity BE PRECISE: give your readers as much information as they

need, not more, not less

Quality BE INFORMATIVE: give your reader important information/thoughtsBE TRUTHFUL: Don’t lie about what you don’t know, and back up your points with evidence

Structure BE RELEVANT: stick to your key point; don’t stray, and finish a point before you start another

Style BE RESPECTFUL: don’t swear, don’t talk down to your reader, don’t pretend to know your reader, don’t use irony or sarcasm

What NOT to write...

“Ronaldo is the fucking best football player in the whole world.”

“Ronaldo is the fucking best football player in the whole world.”

“Christiano Ronaldo is perhaps the best football player in the world. He has won ‘Best player in the world’ 3 times, and he has scored more goals than any other player in the big European football leagues.”

“To start out with, Harry is NOT pretty! He is so pleased with himself, he just thinks he is so pretty.”

“To start out with, Harry is NOT pretty! He is so pleased with himself, he just thinks he is so pretty.”

“Harry Styles is one out of 4 members in the band One Direction. Some fans believe that Harry is the leader of the band and that he is the pretty boy in the band. I don’t agree. I think Harry is a bit arrogant and tries to get people to notice him instead of the whole band.”

“I think that One D is the lamest band ever.”

“I think that One D is the lamest band ever.”

“One Direction is a popular band with a lot of fans all over the world right now. I really don’t understand that, because their music is not my style. I respect musicians who write their own songs, and I don’t think One Direction write their own songs.”

OrganizerIntroduction

Essential information that leads to thesis

Examples: CCTV means many cameras in public places, which helps the police to solve crimes. At the same time, CCTV means you’re being watched everywhere you go.

OrganizerThesis

The discussion in a nutshell – often a key question

Is CCTV a good thing?

OrganizerBody

Argument 1: It helps solve crimes. If the police can identify the criminal…

Supporting idea/information: violent crimes in places such as gas stations and parks has gone down … The police can often catch criminals more quickly…

Argument 2: You are being watched all the time – it makes people insecure…

Supporting idea/information: Who has the video footage, and for how long can it be stored?

(additional arguments and supporting information/ideas)Misuse of information

OrganizerConclusion

Conclusion:Summarize the argumentsAssess the arguments

Linking words and sentence connectorsIllustration:

Thus, for example, for instance, namely, to illustrate, in other words, in particular, specifically, such as.

Linking words and sentence connectorsContrast:

On the contrary, contrarily, notwithstanding, but, however, nevertheless, in spite of, in contrast, yet, on one hand, on the other hand, rather, or, nor, conversely, at the same time, while this may be true.

Linking words and sentence connectorsAddition:

And, in addition to, furthermore, moreover, besides, than, too, also, both-and, another, equally important, first, second, etc., again, further, last, finally, not only-but also, as well as, in the second place, next, likewise, similarly, in fact, as a result, consequently, in the same way, for example, for instance, however, thus, therefore, otherwise.

Linking words and sentence connectorsExamples:

For example, for instance, to illustrate, thus, in other words, as an illustration, in particular.

Linking words and sentence connectorsConsequence or Result:

So that, with the result that, thus, consequently, hence, accordingly, for this reason, therefore, so, because, since, due to, as a result, in other words, then.

Linking words and sentence connectorsSummary:

Therefore, finally, consequently, thus, in short, in conclusion, in brief, as a result, accordingly. Suggestion: For this purpose, to this end, with this in mind, with this purpose in mind, therefore

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