In this lesson you learn how to write essays in English.
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Lesson Eighteen- Writing Essays for Beginners
When your teacher gives you an essay assignment, what is your initial reaction? Uncertainty? Fear? Dread? In a large class, the teacher definitely notices the resistance that comes from students who dislike essay assignments or essay tests. But have no fear. There are some simple things that you can learn to make writing an essay easier. It’s also worth knowing that there is a formula for writing an essay which you can use as a basis for your work. This is called the five-paragraph essay.
The five-paragraph essay is no secret. Everyone knows about it. The problem is that students fail to pay close attention when it’s taught in class, but this isn’t rocket science. Pay attention and you’ll succeed.
Essay Writing for Beginners in English
These are the steps you take in writing an essay:
The teacher gives you an assignment
You think about how you want to approach the topic or you are allowed to chose a topic.
Brainstorm and prewrite. This might involve the creation of an outline. Once you have your outline completed, you can begin to write the essay. If you don’t create an outline, that’s okay, as long as you know how you want to organize your work. Good organization of your ideas will be noticed by the reader.
Write a rough draft. This is written according to your outline, or the rough draft could be a writer’s first attempt to get as much of the essay completed as possible, knowing that the rough draft will be revised.
Write a second draft. This is the revised rough draft in which you really try to pay attention to the structure of your essay and follow the rules of good grammar. Show your work to someone or, if possible, let the second draft rest for a few days and come back to it later with a fresh perspective.
After receiving feedback from another student or a teacher or a friend, write your third and final draft of the essay.
It is helpful to start with an outline; however, it’s not always necessary nor is it possible to write an outline if you are under time constraints that might be imposed during an essay test. At the very least, you can jot down your ideas on a piece of paper before you begin so that you can consider how your essay will be organized.
What goes into each paragraph of the essay? Let me explain what the content should consist of and then I’ll show you an example.
I. Introduction. This is the first paragraph. This is where you explain your position, your topic, or your thesis.
II. Second paragraph. This paragraph provides more detailed explanation for a statement made in the first paragraph. The next two paragraphs do the same thing; however, the second, third, and fourth paragraphs each address a specific example or idea that is in support of the position, the topic, or the thesis stated in the first paragraph.
III. Third paragraph. This may offer a more specific example in support of the topic.
IV. Fourth paragraph. This is the third example is support of the topic, and it may offer some kind of transition to the final paragraph.
V. Conclusion. This is the fifth paragraph. It summarizes what has already been said, it refers to the position or the topic that was addressed in the first paragraph, and–if possible–it leaves the reader with some sort of lasting impression or it ends with a bold, final statement that concludes the paragraph. Concluding paragraphs, like concluding sentences, can be difficult to write because they summarize without obviously saying exactly the same things that were already mentioned.
This is an example of a five-paragraph essay:
Climate Change
Are you concerned about climate change? This is a question asked around the world as weather conditions become more extreme and cause more damage to areas inhabited by people, plants, and animals. Is human activity the cause of climate change? If so, what effect will this have on the planet? If the climate is actually changing, is there anything that we can do about it?
Scientists believe global warming is caused by human activity, and this leads to climate change. As fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas are burned to produce energy, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere. These CO2 emissions have a direct impact on air temperature by absorbing and retaining more energy from the sun. This is also known as the “Greenhouse Effect.” Scientists have detected a measurable increase in both CO2 emissions and in the average air temperatures around the world over the last 100 years. The relationship between the two is clear, but ignoring the effects of global warming could have devastating consequences.
Worldwide, increasing air temperatures have resulted in more precipitation in some areas while other areas have become drier. The severity of strong storms and high winds has increased. Ice that normally remains intact year round at the north pole is melting, creating more open water which absorbs more heat. Permafrost in Canada and Greenland is also showing signs of melting. All of these events indicate a warming planet.
Despite an abundance of evidence that climate change is now upon us, there are many who remain skeptical of the science. However, time is of the essence and we need to start changing our behavior immediately while the science is still being debated. The prudent thing to do now is to develop alternatives to coal and gas consumption. Not only does this improve air quality, it also becomes a source for new jobs and clean industries that produce solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Additionally, the construction industry has seen a boom in recent years of new, dense housing located closer to places where people work. It has also been shown that corporations and consumers can save money by recycling, by reusing once-discarded materials, and by reducing waste. Actions taken to reduce a carbon footprint become a “win” for all who are involved.
Ultimately, the truth of the situation will be revealed. Scientists acknowledge that the Earth’s climate naturally changes over long durations of time; however, careful measurements of air and soil samples show that human activity has greatly accelerated climactic changes in a short amount of time. The planet is now covered with cities, highways, machines, and human beings whose activities are directly impacting the environment. To say that the presence of nearly seven billion people does not have an impact on the Earth’s ecosystem is to live in denial of the facts and the evidence that prove the Earth’s climate is, indeed, changing.
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