Isfd 18

1. Planning and organisation of
essays
By Cristian Zarza

2. Index
1. Before starting: What is an essay?
2. Characteristics of thesis
3. How to plan a well-structured essay.
4. Which strategies can I use to plan and
organise my essays?
5. First step: Writing an introduction
6. Do’s and Don’ts of introductions.
7. Second Step: How to write good
paragraphs.
8. Types of paragraphs.
9. Definition of topic sentence and theme.
10. Last step: Writing a conclusion.
11. How can you improve your paragraphs?
12. How to write an effective conclusion to
13. Bibliography.

3. 1# Before starting: What is an essay?
DEFINITION: An essay is a piece of writing, normally written from the point of view of
the author. They are often subjective but they can be also expository or narrative
depending on the genre. Generally, essays have an argument (for and against) and it
always proves something (Thesis).

4. 2# Characteristics of thesis
 When you are asked to write an essay that creates an argument, your reader will
expect a clear statement of your position. Typically, this summary statement comes
in the first paragraph of the essay, though there is no rigid rule about position.
There are different ways of emphasizing your points:
 It makes a definite and limited assertion that needs to be explained
andsupported by further discussion.
 trite, irrelevant Shakespeare was the world's greatest playwright.
 intriguing The last scene in Midsummer Night's Dream adds a political dimension
to the comedy ending by incorporating subtle linguistic and theatrical references
to Elizabeth's position as queen.

5. 2# Characteristics of thesis
 It shows the emphasis of your argument and indicates its methodology.
 emotional, vague This essay will show that the North American Free Trade
agreement was a disaster for the Canadian furniture industry.
 worth attention Neither neo-protectionism nor post-industrial theory explains the
steep reversal of fortune for the Canadian furniture industry in the period 1988-
1994. Data on productivity, profits, and employment, however, can be closely
correlated with provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement that took
effect in the same period.

6. 2# Characteristics of thesis
 It shows awareness of difficulties and disagreements.
 sweeping, vague Having an official policy on euthanasia just causes problems, as
the
 Dutch example shows.
 suitably complex Dutch laws on euthanasia have been praised for their use of the
principle of self-determination. Recent cases, however, show that these laws have
not been able to deal adequately with issues involving technological intervention
on unconscious patients. Hamarckian theory is needed to enlarge the framework
used in creating the Dutch law. It provides one way to examine the key question of
how to assign rights.

7. 2# Characteristics of thesis
General characteristics of thesis:
 Every paper requires one
 A thesis statement must come at the end of the first paragraph.
 A thesis statement must be one sentence in length.
 You can't start writing an essay until you have a perfect thesis statement.
 A thesis statement must give three points of support.

8. 3# How to plan a well-structured essay
Before starting to write an essay you should ALWAYS consider these factors:
 Write as many ideas as possible. This will save you time and it will give you a
general idea of what your essay is going to look like.
 Try to label your ideas so you can know in which order you are going place them in
your composition.
 Think of the genre you are going to use. Is it going to be a report? Is it going to be
a review? Or a compare and contrast essay?
 Think of the field you are going to cover. (E.g. Science, History, Philosophy, etc.)
 Think of the reader. Who is/are going to read your essay? Which methods are you
going to use to approach your audience?

9. 3# How to plan a well-structured essay
 Write some key terms that are part of the genre you are going to write about.
 Try to focus on the topic you are asked to develop.
 Try to have a solid or a general argument (for and against).
 Think ahead about how you essay is going to look like. That’s to say, think of a
prototype of your written composition.
 Try to gather as much information as possible from different sources (Books,
newspapers, magazines, other essays, internet, etc.).
 Spend a fair amount of time in the development of you essay but, DO NOT
overextend on it. Otherwise, you essay will be too complex to develop. Balance is
the key to approach essays.

10. 4# Which strategies can I use to plan and
organise my essays?
There are several methods you can use to plan or organise your essays:
1. You can use mind maps.
2. You can write your ideas in different cards and then organise from the most
relevant to the least irrelevant.
3. You can write your ideas in boxes (Main idea, fact 1; 2; 3; etc.)
4. You can write a list of ideas and you can set a specific order in which they are
going to appear in your composition.

11. Strategies to plan
essays

12. 5# First step: Writing an introduction
After you cover these aspect (research, planning, drafts, etc.) and you have everything
organised, you can start writing your essay. You should always start with the
introduction first.
General aspect of introductions:
 Introductions play an important role in academic essays as they are the main focus
of attention for your readers.
 The main purpose of an introduction is to set the main topic and context of your
essay.

13. 6# Do’s and Don’ts of introductions
When writing introductions,
try to use these tips:
 Find surveys results, graphics that
illustrates the problem that you are
addressing in your essay.
 Quote an expert (Optional).
 Give some background information
for understanding the essay.
 Try to get to the point as soon as
position.
When writing introductions
you should ALWAYS avoid:
 Dictionary definitions or words that
your readers already know.
 Don’t repeat
 Don’t give details or in-depth
explanation of your essay as this ruins
the whole purpose of the
composition.

14. 7# Step Two: Writing the body
After you finished writing a well-elaborated beginning, you can move into the body of
your essay.
Characteristic of the body of an essay:
 The body is the main part of essay in which you will develop your topic.
 Each paragraph must add one idea at a time to expand your argument through the
reading of the essay.
 Each paragraph is made up by a topic sentence and supporting ideas.
 Normally, the paragraphs in the body tend be longer in terms of words. However,
do not overextend in your paragraphs as the reader may find unpleasant to read or
even boring.

15. 8# Types of paragraphs
There are several formats in which you can set your paragraphs in an essay:
 Illustration in a paragraph supports a general statement by means of examples,
details, or relevant quotations (with your comments).
 The definition paragraph does exactly what you would expect: it defines a term,
often by drawing distinctions between the term and other related ones. The
definition that you provide will often be specific to your subject area. Try to avoid
perfunctory dictionary definitions that do not inform your analysis in a meaningful
way.

16. 8# Types of paragraphs
 A comparison or a contrast paragraph zeroes in on a key similarity or difference
between, for instance, two sources, positions, or ideas. Decide whether to deal only
with similarities or only with differences, or to cover both. Also, keep in mind that a
single comparison can be spread out over two separate paragraphs. As the
following topic sentence indicates, you should make your intention clear to readers
from the outset.
 A qualification paragraph acknowledges that what you previously asserted is not
absolutely true or always applicable.
 The process paragraph involves a straightforward step-by-step description.
Process description often follows a chronological sequence.

17. 9# Topic sentence and supporting ideas
As previously mentioned, paragraphs in the body are made up by a topic sentence and
supporting ideas. What is a “Topic sentence” and “Supporting ideas”?
 Topic sentence is a connector that introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
They are usually used at the beginning.
 Supporting ideas are sentences that compliment the Topic sentence and it
enables the reader to understand the flow of the paragraph.
 Both elements unify the main idea of the paragraph.

18. 10# How can you improve your
paragraphs?
A good way to enrich your essays is the use linkers. However, only use it to support or link ideas, not to
increase the style of your composition.
Some examples:
To signal a reinforcement of ideas:
Also in other words in addition
for example moreover more importantly
To signal a change in ideas:
But on the other hand however
instead yet in contrast
although nevertheless in spite of [something]
To signal a conclusion:
Thus therefore ultimately
in conclusion finally so [informal]

19. 11# Last step: Writing a conclusion
One of the hardest part of an essay is to write a proper conclusion as it has some
characteristics that are often misinterpreted:
 A conclusion is not merely a conclusion.
 Conclusions involve critical thinking.
 A conclusion must always leave your reader something to think about (a concept,
idea, reflexion, etc.)
 In general, a well written paragraph is sufficient for a conclusion. (You can extend it
to two or more paragraphs)

20. 12# How to write an effective conclusion
There are several ways to approach to a good conclusion:
1. If you essay deals with a modern problem, try to warn your readers about the
issue.
2. Give a recommendation to take a course of action.
3. Give visual information.
4. You can return to what you mentioned at the beginning of your introduction by
adding new information.
5. You can provide a personal opinion base on your life experience.

21. 13# Bibliography
 Prof. C. A. Silber.(n.d). “Some General Advice on Academic Essay-Writing “from
University of Toronto website: http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/
 Jerry Plotnick. (n.d). “Organizing an Essay” from University of Toronto website:
http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/
 Margaret Procter. (n.d). “Using Thesis Statements” from University of Toronto
website: http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/
 Leora Freedman and Jerry Plotnick. (n.d). “Introductions and Conclusions” from
University of Toronto website: http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/

22. 13# Bibliography
 Margaret Procter, Writing Support, and Vikki Visvis. (n.d). “Paragraphs” from
University of Toronto website: http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/
 Jenny Hall and Jerry Plotnick. (n.d). “Using Topic Sentences” from University of
Toronto website: http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/