Essay

Features

Formal wri*ng
O.en discusses an issue, a situa*on or a
problem.

Types
1.

For and against essays

2.

Opinion essays

3.

Essays sugges6ng solu6ons to problems

For and against essays

Presents both sides of an issue, discussing points in favour

as well as those against.

Each point should be supported by justifications, examples

and/or reasons.

The writers own opinion should be presented ONLY in the

final paragraph.

Opinion essays

Presents the writers opinion concerning the topic,

supported by reasons and examples.

The opposing viewpoint (along with an argument to

show how unconvincing it is) should be included in
a separate paragraph before the closing one.

The writers opinion should be stated in the

introduction and restated in the conclusion.

Essays suggesting solutions to problems

Problem(s) associated with a particular issue are

analysed and possible solutions are suggested
together with any expected results.

The writers opinion may be mentioned, directly

or indirectly, in the introduction or in the
conclusion.

A good essay should consist of:

a)

An introductory paragraph in which you clearly

state the topic to be discussed,

b)

a main body, in which points are discussed,

and justified, and

c)

a closing paragraph summarsing the main

points of the essay, and where you state your
opinion.

For and against

opinions

Problems and solutions

Introduction
Para 1: State topic (without
stating your opinion)

Introduction
Para 1: State topic & your
opinion

Introduction
Para 1: State the problem
& its causes/ effects

Main body
Para 2: Arguments for &
justification, examples, reasons.
Para 3: arguments against
&justifications, examples and
reasons.

Main body
Para 2: viewpoints &
reasons/ examples
Para 3: opposing viewpoint
& reason/ example

Main body
Para 2 & 3
Suggestions & expected
results

Conclusion
Final para: summary or opinion

Conclusion
Final para: summarise/
restate your opinion

Conclusion
Final para: summarise/
your opinion.

Dos and Don'ts

You should

You should NOT

Use formal, impersonal style

Use short forms, colloquial language

Use topic sentences

Use very emotional language

Write well-developed paragraphs,

giving reasons/ examples

Express opinions too strongly

Use generalisations
Use sequencing

Refer blindly to statistics without

accurate references to their source

Make references to other sources

Use clichs

When using quotations make sure

to identify the sources

Use personal examples

Use over generalisations

Time fixers
Since
In the past
Until now
For the past few
years
Recently
nowadays

Generalisations
Many
a vast majority of
A huge number of
In many cases
Hardly any
A small minority of
Quite a few

Suggestion phrases
I would suggest
that
It would be a
good idea if
It is high time
that

Support phrases
This means that
As a result
This may lead to
Consequently
Therefore
which means that..

Phrases to join similar

ideas
Furthermore
Moreover
Besides
Not onlybut also
as well as
Additionally
In addition to

Phrases to join contrasting

ideas
However
On the contrary
In contrast to
Nevertheless
although

Phrases to give
examples
for example
For instance
Namely
such as
that is,

Phrases to express opinion

and arguments
As far as I am
concerned
It seems to me that,
It can be argued that
One of the main
arguments against/ in
favour of