INDEPENDENT WRITING (The Essay Format) A BACKGROUND INFORMATION Independent Writing Directions The Independent Writing Task is based on Knowledge and Experience It is a 30 minute student generated e.
Trang 1INDEPENDENT WRITING (The Essay Format)
A BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Independent Writing Directions
The Independent Writing Task is based on Knowledge and Experience It is a
30-minute student-generated essay, written in response to a given topic
You will use 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise an essay in response to a question that
asks you to state, explain, and support your opinion on an issue.
An effective essay will contain a minimum of 250 -300 words Your essay will be judged
on the quality of your writing, including the development of your ideas, the organization
of your essay, and the quality and accuracy of the language.
Use your time effectively
Following is the suggested timeline for your writing:
B THE ESSAY FORMAT
Example
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The invention of the Internet
has had negative effects on your civilization Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.
What is the topic asking you for?
1 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
This is telling you what kind of essay you are going to write To be specific, this
agreement/disagreement essay type In general, there are 4 types:
- Agreement/Disagreement essay
Introduction begins with overal view narrows into the thesis
2 or 3
BODY
Paragraphs
Each paragraph begins with a
topic
follows with supporting information and examples
Conclusion Begins with a summary
(restates ideas) follows with the final thought
Trang 2- Preference essay
- Opinion essay
- Detail essay
2 The invention of the Internet has had negative effects on your civilization.
Read the topic carefully It’s NOT how YOU feel about the Internet, but whether the Internet has had a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE impact on SOCIETY Remember that it doesn’t matter which position you take; what matters is which position is easier for you
to think of ideas for
3 Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Be careful not to get vague
Brainstorming
Once you have read and fully understood the question, the next step is to brainstorm While there are a number of different brainstorming methods, you will be constrained by time
Thus, the simplest method is to choose a side and generate as many ideas as you can
I INTRODUCTION
The introduction is obviously the first thing the reader will see, so it is important to start off strongly Too often, students will treat the introduction as something necessary, but not terribly important Introductions that are hastily written and poorly organized will end up hurting the overall development of your essay
e thesis
Overview/General statements: either introduce the topic or give background
DISAGREE
Save time
can communicate more easily
shopping
games
share information
Begins with an overview Introduction
Narrows into the thesis
Trang 3 Thesis statement: introduce the specific topic and the main points (subtopics) that
are going to be discussed and supported in the body paragraphs
Take a look at the prompt and the brainstorming above
The three strongest ideas are: communicate more easily, save money, and save time Each
idea will form one of the three body paragraphs that will make up the middle of the essay
The thesis is composed of two main points: the topic and the controlling ideas.
Topic + controlling ideas = thesis
For example:
I feel that the Internet is positive for society since
the Internet enables us to communicate more easily, save time, and save money.
topic
controlling idea
Trang 4The thesis needs to accomplish two things:
- Let the reader know the writer’s position
- Let the reader know the organization of the body
PRACTICE 1:
Write thesis statements for the following topics:
1 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer
_ _ _ _ _
2 Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
_ _ _ _ _
3.Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone Others like to be with friends most of the time Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific reasons to support your answer
_ _ _ _ _
4.Some people prefer to live in a small town Others prefer to live in a big city Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer _ _ _ _ _
5.Some people like to travel with a companion Other people prefer to travel alone Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice
_ _ _ _ _
Trang 56.How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer
_ _ _ _ _
PRACTICE 2
Once you have prepared the thesis, you can add the general statements in order to make the complete introduction Take the topics above and try to expand them, then write out your own introductions.
For example:
People have always been worried about the impact when new
technology is introduced For instance, business people are worried
about profits since a new technology can make their company
obsolete Yet, progress itself is not negative The positive or negative
impact of technology results from how it is used One recent
development in technology, the Internet, has both positive and
negative potential However, overall, I feel that the Internet is
positive for society since it enables us to communicate more easily,
save time, and save money.
Students are required to choose one or several of the above topics in order to practice writing the introduction.
II BODY PARAGRAPHS
Structure
Thesis statement General statement
Trang 6Each body paragraph will have the same basic format The topic sentence is the broadest idea
of the paragraph Like a thesis, it defines and limits what will be discussed, except that the
topic sentence limits just 1 paragraph Following the topic sentence should be supporting sentences and then a couple of sentence giving specific examples.
The following is the model body paragraph for the topic:
EX:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The invention of the Internet
has had negative effects on your civilization Use specific reasons
Thesis statement: I feel that the Internet is positive for society since it enables us to
communicate more easily, save time, and save money.
One way that the Internet benefits society is that people can
communicate much more easily.
This is because email and instant messaging have changed the way
that people communicate with each other.
I spent a month studying English in America Even though I went by
myself, I wasn’t homesick at all I was able to send emails every day to
my family and friends, and I could include pictures of my trip In
addition, when I used instant messaging, I could aslo see my family as
I talked with them, which is much better than just talking over the
phone.
PRACTICE 1:
Write the other two paragraphs of the above topic The topic sentences are done for you
Thesis statement: I feel that the Internet is positive for society since it enables us
to communicate more easily, save time, and save money.
Another reason is that the Internet saves people time.
_
3 Body
Paragraphs
1st Body Paragraph
2nd Body Paragraph
3rd Body Paragraph
Begins with a topic & follows with supporting information and examples
Begins with a topic & follows with supporting information and examples
Begins with a topic & follows with supporting information and examples
Topic sentence
Supporting sentence
Specific Example
Trang 7_ _ _ _ _ _
Thesis statement: I feel that the Internet is positive for society since it enables us to
communicate more easily, save time, and save money.
The final reason is that the Internet saves people money.
_ _ _ _ _ _
PRACTICE 2:
Write one body paragraph for each of the following topics
1 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer
2 Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
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3.Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone Others like to be with friends most of the time Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific reasons to support your answer
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4.Some people prefer to live in a small town Others prefer to live in a big city Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer
5.Some people like to travel with a companion Other people prefer to travel alone Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice
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6.How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer
III CONCLUSION
The conclusion should begin with a signal (In conclusion, All in all, To summarize,…).
Following the signal, the summary of the main points will be written in a different way from
the thesis statement (paraphrasing) At the end, the final thought showing the
writer’s recommendation, suggestion, or prediction is included to wrap the essay up
The following is the model conclusion for the topic:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The invention of the Internet
has had negative effects on your civilization Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.
For these reasons, I believe that society has been helped by the invention of the Internet.
As the Internet spreads and becomes more common, its importance to people’s lives cannot
be overstated But the Internet is not a right, and not all people are able to access the
Internet Thus, the gulf between the rich and the poor will continue to expand unless
Summary
Final thought
Trang 11people make the conscious effort to ensure that technology and education are made available for all people.
PRACTICE: Write out your own conclusions for the following topics.
1 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer
2 Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
3.Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone Others like to be with friends most of the time Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific reasons to support your answer
4.Some people prefer to live in a small town Others prefer to live in a big city Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer
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5.Some people like to travel with a companion Other people prefer to travel alone Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice
6.How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer