Essay Writing Guide: Cause-Effect, Compare, Exemplify, Argue, Exams of Technical English

Download Essay Writing Guide: Cause-Effect, Compare, Exemplify, Argue and more Exams Technical English in PDF only on Docsity! Organizing an essay – the basics 2 Cause and effect essay (longer version) 3-4 Compare/contrast essay (longer version) 5-6 Exemplification (one version) 7 Argumentation (longer version) 8-9 Introduction Conclusion Thesis Statement Thesis Statement Body Paragraph One Body Paragraph Two Body Paragraph Three Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Go from the general to the specific.  Start out broad. Use something that will catch the reader’s attention. Go from the specific to the general.  End broad. End with a general statement, suggestion, or other thing that will make the reader continue to think about your paper.  This is the last sentence of the intro. It should state what the paper will discuss.  This is the first sentence of the intro. It should restate your thesis. Topic Sentences introduce the evidence that will be presented in each body paragraph Each one of the body paragraphs should support the thesis by presenting evidence for it. Su p p o rt Compare/Contrast The following are things to keep in mind when writing a compare/contrast essay Comparison is used to show similarities, while contrast shows differences. A compare/contrast essay is used to make sense of large amounts of information, to weight the benefits and drawbacks of different options, to formulate an opinion of a topic to which there are two sides, and to evaluate the truth of conflicting views. Some of the words and phrases that call for a compare/contrast essay are compare and contrast, similarities and differences, advantages and disadvantages, evaluate, which of the two had a greater influence on…? In order to write a meaningful compare/contrast essay, a basis for comparison must exist; that is, for the comparison and/or contrast to be justified, the things being compared must have enough in common. Without shared elements, there is no basis for analysis, and nothing of importance to discuss. When two subjects are very similar, the contrast may be worth noting. When two subjects are not very much alike, you may find that the similarities are worth considering. NOTE: When comparing and contrasting, make sure that the elements are the same (or at least similar) for each category. RIGHT WRONG NOVEL A NOVEL B NOVEL A NOVEL B Minor characters Minor Characters Minor Characters Author’s life Major characters Major Characters Major Characters Plot Themes Themes Themes Symbolism Formulating a thesis Your thesis statement should tell readers what to expect in your essay, identifying not only the subjects to be compared and contrasted, but also the point you will make about them. Your thesis statement should also indicate whether you will concentrate on similarities or differences or both. You may list the points to be discussed in the order in which they will be discussed. Structuring a compare/contrast essay There are two basic compare/contrast strategies: subject by subject or point by point.  Subject-by-subject: you essentially write a separate essay for each subject, but you discuss the same points for both subjects. After selecting your points, arrange them in a logical order – such as by their increasing significance. This strategy is most appropriate for short, uncomplicated papers.  Point-by-point: you make a point about one subject and then follow it with a comparable point about the other. This alternating pattern continues throughout the body of your essay until all your points have been made. This strategy is useful for longer, more complicated essays in which you discuss many different points. NOTE: in order to avoid falling into a monotonous, back-and-forth movement between points, vary your sentence structure as you move from point to point and use clear transitions. Transitions Transitions are important in compare/contrast essays because they supply readers with clear signals and identify individual similarities and differences. Without these, readers will have a hard time following your discussion and may lose track of the significance of the points you are making. Use in comparison, in the same way, just as…so, like, likewise, similarly when comparing. Use although, but, conversely, despite, even though, however, in contrast, instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the one hand…on the other hand, still, unlike, whereas, yet when contrasting. (Kirszner and Mandell 371-377) Exemplification The following are things to keep in mind when writing an exemplification essay Exemplification uses one or more particular cases, or examples, to illustrate or explain a general point or an abstract concept. Sweeping generalizations and vague statements are not nearly as effective as specific observations, anecdotes, details, and opinions. Use examples to explain, clarify, add interest, and persuade. How many examples is enough to support your thesis will depend on your thesis and your purpose. Choose a sufficient range of examples. Formulating a thesis The thesis statement of an exemplification essay makes a point that the rest of the essay will support with examples. This statement usually identifies your topic as well as the main point you want to make about it. NOTE: before formulating a thesis, think of the examples you will present in support for it; that way, you will be able to test your ideas and their validity as well as understand the opposing viewpoints. Structuring an argumentative essay Exemplification essays usually begin with an introduction that includes the thesis statement, which is supported by examples in the body of the essay. Each body paragraph may develop a separate example, present a point illustrated by several brief examples, or explore one aspect of a single extended example that is developed throughout the essay. The conclusion reinforces the essay’s main idea. When deciding how to structure the body of an essay, keep in mind that there are various ways in which to do it. Examples may be grouped according to content (each paragraph dedicated to a group of examples with the same content). Examples may also be developed fully in separate paragraphs. Examples may be arranged chronologically, in order of increasing complexity (beginning with the simplest and moving to the most difficult or complex), or in order of importance (beginning with those that are less significant and moving to those that are most significant or persuasive). Transitions Be sure to use transitional words and phrases to introduce your examples. Without them, readers will have difficulty seeing the connection between an example and the general statement it is illustrating. Some helpful transitions for an exemplification essay are another, for instance, for example, in fact, namely, specifically, that is, and thus. (Kirszner and Mandell 211-218)