Writing an essay

Writing an essay

1. An essay is a "short formal piece of writing..dealing with a single subject", It is typically written to try to persuade the reader using selected research evidence.

   • The correct language
     • Formal language is more common when we write; informal language is more common when we speak. However, there are times where writing can be very informal, for example, when writing postcards or letters to friends, emails or text messages.
       • Examples:
         • She has decided to accept the job., The girl whom I met in Singapore was interested in working in Australia., We went to Barcelona for the weekend. We have a lot of things to tell you., etc.
   • Layout
   • Connectors
     • Connectors or linkers can help you join two or more ideas (sentences), allowing you to have a more structured and harmonious delivery. Instead of using single sentences, you can connect them in a logical way. Read more at: https://blog.abaenglish.com/paragraph-connectors-in-english/
       • Examples:
         • CONTRAST 1. HOWEVER This restaurant has the best kitchen in town. However, their staff are quite rude. 2. IN CONTRAST House prices have gone up this year. In contrast, car prices seem to be stagnating. 3. NEVERTHELESS I was in so much pain I didn’t want to get up in the morning. Nevertheless, I went to football practice as usual. 4. NONETHELESS I don’t think Sean has serious behavioural problems. Nonetheless, I’ll talk to him first thing in the morning. 5. YET I’ve asked you a thousand times not to leave your dirty socks on the floor. Yet, you keep doing it. 6. ON THE OTHER HAND England has the best language schools. On the other hand, it has the worst weather. 7. BY COMPARISON Going out with Jim has its risks. By comparison, being with Tim is as easy as falling off a log. 8. ON THE CONTRARY I don’t hate Jim. On the contrary, I’m rather fond of him. 9. INSTEAD I didn’t want to take a side in the argument. Instead, I put my headphones on and listened to some smooth jazz. 10. IN ANY CASE
         • RESULT 1. AS A RESULT I’ve done a pranic healing course. As a result, I’ve been able to cure my neighbour’s sick cat. 2. AS A CONSEQUENCE Zack has skipped school on many occasions. As a consequence, he’s failed his French test. 3. THEREFORE We’re going to experience some meteor showers in the next few days. Therefore, the number of miraculous self-healings will rise. 4. THUS You didn’t tell me you wanted to come. Thus, we won’t be taking you with us. 5. ACCORDINGLY Plenty of tourists visit the area in summer. Accordingly, selling hand-made objects is the main source of income for locals.
         • TIME 1. AT FIRST It wasn’t a piece of cake to learn English. At first, I couldn’t pronounce all the words correctly. 2. THEN Then, I couldn’t spell all the words correctly. 3. AFTERWARDS Afterwards, I had a hard time understanding the tenses. 4. LATER Later, I couldn’t memorize phrasal verbs and idioms. 5. IN THE MEANTIME In the meantime, I was getting some help from MyEnglishTeacher. 6. MEANWHILE Meanwhile, I was enjoying my skype lessons more and more.

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