Learn to write English correctly !

What you should know about the written word....

In order to write an essay, you need a title and a minimum of three to five paragraphs.

Firstly, you should introduce the topic that you are writing about; next, give between one and three paragraphs discussing this topic; and lastly, bring the discussion to a close.

TIP:  Choose a subject that interests you.  If you enjoy writing about it, then it will interest the reader.

The format is as follows:

1. Title  (underline your title)
2. Introduction Paragraph
3. Body of Topic  (Main details or Topic 1)
4. Body of Topic  (Minor details or Topic 2)
5. Body of Topic  (A different point of view or Topic 3)
6. Conclusion Paragraph
   

1.  Start with your title. This should grab the reader’s attention and give the subject of the essay in an exciting way.  You may use something called a Topic Sentence (or ‘hook’) for your title although some people prefer to use this later, at the beginning of a paragraph.  The important thing is that the reader is interested enough to want to read more.

2.  The introduction paragraph must have a good opening line saying why your topic is important, (another attention grabber) and the rest of the essay must limit itself to this topic.  Explain here what you are going to be writing about.  It may be that you are providing information on a subject, or giving different points of view about something, but this is where you  introduce the subject of the essay to your reader.

3.  If you are writing about one subject only, then your first body paragraph is for giving the important details.  Add any relevant facts or figures, giving examples where possible, to support your main idea. 
If you are writing about more than one subject, you will need a new paragraph for each one.  Don’t forget that each paragraph must have an introduction, a body and a close.

4.  The second body paragraph should give the minor (less important) details, following on from the previous paragraph.  If you are writing about more than one subject, then this is where you will talk about subject number two.

5.  In the third body paragraph, it can be a good idea to give an alternative point of view, especially if you are arguing the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of a subject.  You have given your main thoughts backed up by the less important details and now you can give someone else’s opinion on the subject.  This is not a rule’ but just an idea that works quite well.

6.  Your last paragraph must be your conclusion.  Sum up (add together) the ideas that have been given and re-state the main points.  Your last sentence should bring the subject to an end. One good way to do this is to refer back to your ‘opening line’ so that the subject travels ‘full circle’.

Here is an example of a 5 paragraph essay.  Each paragraph has 3 sentences:

Great Holidays on Spain’s Costa del Sol

Every year thousands of Britons and northern Europeans come to Spain for their holidays.  There are many, many holiday places all around the coasts of Spain, some quite developed and some still very rural.  The Costa del Sol is possibly the most popular of them all.

Here on the southern coast of Spain we enjoy all year round sunshine.  They say as much as 325 days out of the 365 each year, so that even in the winter the tourists are able to wear their shorts and summer t-shirts.  We also have great food, good wine, and the local people are both charming and eager to please.

Although since the advent of the euro, the prices have risen considerably, the cost of living is still pretty reasonable compared with the rest of Europe.  One can live very well in Spain, particularly in the south. One can afford to eat out often, sit at the roadside cafes drinking the wonderful Spanish coffee every day, buy clothes reasonably cheaply at the local markets and generally enjoy a less expensive existence.

There are those, of course, who still prefer to holiday in more up-market areas such as Paris, Rome or New York.  There are the holiday-makers who prefer cruises, and many who like to travel further afield to places such as Goa, Hawaii and the Caribbean.  However, problems with going to a lot of places include the risk of violence or theft, things which are very seldom present here on the Costa del Sol.

When all is said and done, regardless of your personal taste in holidays, be they sportive (such as skiing or football for example), lazy (such as sunbathing on a golden sandy beach), gourmet (there are more bars and restaurants per square mile here than anywhere I have ever been) or cultural (museums, historical buildings, art, theatre, etc.) Spain has it all and more.  In fact, Spain offers many, many benefits to foreign tourists.  Is it any wonder then, that every year thousands of Britons and northern Europeans come to Spain for their holidays?

Susie Kay ©

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism means copying what someone else has written and putting your name to it.  Never copy anyone else's work without their permission.  Here on this site, we have used several pieces of work by other authors, and each time, we have printed the author's name.  For example: