Brief Summary
This video provides a comprehensive guide to writing high-scoring English essays for exams like IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or even high school assignments. It introduces a flexible essay structure applicable to any essay type or question. The structure includes a three-part introduction, well-structured body paragraphs, and a conclusion that mirrors the introduction.
- The essay structure includes introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion.
- The introduction consists of a broad background statement, a rewritten question prompt, and a thesis statement.
- Body paragraphs should include a topic sentence, reasons or examples, and a summary sentence.
- The conclusion should mirror the introduction and reiterate the main ideas.
Essay Types and Question Prompts
Before diving into the essay structure, it's crucial to address the essay question directly. The most important thing is to answer the question. For example, if the prompt requires a comparison essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of renting a home, the essay should focus specifically on those aspects.
The Essay Structure
The essay structure consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction connects to the body paragraphs and mirrors the conclusion, while the conclusion connects back to the body paragraphs and mirrors the introduction. This structure is designed to be simple, coherent, and logical, making it easy to remember and apply.
Paragraph Purposes
Each paragraph in an essay serves a specific purpose. The introduction tells the reader what you're going to tell them. The body paragraphs tell them. The conclusion tells the reader what you told them. This interconnectedness ensures that the essay is focused and purposeful. Avoid writing paragraphs that lack purpose, as examiners prefer essays that directly answer the question using a clear structure.
Make a Quick Plan
Before starting to write, it's essential to create a quick plan to avoid wasting time and deleting entire sections. For instance, if the essay prompt asks for an advantage and a disadvantage of renting a home, take a moment to identify one of each. For example, an advantage could be the ability to move easily, while a disadvantage could be the lack of investment in the property. Identifying the main ideas beforehand makes the writing process smoother and more focused.
The Introduction
The introduction consists of three parts: a broad background statement, a rewritten question prompt, and a thesis statement. The first sentence should provide a broad context, assuming the reader has no prior knowledge of the topic. The second sentence should paraphrase the essay prompt. The third sentence, the thesis statement, should explicitly state the two main ideas that will be discussed in the essay.
The Body Paragraphs
Body paragraphs elaborate on the ideas introduced in the thesis statement. Each body paragraph should have four parts: a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, a sentence providing a reason or example, another sentence providing an additional reason or example, and a sentence summarizing the main idea. For example, a paragraph discussing the flexibility of renting should start with a topic sentence stating this benefit, followed by reasons and examples such as the ability to move for job changes or to avoid neighborhood issues, and conclude with a summary sentence reinforcing the advantage of mobility.
The Conclusion
The conclusion reiterates the main points discussed in the essay without introducing new ideas. It consists of two parts: a summary of the main ideas and a personal opinion. The first part should restate the arguments presented in the body paragraphs. The second part should provide the writer's personal opinion on the topic. For example, the conclusion might summarize that renting offers flexibility while owning provides financial rewards, followed by a personal preference for renting due to the lifestyle flexibility it offers.
Recap
The essay structure involves telling the reader what you will tell them in the introduction, telling them in the body paragraphs, and then telling them what you told them in the conclusion. The introduction starts broad, paraphrases the essay prompt, and ends with a thesis statement. Body paragraphs begin with a topic sentence, provide reasons and examples, and conclude with a summary sentence. The conclusion mirrors the introduction, summarizes the main points, and ends with a personal opinion.
