1. EPT ESSAY WRITING 2 Prepared By A. T. M. Monawer IIUM, Gombak
Kuala Lumpur

2. Note
This presentation shows only the structure of an essay based on opinion. In other words, it will guide you how to write a persuasive essay based on your own opinion, not based on any argumentation/ cause and effect/ comparison and contrast.
Most of the time you will see the question in a persuasive pattern. You may also get the question in an argumentative pattern. In this case, you should choose only one opinion and ignore the other one. Focus only on your chosen opinion in your whole essay. Remember, while you chose one opinion you are not concerned about another opinion in your essay. So forget the second opinion.

3. Structure of the Whole Essay
Introduction
Body Para A
Body Para B
Conclusion

4. Structure of Introduction
General Statement
Thesis Statement

5. Funnel Introduction Thesis Statement General Statement
Turning from general to specific statement like a funnel wide at the top becomes narrow at the bottom.

6. General Statement and Thesis Statement
Introduces the general topic of the essay.
Captures the reader’s interest.
Thesis statement
Write a complete sentence that contains your opinion, topic, and two main ideas.
States the specific topic.
May indicate the pattern of organizing the essay.
Is normally the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.

7. General Statement
Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching TV has become a regular activity for most families. Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are many excellent programs for children, it may be a bad influence on them.

8. Structure of Thesis Statement
Topic
Indication of Body B
Opinion
Indication of Body A

9. I strongly believe that
Thesis Statement
Opinion
Topic
I strongly believe that
television is harmful for children because it shapes their behavior negatively and affects their study badly.
Main idea 1
Main idea 2

10. Another Thesis Statement
Terminally patients should be allowed to die for two main reasons. or
Terminally patients should be allowed to die because the patients have no chance to recovery and medical costs are high.

11. Complete Introduction
Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching TV has become a regular activity for most families. Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are many excellent programs for children, it may be a bad influence on them. I strongly believe that television is harmful for children because
General
Statement
it shapes their behavior negatively and affects their study badly.
Thesis statement

12. Structure of Body Para A
Topic sentence
Supporting detail 1
Supporting detail 2

13. First of all, television shapes children’s behavior in an adverse way.
Topic Sentence
First of all, television shapes children’s behavior in an adverse way.

14. Supporting Details: What?
Functions
These explain or prove the topic sentence.
These Are specific and factual.
How to achieve
It can be examples.
It can be facts.
It can be statistics.
It can be quotations.

15. Supporting Details: How?
Explain
Explain one main idea.
Explain causes, reasons, types, kinds, qualities, methods, advantages, disadvantages and so on.
Elaborate
Include all supporting details.
Each detail supports only the main idea of Para
Keys to elaborate
Divide your main topic into two subtopics/ ideas.
Divide one main idea into sub ideas.
Explain the ideas with examples, quotations, and evidence.

16. Supporting Detail 1
For example, there are many police stories on television. People are killed with guns, Knives and even cars. Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time. Therefore they can become frightened.

17. Supporting Detail 2
In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that violence is a normal part of life because they see and hurt themselves or their playmates. That is why watching TV is not good for kids.

18. Complete Body Para A
First of all, television shapes children’s behavior in an adverse way. For example, there are many police stories on television. People are killed with guns, Knives and even cars. Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time. Therefore they can become frightened. In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that violence is a normal part of life because they see and hurt themselves or their playmates. That is why watching TV is not good for kids.

19. Structure of Body Para B
Topic sentence
Supporting detail 1
Supporting detail 2

20. Topic Sentence It states the main idea of the paragraph.
Functions
It states the main idea of the paragraph.
It names the topic and limits it to one specific area which is called controlling idea.
How to achieve
Make one complete sentence containing one subtopic/ main idea of the topic.
It contains at least one subject and one verb.
Contains both a topic and a controlling idea.
It is neither too general or too specific.
It is usually the first sentence in the paragraph.

21. Second, television affects children’s study in a harmful way.
Topic Sentence
Second, television affects children’s study in a harmful way.

22. Supporting Detail 1
For instance, if teenagers watch television too many hours each day, they do not practice the skills they need to learn how to read. Thus their reading ability can be damaged.

23. Supporting Detail 2
Moreover, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day. Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school.

24. Complete Body Para B
Second, television affects children’s study in a harmful way. For instance, if teenagers watch television too many hours each day, they do not practice the skills they need to learn how to read. Thus their reading ability can be damaged. Moreover, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day. Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school.

25. Structure of Conclusion
Concluding sentence
Final comment

26. Concluding Sentence Functions It signals the end of the essay .
It leaves the reader with the most important ideas to remember.
How to achieve
By summarizing the main ideas of the essay.
By repeating the introduction in different words.

27. Concluding Sentence
In conclusion, if children watch too much television or watch the immoral programs, their personalities can be harmed as well as their progress in school can be affected. Hence, television is not good for them.

28. Final Comment
Parents should know what programs their children are watching and turn off the TV so that their adolescents will study.

29. Complete Conclusion
In conclusion, if children watch too much television or watch the immoral programs, their personalities can be harmed as well as their progress in school can be affected. Hence, television is not good for them. Parents should know what programs their children are watching and turn off the TV so that their adolescents will study.

30. Structure of the Whole Essay
Introduction
General statement
Thesis statement
Body Para A
Topic sentence
Supporting detail -1
Supporting detail-2
Body Para B
Supporting detail-1
Conclusion
Concluding sentence
Final Comment

31. Whole Essay
Question: Children in our culture grow up watching television. There many excellent programs on television. However, some people think watching television is harmful for children. What is your opinion?
Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching TV has become a regular activity for most families. Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are many excellent programs for children, it may be a bad influence on them. I strongly believe that television is harmful for children because it shapes their behavior negatively and affects their study badly.
First of all, television shapes children’s behavior in an adverse way. For example, there are many police stories on television. People are killed with guns, Knives and even cars. Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time. Therefore they can become frightened. In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that violence is a normal part of life because they see and hurt themselves or their playmates. That is why watching TV is not good for kids.
Second, television affects children’s study in a harmful way. For instance, if teenagers watch television too many hours each day, they do not practice the skills they need to learn how to read. Thus their reading ability can be damaged. Moreover, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day. Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school.
In conclusion, if children watch too much television or watch the immoral programs, their personalities can be harmed as well as their progress in school can be affected. Hence, television is not good for them. Parents should know what programs their children are watching and turn off the TV so that their adolescents will study.

32. Additional Instructions & Tips

33. Organizing of the Essay
Divide your topic into two subtopics, and discuss each subtopic in a separate paragraph.
Write a thesis statement that includes these two subtopics.
Explain and elaborate each subtopic In an individual paragraph.
Use transitions between paragraphs to guide your reader from one subtopic to the next.
Prepare an outline to organize your ideas before you begin to write.

34. Transition Signals Characteristics What are those
Transition signals give a paragraph coherence.
They guide your reader from one idea to the next.
They tell your reader when you are giving a similar idea, an opposite idea, an example, a cause, an effect, a solution, a result, or a conclusion and so on.
Characteristics
Transition signals can be expression of logical order such as first, finally, and however.
Phrases such as in conclusion, on the other hand.
Coordinators such as and, but.
Adjectives such as another, additional.
Prepositions such as because of, in spite of.

35. Unity and Coherence
Unity
Unity means that a paragraph discusses one and only one main idea from beginning to end.
How to achieve
Discussing only one idea in a paragraph.
Always staying on the topic in your supporting sentences.
Coherence
Coherence means to hold together.
The sentences must hold together.
The movement from one sentence to another must be logical and smooth.
Repeat key nouns or use consistent pronouns.
Use transition signals to link ideas.
Arrange your ideas in logical order.

36. Some Extra Clues
Do brainstorm and make an outline before you begin to write.
Focus on your thesis statement and topic sentences to be more clear.
Edit your writing after you finished writing.
Check spelling, word missing, and grammatical errors.
Very your vocabulary, and do not try to use the same word.
Very your sentence structure, and try to write in different patterns.
Use transition signals logically.
Use punctuation correctly (. , ; : ‘’ “” ? !).

37. Transition Signals Function Transition phrases Others To add idea
In addition, furthermore, moreover, besides, also.
Another, an additional
To contrast
On the other hand, in contrast, however, yet, but, nevertheless, still, nonetheless, whereas. while.
Though, although, even though, in spite of, despite.
To maintain order
First, second, third, next, last, firstly, finally.
The first, the second, the next, the last, the final.
To give an example
For example, for instance.
An example of, such as.
To conclude
In conclusion, in summary, in a nutshell, in brief.
To show result
As a result, as a consequence, hence, so, consequently, therefore,

38. Thank You