1. How to Write Geography Essays
Literacy in Economics
How to Write Geography Essays

2. Evaluate the challenges of living in megacities in
Essay Structure
Paragraph 1: Introduction:
Thesis
Your argument that you must prove
Identify issues
Paragraph 2: Background
Define/clarify
Significance of this topic
Broader implications
Paragraph 3,4,5 etc: Body
Final Paragraph: Conclusion
Restate main reasons
Restate thesis
Final thoughts
For example:
Evaluate the challenges of
living in megacities in
developing countries

3. Introduction Thesis First sentence
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Introduction
Thesis
First sentence
For example: People living in megacities in developing countries can face enormous difficulties.
Then: Identify 4-5 issues that you will develop
Refer to the syllabus (this is vital)
For example: housing, traffic infrastructure, water and power, sanitation, employment, social and health issues.
For example, when examining the impact of globalisation, the syllabus identifies the topics that the students should cover (p33):economic growth, trade and investment, distribution of income and wealth.
These reasons will become topics for evaluation in Par 3,4,5 etc

4. One example of an introduction
People living in megacities in developing countries can face enormous difficulties. These difficulties include: housing, traffic infrastructure, water, power and sanitation.

5. Background paragraph Second paragraph in the essay
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Background paragraph
Second paragraph in the essay
Define important terms
Clarify; provide context and background to the question
Significance, broader implications
Not necessary if a funnel introduction has been used

6. Example of a background paragraph
A megacity is a city with a population of over eight million (Paine et al). They are a relatively recent development. For example, in 1950, there was only one: New York, with a population of 12.3 million; but today there are 22 megacities in the developing world alone. Examples of megacities include Mumbai, Shanghai and Lagos. Lagos is the fastest growing megacity in the world – 6% a year. As the global population continues to grow, an understanding of megacities and their problems is critical.

7. Body paragraphs Topic sentence (‘lead’ sentence)
Clarification sentence (if necessary)
Clarify/define important terms in the topic sentence
Support sentence(s)
Complication/ refutation sentence(s)
Resolution/conclusion of paragraph

8. Topic sentence Topic sentence (lead sentence) Very important
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Topic sentence
Topic sentence (lead sentence)
Very important
Main idea of the paragraph
Topic sentence has a topic and a controlling idea
Topic sentence supports the thesis
Not too general, not too specific
A topic sentence should not include too many unrelated ideas
Try to keep lead sentences short, they must support the thesis.
The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph (topic) and the controlling idea of the paragraph.

9. Topic sentence Examples:
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Topic sentence
Examples:
In the first two examples below, the topic is megacities and the controlling idea is housing. (Notice that the topic may come before or after the controlling idea.)
People living in megacities can face extreme problems with housing.
Housing is a severe problem in all megacities of the developing world.
All megacities experience problems associated with traffic infrastructure.
Water and sanitation systems are basic to the operation of any city and most megacities in developing countries lack these services.
The topic is globalisation and the controlling idea is the distribution of income and wealth in China.

10. Clarification (context) Sentence
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Clarification (context) Sentence
Second sentence in the paragraph
Define/clarify terms introduced in the topic sentence
For example, if the topic sentence was: All megacities experience problems associated with traffic infrastructure, a clarification sentence might clarify the term infrastructure.
For example: Traffic infrastructure includes both motorised and non-motorised vehicles.
A clarification sentence is not always needed.
Not always necessary

11. Literacy in Economics
Supporting Sentences
Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. They provide reasons for the topic sentence
It is vital that support sentences are not just assertions
An assertion is a confident statement made without supporting evidence. They must be supported with evidence.
In other words, a successful paragraph contains ‘concrete’ support for the topic sentence. You should support your topic sentence by using specific and factual details.
Avoid sweeping generalisations (using words like ‘all’, ‘every’ and ‘always’).
Where is your support
Assertions are not sufficient

12. Supporting Sentences: Concrete support
Concrete support can include geographical reasons, authority, statistics, examples, quotations, diagrams, sketches and case studies.
Diagrams and sketches should be carefully labelled.
To score highly, each paragraph should have concrete support for the topic sentence.
Examples of words that can be used to introduce concrete support:
According to, insist, report, suggest, claim, maintain, say, write.

13. Examples of ‘concrete support’
According to the Head of the Lagos Water Corporation, only 30% of the city has access to safe water.
The Guardian Weekly reports: “Only the rich (in Lagos) have water...”
In Delhi, only 20% of the city’s population has a continuous supply of water (Paine et al).

14. Developing your argument further: consider both sides of the argument
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Developing your argument further: consider both sides of the argument
Rarely is any issue black and white
The best argumentative writing will acknowledge evidence that challenges your argument
Where possible, complications should be refuted (countered) so that the argument is not lost.
Teachers’ role is to encourage the gathering of contradictory (complicating) and unpredictable information (as well as supporting information) that will force old meanings to adapt and new ones to be constructed. (Murray:22)
Refutation needed if the complication/contradiction is strong enough to ‘lose’ the paragraph.

15. Developing your argument further: consider both sides of the argument
For example:
Water and sanitation systems are basic to the operation of
any city and many megacities in developing countries lack
these services. Some megacities in developing countries
have very few dwellings with inside running water. For
example in Jakarta and Dacca, there is less than 10%. Lagos
is another megacity with unsatisfactory water and sanitation.
According to the Head of the Lagos Water Corporation, only
30% of the city has access to safe water. However, not all
megacities in developing countries experience such problems; in
Shanghai for example, 100% of dwellings have inside
running water. Nevertheless, these cities are the exception.

16. Concluding sentence A concluding sentence is not always necessary
It signals the end of the paragraph and summarises the main points
It gives the final comment on the topic and leaves the reader with the most important ideas to think about
Examples of words that can be used to conclude: finally; as a result; in conclusion; indeed; in summary; in brief; therefore; in short; thus. But words such as these need not be used.
A concluding sentence is recommended where your argument is complex; that is, you have dealt with complications and refutations

17. Concluding paragraphs
Restate main reasons
Restate thesis (do not simply repeat it)
Final thoughts
Concluding paragraphs should not be too long; 3-4 sentences is normally plenty
Don’t bring up new points

18. Concluding paragraphs – an example
Access to clean water, sanitation, housing and
power are just some of the issues that regularly
confront people living in megacities in
developing countries. With few exceptions, these
problems are acute and a top priority for many
communities.

19. Sentences: General thoughts
Get to the subject quickly, then get to the verb quickly. Detailed information (new information) comes at the back end of the sentence.
Globalisation has dramatically increased China’s trade flows and investment flows.
Developing countries are generally areas of rapid economic growth.

20. Words Develop your vocabulary
Tip: Use strong verbs to add interest to your writing.
For example:
This growth has stimulated an increase in the transient population…
Shanghai’s basic traffic infrastructure has suffered from many years of neglect…
Attempts were made by authorities to divert resources…