Topic 2

• think about the audience that the essay is for
• the tone of most essays should be neutral or formal
• your essay should clearly present opinions related to the topic
• include a range of grammatical structures and related vocabulary
• avoid writing very simple sentences with the same grammatical structures and simple repetitive vocabulary.

An essay should be well organised, with an introduction, main body and a conclusion. It should include well-developed ideas.

You should use linking words/phrases which suit a more formal type of writing (e.g. furthermore, however, in conclusion, etc.) to link ideas in sentences and paragraphs.

One way to structure your essay is to have a balanced argument focusing on one side of the argument, then on the other side of the argument:

• Introduction – briefly outline the argument that the essay will discuss. Engage the reader to make them interested in the topic, for example, ask a rhetorical question to make a point and create a stronger effect.
• Present one side of the argument. Support your ideas with examples and/or reasons.
• Present the other side of the argument. Support your ideas with examples and/or reasons.
• Conclusion – this should briefly summarise what you have said and what you think about the argument. You can link your conclusion back to the beginning and/or encourage the reader to decide what they think about the same viewpoint.

Alternatively, an essay can be one-sided. You present one side of the argument, supported with examples and/or reasons. In this case, the organisation of your essay would be the same as above, with either one extended paragraph for the main body, or two or more shorter paragraphs each presenting a different reason to support your point of view.