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    Writing skills text types
    Writing an essay


    • Overview

      The purpose of an essay is to present an argument or point of view and give examples or reasons to support it.

      The topic will be a question or an issue which people generally have different opinions about.

      The essay could present both sides of the argument, or just one, depending on the instructions given in the task. 

      An essay should be written in a formal or neutral register and should be well organised, with an introduction, main body and a conclusion. It should include language appropriate for expressing opinions, agreeing and disagreeing. The vocabulary required will depend upon the topic.



    • Tips for writing an essay

      Language
      • 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.

      Organisation

      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.



    • Example of an essay