TeachingEnglish
Essay
Submitted by korila on 14 March, 2011 - 13:25
To write an essay is very important but there are so many difficulties. How can we help them do one?
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It depends what level you're talking about, but coursebooks, especially Cambridge exam coursebooks, like FCE, CAE or CPE, usually have models for learners to analyse and identify main ideas in paragraphs, cohesive devices and language. Similarly, brainstorming, planning and drafting will be necessary for learners to approach the task in a more constructive way in the classroom. Both approaches usually work well together.
Thank you for recommandation but I want to know how to help pupils do correct essays and use correct gramatical functions.
Thank you for recommandation but I want to know how to help pupils do correct essays and use correct gramatical functions.
Dear Sir,
Why don`t you start with a simple structure by giving an example of your own:
Tittle: War
1.) Introduction Mention something about humas at war and WWI and WWII
2.) Main idea 1 (-) Lots of destruction, lots of people dead, almost annihilation of humanity
3.) Support to main idea 1 (Why) WWII started due to hard condition given after WWI
4.) Main idea 2 (must be something +) Facts Lost of medical advance, technology improvemente, etc
5.) Support to main idea 2 (Why) Civilians found themselves benefitted...etc.
6.) Conclusion Although humanity almost desappear we have to look at the bright side...since ....etc
Ss might also be given some words such as Therefore, Nevertheless, Thus, However, etc.
I hope you find this helpful.
Best,
I would like to see some kinds of essays.Writing is important.
I think that Victor is spot on in terms of setting out the structure first, then it is just a case of elaborating on that structure by filling in all the gaps. You could even start from square one with a simple essay structure and then complete a few short paragraphs as examples.
I think one of the most important things for the teacher to do is to find out what "essays" and other academic forms of writing are like in the students' own language / context. It's easier, then, to highlight differences or similarities, which also help the students to understand the concepts of essay writing in English.
When teaching essay writing, I start of with paragraphs. I mean here paragraphs as short texts in their own right, and not necessarily as part of an essay. The structure here can be covered fairly quickly, looking at examples, etc. The "topic sentence" is the opening sentence of a paragraph and introduces the topic and main point of the piece of writing - this is usually the hardest part for students. Then you can introduce transition words which are used to link pieces of information in different ways, e.g. adding more detail, showing a caue/effect, showing a contrast, etc. And then you can talk about interesting ways to close the text, summarising the main points/message, a plea for action, a look to the future, etc.
I also think it's important to have a look at different genres of writing: descriptive, illustrative, cause&effect, compare/contrast, process, persuasive, discursive, to name the main ones.
Once students have grasped the structuer of paragraphs, it's easy for to then 'expand' this into an essay - which will also have an introduction (with "thesis statement"), body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
I find that using diagrams also helps students to visualise how an essay can (should) be structured.
For further information, there are lots of really useful books and websites - some aimed at native English speakers who just need input on structuring writing, and others aimed at EFL / ESL students who need more help on the formal language side of things too. Here are a couple of my recommendations:
The University of Edinburgh, Academic Essay Writing: Some Guidelines: http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/study/undergrad/essays/
Using English for Academic Purposes: A Guide for Students in Higher Education - Academic Writing: http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm
Gillet, A., Hammond, A. & Martala, M., Inside Track: Successful Academic Writing (Pearson/Longman, 2009)
Oshima, A. & Hogue, A., Writing Academic English (Pearson/Longman, 2006)
Hope that helps!
CMF