Tiếng anh nâng cao writing - English Language | Đại học Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu

PART 1: WRITING
UNIT 3: AN OVERVIEW OF ESSAY AND ESSAY ORGANIZATION
Built on the knowledge of paragraph writing presented in the previous units, this is designed
to teach you how to write expository essays, covering such issues as essay organization, essa
outlining, common patterns of essay organization and essay checklist. I. ESSAY ORGANIZATION
1. An Overview of Essay and Essay Organization
As you have learned in Units 3, a paragraph is a group of sentences about one topic and has
three main structural parts: the topic sentence, supporting sentences (the body), and the
concluding sentence. Similarly, an essay is a group of paragraphs about one topic and also has
three main parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The following diagram shows
that a paragraph and an essay have the same basic plan.
Writing an essay is no more difficult than writing a paragraph, except that an essay is longer.
The methods of organization and the supporting techniques are the same for both; so you can
apply those methods and techniques you have learned in developing paragraphs into composing an essay.
In this unit, we are concerned with the expository essay, that is, a piece of writing in which you
are presenting information in response to a particular statement/question. The expository essay
perhaps the most common form of assessment exercise in schools, colleges and universities wit
its length varying from 500 to 3,000 words according to the requirements of each subject.
2. The Three Parts of an Essay
As mentioned earlier, an essay consists of three major parts: the introductory paragraph, the
body, and the concluding paragraph.
E.g.: Read the following essay as a model of essay organization.
THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION, PART I
We live in the age of technology. Everyday, new technology appears, ranging from mini-CDs that co
entire encyclopedias to giant space telescopes that can send photographs of distant stars back to Eart
the new technological wonders, personal computers have probably had the greatest influence on the d
of average people. Through computers, we can now talk to people in any country, research any topic:
shop, bank, and entertain ourselves. Personal computers have especial y revolutionized communicatio
business practices in the past twenty years.
Perhaps the most important effect of personal computers has been to expand our ability to commun
the outside world. A lonely invalid in Minnesota can talk with a similarly house-bound person in Mississ
Schoolchildren in Manhattan can talk via computer to schoolchildren in Moscow. A high school student
obtain statistics for a history paper from a library in London. A single computer user can send an e-ma
message to mil ions of people al over the world with one keystroke. Computer users can get together
line “chat room” to discuss their interests and problems with others who have similar interests and problems.
For example, a person whose hobby is collecting antique guns can share information with other gun co
via computer. A person who is planning a vacation and wants to know the names of the best beaches
can ask others who have already been there for suggestions. People even start on-line romances in ch
The possibilities of computerized communication are indeed unlimited.
Besides improving communication, personal computers have made it possible to do business from
You can take care of personal business. For example, you can buy airline tickets, send flowers to a frie
your bil s, buy and sel stocks, and even pay your taxes from your home computer at any time of the da
night. This is a great convenience for people who are busy during the day and for physically disabled p
who find it hard to leave their homes. Moreover, telecommuting – working at home instead of going to
office – has become a choice for thousands of business people. Suzanne Carreiro, a financial manage
large company in downtown Manhattan, has telecom muted from her home in New Jersey for the past
years. She goes to her office only once a week. Four days a week, she works at home and communica
her staff by computer. She says, “I am much more productive when I work at home because there are no
interruptions. I also don’t have to spend three hours traveling to and from the office every day. I save myself
time, and I save my company money by telecommuting.”
In brief, the computer age has arrived, and it is changing our lives. Computers have made commun
and doing business faster and more convenient, and they have greatly increased our access to
information. Just as the invention of automobiles had an unplanned consequence – the growth of subu
wil the invention of personal computers. We wil have to wait and see what these unintentional conseq wil be. a. The Introductory Paragraph
The introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of the essay. It introduces the topic of the
essay and arouses the reader’ s interest.
There are several ways to write an introductory paragraph. In this course, you will learn to writ
a funnel introductory paragraph, which consists of two parts: a few general statements about you
subject to attract your reader’s attention and a thesis statement to state the specific subdivisions of
your topic and/or the “plan” of your paper.
General statements introduce the topic of the essay, and give the reader background informat
on the topic. They should lead your reader gradually from a very general idea of your topic to a
very specific idea. In other words, the first general statement in a funnel introductory paragraph
just introduces the topic. Like the lens of a camera moving in for a close-up picture, each
subsequent sentence becomes more and more focused on a specific topic, and finally leads into
the thesis statement. There is no exact rule about the number of general statements you need;
however, you should try to write at least three or four, and they should be interesting enough to
hold the reader’s attention. It is permissible to sprinkle a few interesting details in the general
statements in order to attract the reader’s interest. However, you should not give any details that
belong in the body of the essay.
The thesis statement for an essay is just like a topic sentence for a paragraph: it names the
specific topic and the controlling ideas or major subdivisions of the topic that will be discussed in
the body of the essay. Besides, it often indicates the method of organization such as chronologic
order, or order of importance.
The Introductory paragraph has two parts: 1. General Statements 2. A Thesis Statement General Statements:
1. introduce the topic of the essay.
2. give background information on the topic The Thesis Statement: 1. states the main topic.
2. lists the subdivisions of the main topic.
3. may indicate the method of organization of the essay.
4. is usual y the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.
E g.: Reread the introductory paragraph in the .
previous example about The Computer Revolution COMPUTER REVOLUTION
We live in the age of technology. Everyday, new technology appears, ranging from mini-CDs that conta
entire encyclopedias to giant space telescopes that can send photographs of distant stars back to Eart
the new technological wonders, personal computers have probably had the greatest influence on the d
of average people. Through computers, we can now talk to people in any country, research any topic:
shop, bank, and entertain ourselves. Personal computers have especial y revolutionized communicatio
business practices in the past twenty years.
Notice how the sentences gradually move from the general topic of technology to the specific
topic of two areas that have been changed by personal computer. This introductory paragraph is
like a funnel: very wide at the top, increasingly narrow in the middle, and very small at the neck or bottom.
- The first two sentences introduce the general topic of technology. The mini-CDs and giant
telescopes are mentioned to attract the reader’s interest.
- The next two sentences narrow the general topic of technology to the specific topic of personal
computers. The details keep the reader interested without revealing the essay contents.
- The final sentence is the thesis statement. It names the two subtopics or specific areas change
by personal computers: communication and business. b. The Body
The body of the essay is made up of one or more paragraphs. Each of these paragraphs supp
the thesis statement by developing a sub-division of the topic, so the number of paragraphs in th
body will vary with the number of subdivisions. Besides, in each of the body paragraphs, there is
a topic sentence, supporting sentences and sometimes a concluding sentence.
The reader should be able to see that there is a logical progression throughout the body of the
essay. A discriminating and economic use of connectives and transition signals within and
between paragraphs can help provide this unity. Your reader should obtain a clear sense of how
your paragraphs relate to one another, and to the subject and thesis of the essay.
E.g. Read the two body paragraphs of the essay COMPUTER REVOLUTION, PART I. The
topic sentence of each paragraph introduces an area that has been changed by personal compu
Then each topic sentence is followed by several sentences that give specific examples of the changes. Thesis statement: P
ersonal computers have especial y revolutionized communication and business
practices in the past twenty years.
Perhaps the most important effect of personal computers has been to expand our ability to commun
the outside world. A lonely invalid in Minnesota can talk with a similarly house-bound person in Mississ
Schoolchildren in Manhattan can talk via computer to schoolchildren in Moscow. A high school student
obtain statistics for a history paper from a library in London. A single computer user can send an e-ma
message to mil ions of people al over the world with one keystroke. Computer users can get together
line “chat room” to discuss their interests and problems with others who have similar interests and problems.
For example, a person whose hobby is col ecting antique guns can share information with other gun co
via computer. A person who is planning a vacation and wants to know the names of the best beaches
can ask others who have already been there for suggestions. People even start on-line romances in ch
The possibilities of computerized communication are indeed unlimited.
Besides improving communication, personal computers have made it possible to do business from
You can take care of personal business. For example, you can buy airline tickets, send flowers to a frie
your bil s, buy and sel stocks, and even pay your taxes from your home computer at any time of the da
night. This is a great convenience for people who are busy during the day and for physical y disabled p
who find it hard to leave their homes. Moreover, telecommuting – working at home instead of going to
office – has become a choice for thousands of business people. Suzanne Carreiro, a financial manage
large company in downtown Manhattan, has telecom muted from her home in New Jersey for the past
years. She goes to her office only once a week. Four days a week, she works at home and communica
her staff by computer. She says, “I am much more productive when I work at home because there are no
interruptions. I also don’t have to spend three hours traveling to and from the office every day. I save myself
time, and I save my company money by telecommuting.” c. The Concluding Paragraph
The concluding paragraph is the last paragraph of the essay, in which you tell the reader that
you have completed the essay. This is achieved by either writing a summary of the main points
discussed in the body of the essay or by paraphrasing the thesis statement; i.e., rewriting the the
statement in different words. Then you add your final comments on the subject – food for though
Since this is your last opportunity to make your point, you should write a strong, effective
message that will be remembered.
The concluding paragraph does three things:
• It signals the end of the essay.
• It summarizes the main points.
• It leaves the reader with the writer’s final thoughts on the subject.
The concluding paragraph consists of: • the concluding sentences • and the final thoughts
The first part of the concluding paragraph - concluding sentences - summarizes the main poin
or repeats the thesis statement in different words. This may require one or more than one senten
The first sentence of a concluding paragraph sometimes, but not always, begins with a conclusio
transition signal such as In brief or In short. It is not always necessary to use a conclusion signal
and you should avoid the overused phrases and In conclusion In summary. E.g.:
Thesis statement: Personal computers have especial y revolutionized communication and business pr the past twenty years.
Concluding sentences: In brief, the computer age has arrived, and it is changing our lives. Computers
made communicating and doing business faster and more convenient, and they have greatly increase access to information.
In the second part of the concluding paragraph final thoughts - – you may write your final
comments on the subject of your essay. This is where you express your opinion, make a judgme
or give a recommendation. However, do not add any new ideas in the conclusion because it is th
end of your essay. Just comment on what you have already discussed. E.g.:
Final thoughts: Just as the invention of automobiles had an unplanned consequence – the
growth of suburbs – so wil the invention of personal computers. We wil have to wait and
see what these unintentional consequences wil be. II. ESSAY OUTLINING
Outlining is an important step in the writing process because it helps you organize your ideas,
write more quickly and improve your grammar. It is even more important to make an outline
when you are planning an essay because an essay is longer and more complex, and you have
many more ideas and details to organize.
The rules and techniques that you have already learned for paragraph outlining can be applied
to essays. The only additional element is the numbering of each paragraph with Roman numeral
For example, in a five-paragraph essay, the introduction is paragraph I; the three paragraphs of t
body are II, III, and IV; and the conclusion is paragraph V.
In Unit 3, you learned how to make simple and detailed outlines for a paragraph. Now let’s
expand your knowledge and learn how to make an outline for an essay.
As you remember, a simple outline for a paragraph looks like this: Topic Sentence (Topic Sentence underlined) A. First Supporting Point B. Second Supporting Point
(These are equal in importance & written in paral el form) C. Third Supporting Point etc.
(Concluding Sentence underlined) Concluding Sentence
An outline for an essay looks like this: ESSAY OUTLINE I. Thesis Statement II. Topic Sentence A. First Supporting Point 1. Supporting Detail 2. Supporting Detail B. Second Supporting Point 1. Supporting Detail 2. Supporting Detail 3. Supporting Detail C. Third Supporting Point Supporting Detail (Concluding Sentence) III. Topic Sentence A. First Supporting Point Supporting Detail B. Second Supporting Point 1. Supporting Detail 2. Supporting Detail C. Third Supporting Point Supporting Detail (Concluding Sentence) IV. Topic Sentence A. Supporting Detail B. Supporting Detail C. Supporting Detail D. Supporting Detail (Concluding Sentence) V. Concluding sentences Final thoughts
Notice these important points:
- The topic sentence of each paragraph is given a Roman numeral (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, etc.)
- Each supporting point is given a capital letter (A, B, C, D, etc.). If there are no supporting
point but only supporting details, then they are given capital letters as in IV of the preceding essay outline.
- Each supporting detail is given an Arabic number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.)
- Each time the outline moves from a Roman numeral to a capital letter to an Arabic number,
the text is indented. Indenting makes it easy to see the movement from big to smal , from
main ideas to specific details.
- Letters and numbers are used when there are two or more items in a group. In the essay
outline, only one supporting detail is given under II.C and III.A and C, therefore, no numbers
are given. However, the single supporting detail is indented in line with the other supporting details that are numbered.
Note: An outline is only a guide to help you as you write your essay. It can be changed at any
time; that is, you can make additions or deletions to your outline as you are writing.
E.g.: Read the detailed outline below for the essay on “The Advantages and Disadvantages of
Living in the Twentieth Century”.
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF LIVINGIN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
I. Living in the twentieth century offers certain advantages, such as a higher standard of living, but it al
some disadvantages, such as a pol uted environment, the depersonalization of human relationships, a
weakening of spiritual values.
II. The biggest advantage of living in the twentieth century is the high standard of living we enjoy.
A. More money for less hard work
1. More office workers than manual laborers 2. Higher salaries
3. Increased government services a. Social security b. Unemployment benefits c. Disability insurance B. Longer life expectancy 1. Better medical care
a. More hospitals, doctors, nurses
b. Advances in medical technology 2. Improved nutrition 3. More leisure time C. Modern conveniences 1. Communication a. Telephones b. Radio and television
2. Labor-saving machines in the home a. Dishwashers b. Washing machines c. Vacuum cleaners 3. Faster transportation
III. One of the main disadvantages of living in the twentieth century is that we are living in an increasin pol uted environment. A. Air pol ution 1. Smog 2. Nuclear fal out B. Water pol ution
1. Chemical wastes from factories a. Dead fish
b. Contaminated drinking water supplies 2. Raw sewage from cities 3. Oil spil s from ships
IV. A second disadvantage of living in the twentieth century is the depersonalization of human relations A. People and machines
1. Automated vending machines, banks, etc.
2. Tape recorded telephone answering
3. Computerized dating services B. People and numbers 1. Social security numbers 2. Credit card numbers
V. The final disadvantage of living in the twentieth century is the weakening of spiritual values. A. Materialistic culture
B. Faith in science instead of in religion
VI. In conclusion, although the twentieth century has indeed given us a lot of advantages by making us
healthier and freer to enjoy our lives, it has, in my opinion, not made us wiser. The twentieth century ha
made our earth dirtier, our people less humane, and our spiritual lives poorer. We should continue to e
benefits of technological advancements because they free us to pursue our interests and goals. Howe
must make a concerted effort to preserve our natural environment for future generations. Moreover, we
take the time now to make our lives more meaningful in an increasingly impersonal, computerized wor
III. COMMON PATTERNS OF ESSAY ORGANIZATION
Organizing an essay is essentially similar to organizing a paragraph; the only difference is that
instead of working with single sentences, you are working with paragraphs. You can use the sam
patterns (or combination of patterns) for essays as you use for paragraphs.
In the following section, four of the most common and useful patterns of essay organization
will be introduced: chronological order, logical division of ideas, cause and effect, and comparison and contrast. 1. Chronological Order
Chronological order is order by time. It is used in almost all academic fields to describe
historical events as well as to write biographies and autobiographies. Besides, chronological ord
is used in scientific and technical writing to explain physical, chemical, biological, and
mechanical processes, such as how a machine works, how a chemical reaction takes place, how
certain biological process occurs, and so on. It is also used to give directions or instructions ho –
to perform a chemistry experiment, how to operate a piece of equipment, etc.
In a chronological process essay, the main steps are the topics of the paragraphs.
E.g.: Read the following essay explaining the process of treating sewage to make impure wate
clean again as an example of essay organized using chronological order. The thesis statement is
bold; the topic sentences of those paragraphs that explain a major step in the process are
underlined; and the between-paragraph transition signals are circled. A SEWAGE TREATMENT PROCESS
Sewage treatment requires the removal of major contaminants from waste water in order to purify it for
This process takes place in sewage treatment plants and requires the use of special equipment and ch
The sewage treatment process is divided into three stages: primary treatment, secondary treatment, a tertiary treatment.
During the primary stage of treatment, large, heavy, suspended solids are removed from the sewage in
pol uted water passes through a screen into a grit chamber. Large organic solids drop to the bottom of
chamber. Then the pol uted water continues to flow into a settling tank, where sludge from the water d
the sludge digestion tank. From there, it flows out to a drying bed. The water continues to flow through
system, to begin the next phase of the treatment process.
In the secondary school stage, organic matter is further broken up and removed. As the water flows fro
settling tank into the aeration tank, it combines with air. This process increases the oxygen content of t
and also increases the number of microorganisms that feed on dissolved wastes. Then the water flows
second settling tank, where more sludge drops out. From there, the water flows into a chlorination cha
this phase of the process, chlorine kil s most of the harmful bacteria.
After leaving the chlorination chamber bacteria, the water begins the tertiary or final stage of treatment
stage, remaining chemical impurities, mainly phosphates and nitrates, are removed by chemical and p
means. Now the water is ready for reuse.
To summarize, waste water can be made reusable in sewage treatment facilities by undergoing a three
treatment process. These stages include primary treatment, which removes about 35 percent of the or
pol utants; secondary treatment, which removes up to 90 percent of the remaining organic pol utants b
chlorination; and final y, the tertiary treatment, in which the last impurities – nitrates and phosphates – dissolved. 2. Logical Division of Ideas
Logical division of ideas is a form of essay organization that is used to group related items
according to some quality they have in common. Logical division can be useful in planning a
paper because a broad subject can be subdivided into several categories or groups that will narr
the topics for discussion. Then, each subdivision topic can be discussed in order.
E.g.: Read the following essay about styles of rock and roll music as an example of essay usin
logical division of ideas as a method of organizing the information. The thesis statement is in
bold; the topic sentences of the body paragraphs underlined; and the between-paragraph transit signals are circled. STYLES OF ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC
There is no stopping rock and rol . Since its birth in the fifties, rock and rol has become the most lively
popular culture. It was born as a child of jazz, blues, and country music. More recently, it has been infl
by movies, television, sex, drugs, art, literature, and electronics. Since its birth, rock and rol has group
regrouped into an explosion of styles: folk rock, soul, Motown, hard rock, jazz rock, country rock, heav
punk rock, reggae, new wave, rap, and so on. Each type has its own style, themes, and stars. Three o
successful styles are rap, heavy metal, and reggae.
One of the newer styles of rock and rol is rap. Rap is a form of dance music in which the singers – rap
speak in rhythm and rhyme rather than sing. Rap first appeared in the mid-seventies in the discos of N
City’s black neighborhoods. Disco DJs teamed up with rappers to play songs for dancers at parties. At first, the
role of the rapper was to keep the beat going with hand claps while the DJ changed records. Soon, rap
added lyrics, slogans, rhymes, and cal -and-response exchanges with the audience. Early rap songs w
about dancing, partying, and the romantic adventures of the rappers, but politics became an important
the late eighties and nineties. Although rap is primarily the music of young black males, the first white r
appeared in 1980, and a woman rapper, Queen Latifa, began her career in 1989. M. C. Hammer’s 1990 albu
Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em has sold fifteen mil ion copies, making it the best-sel ing rap album of the decade.
Another style of rock and rol music is heavy metal. Quite different from rap, heavy metal is a style of ro
rol that uses highly amplified electric guitars for its sound. It was born in the early sixties when Americ
British guitarists started putting distortion into their music. The most successful bands have had the fas
most creative guitarists: Jimi Hendrix, Ted Nugent, and Eddie Van Halen. Almost as important as the g
are the singers, who have great theatrical ability, vocal range, and sex appeal. In the seventies, heavy
bands turned to outdoor sports arenas, staging elaborate concerts with light shows and amplified soun
heavy metal bands include Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue, Poison, Guns ‘n Roses, and Metallica.
A third style of rock and rol is reggae, which was born on the Caribbean island of Jamaica in the sixtie
spread throughout the world in the seventies. It developed from a kind of Afro-Caribbean music cal ed
which was sung and played on guitars and drums. Some musicians changed mentor into a music style
ska by adding a hesitation beat. A few years later, other musicians changed ska, and reggae was born. Reggae’s
special sound comes from reversing the roles of the instruments. The guitar plays the rhythm and the b
the melody. An important influence on reggae music was the Rastafarian cult. The Rastafarians added
sound mixes, extra-slow tempos, strange lyrics, and mystical-political themes. The best-known reggae
in the United States is the late Bob Marley, also Jamaica.
Rock and rol music is constantly changing. New styles are born, grow, change, and produce offshoots
in turn grow, change, and produce offshoots. Some styles enjoy lasting popularity, but others disappea
quickly. However, al contribute to the power and excitement of rock and rol music in our time. 3. Cause and Effect
Another common method of organizing an essay is by cause and effect. There are basically tw
main ways to organize a cause and effect essay: “block” organization and “chain” organization. In
block organization, you first discuss all of the causes as a block (in one, two, three, or more
paragraphs, depending on the number of causes). Then you discuss all of the effects together as
block. In chain organization, you discuss a first cause and its effect, a second cause and its effec
and a third cause and its effect, in a “chain”. BLOCK CHAIN Cause Causes Effect Cause Effect Effects Cause Effect
The type of cause and effect organization you choose will depend on your topic. Some topics
are more easily organized one way, and some the other way. A chain pattern is usually easier if
the causes and effects are very closely interrelated. If there is no direct cause and effect
relationship, the block type may be easier. Some topics may require a combination of block and chain organization.
E.g.: Read the following essay about women’s liberation as an example of essay using cause
and effect (combination of block and chain organization) as a method of organizing the
information. The thesis statement is in bold; the topic sentences of the body paragraphs underlined. WOMEN’S LIBERATION
Since the middle of the twentieth century, women around the world have been seeking greater indepen
and recognition. No longer content with their traditional roles as housewives and mothers, women hav
together to create the so-called “women’s liberation movement”. While the forces behind this internationa
movement vary from culture to culture and from individual to individual, the basic causes in the United
States can be traced to three events: the development of effective birth-control methods, the invention
labor-saving devices for the home, and the advent of World War II.
The first cause of the liberation of women was the development of effective birth-control methods, f
women from the endless cycle of childbearing and rearing. As a result of having a choice as to "when"
to bear children, women acquired the freedom and the time to pursue interests outside of the home. B
the development of birth control, women could delay having children or avoid having them altogether;
consequently, women had the opportunity to acquire an education and/or pursue a career.
The second event was the development of mechanized labor-saving devices for the home, resulting
leisure time and freedom for women. For example, fifty years ago, a housewife spent an average of tw
fourteen hours per day doing housework. Due to the invention of machines such as vacuum cleaners,
machines and dishwashers, a housewife can now take care of her daily housework in about five hours
The third event that, at least in the United States, gave impetus to the liberation of women was Wor
II. During the war, most men were serving in the military. Consequently, women had to fil the vacancie
labor force. Women by the thousands went to work in factories and even took over businesses for thei
husbands. This was a great change for the majority of American women, for they discovered that they
weld airplanes and manage businesses as wel as change diapers and bake cookies.
These three events planted the seeds of a great change in society, and the effects of this change a
at al levels: in the family, in business, and in government.
One of the biggest effects of the greater independence of women is being felt in the home. The trad
husband-wife relationship is undergoing a radical transformation. Because so many women are workin
are learning how to share the household tasks of cooking, cleaning, and even caring for children, In so
families, there has been a complete reversal of the traditional roles: the husband stays home while the
earns the family’s income. It should be pointed out, however, that this is the exception, not the rule. In most