TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD COMPOSITION
1st STEP - Analysis of the title
The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :
Subject Focus Comment
2nd STEP - Brainstorming
Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and superficial ideas.
3rd STEP - Organization
The organization changes according to the kind of essay you are going to write.
A. In the case of an essay by listing you can follow the scheme below :
Introducers : establish the topic focus and the point of view
1st
paragraph Pre-topic sentence (background information)
2nd
paragraph Introductory sentence
(In fact/For example X has three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3…) about how the work will be organized
Developers : view, context or aspect to another
Terminators : paragraphs that conclude the ideas in
a logical and
psychologically satisfying way
6th
paragraph
Personal opinion and conclusion :
Now you can express your opinion and make reference to your personal experience *
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.
EXAMPLE
Develop the title given following the table below.
Qualities for Success in the 21st Century
1st STEP - Analysis of the title
The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :
Subject Focus Comment
Qualities for Success in the 21st Century examples, expressingReasoning by list and opinion
2nd STEP - Brainstorming
Subject Focus Comment Personal qualities for
success success in the 21st Century
Reasoning by list and examples, expressing
Reasoning on honesty (what it is, why it is necessary)
Reasoning on creativity
Reasons for your choice, results of reasoning
paragraph Pre-topic sentence (background information)
▪ Possibly the four most essential attributes are …
2nd
paragraph Introductory sentence
(In fact/For example X has three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3…) about how the work will be organized (listing)
▪ flexibility (what it is, why it is necessary, example)
▪ honesty (what it is, why
it is necessary,
Personal opinion and conclusion :
Now you can express your opinion and make reference to your personal experience *
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below .
B. In the case of an essay by arguments for and against you can follow the scheme below :
Introducers : establish the topic focus and the point of view
1st
paragraph
2nd
Modulators : sentences that consent a passage from a point of view, context or aspect to another
3rd
paragraph Arguments forIntroductory sentence (There are three points…)
paragraph Arguments againstIntroductory sentence (Three points / aspects can be …)
Point 1 (First, …)
Point 2 (Then / secondly …)
Point 3 (Thirdly …) *
Terminators : paragraphs that conclude the ideas in
a logical and
psychologically satisfying way
5th
paragraph Personal opinion and conclusion :Now you can express your opinion and make reference to your personal experience *
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.
EXAMPLE
Develop the title given following the table below.
Should smoking be allowed in public places?
1st STEP - Analysis of the title
The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :
Subject Focus Comment
Smoking Smoking in public places? Answering, expressing opinion
2nd STEP - Brainstorming
Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and superficial
ideas.
Subject Focus Comment
Smoking Smoking in public places? Answering, expressing opinion
Reasons of the smokers Reasons of the non-smokers
Effects on health Psychological aspects
Social, economic and political aspects etc.
3rd STEP - Organization
people are more aware of the dangers of smoking
paragraph Background information
I’m going to examine … 2nd
paragraph How the work will be organizedSuitable verbs : going to, will, intend, look at, deal with
smoking not illegal
passive smoking causes cancer? No proof
3rd
paragraph Arguments forIntroductory sentence (There are three points…)
cause of fires
non-smokers need a smoke-free environment
4th
paragraph Arguments againstIntroductory sentence (As regards the arguments against, three points/aspects can be …) reference to your personal experience
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below :
Table of linkers :
To give order Firstly - at first - initially - and - then - immediately afterwards - later on - some time - later - in conclusion To indicate
To indicate
continuation And - moreover - besides - furthermore - in additionto To indicate
simultaneity Meanwhile - while - in the meantime To contrast or
contradict Instead - yet - but - on the contrary - even if - eventhough however on one hand / on the other hand -nevertheless - in spite of …
To rephrase In other words - that is to say - this means that - i.e.(Latin : id est) - to put it another way
To exemplify That is - namely - e.g. (Latin : exempli gratia = for example) - for example - for instance - an example of this is - To express opinion In my opinion - I am of the opinion that - as regards me - as far
as I am concerned as concerns me to my way of thinking -to my mind - I personally believe that
