An essay is a piece of writing that usually has five or more paragraphs.

An essay is written about one topic that has several main points. The main points are introduced in an introductory paragraph and supported in body paragraphs. The conclusion is the last paragraph. An introductory paragraph is the first paragraph in an essay. It contains two parts. 1. General Statements: a few sentences about your subject that catch the attention of your reader. 2. A Thesis Statement: one sentence that tells your reader the main points of your topic and states the overall plan of your essay. GENERAL STATEMENTS: Metropolitan City is full of charm and scenic beauty, so visitors from around the world come to enjoy its famous theaters, museums, countless ethnic restaurants, and scenic wonders. Although Metropolitan City seems like a paradise, it isnt. THESIS STATEMENT: The city has several serious problems: poor public transportation, congested streets, and expensive housing (Hogue, A. & Oshima, A., 1991, p. 92). The body consists of one or more paragraphs following the introduction. Each paragraph supports the main idea of your essay by breaking it down into smaller ideas or sub- topics. Each body paragraph consists of a topic sentence and several supporting sentences. A conclusion sentence draws the paragraph together. TOPIC SENTENCE: The first and most important problem is Metropolitan Citys inadequate public transportation system. SUPPORTING SENTENCES: Thousands of residents rely on the citys buses and streetcars to travel throughout this large city, but Metro Transportation Systems daily schedules are totally unreliable. A bus or streetcar that should arrive at 7:45 may not arrive until 8:00 or later. Moreover, it is not unusual for a bus driver to pass up groups of people waiting for the bus, because he wants to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, people often end up going to work late or missing important appointments. CONCLUDING SENTENCE: In order for people to get to their destinations on time, people must allow for waiting time at the bus and streetcar stops (Hogue, A. & Oshima, A., 1991, p. 79). The conclusion paragraph is the last paragraph in the essay. It completes the essay by summarizing or repeating the most important ideas. The conclusion can also include an opinion, a prediction, or a solution to a problem. SUMMARY OF MAIN IDEAS: In conclusion, Metropolitan City must improve its public transit system, clear up the massive traffic jams caused by slow-moving traffic in the downtown areas, and keep rentals down to affordable levels. In other words, PREDICTION: Metropolitan City must improve its image, or it will soon become just another mediocre city due to the lack of administrative responsibility to solve these unfortunate problems. In capsule: Introduction General statements and information about the topic Thesis statement- lists the main ideas in the essay Body Paragraphs Support the main ideas of the thesis statement Begin with topic sentences

Conclusion Brief summary of main points of the essay KINDS OF ESSAYS A. What is an expository essay? It Gives facts. Explains. Gives steps in a process. .Presents ideas in logical order or correct sequence. What are the key words that show it is an expository prompt? Most people enjoy some type of music. Think about your favorite type of music and explain why you like that particular type of music. Sometimes even the best drivers can get lost at times. Explain how you would direct a lost man to get back to the interstate highway from your neighborhood. Tell how to make a hamburger. B. What is a descriptive essay? Sensory images are used to describe what the writer sees, hears, smells, touches, and tastes. It paints a clear description of people, places, objects, or events. What are the key words that show it is a descriptive prompt? Describe your bedroom. Imagine telling someone who has never visited you. There are many tourist spots to visit in Birmingham. Describe your favorite place to take visitors. You may want to tell what you will see, hear, smell and how you feel when you are there. Tell us what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel on Christmas morning. YOU MUST DESCRIBE OR TELL WHAT A PERSON CAN SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE OR FEEL. C. What is a persuasive essay? You are asked to prove something. Give reasons why. Present arguments against your reasons. Show them to be false. Take a stand Ask or call for an action. What are the key words that show its a persuasive prompt? Persuade a close friend to donate blood as part of a blood drive that your school is sponsoring for the Red Cross.

 Some of your kid brothers friends have taken up smoking and want him to start too. Write a convincing letter to your kid brother to not take up this habit. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper telling why citizens in Birmingham should support a tax increase benefiting the local public schools. D. What is a narrative? Tells a story. Has chronological order and sequence of events. Has action. Has conflicts or problems. Has dialogue. Has characters. Has a definite beginning, middle and end. What are the key words that show that these are narrative prompts? You and your friend find a big box that is labeled Do Not Open. Your friend wants to open the box. Write a story about what happens next. Tell about a time when you made a serious mistake. Two little girls found a wallet on the sidewalk. Tell what happened next. Think Brainstorm-PACO P-What is your purpose? A- Who is your audience? C- Content --What are your ideas for details, facts, or O- Organization --Think how you want to Use your scratch paper Jot down a few transitions. What are transitions? Words or phrases that connect ideas or introduce the topic. Such as one, if, although, however, finally, in conclusion, first, second, next, additionally, consequently Make an outline or web. Develop a 1-3-1 plan. One Paragraph for introThree paragraphs for the body One paragraph for the conclusion Introductions for expository, descriptive and persuasive essays should. Grab the readers attention. Or -- Let the reader know what youre going to talk about. Or--Show a plan for what youre going to be talking about in the three body paragraphs. Or --State what the audience will learn in this essay. reasons?

structure your paper.

Sample Introduction Although I have taken many wonderful vacations, my trip with my two best friends to New York City is one Ill always remember. This was a fantastic trip because of the sights we saw, the people we met, the plays we enjoyed, and the laughs we shared. After you make your web or outline, start writing your introduction. Leave space at the top for two more lines. ( It wont count against you.)You might come back later to insert a little background information in the introduction. Remember to grab interest and show the plan of your paper in the introduction. Introduction Lets start on the body. Go back to your web or outline for the second paragraph. Good Fun Things -Changing classes and teachers -Ms. Trunchbull & Ms. Honey More Freedom - no line -See friends at lunch First I will tell you about the good and fun things about being in the seventh grade.You get to change classes so if one teacher is like Mrs. Trunchbull in Matilda, you are only with her for part of the day. If your teacher is like Ms. Honey you will enjoy a fabulous time with her. Another thing I enjoy is more freedom. We dont have to walk in straight lines as if we were soldiers marching off to war. Next, you can get your own food instead of having the lunch ladies get it for you. I like spending time with my friends so if there are not in one of my classes, I can see them at lunch. Look back at your outline for the third paragraph Bad things SAT Test -not like elementary school -compare to stale bread more test and harder -stress stomach hurts -math makes me sick Next Im writing about the bad things you go through in seventh grade. First of all you have to take the SAT test. In elementary school you didnt have to worry about this kind of thing. The SAT test is like eating stale food because it can hurt you and it can be boring. The tests get harder as you go on. We have so many of them they can cause a major stress and make you feel like your stomach was just pulled out. At my elementary school we got out fifteen minutes earlier. Sitting in math class for that extra minutes makes me feel terrible inside. Did you find the transitions? What are the key ideas? How does he explain his key ideas? What is the metaphor? Look back to your outline before writing the fourth paragraph

things that are both good & bad Field Trips -miss school -might be boring PE -clothes sweat -fun to play and compete Homework -too much -pull up grades Finally my next category is going to be things that come good and bad. First field trips are extremely fun because you can talk and miss school. However its bad if you go somewhere boring or cant sit with your friend. Everybody loves P.E. because we play real sports with competitiveness. But sadly when were leaving PE, my clothes get sweaty which doesnt feel good. Everybody knows the pluses and minuses of Homework! We have so much homework it just takes the energy out of you, which is bad. What is good about it is that the more homework you have, the better chance you have to pull up your grade. Now we are ready for the fifth paragraph the conclusion which will summarize our main points or key ideas in the body. Good and bad things freedom changing classes SAT test going to school longer tests Good and Bad Homework PE Fieldtrips In conclusion the seventh grade has good and bad things involved. Such as more freedom, and changing classes. Some other things are SAT test, going to school longer, and quizzes and tests. Homework, P.E., and field trips fall into both of those categories. Whoops! What did we forget? Did you think title? You are right! Remember we said to leave a little space at the top. Lets look at a classmates essay and see why Now Lets Look At Narrative Tell about a time Write a story Chronological sequence of events Dialogue Action Problems, conflicts Beginning, Middle, End Use this type of web for a Narrative Some typical story transition words How to get your story rolling Begin by describing a character. LaDarius Smith, a star on our school basketball team, is very lucky. Get the story rolling with dialogue Whats that smell?

the seventh graders complained. Finish your experiment and well head outside to get away from it, said their teacher. Get the story rolling Provide a where with prepositional phrases: Near the park Below the surface of the water In Chicago Throughout the crowded room Inside the lunchroom Heres an excellent beginning by one of your classmates at Arrington. It was an early Tuesday morning in Tokyo Japan. The sun started to rise over Juan Lees house. Boom! Juan Lee and his friend Jen went to see what was with all of the commotion. Then the door came crashing down. It turned out that Juans Aunt Lee kicked the door down. Can you tell which passage is narrative and which is expository? Marty and I jumped to our feet. Ohhhh. I heard Marty let out a frightened moan. I started to back away. I thought maybe I could scramble out the other side of the car. But the snarling, growling monsters came at us from both sides. L-leave us alone. I stammered. A monster covered in tangled brown fur opened After Christopher Columbuss voyages to the New World, many Spaniards came to this continent to explore. One Spanish explorer was Ponce De Leon. He traveled through present-day Florida to find the Fountain of Youth. A second explorer, Coronado searched for the Seven Cities of Gold. He and his men traveled Put it all together and write! Does this give you an overall review of what weve studied for writing? There are many things that fit together to help us become excellent writers. Summary Identify your prompt Plan your work with an outline. Give your work a title with an action word. Grab interest in the beginning Build your paragraph with explanations, examples, & evidence following the topic statement or key statement. Use strong action words Use vivid adjectives

Use metaphors Finished? Reread & reread to improve and clarify.

Introduction to the Essay

Directions: Look at the essays below. Write numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) next to the paragraphs to show which paragraphs should come first, second, third, etc. The first one has been done for you. Be prepared to explain your answers to a tutor.

How a Solar Hot Water System Works

_____ The first step is to capture solar radiation. That is, the suns energy must be absorbed by a solar heat collector, which is usually built on a south-facing roof. The collector has several layers of material. It has a glass plate and a metal absorber plate, which is painted black to increase its ability to absorb heat. Next to the absorber plate are copper tubes, which are filled with transfer fluid. The tubes are surrounded by foam insulation and aluminum casing to help hold the heat in them. The process of trapping the suns radiation is as follows. As the sun shines through the glass plate, its thermal energy is absorbed by the copper absorber plate. This heat is conducted from the plate to the tubes. The heat from the tubes is then conducted to the fluid flowing through them.

_____ Dispensing the hot water is the final step in the process. The water flows from the outlet valve through pipes to faucets throughout the house.

(Introductory Paragraph with Thesis Statement)

A solar hot water system collects and converts solar radiation into usable energy for the purpose of heating water. The use of solar radiation for heating water is an inexpensive and environmentally responsible substitute for heating by gas or electricity. The main parts of a solar hot water system are a collector, a hot water storage tank, and a distribution system. The main steps in the process of heating water by using the suns rays are trapping the suns energy, heating and storing the hot water, and dispensing the water at points of use.

_____ In summary, the process of collecting and converting solar energy for us in a solar hot water system involves three steps. First, collectors absorb the suns energy, which is then transferred to fluid in copper tubes. These tubes run from the collector to a tank, where the water is heated and stored. Finally the hot water is distributed through pipes to wherever it is needed. Although initially expensive to install, solar heating systems are economical in the long runat least until utility companies figure out how to charge us for sunshine!

_____ After trapping heat from the sun, the second step is to transfer this heat to water which is stored in a n insulated tank. The hot fluid from the collector is circulated by a pump through copper coils inside the tank. The heat is conducted by the coils to the water. When the supply of solar radiation is reduced on cloudy days, an auxiliary system can take over.

Native American Influences on Modern American Culture

_____ First of all, native Americans left a permanent imprint on the English language. The early settlers borrowed words from several different Native American languages to name the new places and new objects that they had found in their new land. All across the country, one can find cities, towns, rivers, and states with Native American names. For example, the states of Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, and Alabama are named after Native American tribes, as are the cities of Chicago, Miami, and Spokane. In addition to place names, English has adopted many everyday words from various Native American languages. The words chipmunk, moose, raccoon, skunk, moccasin, and potato are just a few examples.

_____ Finally, it may surprise some people to learn that Americans are also indebted to one tribe for our form of government. The Iroquois, who were an extremely large tribe with many branches and sub-branches (called nations), had developed a highly sophisticated system of government to keep the branches of the tribe from fighting one another. Five of the nations had joined together in a confederation called The League of the Iroquois. Under the League, each nation was autonomous in running its own internal affairs, but the nations acted as a unit when dealing with outsiders. The League kept the Iroquois from fighting among themselves and was also valuable in diplomatic relations with other tribes. When the thirteen American colonies were considering what kind of government to establish after they won their independence form Britain, someone suggested that they use a system similar to the League of the Iroquois. Under this system, each colony or future state would be autonomous in managing its own affairs but would joining forces with the other states to deal with matters that concerned them all. This is exactly what happened. As a result, the present form of government of the United States can be traced directly back to a Na6ive American model.

_____ In addition to language and art, agriculture is another area in which Native American had a great and lasting influence. Being skilled farmers, the Native Americans of North America taught the newcomers many things about farming techniques and crops. Every American school child has heard the story of how Native American taught the first settlers to place a dead fish in a planting hole to provide fertilizer for the growing plant. Furthermore, they taught the settlers irrigation methods and crop rotation. In addition, many of the foods we eat today were introduced to the Europeans by Native Americans. For example, potatoes, corn, chocolate, and peanuts were unknown in Europe. Now they are staples in the American diet.

_____ When the first Europeans began to settle the North American continent, they encountered a completely new culture: the native American tribes of North America. Native Americans, who had a highly developed culture in many respects, must have been as curious about the strange European manners and customs as were the Europeans about Native Americans. As always happens when two cultures come into contact, there was a cultural exchange. Native Americans adopted some of the Europeans ways, and the Europeans adopted some of their ways. As a result, Native Americans have made many valuable contributions to American culture, particularly in the areas of language, art, food, and government.

_____ In conclusion, we can easily see form these few examples the extent of native American influence on our language, our art forms, our eating habits, and our government. Modern Americans are truly indebted to Native Americans for their contributions to their culture. Hopefully, the cultural exchange will one day prove to be equally positive for them.

_____ Although the vocabulary of English is the areas that shows the most Native American influence, it is not the only area of American culture that was changed by contact with Native Americans. Art is another area showing the mark of Native American contact. Wool rugs woven by women of the Navajo tribe in Arizona and New Mexico are highly valued works of art in the United States. Also, Native American jewelry made from silver and turquoise is very popular and very expensive. Especially in the western and southwestern regions of the United States, native crafts such pottery, handcrafted leather products, and beadwork can be found in many home. Indeed, native art and handicrafts have become a treasured part of American culture.
Adapted From: Hogue, A. & Oshima, A. (1991). Writing Academic English. New York: Addison Wesley.

Directions: Print the exercise. Look at the essay below. Read the essay and pay careful attention to how it is organized. Complete the outline for the essay on the following pages. Discuss the outline with a tutor.
As a newcomer to the United States, have you ever had a difficult time understanding normal spoken English on TV, at work, or in school? If you have, you are not alone. Many beginning students of English have a difficult time learning to listen in English. Listening can actually be one of the more difficult language skills to master, but there are a number of strategies that can help you comprehend spoken English better. These strategies could be broken down into pre-, while-, and post-listening strategies.

The process of preparing yourself to listen to a TV program or classroom lecture is sometimes just as important as the actual practice of listening. If you know that a lecture or TV program is going to be on a particular subject, you can practice the strategy of predicting. Predicting is when you try to guess what you will hear before you actually hear it. If you think about a subject before you listen and predict what is going to be said, you will understand more of the lecture or TV program as you listen. Try asking yourself these questions before listening: What is the topic? What do I already know about the topic? What do I need to know before I listen? What can I predict will be said?

An excellent while-listening strategy is the practice of making guesses about what you hear. Oftentimes, people do not need to understand or hear every word of a lecture, conversation, or TV show to understand the main idea of what is being said. Some ways of making good guesses in listening is to first pay attention to the speakers gestures and facial expressions. These things can often communicate more than the words people say. To practice this strategy, try listening to a video without sound. Pay careful attention to the speakers gestures and facial expressions. As you watch, try guessing what the speakers are saying. When you are finished watching, rewind the tape to see if your guesses are correct. You will probably be surprised at how much you were able to understand just by guessing!

An important post-listening strategy that will help you become a better listener is evaluating. You need to check to see if you what you understood from the TV program, lecture, or conversation is correct. To do this, you can ask a classmate or co-worker to summarize what you just heard. By doing this, you will be able to determine whether or not you are making progress in your listening skills or if you need to adjust your goals and expectations.

Learning to comprehend normal spoken English can sometimes be a difficult and frustrating experience for many beginning English language learners. However, the strategies of predicting, guessing, and evaluating can help lessen some of the frustration. Try these strategies today and see if you notice an improvement in your listening skills.

Introduction

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V. Conclusion