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Parts of an Essay

An essay is an extended piece of writing that a writer uses to communicate some information or a series of ideas to a particular reader. There are a lot of types of essay such as argumentative, descriptive, compare, contrast, cause and effect etc. However, all of them need to follow a structure in order to be fluid and logical. Usually, essays are divided in three parts the Introduction, the body and the conclusion.

Introduction

The introductory paragraph is the first contact the reader will have with your essay, so it is very important. This paragraph is used to introduce the reader to the topic, catch the reader attention and present the main points or ideas you will developed in the essay. Any introduction or introductory paragraph must have the following parts.

Hook: The hook is a sentence that serve to capture readers attention. It should be at the beginning of the paragraph and it should be written in an interesting and attractive way like a question or a statement.

Background: The background is information that is added in the paragraph to help the reader get familiar with the topic. It may not be developed deeply in the essay but it helps to make it more fluid and easier to read. 

Thesis statement: The thesis statement is the most important part in the introduction. Is a sentence that tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the essay. This sentence should include the topic you are going to talk about and the main points you are going to use to develop the next paragraphs of the essay. It should be the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

Main points: The main points are a part of the thesis statement and are the main ideas to develop each of the next paragraphs. It is recommended to write three to develop the body of the essay.

Example:

Body

The body of the essay in most of the cases consists in three paragraphs. These paragraphs are developed based on the main points of the thesis statement. Each body paragraph should contain the following parts.

Hook: Is sentence used to catch the readers attention. It should be the first sentence of the paragraph and written in a striking way.

Topic sentence: The topic sentence is the most important sentence of the paragraph. It must be the second sentence of the paragraph. This sentence tells the reader what the whole paragraph is about (should be relate it to the thesis statement and the main points).

Supporting sentences: The supporting sentences develop the main idea you presented in the topic sentence. Every paragraph should have at least two controlling ideas.

Details: Details are extra information added to make the paragraph more complete like examples, percentages or characteristics.

Concluding sentence: It is a sentence at the end of the paragraph that summarizes everything was said in the paragraph. It helps the reader to review the most important points or ideas of the paragraph.

Example:

Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph is the last paragraph of the essay. It is used to summarize everything was said in the previous paragraphs. All the ideas should be sum up in the same order the paragraphs were developed 

Example: 

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Punctuation Mark

Punctuation Mark

It is important to know that punctuation can make a huge difference in meaning of what you are writing. Punctuation is the practice of insert standardized signs in written to clarify the meaning. To have an effectively transmission of ideas and communicate with precision, people should use a proper punctuation. The most common example about missing a punctuation around the social media is: Let’s eat Grandma instead of Let’s eat, Grandma. 

Let’s talk about three punctuation marks in which people most commonly make mistakes at the time of writing.

•        Comma, is commonly overuse, misused and this may affect (,).

Functions

-To separates items, in a same list of three or more. Example: To prepare the best chocolate drink you need milk, dark chocolate powder, marshmallows and a pot.

-We can use it before some common conjunctions, like: yet, but, for, so, nor and so. You should never use it before the word because. Example: She isn’t ready, yet.

-When a dependent clause comes before the main clause. Example: If you make a mistake, you should restart.

-To separate phrases that describe the same person or thing mentioned before from the rest of the sentence. Example: Laura, the scientist, said that she studied for 20 years.

-Use it to separate elements in a same sentence. If the introductory element is longer than three words it is better to use a comma. Example: At the time Laura leave her work, she took a taxi. A time later she arrived home.

-Use it to separate adjectives. Example: His dog is huge, brave, strong and humble.

•          The Semicolon and Colon (; and :)

Semicolon Functions

-Use it to separates two independent clauses that are related. Example: He is the best cooker in the family; he has cooked several dishes.

-Use it to separate clauses of the adverbs therefore, however, already and more.

Example: You can go to the party; however, you should stay here before eleven o’clock.

-Use it to separates a large list of items. Example. I visited Puerto Viejo, Limón; Barra del Tortuguero, Limón; Isla Quiribrí, Limón; the Central Park and the Black Star Line restaurant.

Colon Functions

-        - Use it to introduce a list of items, but be careful to use it after a word that commonly introduces the list. Example: An essay may have the follow parts: thesis statement, a hook, main ideas, details, introduction, body paragraph and a conclusion.

-        - It may introduce an idea. Example: you can learn about dogs: the are docile.

     -   You can use it after a clause that introduce a quoted material. Example: Remember what Paulo Freire said in his book: “Looking at the past must only be a means of understanding more clearly what and who they are so that they can more wisely build the future" 

 

•          The apostrophe ( ’ )

Functions

-          - Use it to indicate possession. Example: The girl’s bag.

-         -  Use it when telling the time. Example: It is three o’clock.

-          - Use it to contract. Example: You’re = You are

The Problem Solution Essay

The Problem-Solution Essay

In this type of essay, you will explain a problem and then propose a solution for it. When writing you have to persuade the reader that the topic (problem) is important and it has a reasonable solution or solutions.

It parts

The topic: choose a topic based on think about a problem you have had. Have a strong opinion about the problem you choose and it is interesting for the reader. You should give a reasonable solution.

Thesis Statement: introduces the solution or proposes a solution. This summarizes the solution and usually comes after the description of the problem.

Introduction: this commonly describes the problem. It has to start with a hook that will tell us what the problem is, who causes the problem, who is affected by the problem and how. This gives to the reader the background information necessary to understand the problem. The last part of the introduction may contain the thesis statement.

Body Paragraph: one type:  it has to describes different ways to solve the problem. Second type: The first body paragraph gives details of the solution. One should give a solution about why the solution will work; the other one should describe the benefits of the solutions; the last, may compare the solution to a more common solution.

Conclusion: in this part the writer should mention the problem ones again. After that, summarizes the solution that were discussed in the body paragraph. And finally, it comes a good comment about the succeed of the solution that was gave.

Giving more details about it!

Cause-Efect Essay

1.       What is a Cause and Effect essay?

Is a type of expository essay. This explain why one thing happens and how it affects the other thing. This essay is to discuss the reasons why something occurs or to discuss the resluts o fan event, feeling or action.

2.       There are three types:

·         Effect-Focused Method: This focused on one or multiple effects that the occurrence of an event has had.

·         Cause-Focused Method: This focused on the different causes that lead to the event.

·         Causes and Effects-Focused Method: This focused on both the causes and the effects.

 

 

3.       Structure: You have to choose one before starting  the essay. There are two:

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.       Transition Words for Cause and Effect Essay: You can use different transitional words, example:

Cause: For, Because, Since, Due to.

Effect: So, But, For this reason, As a result, Consequently, Otherwise, Therefore, Thus.

5.       Why do we write these types of essays?

• To understand a situation.

• To solve a problem.

• To predict an outcome.

• To entertain.

• To persuade.

Verb Tenses

Simple Past:

Simple past tense is used to narrate an action of the past. The verb in the past tense ends with an -ed and hence, there are seven ways of marking the irregular verbs in the past tense. The most common being the change of the vowel as in “drink”-“drank”.

Structure:  verb+ed or irregular verbs.

Positive, negative and question forms:

Positive	Negative	Question
I arrived yesterday.	I did not arrive.	Did I arrive yesterday?
You arrived yesterday.	You didn’t arrive.	Did you arrive?
She arrived.	She didn’t arrive.	Did she arrive?

 

Simple past common mistakes:

Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
I was work in London.	I worked in London.	In posiive sentences, a helping verb such as “was” or “did” is not used.
He worked in London?	Did he work in London?	The helping verb “did” is used in past simple questions.
He didn’t wrote a letter.	He didn’t write a letter.	The main verb is used in the infinitive form in questions and negatives.

 

Different usages:

1.       Repeated actions;

Use the simple past to express the idea that an action started and finished a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speacker may not actually mention the specific time , but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples; I saw a movie yesterday.

                   Last year, I traveled to Japan.

 

2.       A series of completed actions;

We use the simple past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3 rd, and so on.

Examples; I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.

                    Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

 

3.       Duration in past;

The simple past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expessions such as: for two years, all day, all year, etc.

Examples; I lived in Brazil for two years.

                  They sat at the beach all day.

 

4.       Habits in the past;

The simple past cal also be used to described a habit which stopped in the past. It can have same meanings as “used to”. To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add epressions such as: always, never, when I was a child, etc.

Examples; They never went to school, they always skipped class.    

                    I studied French when I was a child.   

5.       Important When-clauses happen first;

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word “when” , these clauses are called when-clauses, and they are very important.

Examples; When i paid her one dollar, she answeres my question.

                    She answered my question when i paid her one dollar.

When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the simple past.

Modal verbs: modal verb behave very strangely in the simple past.

·         I must call my wife now.

·         I had to call my wife yesterday.

Past Perfect

This tense refers to a non-continuous action that was already completed in the past. Such sentences are formed by using the siple past formo f the auxiliary verb “to have”, followed by the past participle form of the verb.

 

Structure; had+past participle.

Positive, negative and question forms.

Positive	Negative	Question
I had seem him.	I had not seen him.	Had I seen him?
They had eaten it.	They hadn’t eaten it.	Had they eaten it?
He’d gone.	He hadn´t gone.	Had he gone?

 

Common mistakes

Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
I didn't been to London.	I hadn't been to London.	The helping verb had (negative - hadn't) is used in the past perfect.
When I saw him, I noticed that he had a haircut.	When I saw him I noticed that he had had a haircut.	The action (haircut) which happened before another past action must be put into the past perfect to make the time order clear to the listener.
He told me has been to London.	He told me he had been to London.	His original words were: ''I have been to London.'' However, in reported speech we move the tense back - the present perfect ( have been) becomes past perfect (had

 

1.       Different Usages:

Completed Action Before Something in the Past;

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples: I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

                    I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.

 

2.       Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs);

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in the past and continued up until another action in the past.

Examples: We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.

                    By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

Although the above use of Past Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect; Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary. Example: She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

 

3.       Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs;

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Present Perfect.

Examples: Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct

     Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

 

4.       MOREOVER;

If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are correct.

Examples:  She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996.

 

5.       HOWEVER;

If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not optional. Compare the examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past cannot be used.

Examples:  She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct

                     She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct