Essay The main body and paragraph writing

1、Essay: The main body and paragraph writing1Essay Writing: the main bodyIn this class, we will learn how to write the main body of an essay. This is arguably the most important part of the essay, since it is the part that contains all of your main ideas and reasons for supporting them. At high school

2、 level, the main body of an essay will consist of between 3-4 paragraphs, each including several ideas. 2Paragraph WritingAn effective paragraph will contain the following: 1.A linking word (a word or short phrase that signposts to the reader that what is now about to be written is linked to what ha

3、s been written in the previous paragraph; 2.An opening statement that informs the reader of what the paragraph will be about (known as a “topic sentence”); 3.Between 2-3 controlling ideas (often, these are opinions/ points of view)4.It must be demonstrated why each controlling idea has been mentione

4、d (why you think that this idea is important) 3Paragraph WritingWe will look at a very basic first paragraph. But first, lets remind ourselves of the introduction that was written to the question: Is the one-child policy a good or a bad thing?Introduction:Some people think that the one-child policy

5、is a good thing, since it has helped to control population growth. However, there are others who believe that this is bad for the country, causing much anger towards the government. In this essay, I will examine both sides of the argument.According to your thesis statement, the reader is expecting y

6、ou to mention something about “population growth” and “anger towards the government.”4Paragraph WritingThis is one basic way that you could continue the essay: “On the one hand, the one-child policy has successfully slowed down the pace of Chinas expanding population, relieving the pressure that wou

7、ld have been placed on hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and so on.”This paragraph also follows a formula: Linking Word + topic sentence + controlling idea + why important 5Paragraph Writing“On the one hand (Linking Word), the one-child policy (topic sentence) has successfully slowed down the pace

8、 of Chinas expanding population (controlling idea), relieving the pressure that would have been placed on hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and so on (why important).”6Paragraph WritingYour turn to practiceIn the last class, you practiced an introduction to the following question: Do you think tha

9、t the education system in China needs to be reformed?Now, write the first paragraph to this question. Follow this formula: Linking Word + topic sentence + controlling idea + why important7More Complex ParagraphThis is an example of a paragraph that expands the previous example: “On the one hand, the

10、 one-child policy has successfully slowed down the pace of Chinas expanding population, relieving the pressure that would have been placed on hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and so on. Additionally, this policy has helped to improve living standards of Chinese citizens by freeing up resources, l

11、eading to a more harmonious society.”8More Complex Paragraph“Additionally (Linking Word), this policy (Topic Sentence) has helped to improve the living standards of Chinese citizens by freeing up resources (Controlling Idea), leading to a more harmonious society (Why Important)”9More Complex Paragra

12、phLets look at the entire paragraph:“On the one hand (Linking Word 1), the one-child policy (Topic Sentence) has successfully slowed down the pace of Chinas expanding population (Controlling Idea 1) , relieving the pressure that would have been placed on hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and so on

13、 (Why Important 1). Additionally, (Linking Word 2) this policy (Topic Sentence same as before) has helped to improve living standards of Chinese citizens by freeing up resources (Controlling Idea 2), leading to a more harmonious society. (Why Important)”10More Complex ParagraphYour turn to practiceR

14、e-write the first paragraph of your essay. This time, use the following formula to make a complex paragraph: Linking Word + Topic Sentence + Controlling Idea + Why Important + Linking Word 2 + Topic Sentence + Controlling Idea 2 + Why ImportantNote: You can change the second topic sentence if you fe

15、el that it is time for your essay to move on to something else.11Writing ParagraphsIt is up to you, as the writer, to decide what information to include in each paragraph (to determine its structure). For example, if youre writing an essay on whether you think the one-child policy is good or bad, you could decide to: Write two paragraphs on why it is good; two on why it is bad; Or, if you think that it is ba