Elements of Essay-Writing I:

Structure
Introduction
Thesis Statement
 At the end of this session, students should be able to:

Apply citation and documentation principles associated with

the Chicago Manual of Style to their own writing
List the elements of a formal essays structure
Identify the main features of a formal essays introduction
Explain the role and function of a thesis statement in a
formal essay
Outline the attributes of a thesis statement
Orally assess given thesis statements
Write thesis statements
Discuss pointers associated with thesis statements
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 Please note: The presentation on citation and
documentation that you just experienced will be
available on myeLearning on Friday of this week.

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 Definition
A formal essay is a coherent collection of paragraphs that all
relate to a central issue.

For example:
A model laboratory technician
Layers of skin
An effective teacher
Compare and contrast two named careers in the sciences
What are the causes of cancer?
Discuss the repercussions of adopting an incorrect agricultural
practice during the rainy season
Discuss the steps involved in managing a named natural resource
Explain what is meant by aquaculture conservation
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 General introduction

Thesis statement

Body
of
paragraphs

Conclusion
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 A single paragraph that orients the reader to the
topic of discussion by providing a broad view that
narrows to a specific thesis statement.
It leads the reader into the body of the essay
It is the first paragraph of a formal essay
It contains no announcement of intent
It does not flesh out the points of the essays body
It is composed of about 4-6 sentences
It acts as a bridge between the readers lack of
awareness of a topics exploration
and the actual discussion of that topic.
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Sexual harassment is a major concern which affects
the work force regionally and internationally.
Although many laws have been passed concerning
this issue, it is still very prominent in modern society.
If left unchecked, sexual harassment has the ability to
prevent the victim from earning a living and
performing his/her job effectively. Sexual harassment
within organizations can take many forms. Physical,
visual and verbal harassment are types of sexual
harassment that can exist within an organization.

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 When we think of an unhealthy diet, the first thing
that comes to mind is junk food. It does not mean
only junk food. The way one live their life, the things
that go into the body is important. But are not all the
factors of an unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet does
not mean unhealthy foods, but a diet that
comprises the lack of social and spiritual
upliftment.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE 9
FOUNDATION UNIT
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 10
FOUNDATION PROGRAMME
 The controlling idea of the entire essay

A one-sentence summary that presents the essay topic and the

areas of focus of the entire essay

Tells how you have interpreted the topic and the angle with
which you are approaching it. It takes a specific view of the
topic

Directs answer of question, that is, how it can be interpreted. It

therefore acts as a sign-post to the development of the essay

The main points for the entire essay may be found in the
thesis statement
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 The thesis statement appears in the introduction of
a formal essay

The one-sentence thesis statement should not be

more than 3 lines in length

The rest of the essay provides evidence that

supports the thesis statement

A clearly-written thesis often results in a solid and

structured formal essay
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 What function does a school principal fulfil?
Apart from guaranteeing the physical health and
safety of students, a school principal oversees the
physical plant, allocates classes to teachers and
ensures the curriculum is implemented.

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 How can we classify secondary schools in our country?
Secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago may be
classified according to gender as all-male, all-female
and co-educational institutions.

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 Compare and contrast two named leadership styles
Autocratic and democratic leadership styles are
similar in aim and structure but different in levels of
participation and empowerment.

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 Outline and discuss the major contributing
factors of retrenchment

Bankruptcy of businesses, high levels of

competition among firms and an inability to
achieve the goals of establishments are factors
that lead to retrenchment.

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 Discuss the chronological stages through which a
child develops intellectually
The stages in a childs intellectual development are
first the sensori-motor stage, followed by the
concrete operational stage, the pre-operational
stage and, finally, the formal operational stage.

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Updated by Jannine T. Horsford
 What is meant by the term gender discrimination?
Gender discrimination is underpinned by various
attributes, has several causes and effects, and may
be compared with age discrimination.

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 Is it a clear, one-sentence statement that
summarizes what you want to say in your essay?
Is the topic of discussion included in some manner?
Does it tell rather than ask something?
Does it give you a sense of direction through the
inclusion of at least three substantial points?
Can it generate a full essay?
Does it reflect the vocabulary of an expository
tool? (more to come on this as the course progresses)
Would the reader be more informed by its
contents?

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 Ensure that your thesis contains the Topic of discussion, that
is, the essay topic in a clear manner. It may appear anywhere
within the thesis statement.

Use appropriate Language (vocabulary) of the particular

expository tool. (More on this as we proceed in the course).

Incorporate three or four main Points to be developed in the

body of the essay

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 An effective thesis statement must also possess
parallelism. Parallelism relates to the word class of the
points.
Consider the following faulty thesis statement:

A crime-fighting plan entails increased police

officers, educate the public, passing harsher laws
and to make penalties stiffer.

Lets identify the elements that lack parallelism

Now, how do we create
June 17, 2017
parallelism?
FOUN 1105 - Tyrone Ali 21
 1. Causes of conflict:
In the family, conflicts are caused by drug abuse,
divorce and choosing a vacation destination.

2. Ways to utilize the Internet:

The internet! Everything is becoming revolutionized
so why not paying bills?

3. Labour unions:
Although labour unions have many similarities, there
are many differences between them.
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 Write a thesis statement for a formal essay based
on one of the following topics:

1. The model student

2. The causes of global warming

3. Caribbean cuisine

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 Is it a clear, one-sentence statement that
summarizes what you want to say in your essay?
Is the topic of discussion included?
Does it tell rather than ask something?
Does it give you a sense of direction through the
inclusion of at least three substantial points?
Can it generate a full essay?
Would the reader be more informed by its contents?

June 17, 2017 FOUN 1105 - Tyrone Ali 24

 The thesis is NOT the essays introduction:

The Internet poses many security risks for users worldwide.

Large corporations and individuals who conduct business via
the Internet and other public networks are confronted daily
with security issues. These involve unauthorized intrusion to
confidential information by computer hackers, malware
software and inadequate antivirus software programmes.

Karen Sanderson Cole: English for Academic Purposes (Units 1-9) DEC:
Barbados 2006:45
June 17, 2017 FOUN 1105 - Tyrone Ali 25
 The thesis is NOT a mission statement:

The CSME was formed to protect our small open economies of

the region against the threats of globalization; to allow free
trade of goods and services for the diversification around
agriculture; to provide a legal framework and for the unification
of the socio-culture of the region.

Karen Sanderson Cole: English for Academic Purposes (Units 1-9) DEC:Barbados
2006:45

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 The thesis is NOT simplistic:

There are many advantages and disadvantages to using the

Internet.

Karen Sanderson Cole: English for Academic Purposes (Units 1-9) DEC:
Barbados 2006

June 17, 2017 FOUN 1105 - Tyrone Ali 27

 The thesis is NOT vague:

The role of the financial planner is very important in ones life.

Karen Sanderson Cole: English for Academic Purposes (Units 1-9) DEC:
Barbados 2006

June 17, 2017 FOUN 1105 - Tyrone Ali 28

 The thesis is NOT an announcement:

This essay will highlight three important aspects of drug

addiction.

Karen Sanderson Cole: English for Academic Purposes (Units 1-9) DEC:
Barbados 2006

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 The thesis is NOT superficial or elementary:

The effects of long-term smoking are bad ones such as

making a person weak, sick and even poor.

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 The thesis is NOT a question:

What are the fundamental stages of an Islamic wedding?

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 This is the focus of the essay, the attitude expressed
towards the topic, the angle taken to answer the
question posed.

S single declarative sentence

P positioned at the end of the introductory paragraph
L language/vocabulary of expository tool
A announcement it is NOT
C concise & compact
E expectation by reader
D direction for writer
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 Citation & documentation in research

Elements of Essay-Writing I:
Structure
Introduction
Thesis Statement

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 Worksheet #5
Exercise in Research and Documentation
Overview of Introductions and Thesis
Statements

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 Home Assignment #2: Brainstorming
Literature Review Topics (Climate Change
and Ecosystems) for Credit Assignment 2.
This narrowed topic is due in next weeks
tutorial (June 20 June 22).

June 17, 2017 FOUN 1105 - Tyrone AliFOUN 1105 - Tyrone Ali 35
myeLearning
Chicago Manual of Style
The structure of a formal essay
Introduction
Thesis statements steps, rules and examples
Checklist for thesis statements

Self-Assessment (Grammar):
Complete Sentence Construction 3
Complete Concord 1 Assignment 3
Complete Punctuation Exercise
Complete Concord 2

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 Succinct Review of Essay Writing 1
Elements of Essay Writing 11:
Topic Sentences
Paragraphing
Conclusions

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