SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR A CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY: I. INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND INFO: Background information. B. THESIS: State the main idea. C. PREVIEW: State your purpose. You may include the subject of the essay such as causes and/ or effects. II. MAIN BODY A. First main idea 1. TOPIC SENTENCE (TS): State the first main idea, either a cause or an effect. 2. GENERAL EXPLANATION (GE):Describe/explain the cause or effect. 3. SPECIFIC EXAMPLE (SE) Illustrate/give examples. 4. CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS). B. Second main idea –Follow the same procedure above. 1. TS 2. GE 3. SE 4. CS C. Third main idea 1. TS 2. GE 3. SE 4. CS III. CONCLUSION A. SUMMARY-Summarize the points presented above without necessarily repeating the words mentioned to avoid redundancy. B. Make some practical suggestions. |
Students' and Teachers' Resources-Designed & Compiled by Alan Basmayor
Friday, 6 May 2011
Process & Procedure Essay
by Alan Basmayor-2011
What is a process and procedure essay?
Process and procedures essays are essays that focus on the steps or sequence of events and activities in doing a specific task or explaining how something works.
A process and procedure essay can be DIRECTIONAL OR INFORMATIONAL.
It is directional in nature if it focuses on the process of doing a specific task
e.g. How to connect a printer to a computer.
e.g. How to create a website.
An essay can also be informational if it focuses on how something works.
e.g. How a computer works.
College student registration system
Planning for a Process & Procedure Essay
Start by identifying the general processes. A plan that illustrates the general processes helps in organizing the essay.
One general processes are identified, provide the necessary details of each.
Do your usual mapping then outlining.
Strictly follow proper outlining format provided by your teacher.
Outlining Guide
Using asterisks and dashes when writing your outline not only complicates your organization but it may also confuse you while on the process of writing the essay. Using the number-letter outline is highly recommended to organize things more clearly.
Planning the Essay
Suggested graphic organizers before you prepare your outline to help you organize your essay:
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
The following PLAN model can guide you in organizing your essay properly:
I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
B. THESIS STATEMENT: State what process you are going to explain.
II. MAIN BODY
A. STAGE 1
1. TOPIC SENTENCE (TS): State the first stage of the process.
2. GENERAL EXPLANATION(GE) –Explain the specific steps of the first stage.
4. CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS)
B. STAGE 2
1. TS-State the second stage of the process.
2. GE
3. SE
4. CS
C. STAGE 3- State the third stage of the process.
1. TS
2. GE
3. SE
4. CS
III. CONCLUSION
A. SUMMARY-Summarize the points presented above without necessarily repeating the words mentioned to avoid redundancy.
B. Make some practical suggestions.
What is a process and procedure essay?
Process and procedures essays are essays that focus on the steps or sequence of events and activities in doing a specific task or explaining how something works.
A process and procedure essay can be DIRECTIONAL OR INFORMATIONAL.
It is directional in nature if it focuses on the process of doing a specific task
e.g. How to connect a printer to a computer.
e.g. How to create a website.
An essay can also be informational if it focuses on how something works.
e.g. How a computer works.
College student registration system
Planning for a Process & Procedure Essay
Start by identifying the general processes. A plan that illustrates the general processes helps in organizing the essay.
One general processes are identified, provide the necessary details of each.
Do your usual mapping then outlining.
Strictly follow proper outlining format provided by your teacher.
Outlining Guide
Using asterisks and dashes when writing your outline not only complicates your organization but it may also confuse you while on the process of writing the essay. Using the number-letter outline is highly recommended to organize things more clearly.
Planning the Essay
Suggested graphic organizers before you prepare your outline to help you organize your essay:
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3
The following PLAN model can guide you in organizing your essay properly:
I. INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
B. THESIS STATEMENT: State what process you are going to explain.
II. MAIN BODY
A. STAGE 1
1. TOPIC SENTENCE (TS): State the first stage of the process.
2. GENERAL EXPLANATION(GE) –Explain the specific steps of the first stage.
4. CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS)
B. STAGE 2
1. TS-State the second stage of the process.
2. GE
3. SE
4. CS
C. STAGE 3- State the third stage of the process.
1. TS
2. GE
3. SE
4. CS
III. CONCLUSION
A. SUMMARY-Summarize the points presented above without necessarily repeating the words mentioned to avoid redundancy.
B. Make some practical suggestions.
Cause & Effect Essay
by Alan Basmayor-2011
What is a cause and effect essay?
Cause and effect essays are concerned with why things happen (causes) and what happens as a result (effects).
The aim of this essay is to explain the causes (reasons) or the effects (results) of an event or situation.
e.g. Causes of air pollution (multiple factors leading to air pollution).
e.g. Effects of watching too much TV (many effects of a situation).
Sometimes an event causes something to happen, and that situation leads to another event, and it causes another event to happen. This is called the causal chain or domino effect.
e.g. Use of deodorants will bring the end of the world.
There may be several causes or effects of a situation. However, in a student essay, it is advisable to keep the number of major points to 2 or 3, which form separate developmental paragraphs.
Planning for a Cause and Effect Essay
A simple and clear plan and outline can make you write a cause and effect essay more easily.
Begin the plan
Outlining Guide
Using asterisks and dashes when writing your outline not only complicates your organization but it may also confuse you while on the process of writing the essay. Using the number-letter outline is highly recommended to organize things more clearly.
Planning the Essay
Your essay can be planned using various methods depending on the given task or topic. The focus of your essay (either cause/s or effect/s) dictate the model of writing the essay. You may have a particular model of choice but if it is not suitable to the task at hand, then it will only cause problems when you start writing the essay.
The following models can guide you in organizing your essay properly:
1. One cause to one effect or general cause to general effect
2. One effect to one cause
3. One cause to many effects
4. Many effects to one cause
5. Many causes to many effects
6. Many effects to many causes
7. Chain of causes and effects
Here are some graphic organizers to illustrate the models above:
One cause to one effect or general cause to general effect
One effect to one cause
One cause to many effects
Division & Classification Essay
by Alan Basmayor
Division and classification essay simply means breaking a larger and more complex subject, topic or idea into smaller ones so the readers can understand the topic easily.
The division part of the essay looks at how one big topic or subject can be broken into several smaller parts.
Classification is taking the items and putting them into different categories.
The writer must decide how he/she wants to classify the items. What are the most important elements of the subject? How can these be classified?
Planning for a Division and Classification Essay
A simple and clear plan and outline can make you write a classification essay more easily.
Once your outline is made, the only thing left to do is to convert the ideas into sentences that make up your paragraphs. Before you know it, the essay is done.
Avoiding classification pitfalls – It is essential that before you begin breaking down your subject into categories, you should have a single organizing principle otherwise you will end up with confusing categories i.e. putting one thing in two categories or groups. A good organizing principle should be able to put a clear demarcation line between each categories.
Outlining Guide
Using asterisks and dashes when writing your outline not only complicates your organization but it may also confuse you while on the process of writing the essay. Using the number-letter outline is highly recommended to organize things more clearly.
Division and classification essay simply means breaking a larger and more complex subject, topic or idea into smaller ones so the readers can understand the topic easily.
The division part of the essay looks at how one big topic or subject can be broken into several smaller parts.
Classification is taking the items and putting them into different categories.
The writer must decide how he/she wants to classify the items. What are the most important elements of the subject? How can these be classified?
Planning for a Division and Classification Essay
A simple and clear plan and outline can make you write a classification essay more easily.
Once your outline is made, the only thing left to do is to convert the ideas into sentences that make up your paragraphs. Before you know it, the essay is done.
Avoiding classification pitfalls – It is essential that before you begin breaking down your subject into categories, you should have a single organizing principle otherwise you will end up with confusing categories i.e. putting one thing in two categories or groups. A good organizing principle should be able to put a clear demarcation line between each categories.
Outlining Guide
Using asterisks and dashes when writing your outline not only complicates your organization but it may also confuse you while on the process of writing the essay. Using the number-letter outline is highly recommended to organize things more clearly.
How would you start writing your introduction?
by Alan Basmayor, 2011
If you have problems how to start writing your essay introduction, then you are not alone. Students and professional writers alike usually find this part of the essay the most challenging.
Since an introduction is the part of the essay that attracts readers , it has to be interesting enough to make them go through the essay.
Here are some ways to write an interesting introduction:
Situational Introduction
To write a situational introduction, you need to describe briefly and concisely the context or what is happening currently in the society or the environment as far as the topic is concerned.
Story Introduction
A story introduction is one which begins with a narration of a short, interesting and relevant story as springboard in writing the essay.
Dialectical Introduction
In this type of introduction, the writer presents the affirmative side (thesis) of the issue, then the negative side(anti-thesis) and proceeds to drawing meaning out of the combination of both sides (synthesis). The idea that the writers develops is a combination or a synthesis of both sides.
Famous Quote Introduction
Using a famous quote is another interesting way of writing an introduction. See to it that you understand the prompt or question. Once you know understand the topic, choose a famous quotation the relates to the topic.
Past – Present Introduction
A past and present introduction is one where the writer describes an event in the past and compare it with the present. In using this introduction type, it is important that the writer relates the events to the topic of the essay.
Eclectic Introduction
An eclectic introduction is merely a combination or two or more introduction styles mentioned above. The writer may use a situation and a famous quote, or maybe dialectic and situational. Whatever the combinations are, the writers must see to it that the ideas are relevant and have direct bearing to the topic of the essay.
Now let’s analyze the following examples:
Situational Introduction
Education today has become an important tool for a person to build his future. Everyone aspires to finish a degree hoping to get the best paying job. Finishing higher education has many great effects on an individual.
Story Introduction
My father always told me to perform well in my studies and finish a degree. Once I do, he said ,it would be so easy for me to get a job anywhere. And guess what? He was right. There was never a moment after finishing college that I had difficulty getting a job. Finishing higher education has many great effects on an individual.
Dialectical Introduction
Education makes a person better. May people demonstrate their personal and professional growth by becoming great leaders in society after they finish their studies (thesis). However, there are other people who have become society’s worst menace after finishing their degree. The have become destructive and they choose to create things that cause problems instead of inspirations to people (anti-thesis). I believe education can cause both the negative and positive impacts on a person’s mind and behaviour(synthesis). Finishing education has many effects on an individual.
Famous Quote Introduction
“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource-JFK.” Education is the factory of great minds that make the world develop everyday and perhaps even to its highest potential. Finishing education has many great effects on an individual.
Past – Present Introduction.
Fifty years ago, schools were very few in Oman. In fact, those who wanted to study had to walk or travel to very far places everyday to get to school. Others had to go to other countries to finish higher education. Nowadays, hundreds of schools and colleges are available everywhere in Oman. Everyone will almost find a school at his doorstep. This is due to the vision of a great man-His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the ruler of the Sultanate of Oman. There is no reason therefore why one can not finish education today. Finishing education has many great effects on an individual.
Eclectic Introduction
“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource-JFK.” Education is the factory of great minds that make the world develop everyday and perhaps even to its highest potential. Education makes a person better. Many people demonstrate their personal and professional growth by becoming great leaders in society after they finish their studies (thesis). However, there are other people who have become society’s worst menace after finishing their degree. The have destructive and they choose to create things that give problems instead of inspirations to people (anti-thesis). I believe education can cause both the negative and positive impacts on a person’s mind and behaviour(synthesis). Finishing education has many great effects on an individual.
If you have problems how to start writing your essay introduction, then you are not alone. Students and professional writers alike usually find this part of the essay the most challenging.
Since an introduction is the part of the essay that attracts readers , it has to be interesting enough to make them go through the essay.
Here are some ways to write an interesting introduction:
Situational Introduction
To write a situational introduction, you need to describe briefly and concisely the context or what is happening currently in the society or the environment as far as the topic is concerned.
Story Introduction
A story introduction is one which begins with a narration of a short, interesting and relevant story as springboard in writing the essay.
Dialectical Introduction
In this type of introduction, the writer presents the affirmative side (thesis) of the issue, then the negative side(anti-thesis) and proceeds to drawing meaning out of the combination of both sides (synthesis). The idea that the writers develops is a combination or a synthesis of both sides.
Famous Quote Introduction
Using a famous quote is another interesting way of writing an introduction. See to it that you understand the prompt or question. Once you know understand the topic, choose a famous quotation the relates to the topic.
Past – Present Introduction
A past and present introduction is one where the writer describes an event in the past and compare it with the present. In using this introduction type, it is important that the writer relates the events to the topic of the essay.
Eclectic Introduction
An eclectic introduction is merely a combination or two or more introduction styles mentioned above. The writer may use a situation and a famous quote, or maybe dialectic and situational. Whatever the combinations are, the writers must see to it that the ideas are relevant and have direct bearing to the topic of the essay.
Now let’s analyze the following examples:
Situational Introduction
Education today has become an important tool for a person to build his future. Everyone aspires to finish a degree hoping to get the best paying job. Finishing higher education has many great effects on an individual.
Story Introduction
My father always told me to perform well in my studies and finish a degree. Once I do, he said ,it would be so easy for me to get a job anywhere. And guess what? He was right. There was never a moment after finishing college that I had difficulty getting a job. Finishing higher education has many great effects on an individual.
Dialectical Introduction
Education makes a person better. May people demonstrate their personal and professional growth by becoming great leaders in society after they finish their studies (thesis). However, there are other people who have become society’s worst menace after finishing their degree. The have become destructive and they choose to create things that cause problems instead of inspirations to people (anti-thesis). I believe education can cause both the negative and positive impacts on a person’s mind and behaviour(synthesis). Finishing education has many effects on an individual.
Famous Quote Introduction
“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource-JFK.” Education is the factory of great minds that make the world develop everyday and perhaps even to its highest potential. Finishing education has many great effects on an individual.
Past – Present Introduction.
Fifty years ago, schools were very few in Oman. In fact, those who wanted to study had to walk or travel to very far places everyday to get to school. Others had to go to other countries to finish higher education. Nowadays, hundreds of schools and colleges are available everywhere in Oman. Everyone will almost find a school at his doorstep. This is due to the vision of a great man-His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the ruler of the Sultanate of Oman. There is no reason therefore why one can not finish education today. Finishing education has many great effects on an individual.
Eclectic Introduction
“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource-JFK.” Education is the factory of great minds that make the world develop everyday and perhaps even to its highest potential. Education makes a person better. Many people demonstrate their personal and professional growth by becoming great leaders in society after they finish their studies (thesis). However, there are other people who have become society’s worst menace after finishing their degree. The have destructive and they choose to create things that give problems instead of inspirations to people (anti-thesis). I believe education can cause both the negative and positive impacts on a person’s mind and behaviour(synthesis). Finishing education has many great effects on an individual.
Guide to Writing an Essay by A.Basmayor (2011)
An essay can have many purposes, but the basic structure is the same no matter what.
One may be writing an essay to describe a place, compare two situations, argue for a particular idea, explain categories of things and even discuss causes and effects.
No matter what the purpose of your essay is, you will be using the same basic parts.
________________________________________
The following steps will guide you through the essay writing process:
Choose a topic.
Brainstorm and prepare a plan of your ideas.
Write an interesting introduction
Write the body.
• Write the main points or the thesis statement.
• Write the sub-points as topic sentences in each paragraph.
• Elaborate on the sub-points and give examples.
Write the introduction, the body and the conclusion
Now it’s time to plan:
Brainstorming. Good planning requires brainstorming. After choosing your topic, look at it from different angles. It can help if you get a piece of paper and write down anything that comes to your mind while thinking about your topic.
Organizing your ideas through a map. The next step it so try to organize your ideas using a simple map. The simplier your map, the better. Think of a specific way to organize your ideas.
Preparing the outline. Once your map is prepared and probably checked by your teacher, you may start organizing your essay by preparing an outline.
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