ESSAY DEVELOPMENT

Adapted from:
Harris B Leonhard, Discoveries in Academic Writing, Thomson Heinle
Publishers, 2002
Smalley,Ruetten and Kozyrev, Refining Composition Skills Rhetoric and
Grammar, Heinle & Heinle Publishers, 2002
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Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
identify the parts of an essay in academic writing
manage and organize materials for academic writing
write an effective introduction, body and concluding paragraph and
essay
support opinions with factual details by using
quotations and statistics
reinforce factual statements with additional factual details

Overview of Essay Development

An essay has more than one paragraph and has three major parts:
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Introduction Hook, Thesis Statement, MAPS
Body Topic Sentence, Types Of Order in Body Paragraphs
Conclusion Complete conclusion, effective conclusion

Introduction
The introduction usually contains:
background information or hook
a thesis (which limits the topic and states a precise opinion)
a list of subtopics or MAP* points for the body paragraph
* (MAP = Message, Audience and Purpose)

INTRODUCTION
Hook
question hook
asking questions will cause
the reader to think about the
topic, limit to one question, too
may will confuse the reader
quotation hook
quoting an expert will give the
discussion credibility; cite
sources correctly
dramatic hook
describing a scene or telling a
story provides drama

funnel hook
stating general points as
background for your limited
subject presents a funnel
like progression from
general to specific
refutation hook
in this kind of hook,
summarize an opponents
point of view or opinion. In
the thesis however, state
your point of view.

INTRODUCTION
Thesis Statement

most important element of an essay

contains the writers limited subject, opinion or attitude and
possibly a MAP

An Effective Thesis Statement:

1.
2.
3.
4.

is a complete, grammatical statement.

is not too specific or general.
is on one limited subject
contains the writers precise opinion

INTRODUCTION
A Complete Thesis Statement

contains limited essay topic

is arguable
shows the method of the paper
show the audience of the paper
show the purpose of the paper
contains the MAP points for the paper (optional)

INTRODUCTION
MAP Message, Audience, Purpose
is the list of main points which you will discuss in the essay.
each MAP item will become a paragraph topic.
Example:
However, there are several problems, with forcing children to
comply. (thesis statement) Forcing children to comply can
cause a breakdown in communication between the children and
the parents, rebellion and failure in schools. (MAP)

a breakdown in communication between the children and the

parents (one paragraph)
Rebellion (one paragraph)
failure in schools (one paragraph)
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BODY
The body paragraphs contain:
topic sentences which follow the MAP points in the thesis
transition introducing each sub-topic
repetition of the essay topic and precise opinion from the thesis
relevant and generous convincing supporting details and
coherence
a closing remark showing the relevance of the support

BODY
TOPIC SENTENCES

Complete topic sentences include the following:

1.
2.

A transition signal or phrase eg first, second, finally.

A restatement of the essay topic. Use synonyms, different word
order and different word forms
Example: (Limited Essay Topic) Discuss three reasons you
chose your major.
One reason I chose engineering is _____________.
Another reason for my choice of major is ________.
Finally, I decided on engineering because _______.
3. Include a MAP point
Example: One reason I chose engineering is due to it
marketability.
4. Topic sentences recall the precise opinion from the thesis.
Example: Culture shock has three main stages: excitement,
frustration and humor. (the writer explains the three stages,
not two or four)
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BODY
TOPIC SENTENCES
5. Method of development should be clearly stated in the topic
sentences.
Method

Terms

Cause
Classificatio
n
Compare
Effect
Difference
Process

Reason
Category, Kind, Type
Similarity, Difference
Effect, Benefit, Influence
Difference
Way, stage, step, phase

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BODY
USE OF CONTENT WORDS TO
DEVELOP SENTENCES
6. Unless the essay topic is personal, use content words (not
pronouns) in the thesis statement, topic sentences, sub-topic
sentences and conclusion.
Example:
Thesis: Living In the Dorm Benefits Non-native speakers in Three
Ways
First, by living in the dorm non-native speakers (not they) can
make friends with native speakers (topic sentence)

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BODY
SUPPORTING DETAILS
Support topic sentences with appropriate supporting facts/opinions.
Ideas and opinions are supported with facts, statistics, quotations
and similar kinds of information.
These can be obtained from external sources such as books,
magazines, newspapers, websites, personal interviews, etc.

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BODY
SUPPORTING DETAILS
Facts are objective statements of truths.
E.g. At sea level, water boils at 100 degree celcius.
E.g. Women live longer than men.
E.g. Lung cancer among women is increasing.
Opinions are subjective statements based on a persons beliefs or
attitudes.
E.g. Men are better drivers than women.
E.g. Engineering students do not need to take a lot of English
courses.
E.g. Malaysians are only superficially friendly.
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BODY
SUPPORTING DETAILS
However, opinions must be supported with factual details so as to
convince the audience.
Sometimes, even statements that are considered facts need further
support.
Use reporting verbs when using information from external sources to
support opinions.
say, quote, state, assert, claim, etc
E.g.
Soft sensors or inferentials must be working properly. (As
quoted from one of the senior APC engineers: Otherwise
your life will be miserable talking from experience.) (p46)
Source: Oshima & Hogue, 2006

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BODY
SUPPORTING DETAILS
FACTS AND OPINION EXAMPLE

As the chart above shows, gold is now trading above its 200-day
moving average a line in the sand between a bear and a bull
market. However, the researcher do not believe in trading in and out
of gold. Gold, after all, is real wealth. When you sell, you are
compensated in dollars.
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BODY
ORDER OF BODY PARAGRAPHS
Types Of Order in Body Paragraphs
1.
2.
3.

Chronological Order: Process and Time

Order of Importance: Ranking
Order of Familiarity

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BODY
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER Process
Order
You begin with the first stage or phase and end with the last stage or phase
Example: (MAP item): Culture shock has three main stages: excitement,
frustration and humor.
Topic sentence 1: In the first stage, everything in the host culture is
exciting and new.
Topic sentence 2: In the frustration stage, the visitors start having
problems.
Topic sentence 3: After the frustration stage, the .

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BODY
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
Time Order
Begin with the first event and proceed logically in time until you get to the
most recent event i.e. from past to present.
Thesis: To fully appreciate the essence of Malaysia and her people, it is
necessary to look back to the fifteenth century or even earlier...
oTopic Sentence 1: In 1400s, the Portuguese arrived at the shores of
Malacca
oTopic Sentence 2: Then In the 1500s, the Dutch took over and conquered
the Portuguese
oTopic Sentence 3: Later in the 1700s the Dutch handed over Malacca to
the British
oTopic Sentence 4: Finally, in 1957, Malaya obtained her independence from
the British
oConcluding Paragraph: In conclusion,....

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BODY
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
Ranking
This involves ranking the MAP points based on the order of importance:
equal order, descending order and ascending order, order of familiarity
i. Equal order: No best shows that each MAP point is equal in value
Thesis: Living In the Dorm Benefits Non-native speakers in Three Ways
Topic Sentence1: First, by living in the dorm non-native speakers can
make friends with native speakers.
Topic Sentence 2: Second, non-native speakers can practice their
English in the dorm
Topic Sentence 3: Third, non-native speakers can learn about the
customs in the host country.

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BODY
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
Ranking
ii. Descending order: Best first
Begin with the most important (largest or strongest) and end with the
least important (smallest or weakest) point.
Usually to make the reader realize the gravity of an issue, placing the
most important point at the very last adds a dramatic effect.
Thesis: Life In Taiwan has been greatly influenced by US culture in the
foods, the leisure time activities and the holidays.
Topic Sentence1: The first and most important influence the US has
had on Taiwan
Topic Sentence 2: Second, ..
Topic Sentence 3: In addition to the foods and the hobbies,
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BODY
ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
Ranking
iii. Ascending order: Best last
Begin with the with the least important (smallest or weakest)
point to the most important (largest or strongest) point.
Thesis: Tornadoes are classified according to the severity of the

tornadic storm as defined on the Fujita WindDamage Scale: weak,

strong, violent.
Topic Sentence1: The weakest tornadoes classified as F0 and F1
cause light to moderate damage.
Topic Sentence 2: Next, in rank of severity are F2 and F3 (strong) which
cause significant to severe damage.
Topic Sentence 3: The most dangerous and frightening tornadoes are
the violent F4 and F5 tornadoes, or killer tornadoes, which cause
devastating to incredible damage.
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BODY
ORDER OF FAMILIARITY
Points are ordered according to how well known, familiar or
common they are.
It is to describe familiar ideas before you go to unfamiliar ones.
Thesis: Tornadoes are classified according to the severity of the
tornadic storm as defined on the Fujita WindDamage Scale: weak,
strong, violent.
Topic Sentence1: The most common tornadoes are the weak ones,
classified as F0 and F1 which cause light to moderate damage.
Topic Sentence 2: Next, in terms of frequency are F2 and F3 (strong)
tornadoes which cause significant to severe damage.
Topic Sentence 3: The least common yet most dangerous and
frightening tornadoes are the violent F4 and F5 tornadoes, or killer
tornadoes, which cause devastating to incredible damage.
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WRITING THE CONCLUSION

A complete concluding paragraph contains:
a paraphrase of the thesis
a summary of the main points
a closing remark (final comment)
Rules for effective conclusion:
follow the essay logically
do not bring up new MAP points
recognize all MAP points in the summary
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The End

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