SHORT ESSAY WRITING
For LAEN 105 ENGLISH LEVEL 3
and LAEN 124 UPPER INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH
PLANNING AN ESSAY
In this class, two prewriting techniques are introduced: listing and clustering.
Listing
Listing is a technique in which you write the topic at the top of a piece of paper and quickly make a list
of words or phrases that come into your mind. Keep on writing until the flow of ideas stops.
1
Clustering Clustering involves organizing ideas in a visual and hierarchical manner around a central
topic or concept. It emphasizes the connections between ideas, showing how they relate to one another in a
hierarchical structure. Here is an example of clustering for the topic “Good Flight Attendants.”
First, write the topic in the circle in the middle of the page. Then think of ideas related to the topic, write
words or phrases of your ideas in circles around that topic, and connect with lines. Don’t worry if they are good
or not.
2
Next, add more ideas to each initial idea by writing them in more circles, and connecting them with
lines. From these clusters, you can begin to see which ideas you can use and which ones to delete. Choose the
ones that you have the most ideas, which means you can explain them in your writing.
Task 1: In your group, choose a topic given by the teacher. On a piece of paper, make a cluster or a list to form
some ideas. Let the teacher see it for comments.
3
FROM PARAGRAPH TO ES SAY
4
MODEL ESSAY
The Right to Die
The legalization of euthanasia is a challenging issue facing society. Euthanasia is the painless act of causing
death to end suffering. It remains prohibited in most US states, even for patients in comas or with terminal
illnesses. However, I believe euthanasia should be legalized for two crucial reasons.
Firstly, euthanasia should be legal because some patients with no chance of recovery prefer not to be kept alive
on life support machines. Terri Schiavo’s case is a good example. Despite expressing her wishes not to be kept
alive by machines, she was in a coma for fifteen years, and her life was sustained by a feeding tube. Her
husband’s winning in court eventually helped remove it to allow her to die as she had wished. Clearly, when
recovery is impossible, society should respect a person's desire to die.
Another reason to support euthanasia is that the patient’s family’s suffering should not be ignored. Caring for a
terminally ill family member is exhausting. For example, my cousin got into a motorcycle accident, and he was
on life support for years. His parents had to take turns working for income and caring for their half-dead son.
They became exhausted physically and emotionally. My cousin finally passed away after eight years. My aunt
said that if he had passed away earlier, it might have been better, considering the immense strain his parents
endured for so long.
In conclusion, patients who are either terminally ill or who are in irreversible coma may wish to die. The
burden on their families is also too great. Therefore, euthanasia is a kind method for this complex issue, and it
should be legalized.
(274 words)
Practice 1 Read the model essay above. Answer these questions.
1. In the introduction, which sentence expresses the writer's opinion about the right to die? How many
body paragraphs can the reader expect?
2. How many body paragraphs are there? Underline the topic sentences in each body paragraph.
3. Can you find transition signals in this essay? What are they?
5
Practice 2 Complete the labels of each part of the model essay.
1.
2.
3.
4.
THE INTRODUCTORY PAR AGRAPH
6
Practice 3 In the following introductory paragraphs, the sentences are in scrambled order. Rewrite them in the
correct order. Begin with the most general statement. Then add a sentence in the correct order from the next
most general to the least general. the last one is the thesis statement.
3 /15/2//1
บ อน
:#1/2
อเ
(ห ้ยวห
ัยเ ด กคเม
การแ งแ
อ าวเดินช
3/ / 2
เ น ส
การลงท
การบาดเ
อควรร
Practice 4 In each pair, choose the better thesis statement.
1. A Cats are great animals.
-B In my opinion, cats are great animals, and here are a few of their unique qualities.
มก
2.* น,บ
A Communicable diseases like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline Leukemia Virus, and Feline
Calicivirus can be very dangerous to your cats.
B Beware of communicable diseases that may be found in stray cats and may affect your indoor cats if
·you bring them into your home.
3. A I definitely disagree with buying pets because of how cruel the pet breeding industry is. บเ
&
B Have you ever wondered why some animal welfare organizations usually encourage people to adopt
and not shop? -
7
ซั
จ๊
ภู
ข้
รั
กิ
ป็
ย่
มิ
ลี
บ่
อิ
ลี
จื๊
ซ้
คุ้
จ็
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Reread the model essay on page 1. The topic sentence of each body paragraph introduces one reason. The
supporting sentences following each topic sentence give more information about each reason.
Thesis statement: I believe euthanasia should be legalized for two crucial reasons.
Topic sentences: A. Firstly, euthanasia should be legal because some patients with no chance
of recovery prefer not to be kept alive on life support machines.
B. Another reason to support euthanasia is that the patient’s family’s
suffering should not be ignored.
Practice 5 For each thesis statement, write topic sentences for three supporting body paragraphs.
8
THE CONCLUDING PARAG RAPH
Practice 6 Reread the concluding paragraph of the model essay. Draw circles around the part that shows each
of the three purposes of a concluding paragraph. Then number each part according to its purpose.
& 2
In conclusion, patients who are either terminally ill or who are in irreversible coma
may wish to die. The burden on their families is also too great. Therefore,
euthanasia is a kind method for this complex issue, and it should be legalized.
3
Practice 7 Read the introductory paragraph and the topic sentences of the body paragraphs. Choose the best
concluding paragraph.
Outline 1
%
I &
9
Outline 2
ประถม
10
ESSAY OUTLINING
Be noted that an outline can be shorter or longer than the example above depending on how long you
want your essay to be. You may have only one main supporting point for each body paragraph, or you may have
two or three.
11
Practice 8 Complete the following outline for the model essay on page 1. This is a short essay, so the outline is
short. You can see that there is only one supporting point for each body paragraph.
Outline
The Right to Die
I. Introduction
Thesis statement: I believe euthanasia should be legalized for two crucial reasons.
II. Body
A. Topic sentence: Firstly, euthanasia should be legal because some patients with no chance of
recovery prefer not to be kept alive on life support machines.
1. Terri Schiavo’s case
a. She wished not to be kept alive, but she was.
b. husband won in court; she was euthanized
B. Topic sentence: …………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………..…………………………..…………………………..………………………
1. …………………………………………………………………
a. ……………………………………………………………
b. ……………………………………………………………
III. Conclusion
In conclusion, patients who are either terminally ill or who are in irreversible coma may wish to die.
The burden on their families is also too great. Therefore, euthanasia is a kind method for this
complex issue, and it should be legalized.
Task 2: In your group, use the list or the cluster made in the prewriting step to make an outline on a separate
piece of paper. Follow the format above. Take time to do it. Submit it to the teacher.
Task 3: After your teacher has given you comments on your outline, and if improvements have been made,
write your essay and submit it to the teacher.
12
TRANSITION ING
Linking paragraphs and ideas with transitions helps your readers see how they are related. Transition signals
may be words, phrases, or clauses. Here is a table showing various transition signals that can be used in your
essay. Look up in a dictionary for examples of how to use them.
13
CORRECTION SYMBOLS THAT ARE USED IN CHECKING WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
ผล
<-
Part of speech
14
ผิ
ลื
15
คเ
References
Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2007). Introduction to academic writing. Longman. Pearson Education.
Oshima, A., Hogue, A., & Curtis, J. (2014). Longman academic writing series 3: Paragraphs to essays. Pearson
Education.
16
ำ
ชื
