ESL Study Guide

Friday, September 21, 2007

Essay Analysis

Topic: Read the question below and type your response in the box provided.
It has recently been announced that a large shopping center may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Essay: Student Submission

I am very happy when i know this new. i almost agree this plan. because i have many reasons. First i like shopping very much. i always waste of times to go shopping because they are so far form my house. i often go shopping every weekend. Second gas are rising now. if i go long way, i will waste of a lot of gas. Third i will pay for parking. in short building a large shopping center in my neighborhood almost correct. i will save a lot of things.


Analysis:

While a weak essay, this essay shows some of the basic components needed for a toefl essay. The biggest flaw with this essay is its lack of organization and short length. A toefl essay generally consists of five paragraphs and should be approximately 300 words long. The introduction should get the readers attention with a hook, state an opinion with a thesis statement, and then introduce the supporting reasons. Body paragraphs are used to expand on the supporting reasons. Topic sentences are used to introduce the supporting reason. Each paragraph should deal with one supporting reason and ONLY that idea. Writers may further develop body paragraphs with examples, though this is not mandatory. The conclusion allows writers to re-inforce their argument by restating the thesis statement and reasons. Writers may also emphasize final points, though it is important to not introduce any new information.

Introduction
- Hook
- Thesis
- Introduce reasons

Body Paragraph 1
- Topic sentence
- supporting details
- example

Body Paragraph 2
- Topic sentence
- supporting details
- example

Body Paragraph 3
- Topic sentence
- supporting details
- example

Conclusion
- Restate thesis
- Restate reasons

Good luck with your studies,

ESL Study Guide

Labels: , , , ,