A. T. M. Monawer IIUM, Gombak Kuala Lumpur

1. EPT ESSAY WRITING 2 Prepared By A. T. M. Monawer IIUM, Gombak Kuala Lumpur

2. Note • This presentation shows only the structure of an essay based on opinion. In other words, it will guide you how to write a persuasive essay based on your own opinion, not based on any argumentation/ cause and effect/ comparison and contrast. • Most of the time you will see the question in a persuasive pattern. You may also get the question in an argumentative pattern. In this case, you should choose only one opinion and ignore the other one. Focus only on your chosen opinion in your whole essay. Remember, while you chose one opinion you are not concerned about another opinion in your essay. So forget the second opinion.

3. Structure of the Whole Essay

4. Structure of Introduction

5. Funnel Introduction General Statement Thesis Statement Turning from general to specific statement like a funnel wide at the top becomes narrow at the bottom.

6. General Statement and Thesis Statement

7. General Statement Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching TV has become a regular activity for most families. Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are many excellent programs for children, it may be a bad influence on them.

8. Structure of Thesis Statement

9. Thesis Statement Opinion Topic I strongly believe that television is harmful for children because it shapes their behavior negatively and affects their study badly. Main idea 1 Main idea 2

10. Another Thesis Statement Terminally patients should be allowed to die for two main reasons. or Terminally patients should be allowed to die because the patients have no chance to recovery and medical costs are high.

11. Complete Introduction Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching TV has become a regular activity for most families. Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are many excellent programs for children, it may be a bad influence on them. I strongly believe that television is harmful for children because General Statement it shapes their behavior negatively and affects their study badly. Thesis statement

12. Structure of Body Para A

13. Topic Sentence First of all, television shapes children’s behavior in an adverse way.

14. Supporting Details: What?

15. Supporting Details: How?

16. Supporting Detail 1 For example, there are many police stories on television. People are killed with guns, Knives and even cars. Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time. Therefore they can become frightened.

17. Supporting Detail 2 In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that violence is a normal part of life because they see and hurt themselves or their playmates. That is why watching TV is not good for kids.

18. Complete Body Para A First of all, television shapes children’s behavior in an adverse way. For example, there are many police stories on television. People are killed with guns, Knives and even cars. Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time. Therefore they can become frightened. In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that violence is a normal part of life because they see and hurt themselves or their playmates. That is why watching TV is not good for kids.

19. Structure of Body Para B

20. Topic Sentence

21. Topic Sentence Second, television affects children’s study in a harmful way.

22. Supporting Detail 1 For instance, if teenagers watch television too many hours each day, they do not practice the skills they need to learn how to read. Thus their reading ability can be damaged.

23. Supporting Detail 2 Moreover, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day. Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school.

24. Complete Body Para B Second, television affects children’s study in a harmful way. For instance, if teenagers watch television too many hours each day, they do not practice the skills they need to learn how to read. Thus their reading ability can be damaged. Moreover, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day. Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school.

25. Structure of Conclusion

26. Concluding Sentence

27. Concluding Sentence In conclusion, if children watch too much television or watch the immoral programs, their personalities can be harmed as well as their progress in school can be affected. Hence, television is not good for them.

28. Final Comment Parents should know what programs their children are watching and turn off the TV so that their adolescents will study.

29. Complete Conclusion In conclusion, if children watch too much television or watch the immoral programs, their personalities can be harmed as well as their progress in school can be affected. Hence, television is not good for them. Parents should know what programs their children are watching and turn off the TV so that their adolescents will study.

30. Structure of the Whole Essay

31. Whole Essay Question: Children in our culture grow up watching television. There many excellent programs on television. However, some people think watching television is harmful for children. What is your opinion? Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching TV has become a regular activity for most families. Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are many excellent programs for children, it may be a bad influence on them. I strongly believe that television is harmful for children because it shapes their behavior negatively and affects their study badly. First of all, television shapes children’s behavior in an adverse way. For example, there are many police stories on television. People are killed with guns, Knives and even cars. Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time. Therefore they can become frightened. In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that violence is a normal part of life because they see and hurt themselves or their playmates. That is why watching TV is not good for kids. Second, television affects children’s study in a harmful way. For instance, if teenagers watch television too many hours each day, they do not practice the skills they need to learn how to read. Thus their reading ability can be damaged. Moreover, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day. Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school. In conclusion, if children watch too much television or watch the immoral programs, their personalities can be harmed as well as their progress in school can be affected. Hence, television is not good for them. Parents should know what programs their children are watching and turn off the TV so that their adolescents will study.

33. Organizing of the Essay

34. Transition Signals

35. Unity and Coherence

36. Some Extra Clues • Do brainstorm and make an outline before you begin to write. • Focus on your thesis statement and topic sentences to be more clear. • Edit your writing after you finished writing. • Check spelling, word missing, and grammatical errors. • Very your vocabulary, and do not try to use the same word. • Very your sentence structure, and try to write in different patterns. • Use transition signals logically. • Use punctuation correctly (. , ; : ‘’ “” ? !).

37. Transition Signals

38. Thank You