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Understand the distinction between reports and essays with a focus on the Alberta independence movement. Learn key characteristics, examples, and writing structures for each type of document.
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Reports vs. Essays LA: Essay Writing
Reports • Are presenting information, usually in descriptive, explanatory way. • Should not have a bias or opinion: a report should be neutral in tone.
Report Example • The Rocky Road to Independence: The Rise of the Independence Movement in Alberta in the Last Fifteen Years. • The rise of separatist parties in Alberta after 1993. • The signing of the Red Deer Manifesto in 2000. • Fear of a new NEP by Alberta’s politicians.
Essays • Are written as an argument. You are arguing a point of view or opinion. • Details and information are used to back up your argument. The focus is on the argument not the facts though. • The tone is not neutral.
Example • Time to Separate: Why Alberta Needs to Leave Canada • The Canadian gov’t is heavily biased towards eastern Canada through special deals. • Alberta pays more than its fair share to Canada and doesn’t get much back in return. • Albertans can better govern Alberta than people in Ottawa who have nothing in common with us.
The Introductory Paragraph • Start with a general statement describing your topic and get progressively more specific. • The second last sentence of your paragraph should be your thesis statement: your statement of argument. • The last line of your sentence should list out your three supporting points which will become your three body paragraphs.
Thesis • The thesis is the central argument of your essay: Everything in your essay should tie back to and support your thesis. • Albertans need to vote to separate from Canada for the good of the province and its people. • The Canadian gov’t is heavily biased towards eastern Canada through special deals. • Alberta pays more than its fair share to Canada and doesn’t get much back in return. • Albertans can better govern Alberta than people in Ottawa who have nothing in common with us.
Body Paragraphs • The topic sentence of each body paragraph represents a separate supporting point mentioned after the thesis sentence. • The rest of the paragraph contains facts, quotes and other details which reinforce and support the topic sentence. • At the end of a paragraph, a transition sentence is written which connects the two body paragraphs.
Concluding Paragraph • Usually started with the phrase In summary,… or In conclusion,… • The thesis statement is rewritten USING NEW WORDING. The three supporting points are mentioned again. • Finally, a general concluding statement relating your paragraph to the larger topic is written.