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TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD COMPOSITION

1st STEP - Analysis of the title


The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :
Subject

Focus

Comment

2nd STEP - Brainstorming


Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and
superficial ideas.
3rd STEP - Organization
The organization changes according to the kind of essay you are going to write.
A. In the case of an essay by listing you can follow the scheme below :
Pre-topic sentence (background information)
Introductory sentence (In fact/For example X has
three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3 ) about how
the work will be organized

Developers :
define the ideas anticipated
in the introduction, present
Point 1 (First, Firstly )
examples and details to
support them
3rd, 4th, 5th
Point 2 (Then / Secondly )
paragraphs
Modulators :
Point 3 (The third argument / Thirdly ) *
sentences that consent a
passage from a point of view,
context or aspect to another

this phase Remember you are not


expressing your opinion in

Introducers : establish the 1st paragraph


topic focus and the point of
view
2nd paragraph

Terminators : paragraphs
Personal opinion and conclusion :
that conclude the ideas in a th
Now you can express your opinion and make
6 paragraph
logical and psychologically
reference to your personal experience *
satisfying way
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.
EXAMPLE
Develop the title given following the table below.
Qualities for Success in the 21st Century
1st STEP - Analysis of the title
The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :
Subject

Focus

Comment

in the 21st Century

Qualities for Success

Reasoning by list and examples,


expressing opinion

2nd STEP - Brainstorming


Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and
superficial ideas.
Subject

Focus

Personal qualities for success

success in the 21st Century

Comment
Reasoning by list and examples,
expressing opinion

Identification of qualities
Reasoning on flexibility (what
it is, why it is necessary)
Reasoning on honesty (what it
is, why it is necessary)
Reasoning on creativity (what
it is, why it is necessary)
Reasoning on perseverance
(what it is, why it is necessary)
Reasons for your choice,
results of reasoning

3rd STEP - Organization

what personal qualities 1st paragraph


will be needed for success
in the 21st century?
Possibly the four most 2nd paragraph
essential attributes are

Pre-topic sentence (background information)

Introductory sentence (In fact/For example X has


three main aspects / X should be 1, 2, 3 ) about how
the work will be organized (listing)

flexibility (what it is, why


it is necessary, example)
Point 1 (First, Firstly )
honesty (what it is, why it
is necessary, example)
3rd, 4th, 5th , Point 2 (Then / Secondly )
creativity (what it is, why 6th
it is necessary, example)
paragraphs
Point 3 (The third argument / Thirdly )
perseverance (what it is,
why it is necessary,
Point 4 (Finally) *
example)

this phase Remember you are not


expressing your opinion in

Personal opinion and conclusion :


as today, so in the future 7 paragraph Now you can express your opinion and make
reference to your personal experience *
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below .
th

B. In the case of an essay by arguments for and against you can follow the scheme below :

Developers :
define the ideas anticipated
in the introduction, present
examples and details to
support them
Modulators : sentences that
consent a passage from a
point of view, context or
aspect to another

3rd paragraph

Background information
How the work will be organized
Suitable verbs : going to, will, intend, look at, deal
with
Arguments for
Introductory sentence (There are three
points)
Point 1 (Firstly )
Point 2 (Secondly )
Point 3 (The third argument ) *

4th paragraph

Arguments against
Introductory sentence (Three points /
aspects can be )
Point 1 (First, )
Point 2 (Then / secondly )
Point 3 (Thirdly ) *

Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase

Introducers : establish the 1st paragraph


topic focus and the point of
view
2nd paragraph

Terminators : paragraphs 5th paragraph Personal opinion and conclusion :


that conclude the ideas in a
Now you can express your opinion and make
logical and psychologically
reference to your personal experience *
satisfying way
* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below.
EXAMPLE
Develop the title given following the table below.
Should smoking be allowed in public places?
1st STEP - Analysis of the title
The title must be analyzed identifying the three main points :
Subject
Focus
Smoking
Smoking in public places?

Comment
Answering, expressing opinion

2nd STEP - Brainstorming


Reflect on the focus identified by the title and take notes. Remember to cross out the banal and
superficial ideas.
Subject
Focus
Comment
Smoking
Smoking in public places?
Answering, expressing opinion
Present situation
Reasons for the present law
Reasons of the smokers
Reasons of the non-smokers
Effects on health
Psychological aspects
Social, economic and political
aspects
etc.
3rd STEP - Organization

smoking not illegal


passive
smoking
cancer? No proof

3rd paragraph
causes

How the work will be organized


Suitable verbs : going to, will, intend, look at, deal
with
Arguments for
Introductory sentence (There are three
points)
Point 1 (Firstly )
Point 2 (Secondly )
Point 3 (The third argument )

a dirty habit
4th paragraph
cause of fires
non-smokers need a smokefree environment

separate smokers
special tax on cigarettes

Background information

5th paragraph

Arguments against
Introductory sentence (As regards the
arguments against, three points/aspects can
be )
Point 1 (First, )
Point 2 (Then / secondly )
Point 3 (Thirdly )*

Remember you are not expressing your opinion in this phase

people are more aware of 1st paragraph


the dangers of smoking
today
smokers
are
separated
from non-smokers in most
countries
Im going to examine
2nd paragraph

Personal opinion and conclusion :


Now you can express your opinion and make

reference to your personal experience


* For the use of linkers, refer to the table below :
Table of linkers :
To give order
To
To
To
To

To
To
To

To

Firstly - at first - initially - and - then - immediately


afterwards - later on - some time - later - in conclusion
indicate consequence
As a result - as a consequence - consequently - thus - therefore
because of that
indicate continuation
And - moreover - besides - furthermore - in addition to
indicate simultaneity
Meanwhile - while - in the meantime
contrast or contradict Instead - yet - but - on the contrary - even if - even
though - however - on one hand / on the other hand - nevertheless
- in spite of
rephrase
In other words - that is to say - this means that - i.e.(Latin : id
est) - to put it another way
exemplify
That is - namely - e.g. (Latin : exempli gratia = for example) for example - for instance - an example of this is express opinion
In my opinion - I am of the opinion that - as regards me - as far as I
am concerned - as concerns me - to my way of thinking - to my mind
- I personally believe that
conclude
Last - finally - to conclude - summing up - to wind/wrap/sum up

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