Prime Time 5/6, Writing, Arbeitsheft

3 54 Text types 3.5 Essay g Prime Time 6, page 164; Prime Time 7, page 156 An essay discusses a (controversial) topic in a clear and logical way. The aim of this kind of text is to persuade someone that a certain opinion is right. Essays often have a typical structure. Purpose: •• to inform •• to analyse a topic •• to explain an issue •• to present your opinion •• to compare different opinions •• to convince the readers of your ideas Target group: •• the readers of the publication •• online readers •• people interested in certain topics (political, social, …) Layout and structure: •• Title: –– give your text a title which expresses the main idea •• Beginning: –– try to attract the attention of the readers –– give a brief lead-in but do not discuss the topic straight away –– include facts about the history/background of the problem if necessary –– give information about its relevance today –– include a quotation if you want –– add questions that you promise to answer and write a thesis statement •• Body of the essay: –– discuss each idea in a separate paragraph –– give examples to support your line of argument –– use vivid descriptions –– structure the text in a logical way –– try to be fair and objective –– link the paragraphs •• Ending: –– give a short summary –– draw a conclusion –– make a suggestion –– give an outlook on future developments Style: •• neutral •• formal •• no contractions, e.g. I’m … How to write an essay •• Underline/Highlight the main points of the prompt. –– What is the purpose of the text? –– Who are the people you are writing to? –– What are you supposed to write about? –– How long should the text be? •• Brainstorm the topic before you start. –– What is the focus of the issue? –– Who are the people at the centre of attention? –– What are the details concerning this issue? –– Are there any problems related to it? –– Why is this often a problem? –– Which facts must be reported? Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv