Arrangement: Understanding Parts of Essay BBS 1st Year Patterns for College Writing

 

Arrangement

Arrangement (https://youtu.be/FGU5Tkh-Rvg ): Arrangement is a process of setting essay writing based on pattern and layout. It helps to organize our ideas into a plan for the introduction, body and conclusion part. The arrangement is a roadmap for developing a draft, the next stage of the writing process.

Recognizing Pattern

Before starting to write the assignment, the pattern must be recognized that helps to organize the ideas. When the assignment must state a personal story, anecdote, or thoughts, the writing will be a narrative pattern, but descriptive if it requires the description of some place or items. The clues stated in the assignment can identify the writing pattern.

Understanding the Parts of the Essay

Understanding the Parts of the Essay  (https://youtu.be/HMn59OlzmcA ): No matter what pattern is followed in writing, it consists of three main parts i.e. an Introduction, a Body Part and a Conclusion. The Introduction (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msaynBwwxkA ): This part consists usually of one paragraph and rarely more than two, introduces the subject, creates interest in readers and often states has a thesis statement. Some strategies to engage readers’ interest and begin an essay are Background Information: This approach works well when the audience is already interested in the topic. Definition of a Relevant Term: In writing, our original definition of a relevant term can be introduced. This technique is especially useful in research writing. An Anecdote or Story: An essay can be begun with an anecdote or story that leads readers to the thesis statement. A Question: An essay can be begun by raising a relevant question. A Quotation: We can also begin writing with a quotation that arouses interest and encourages the audience. For example:

‘The rich are different,’ F. Scott Fitzgerald said more than seventy years ago. Apparently, they still are. As an examination of the tax code shows, the wealthy receive many more benefits than the middle class or the poor do. (accounting paper)

A Surprising Statement: We can also begin writing with a surprising statement that catches readers’ attention and encourages them to read. A Contradiction: We can begin writing with contrastive ideas that most people believe are true but gets readers’ attention by showing that it is inaccurate. A Fact or Statistic: An essay can be begun with a fact or statistic.

What Not to Do in an Introduction

Don’t apologize. Never use a phrase such as ‘In my opinion,…..’ or ‘I may not be an expert…….’ because it refers to you knowing nothing. Don’t begin with a dictionary definition. Avoid beginning an essay with a phrase like ‘According to Advanced Oxford Learners’ Dictionary,……  because it is very old style. Don’t announce what you intend to do. Don’t begin with phrases such as In this paper I will……, or ‘The purpose of this essay is to ….. rather use your introduction to create interest in your topic. Don’t wonder. The introduction should draw readers into the essay as soon as possible so avoid irrelevant comments that will distract readers.

The Body Paragraph

The Body Paragraph (https://youtu.be/I0SMvLu2D1Y ): This part develops the thesis and presents support that convinces readers. Each body paragraph should be Unified, Coherent and Well Developed.

The body paragraph should be unified. To unify the body paragraph, each sentence should be related to the main idea of the paragraph. The main idea of a paragraph is stated in a topic sentence. Like a thesis statement, a topic sentence acts as a guidepost, making it easy for readers to follow a discussion of a paragraph. Sometimes the main idea of a paragraph is not stated but implied by a sentence. Each sentence should develop the main idea of a paragraph. If sentences do not support the main idea, the body paragraph lacks unity. Topic sentence, placed at beginning of a paragraph, gets the reader’s attention immediately.

Body Paragraph should be coherent: A paragraph is coherent when sentences are smoothly and logically connected. Coherence in sentences can be strengthened in three ways: First, we can repeat the keywords to carry concepts from one sentence to another. Second, we can use pronouns to refer to key nouns in the previous sentence. Finally, we can use transitions, words or expressions that show chronological sequence, cause and effect. See an example of a (paragraph) in your text from George Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Elephant’ (p.113) that has repeated keywords, pronouns, and transitions to achieve coherence.

The body paragraph should be well developed: A paragraph is well developed if it contains support like examples, reasons, facts and details. These supports help readers to understand the main idea. Effective support should be relevant, specific, adequate, representative and documented. If a paragraph is not well developed, the readers get only partial information. Each body paragraph should follow a particular pattern of development. Each body paragraph should clearly support the thesis statement. No matter how many body paragraphs are there, each paragraph should introduce and develop an idea that supports thesis statement. Each paragraph’s topic sentence should express one of supporting points.  Let’s see an illustration that has thesis and support structure:

Introductory Paragraph

Thesis Statement: Despite the emphasis by journalists on objective reporting, there are three reasons why television news is anything but objective.

Body paragraph

Topic sentence: Television news is not objective because the people who gather and report the news are biased.

Body paragraph

Topic sentence: In addition, television news is not objective because networks face pressure from sponsors.

Body paragraph

Topic sentence: Finally, television news is not objective because networks focus on ratings rather than content.

Concluding paragraph

Restatement of Thesis: Even though television journalists claim to strive for objectivity, the truth is that this deal has been impossible to achieve.

The Conclusion

The conclusion part of the essay is very important, therefore, it always reinforces the thesis statement and purpose of the essay. It is rarely longer than a paragraph and it should not introduce the new ideas or points that are not discussed earlier in the essay. The conclusion will always restate the main idea of the essay or review the key points. Several strategies are used to write the conclusion part of an essay such as: Reviewing key points or restating the thesis, Stating the recommendation of a course of action, Concluding with a prediction and Ending with a relevant quotation.

What Not to Do in a Conclusion: We should not end by repeating the exact words of your thesis and listing your main points. We should not introduce new points or go off in new directions. We must not end with an unnecessary announcement and end by saying: ‘In conclusion, let me say…..

Constructing a Formal Outline

The formal outline of the essay is the guideline for how the writing is.  Informal outlines are preliminary lists that simply remind us which points to make. But formal outlines are detailed, multilevel constructions that indicate the exact order in which the key points and supporting details are presented. The outline of the essay is based on the nature of the assignment (short or long paper). One way of constructing a formal outline is to copy the main headings from an informal outline. Then, arrange ideas from brainstorming notes, or cluster diagrams giving appropriate headings.  We should make sure that each idea included in writing should support the thesis but ideas that don’t fit should be reworded or discarded and make sure that the thesis statement and supporting ideas are logically linked or related.

How to Construct a Formal Outline

We should write the thesis statement at the top of the page and group main headings under roman numbers such as i, ii, iii, and iv …putting them flush with the left-hand margin. We have to keep indenting each subheading under the first word of the heading above it. Use capital letters before major points and numbers before supporting details. We have to capitalize the first letter of the first word of each heading and try not to go beyond third-level headings. We construct either a topic outline with headings expressed as short phrases or single words like ‘Advantages and Disadvantages’ but never use complete sentences in the same outline. We express all headings at the same level in parallel terms (If roman numeral i is a noun, ii and iii should be a noun.). And we make sure each heading contains at least two subdivisions. We have to make sure the headings should not overlap.  See your textbook on page 63 for a sample of a Formal Outline.

Thesis Statement https://youtu.be/J5NLKGwVSRI:  As I look back at the cheating I witnessed, I wonder why I kept silent and what would have happened if I had acted.

A.   The incident (heading – 1)

a.      Test situation (heading 2)

b.     My observation (heading 2)

c.      My reactions (heading 2)

                                     i.      Anger (heading 3)

                                   ii.      Silence  (heading 3)

B.    Reasons for keeping silent (heading – 1)

a.      Other students’ attitudes (heading 2)

b.     My fears (heading 2)

C.    The current attitude towards cheating(heading – 1)

a.      Effects of cheating on education (heading 2)

b.     Effects of cheating on students  (heading 2)

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