UNIT 4

ESSAY ORGANIZATION

 

Previous units taught you how to plan, organize, and write paragraphs. In this unit, you will use your knowledge about paragraphs to learn how to write essays. As you will see, the structure of a paragraph is very similar to the structure of an essay. They are so similar, in fact, that you can almost think of an essay as an expanded paragraph.

 

1. THREE PARTS OF ESSAY

Study the fiagram and notice how the three parts of a paragraph correspond to the three parts of and essay.

 

essay
I.           INTRODUCTION   General discussion of topic Background Introduction of major issues Thesis statement
II.          BODY A.     TOPIC SENTENCE 1.     Supporting statement 2.     Supporting statement 3.     Supporting statemenT 4.     Summarize and link supporting statement back to Thesis B.     TOPIC SENTENCE 1.     Supporting statement 2.     Supporting statement 3.     Supporting statement 4.     Summarize and link supporting statement back to Thesis C.     TOPIC SENTENCE 1.     Supporting statement 2.     Supporting statement 3.     Supporting statement 4.     Summarize and link supporting statement back to Thesis
III.                 CONCLUSION ·       Repeat thesis/conclusion ·       Briefly Summarize supporting statements and evidence ·       General Discussion of Topic ·       Ending

 

 

An essay introduction stimulates the reader’s interest and tells what the essay is about. The last sentence of an introduction is the thesis statement. Like the topic sentence of a paragraph, a thesis statement names the specific topic of the essay. The body consists of one or more paragraphs. Each paragraph develops a subdivision of the topic. The conclusion, like the concluding sentence in a paragraph, is a summary or review of the main points discussed in the body.

An essay has unity and coherence, just as a paragraph does. Transition signals link the paragraphs into a cohesive whole.

As you read the model essay, study its organization. Notice the transition signals at the beginning of the three body paragraphs; they tell you which pattern of organization this essay uses.

 

Model

Essay Structure

 

Introduction       Thesis statement   Topic sentence 1           Body paragraph 1               Topic sentence 2               Body paragraph 2                   Topic sentence 3         Body paragraph 3                   Conclusion

Styles of Popular Music   Music is truly the one universal language. Although all cultures have music, each culture develops its own musical forms and styles. In particular, popular music varies from culture to culture and from generation to generation. In the past 100 years or so, there has been an explosion of popular music styles in the West. Three of the more successful styles are reggae, punk, and rap.   One successful style of popular music is reggae, which was born on the Caribbean island of Jamaica in the 1960s and spread throughout the world in the 1970s. Reggae developed from a kind of Afro-Caribbean music called mento, which was sung and played on guitars and drums. Some musicians changed mento into a music style called ska by adding a hesitation beat.’ A few years later, other musicians changed ska, and reggae was born. Reggae’s special sound comes from reversing the roles of the instruments: The guitar plays the rhythm, and the bass plays the melody. An important influence on reggae music was the Rastafarian cult.4 The Rastafarians added unusual sound mixes, extra-slow tempos, strange lyrics, and mystical-political themes. The best-known reggae musician was the late-‘ Bob Marley. Well-known groups are Toots & The Maytals, Burning Spear, and Steel Pulse. Reggae has influenced later styles of popular music, including punk and rap.   A second successful style of popular music is punk. Punk is a style of rock music that began in the mid-1970s as a reaction against previous forms of rock. Punks felt that rock music no longer represented the counterculture from which it had sprung and had, in fact, sold out to the mainstream culture. With their clothing and hairstyles, punks intended to shock society. The “punk look” included spike hairdos, theatrical makeup, ripped clothing, body piercings, and jewelry made from objects such as razor blades and safety pins. The onstage behavior of punks was aggressive and provocative. At concerts, fighting and other violent behavior by the fans were common occurrences. Punk music itself is simple (often just three chords), and its songs are short (rarely more than three minutes long). Its songs are anti-government, anti-authority, and anti-conformity. The first bands to popularize punk were the Sex Pistols and Clash in Great Britain and the Ramones in the United States. As with all music styles, punk has evolved into other styles. Groups such as the Dead Kennedys and Black Flag play hardcore punk, which is a faster and louder punk style. The band Fall Out Boy plays emo, a style in which the musicians become so emotional during a performance that they scream and cry. Pop punk, made popular by the group Green Day, is another new punk style.   A third successful style of popular music is rap, which is also called hip-hop. Rap is a type of dance music in which the singers – rappers – speak in rhythm and rhyme rather than sing. The art of rapping originated in Africa and probably traveled to the United States via Jamaica, where it was known as toasting. In the United States, rap first appeared in the mid-1970s in the discos of New York City’s black neighborhoods. Disco DJs10 teamed up with rappers to play songs for dancers at parties. At first, the role of the rapper was to keep the beat going with hand claps while the OJ changed records. Soon, rappers added lyrics, 12 slogans, 13 rhymes, and call-and-response exchanges with the audience, and rap was born. Early rap songs were mainly about dancing, partying, and the romantic adventures of the rappers, but politics became an important theme in rap in the late 1980s and 1990s. Most rappers are young black males, but there have been female rappers such as Queen Latifah and white rappers such as the Beastie Boys and Eminem.   To sum up, popular music changes constantly. New styles are born, grow, change, and produce offshoots,  which in turn grow, change, and produce offshoots. Some styles enjoy lasting popularity, but others disappear rather quickly. However, all contribute to the power and excitement of popular music in our time.

 

Questions on the Model

1. How many different successful styles of popular music are discussed in the model essay? What are they?
2. How many body paragraphs are there? What is the topic of each one? Underline the topic sentences.
3. Circle the transition words and phrases that introduce the body paragraphs.
4. What pattern of organization does the essay use: logical division of ideas, process (time) order, or comparison/contrast?
   1. What information is given in the supporting sentences about each style of popular music? Name at least five kinds of information (Example: how it started).
5. Let’s examine each part of the essay.

 

 

1. THE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

 

The introductory paragraph, or introduction, is the first paragraph of an essay. It has two functions: ( 1 ) It attracts the reader’s interest, and (2) it introduces the topic of the essay.

There are several kinds of introductory paragraphs. In this book, you will learn to write a kind known as a “funnel” introduction.

A funnel introduction has two parts: several general statements and one thesis statement. The general statements give the reader background information about the topic of the essay. They should lead your reader gradually from a very general idea of your topic to a very specific idea. The first general statement in a funnel introduction just introduces the topic. Like the lens of a camera moving in for a close-up picture, each sentence that follows becomes more and more focused on a specific topic. The thesis statement is normally the last sentence in an introductory paragraph. It has three purposes:

 

1 . It states the specific topic of the essay.

2 . It may list the subtopics of the main topic.

3. It may also mention the method of organization.

 

Reread the introductory paragraph of the model essay “Styles of Popular Music.” Notice how the sentences gradually move from the general topic of music to the specific topic, three successful styles of popular music.

• The first sentence attracts the reader’s interest with a short sentence; it also names the general topic (music).
• The second sentence says that each culture has its own kinds of music.
• The next two sentences narrow the general topic (music) to a more specific one (popular music) and mention that it has many styles.
• The final sentence, the thesis statement, specifically names the three styles to be discussed in the body paragraphs: reggae, punk, and rap.

 

 

This kind of introductory paragraph is called a funnel introduction because it resembles a funnel: wide at the top (beginning) and narrow at the bottom (end).

 

Music is truly the one universal language. Although all cultures

have music, each culture develops its own musical forms

and styles. In particular, popular music varies from

culture to culture and from generation to

generation. In the past 100 years or so,

there has been an explosion of

popular music styles in the

West. Three of the more

successful styles are

reggae, punk,

and rap.

 

 

EXERCISE 1

In the following introductory paragraphs, the sentences are in scrambled order. On a separate piece of paper, rewrite them in the correct order. Begin with the most general statement. Then add each sentence in correct order, from the next most general to the least general. Write the thesis statement last.

 

1. (1 ) Therefore, workaholics’ lifestyles can affect their families, social lives, and health. (2) Because they work so many hours, workaholics may not spend enough time in leisure activities. (3) Nowadays, many men and women work in law, accounting, real estate, and business. (4) These people are serious about becoming successful, so they work long hours during the week and even on weekends. (5) People who work long hours are called “workaholics.”

 

 

 

2. (1 ) Therefore, anyone who wants to drive must carry a driver’s license. (2) It is divided into four steps: studying the traffic laws, taking the written test, learning to drive, and taking the driving test. (3) Getting a driver’s license is a complicated process. (4) Driving a car is a necessity in today’s busy society, and it is also a special privilege.

 

3. (1) During this period, children separate themselves from their parents and become independent. (2) Teenagers express their separateness most vividly in their choice of clothes, hairstyles, music, and vocabulary. (3) The teenage years between childhood and adulthood are a period of growth and separation.

 

 

2. BODY PARAGRAPH

 

The body of an essay is made up of one or more paragraphs. Each body paragraph has a topic sentence and several supporting sentences. It may or may not have a concluding sentence. Each body paragraph supports the thesis statement.

Reread the three body paragraphs of the model essay. The topic sentence of each body paragraph introduces one style of popular music. The supporting sentences following each topic sentence give more information about each style.

 

Thesis statement:

Three of the more successful styles are reggae, punk, and rap.

Topic sentences:

1. One successful style of popular music is reggae, which was born on the Caribbean island of Jamaica in the 1 960s and spread throughout the world in the 1 970s.
2. A second successful style of popular music is punk.
3. A third successful style of popular music is rap, which is also called hip-hop.

 

 

EXERCISE 2

For each thesis statement, write topic sentences for three supporting body paragraphs. Follow the preceding example. Use an appropriate transition signal in each topic sentence. (Note: You may want to  use one of these topics for your own essay at the end of the chapter.)

 

1. Young people who live/don’t live at home have several advantages.
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________

 

2. My city/country has several interesting places to visit.
3. ____________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________

 

3. Three modern technological devices have changed the way we communicate.
4. ____________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________

 

 

4. There are several types of movies that I especially enjoy watching/ books that I enjoy reading/sports that I enjoy playing.
5. ____________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________

 

 

 

3. THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

 

The concluding paragraph is the last paragraph of an essay. It has three purposes:

1. It signals the end of the essay.
2. It reminds the reader of your main points.
3. It leaves the reader with your final thoughts on the topic.

 

Notice how the writer accomplishes these three purposes in the following concluding paragraph.

 

In short, Mr. Smith had several qualities of a great teacher. He was well informed about his subject, and his enthusiasm for it rubbed off on his students. Furthermore, his lectures were well organized, and he returned papers and tests promptly. His classes were always interesting, and he told funny stories to keep even the sleepiest student awake and engaged in learning. Mr. Smith taught more than just history; he also taught us to love learning.

 

• The transition phrase In short signals the end of the essay.
• It summarizes the qualities of Mr. Smith: he was well informed, enthusiastic, organized, and interesting.
• It gives a final comment: Mr. Smith inspired students to love learning.

 

The first part of the concluding paragraph summarizes the main points or repeats the thesis statement in different words. It may require one or more than one sentence.

In the second part, you may add a final comment. This is the place to express your opinion, make a judgment, or give a recommendation. However, do not add any new ideas in the concluding paragraph. Just comment on what you have already discussed.

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Study the following abbreviated essay outlines. Only the introductory paragraph and topic sentences for body paragraphs are given. Then circle the number of the most appropriate concluding paragraph.

 

1	Advertising   Unless you live on an uninhabited island in the middle of a big ocean, you cannot escape advertising. People in the modern world are continually exposed to ads and commercials on the radio, on television, on billboards, in their mailboxes, and on their computers. However, advertising is not a modern phenomenon. Advertising has been around for a long time, as a review of its history shows.         A      As early as 3000 B.c., merchants carved signs in wood, clay, and stone to put above their shops. B      In ancient Egypt, merchants hired people called criers to walk through the streets announcing the arrival of ships and their cargo. C      In medieval Europe, shop owners hired criers to direct customers to their shops. D      The invention of the printing press was the start of the advertising industry as we know it today.     Possible concluding paragraphs (1) As we have seen, advertising has been a part of merchandising for at least 5,000 years. From the carved signs above doorways in ancient Babylonia to the annoying pop-ups on modern computer screens, advertising has been a part of daily life. Its form may change, but advertising will undoubtedly be with us for a long time to come.   (2) It is clear that advertising is useful for both buyers and sellers. It helps sellers by informing the public about their goods and services. It helps buyers by allowing them to comparison shop. Its form may change, but advertising will undoubtedly be with us for a long time to come.
2	Compulsory Attendance in College   On my first day of class in an American university, I discovered that there are many differences between universities in the United States and in my country. One difference hit me immediately when the professor walked into the classroom dressed in casual pants and a sports shirt. Then he sat down, and I received a second shock. He sat down on the desk, not behind the desk. The biggest shock happened when he passed out a piece of paper listing the requirements of the class. I learned that I was not allowed to miss any classes! In my country, professors do not know or care if students attend lectures, but in the United States, professors actually call the roll2 at the beginning of each class meeting.  In my opinion, compulsory attendance in college is completely inappropriate for two reasons.   A. College students are adults, not elementary school children. B. Students often have other obligations such as jobs and family.   Possible concluding paragraphs (1) To summarize, attendance in college classes should be optional. Students may already know the material that the professor will cover. Sometimes the professor lectures on material that is in the textbook, so students can read it on their own time. Therefore, in my opinion, compulsory attendance in college classes should be abolished. (2) To summarize, college students are mature enough to take charge of their own learning. Furthermore, they may have family or work problems once in a while that cause them to miss a class. They should not be penalized for this. Therefore, in my opinion, compulsory attendance in college classes should be abolished.
3	Goals   Everyone needs goals. Having goals makes you more successful because they keep your mind on ‘what is really important to you. However, goals can change at different times in your life. Your goals when you are ten are very different from your goals at fifteen or twenty. My major goals this semester are to get a part-time job and to master the use of the English language.   A. My first goal is to get a part-time job in an area related to my field of study. B. I also plan to improve my ability to speak, write, read, and understand English.   Possible concluding paragraphs (1 ) In conclusion, it is important to have goals. When you have clear goals, it is easier to stay focused and not let small things sidetrack you. I hope I succeed in reaching my goals this semester.   (2) In conclusion, finding a job and using English well are important to me at this stage of my life. I am working hard to succeed at both.   (3) In conclusion, I have set important goals for myself this semester. If I do not reach my goals, I will be unhappy. Next semester, I will have new goals.
4	Changes in the Workplace   Female airline pilots? Male nurses? When my parents were young, such job descriptions were not possible. In the past thirty-five years, however, society has become more accepting. Although it is still somewhat unusual, men now work in traditionally female occupations. In particular, more and more men are becoming nurses, secretaries, and elementary school teachers.   A. The nursing profession has seen the greatest increase in male participation. B. Besides nursing, more men are becoming secretaries. C. Elementary school teaching is a third occupation that men are taking up.   Possible concluding paragraphs (1) These examples have shown that it is no longer unusual to see men working as nurses, secretaries, and elementary school teachers. As society continues to change, we will undoubtedly see this trend continue.   (2) These examples have shown that it is no longer unusual to see men working as nurses, secretaries, and elementary school teachers. On the other hand, it is no longer unusual to find women engineers, construction supervisors, and corporate CEOs.1 In fact, there are already more women than men studying to become lawyers.   (3) These examples have shown that it is no longer unusual to see men working as nurses, secretaries, and elementary school teachers. Indeed, there is less sexism in the working world as men have proven themselves to be as capable as women in these areas, and women have proven themselves to be as capable as men in others.

 

 

 

1. TRANSITIONS BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS

 

Just as it is important to use transition signals to show the connection between ideas within a paragraph, it is also important to use transition signals between paragraphs to show how one paragraph is related to another. Transition signals can tell your reader if the topic of the next paragraph follows the same line of thought or reverses direction.

 

In addition to costing money for special food, fad diets . . .

On the other hand, fad diets work for some people . . .

 

The writer of these sentences could have used any of the transition signals in the chart that follows. The four on the left are ones that you already know. The two on the right are new. The advantage of using the new ones is that you can repeat the topic of the preceding paragraph in the same sentence in which you name the topic of the next paragraph. This technique helps link your body paragraphs into a coherent, cohesive essay.

Notice that Besides appears in both lists. In the list on the left, Besides is a sentence connector and must be followed by a comma and an independent clause. In the list on the right, Besides is a preposition and must be followed by a noun or gerund. Similarly, In addition is a sentence connector, and In addition to is a preposition.

 

“Additional ldea” Transition Signals

Sentence Connectors	Prepositions
1 . Furthermore, . . . Moreover, . . . In addition to (+ noun or gerund) . . . Besides, . . .	2. Besides (+ noun or gerund) . . . In addition, . . .
1.     Furthermore /In addition /Moreover/Besides, people on fad diets often gain even more weight than they had lost. Besides/In addition to suffering from poor nutrition, people on fad diets often don’t lose weight. (The word suffering is a gerund.) 2.     Besides/In addition to not losing weight, people on fad diets often gain even more weight than they had lost.

 

If the next paragraph is about an opposite idea, use one of the following transitions.

 

“Opposite l dea” Transition Signals

 

Sentence Connectors	Subordinators	Prepositions
1 . On the other hand, . . . However, . . .	2. Although . . . Even though . . .	3. Despite . . . In spite of . . .
1 . On the other hand/ However, people who want to lose weight can succeed. 2. Although/Even though fad diets do not work, there are other diets that do. 3. Despite/ I n spite of many attempts to lose weight, I am still overweight. Despite/In spite of dieting for several years, I am still overweight.

 

 

EXERCISE 4

Transition between Paragraphs

Add appropriate transition signals to the beginning of each paragraph (except the introductory paragraph) in the following essay.

 

Step 1    Read the entire essay.

Step 2    Decide the relationship of each body paragraph to the preceding one.

Is it an additional idea or an opposite idea?

Step 3    Choose appropriate transition signals for paragraphs 3-8 and write them on the lines. Use a different transition in each one. Punctuate carefully. You may have to rewrite the entire sentence.

 

The Computer Revolution

1             2                       3           4           5             6       7       8

We live in the age of technology. Every day, new technology appears, ranging from mini-CDs that contain entire encyclopedias to giant space telescopes that can send photographs of distant stars back to Earth. Of all the new technological wonders, personal computers have probably had the greatest influence on the dairy rives of average people. Through computers, we can now talk to people in any country, research any topic, work, shop, bank, and entertain ourselves. Personal computers have especially revolutionized communication and business practices in the past twenty years. Perhaps the most important effect of personal computers has been to expand our ability to communicate with the outside world. A lonely invalid in Minnesota can talk with a similarly house bound person in Mississippi. Schoolchildren in Manhattan can talk via computer to schoolchildren in Moscow. A high school student can obtain statistics for a history paper from a Library in London. A single computer user can send an e-mail message to millions of people all over the world with one keystroke. Computer users can get together in an on-line “chat room” to discuss their interests and problems with others who have similar interests and problems. For example, a person whose hobby is collecting antique guns can share information with other gun collectors via computer.  A person who is planning a vacation and wants to know the names of the best beaches in Hawaii can ask others who have already been there for suggestions. People even start on-line romances in chat rooms! The possibilities of computerized communication are indeed unlimited.   ____________________________, personal computers have made it possible to do business from home. You can take care of personal business. For example, you can buy airline tickets, send flowers to a friend, pay your bills, buy and sell stock, and even pay your taxes from your home computer at any time of the day or night. This is a great convenience for people who are busy during the day and for physically disabled people who find it hard to leave their homes.   ____________________________, telecommuting-working at home instead of going to the office-has become a choice for thousands of business people. Suzanne Carreiro, a financial manager for a large company in downtown Manhattan, has telecommuted from her home in New Jersey for the past two years. She goes to her office only once a week. Four days a week, she works at home and communicates with her staff by computer   ____________________________, personal computers have changed the world of education. Elementary schoolchildren are learning to write, practice math, and create art on the computer. Schoolchildren in Manhattan can talk via computer to schoolchildren in Moscow. High school and college students no longer need  to spend hours in the school library researching topics for term papers. A high school student can obtain statistics for a history paper from a library in London by computer.   ____________________________, not everyone agrees that computers are good for education. Replacing a teacher with a machine is not progress, according to some critics. They say that young children especially need a real person, not a machine, to guide their learning.   ____________________________, computers have caused problems for society. People who spend hours each day surfing the Internet can become isolated and lonely, and children and teenagers can meet strangers through the Internet who may be dangerous.   ____________________________, the computer age has arrived, and it is changing our lives. Computers have made communicating and doing business faster and more convenient, and they have greatly increased our access to information. Just as the invention of automobiles had an unplanned consequence – the growth of suburbs – so will the invention of personal computers. We will have to wait and see what these unintentional consequences will be.

1. ESSAY OUTLINING

 

Making an outline is even more important when you are planning an essay because you have many more ideas and details to organize. An outline for an essay with two body paragraphs might look like this.

 

1. Introduction

Thesis statement

1. Body
   • Topic Sentence
2. Main Supporting Point
3. Supporting Detail
4. Supporting Detail
5. Main Supporting Point
6. Supporting Detail
7. Supporting Detail
8. Main Supporting Point
9. Supporting Detail
10. Supporting Detail

• Topic Sentence

1 . Main Supporting Point

1. Supporting Detail
2. Supporting Detail
3. Main Supporting Point
4. Supporting Detail
5. Supporting Detail

• Conclusion

 

Notice these points:

1. The introduction, body, and conclusion are numbered with Roman numerals: I, II, and III.
2. The topic sentence of each body paragraph is given a capital letter (A, B , C , and so on).
3. Each main supporting point is numbered 1 , 2, 3, and so on.
4. Each supporting detail is given a small letter (a, b, c, and so on).
5. Each time the outline moves from a Roman numeral to a capital letter to an Arabic numeral , the text is indented . Indenting makes it easy to see the movement from big to small, from main points to specific details.

 

EXERCISE 5

Complete the following outline for the model essay on pages 39-40. Notice that the thesis statement, first topic sentence, and concluding sentences are written out in full. You should write out topic sentences in full, but you may use short phrases to list supporting points and supporting details if you wish.

 

Outline: Styles of Popular Music

 

1. Introduction

Thesis Statement: Three of the more successful styles are reggae, punk, and rap.

1. Body

A . One successful style of popular music is reggae.

1. Born on the Caribbean island of Jamaica in the 1 960s.
   1. ________________________________________________________________
2. Developed from mento.
3. ________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________
6. Guitar plays rhythm and bass plays melody.
7. ________________________________________________________________
8. Unusual sound mixes
   1. ________________________________________________________________
   2. ________________________________________________________________
   3. ________________________________________________________________
9. Bob Marley -best known reggae musician
10. ________________________________________________________________
11. ________________________________________________________________
12. ________________________________________________________________
    1. ________________________________________________________________
    2. ________________________________________________________________
13. With clothing and hairstyles, punks intended to shock society.
14. ________________________________________________________________
15. ________________________________________________________________
16. ________________________________________________________________
17. Punk music is simple.
    1. ________________________________________________________________
    2. ________________________________________________________________
    3. ________________________________________________________________
18. ________________________________________________________________
19. Punk has evolved into other styles.
    1. ________________________________________________________________
    2. ________________________________________________________________
    3. ________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

1. A third successful style of popular music is rap.

1. Also known as hip-hop
2. Form of dance music-singers speak in rhythm and rhyme
3. Originated in Africa
4. Traveled to the U.S. via Jamaica-“toasting”
5. ________________________________________________________________
6. Disco DJs + rappers played songs for dancers at parties
7. ________________________________________________________________
8. ________________________________________________________________
9. ________________________________________________________________
10. Politics-theme in 1 980s and 1 990s
11. ________________________________________________________________
12. Female rapper-Queen Latifah
13. ________________________________________________________________

 

• Conclusion

Popular music changes constantly. New styles are born, grow, change, and produce offshoots, which in turn grow, change, and produce offshoots. Some styles enjoy lasting popularity, but others disappear rather quickly. However, all contribute to the power and excitement of popular music in our time.

 

Writing Assignment

 

Choose one of the topics from Exercise 2 on page 42 or one of the alternative topics suggested.

Step 1 Prewrite to get ideas.

Step 2 Organize the ideas by making an outline.

Step 3 Write the rough draft. Write ROUGH DRAFT at the top of your paper.

Step 4 Write a final copy.