INDEPENDENT WRITING

(The Essay Format)

A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Independent Writing Directions

The Independent Writing Task is based on Knowledge and Experience. It is a 30-
minute student-generated essay, written in response to a given topic.

You will use 30 minutes to plan, write, and revise an essay in response to a question that
asks you to state, explain, and support your opinion on an issue.

An effective essay will contain a minimum of 250 -300 words. Your essay will be judged
on the quality of your writing, including the development of your ideas, the organization
of your essay, and the quality and accuracy of the language.

Use your time effectively

B. THE ESSAY FORMAT

Introduction begins with overal view narrows into the thesis

2 or 3 follows with supporting

Each paragraph begins with a
BODY
topic information and examples
Paragraphs

Begins with a summary

Conclusion follows with the final thought
(restates ideas)

Example

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The invention of the Internet
has had negative effects on your civilization. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.

What is the topic asking you for?

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
This is telling you what kind of essay you are going to write. To be specific, this
agreement/disagreement essay type. In general, there are 4 types:
- Agreement/Disagreement essay
 - Preference essay
- Opinion essay
- Detail essay
2. The invention of the Internet has had negative effects on your civilization.
Read the topic carefully. It’s NOT how YOU feel about the Internet, but whether the
Internet has had a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE impact on SOCIETY. Remember that it
doesn’t matter which position you take; what matters is which position is easier for you
to think of ideas for.
3. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
Be careful not to get vague.

Brainstorming
Once you have read and fully understood the question, the next step is to brainstorm. While
there are a number of different brainstorming methods, you will be constrained by time.
Thus, the simplest method is to choose a side and generate as many ideas as you can.

shopping

can communicate
more easily games

Save time DISAGREE share information

I. INTRODUCTION

Begins with an overview

Introduction
Narrows into the thesis

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PRACTICE 1:
Write thesis statements for the following topics:
1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating a balanced diet is the
most important factor for a healthy life. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other
people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your
opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone. Others like to be with friends
most of the time. Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific
reasons to support your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which
place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

5. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone.
Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
 6. How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific
examples to support your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

General statement

Thesis statement

Students are required to choose one or several of the above topics in order to practice writing
the introduction.

II. BODY PARAGRAPHS

 1st Body
Paragraph

3 Body 2nd Body

Paragraphs Paragraph

3rd Body
Paragraph

EX:

Topic sentence

Supporting sentence

Specific Example

_____________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating a balanced diet is the
most important factor for a healthy life. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
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2. Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other
people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your
opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
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3. Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone. Others like to be with friends
most of the time. Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific
reasons to support your answer.
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4. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which
place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
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5. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which
do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
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6. How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific
examples to support your answer.

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III. CONCLUSION

The conclusion should begin with a signal (In conclusion, All in all, To summarize,…).
Following the signal, the summary of the main points will be written in a different way from
the thesis statement (paraphrasing). At the end, the final thought showing the
writer’s recommendation, suggestion, or prediction is included to wrap the essay up.

The following is the model conclusion for the topic:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The invention of the Internet
has had negative effects on your civilization. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.

For these reasons, I believe that society has been helped by the invention of the Internet. Summary
As the Internet spreads and becomes more common, its importance to people’s lives cannot
be overstated. But the Internet is not a right, and not all people are able to access the
Final thought
Internet. Thus, the gulf between the rich and the poor will continue to expand unless
people make the conscious effort to ensure that technology and education are made available
for all people.

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Eating a balanced diet is the
most important factor for a healthy life. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
2. Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient. Other
people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is your
opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
..................................................................................................................................................
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3. Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone. Others like to be with friends
most of the time. Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends? Use specific
reasons to support your answer.
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................
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4. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which
place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
..................................................................................................................................................
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5. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which
do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
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6. How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific
examples to support your answer.

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