STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY:

I. INTRODUCTION:
1. Background information:
->something has become a major topic of concern for many people in this day and age.
->The topic of whether _______has become a controversial issue in today’s era/ in this day and
age.

Ex: The topic of whether money can buy happiness or not has become a controversial question
in this day and age.

*Some people believe that children should not be given homework every day, while other
people believe that they must get homework every day in order to be successful at school.
Discuss the pros and cons of homework.

=>The topic of whether schoolchildren should do more assignments at home or not has become
a major topic of concern for parents and teachers in this day and age.

2. REWRITE THE QUESTION:

-USE SYNONYMS:
-CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THE QUESTION

Question: some people think that the internet will never replace the traditional books in any
schools. Do you agree or disagree?

-some people: some/ many/ several people/ some individuals/ …

-think: suppose/ assume/ believe/ reckon/ hold the opinion (the view) that/ argue that/…
=>it is thought that/ it is said that/ it is believed/ assumed/ argued that/ it is widely accepted
that/ it is reported that/…it is firmly believed that/…
-The internet: the web-based documents/ materials; online documents/ materials; the internet
documents/materials; online sources;…
-Replace : substitute (v)
-Traditional books: conventional manuals; traditional documents; paper materials; course
books;…
-schools: educational institutions, academic environments, academic settings, …

=> it is believed that the web-based documents will never substitute the paper materials in any
educational institutions.

Example 2: Some people believe that children should not be given homework every day, while
other people believe that they must get homework every day in order to be successful at
school. Discuss the pros and cons of homework.
-children: young learners/ school children/ pupils/ young studiers/ students,…
-homework: assignments/ extra practice at home.
-every day: regularly/ on a regular basis/ frequently/ constantly/ day in day out/
(I have to do the same things day in day out and gradually I feel so bored)
-BE successful at school:
=>get/ obtain/ attain/ acquire/ secure/ gain / achieve (v)
=>High/ good/ outstanding (a)
=>academic results/ academic achievements/ academic performance/ academic outcomes/
studying results/

BE successful at school=> GET HIGHER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS.

Some people believe that children should not be given homework every day, while other people
believe that they must get homework every day in order to be successful at school. Discuss the
pros and cons of homework.

=>some assume that it is not necessary to require schoolchildren to complete so many

assignments on a regular basis, while others believe that homework is an indispensable part for
them to acquire higher academic achievements.

(homework is an indispensable part for students’ success at school)

3. OUTLINE STATEMENT: clearly state what’s going to be presented in your essay.

-Discussion essay:
This essay will specifically shine light on both views before drawing a conclusion.

->Shine light on something (v) shed light on/ illuminate something/ throw light on something (v)
clarify something (v) make something become clearer.

->draw a conclusion: to conclude.

II. BODY (2 BODIES): Discuss the pros and cons of homework.

1. BODY 1: (6-7 sentences): 2 MAIN IDEAS.

-TOPIC SENTENCE:
=>linking word: to begin with, the start with, to embark with, in the first place, initially, on the
first hand,…. + TOPIC SENTENCE.
=>to start with, there are some explanations as to why some people think that homework is
NECESSARY for students. (TOPIC SENTENCE FOR B1).

-IDEA 1: FIRSTLY, doing extra practice at home is a good supplement for students to practise
“independent learning habits”.
-CLARIFY 1ST IDEA:
->LINKING WORD:
+It is obvious that, it is clear that, it is apparent that, it is undoubted that, it is evident that, it is
unquestionable that, it is clear-cut that, it stands to reason that, there is a fact that , there is no
secret that, there is no doubt that, there is a proven fact that,…CLAUSE (S_ V)

+Obviously, clearly, apparently, undoubtedly, evidently, unquestionably, + CLAUSE (S_ V).

=>it is obvious that there are a lot of difficult questions that require students to brainstorm and
use their critical thinking skills to find results….

-IDEA 2: SECONDLY, students can reinforce/ consolidate what they have learned in schools for
better academic performance.

-CLARIFY 2ND IDEA:

Unquestionably, it is nearly impossible for students to fully and deeply absorb as well as
understand all knowledge in various subjects in just a limited amount of time in class.
…

-concluding sentence:
Briefly/ in short, ….

2. BODY 2: (6-7 SENTENCES/ 2 MAIN IDEAS).