Putting it all together

Last updated: 9 Sep 2006

Now that we have seen several models for the essay, let's choose one and approach the essay example given above.

The Analysis of an issue example given was:

"Trust is a key ingredient in successful business relations".

Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the opinion above. Support your point of view with reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

And our notes from the brainstorming session were:

• buyers must trust suppliers in order for deliveries to happen
• clients must trust lawyers, patients doctors
• businesses must trust credit card company to pay them
• credit card companies must trust cardholders to pay them
• cardholders must trust credit companies not to overbill them
• Francis Fukuyama book: Trust
• My uncle's store: clientele through mutual trust

Let's now choose one of the model essay structures shown on the last page:

Model 1

1^st paragraph: state both sides of the argument before announcing what side you are on.

2^nd paragraph: support your argument

3^rd paragraph: further support

4^th paragraph: further support

5^th paragraph: conclusion

Now we can fit our brainstorming with this essay model:

1^st paragraph Yes

• Trust is a key ingredient in successful business relations.

2^nd paragraph General

• F. Fukuyama book: Trust
• buyers must trust suppliers in order for deliveries to happen.
• clients must trust lawyers, patients doctors

3^rd paragraph: Specific

• businesses must trust credit card company to pay them
• credit card companies must trust cardholders to pay them
• cardholders must trust credit companies not to overbill them

4^th paragraph: Even More Specific

• My uncle's store: clientele through mutual trust

5^th paragraph: conclusion

You don't have to rewrite everything again when you fit your notes with an essay model. Just put numbers corresponding to a paragraph beside each point in your brainstorming notes, so that you know which paragraph you will put each idea.

Before we turn this into an essay we will look at some useful vocabulary.

Next page: Useful vocabulary