Unit 1 Egypt’s Heritage: comparison, essay shape and story clues
الأسبوع 3 · الوحدة 1 (ب) والفصل الأول من الرواية: نص يشبّه الفخر بشيء ينمو (للقراءة في الكتاب فقط) وكلمات الحضارة والمعالم والإلهام ومهمة حديث عن لقاء متخيَّل وبنية المقال (مقدمة وصلب وخاتمة) وقراءة مقدمة الرواية وفصلها الأول (للقراءة في الكتاب فقط) · 3 دروس
2
Essay shape: introduction, body and conclusion
English Secondary 1 Term 1, Unit 1 Lesson 5: pp. 22–23
GoalLearn the shape of an essay: introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion, and use linking words.
New words
hook · an interesting first sentence that makes the reader want to readthesis · one sentence that gives your main opinion or answertopic sentence · the first sentence of a body paragraph, which gives its main pointsupporting detail · a reason or example that supports the pointconclusion · the last paragraph, which finishes the essayrestate · to say the same idea again in different words
Explanation
An essay has three parts. The introduction has a hook, a little background and the thesis. The thesis is the most important sentence because it tells the reader your main idea. Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence, then gives details or an example, and ends with a closing sentence that links back to the thesis. Use one main point in each body paragraph. The conclusion summarises the points, restates the thesis in different words and ends with a final thought. Linking words help the reader to follow the order: First, Another reason is, In addition, For example, In conclusion. Do not bring a new idea into the conclusion. Keep your sentences clear and do not repeat the same words from the introduction. Your book shows the parts of an essay on pages 22 and 23 with examples about technology; ours uses a different topic, a reading habit.
Part
What it has
Introduction
hook, background, thesis
Body paragraph
topic sentence, details, closing sentence
Conclusion
summary, restated thesis, final thought
Linking words
First, Another reason, For example, In conclusion
Worked examples
Introduction. Have you ever finished a book and felt a little sad that it was over? I read for twenty minutes every night. I keep a reading habit because it helps me to relax and to learn. Body. First, reading helps me to relax. For example, after a busy day at school, a few pages of a story take my mind away from my worries. This is why reading is better for me than watching a screen before bed. Conclusion. In conclusion, I read every night because it calms me and teaches me new things. A habit of twenty minutes a day can change how we feel and think. Why not start tonight?
Read the three short parts of an essay called “Why I Keep a Reading Habit”.
The hook is the question “Have you ever finished a book and felt a little sad that it was over?” The thesis is “I keep a reading habit because it helps me to relax and to learn.”
The topic sentence of the body paragraph is “First, reading helps me to relax.” The example follows after For example. The closing sentence links back to the thesis.
In the conclusion, the thesis is restated in different words (it calms me and teaches me new things) and the final thought is a question to the reader.
Class activity
Essay plan. Choose the topic “Why I check before I share a message”. On paper write a plan with: a hook, a thesis, two topic sentences, one example for each, and a restated thesis. Then use your plan to write a short essay of four short paragraphs.
Practice
1
Which sentence is a thesis? (a) Singing is fun. (b) I joined the school choir because it makes me happy and confident. (c) Do you like singing?
(b). It gives the writer’s main idea with reasons. (a) is too short and (c) is a hook question.
2
Which sentence is the best hook? (a) This essay is about sport. (b) Did you know that a single match can bring a whole street together? (c) Sport is good.
(b). It is an interesting question that makes the reader want to continue.
3
Which sentence is a topic sentence for one body paragraph? (a) In conclusion, I like football. (b) Another reason is that team sport teaches us to work together. (c) What is your favourite sport?
(b). It gives the main point of the paragraph and starts with a linking phrase.
4
Which linking word do we use at the beginning of the conclusion? (a) For example (b) In conclusion (c) First
(b) In conclusion.
5
Rewrite the thesis “I read because it helps me to relax” in different words, as for a conclusion.
For example: Reading is my way of finding calm after a busy day. (Any clear sentence with the same idea.)
