Writing Different Types of Essays-How To Write a Persuasive Essay

The purpose of a persuasive essay is to convince the reader to agree with your viewpoint or to accept your recommendation for a course of action. For instance, you might argue that the salaries of professional athletes are too high. Or you might recommend that vending machines be banned from your school cafeteria. A successful persuasive essay will use evidence to support your viewpoint, consider opposing views and present a strong conclusion.

Some people worry that adopting a school uniform policy would be too expensive. However, there are ways to lessen the cost. For example, in Seattle, Washington, local businesses help to pay for uniforms at South Shore Middle School. In Long Beach, California, graduating students donate or sell their old uniforms.

Use evidence to support your viewpoint. Statistics, facts, quotations from experts and examples will help you to build a strong case for your argument. Appeal to the reader's sense of logic by presenting specific and relevant evidence in a well-organized manner.

Consider opposing views. Try to anticipate the concerns and questions that a reader might have about your subject. Responding to these points will give you the chance to explain why your viewpoint or recommendation is the best one.

Present a strong conclusion. All your evidence and explanations should build toward a strong ending in which you summarize your view in a clear and memorable way. The conclusion in a persuasive essay might include a call to action.

TIP: Use a pleasant and reasonable tone in your essay. Sarcasm and name-calling weaken an argument. Logic and fairness will help to keep it strong.

Writing Different Types of Essays-How To Write a Narrative Essays

The first important thing to remember about a narrative essay is that it tells a story. The author may write about

an experience or event from his or her pasta recent or an ongoing experience or eventsomething that happened to somebody else, such as a parent or a grandparent

The second important thing about a narrative essay is that the story should have a point. In the final paragraph, the author should come to an important conclusion about the experience that has just been described.

The sample essay begins with a general statement, "Learning something new can be a scary experience." This statement introduces the subject of the essay, which is a particular learning experience that the author had. The use of "I" in the essay indicates that what is being described is a personal experience. 
The essay is essentially a story about something that happened. The author gives sufficient details about the people, place, and events so that the reader gets a clear idea of how the author feels about them. In the essay, the author "stood timidly" and the teacher "smiled" and was "patient." These words indicate the author's fears and the sense of security provided by the teacher who helped the author get over her fear. 
In the final paragraph of the essay, the author reflects on the larger meaning or importance of the experience described. The author concludes that learning to swim has helped her to feel more confident about herself in other new situations. The idea that self-confidence comes from conquering your fears is something that all people can relate to. This is the point of the story. 
The essay is well-organized. After the introduction, the author describes the experience as it happened in time -- going to the pool the first day, having the first lesson, and the result of the subsequent lessons. The author might have chosen, however, to talk about the things she learned in order of their importance or difficulty. 
The writing in an essay should be lively and interesting. Try to engage the reader's interest by adding details or personal observations. Sharing personal thoughts and details invites the reader into author's world and makes the story more personal and more interesting.

Writing Different Types of Essays-How To Write a Descriptive Essays

The purpose of a descriptive essay is to describe a person, place, or thing in such vivid detail that the reader can easily form a precise mental picture of what is being written about. The author may accomplish this by using imaginative language, interesting comparisons, and images that appeal to the senses.

The subject of the sample essay is fairly ordinary ride on a Ferris wheel. The author makes it interesting, however, by comparing the Ferris wheel to a monstrous creature. 
The author makes good use of fresh and varied vocabulary. For example, in the first paragraph alone, she uses verbs that create excitement like "fascinate," "amaze," and "terrify." In the second paragraph she uses a variety of terms to describe the machine such as "monstrosity," "mythical beast," "amazing dinosaur," "fire-breathing dragon."
The author uses her senses to describe the scene - how the ride looks, sounds, smells, and feels. The ride is "huge, smoky, noisy" and its engines "drone" like the roar of a dragon. On the ride, she gets a "rush of adrenaline" and a "lump in her throat," she feels immobile and then weightless. 
The essay is well organized. The introduction begins with a general statement, "I have always been fascinated by carnival rides," and ends with a more specific statement of what the essay will be about, "the thrill and excitement of a carnival ride keeps me coming back for more." The body of the essay is composed of several paragraphs that describe the Ferris wheel, the way it seems from the ground and the way it feels to ride on one. The conclusion restates the main idea of the essay, that the author continues to find carnival rides thrilling and exciting.

Using tables and figures

Many types of writing will include tables or figures to present data or provide illustrations or clarification. It is important, however, that these are presented correctly and appropriately; that they are clear and easy to understand, and that they aid your reader in following your argument.

Figures are graphs, diagrams or illustrations/images. 
Tables are data presented in tabular form.

Basic considerations when using figures and tables

1 Figures and tables are not a replacement for your text. They should supplement your writing, add evidence to make your argument stronger, help your reader to understand complicated ideas or complex figures. Always ask yourself why you are including a particular figure. If it's just to pad your writing out or make it look pretty, then forget it; your figure or table must always serve a purpose.

2 Your figures must be an integral part of your writing; don't just throw one or two in at random. Your text should always refer to the figures or tables that you've included, with explanations and comments on the data or illustrations presented (see examples below).

3 All figures and tables must be given a title and be consecutively numbered, and these would normally be listed separately in your assignment, dissertation or thesis (usually at the beginning). Within your text, Table must always be written out in full, but Figure can be written Fig, Fig. or Figure; never use 'the' before the words,and always use actual numbers. In a longer piece of work, these numbers would correspond to the chapter numbers(Fig 3.5; Table 2.1 etc)

4 If the figure has been taken from one of your sources, you must make a reference to this source. The best way to do this is like you would do with any other acknowledgement; a short reference (surname, year of publication and page number as it's from a specific page) within your text, after the title of the figure/table, and then the full reference at the end as part of your main list of references. You may sometimes see the full reference given with the figure/table.

5 The number and title must always accompany the figure or table in your text. Usually, this is put below a figure (often in italics), and above a table (usually not in italics). Don't worry too much about this, but make sure that you are consistent.

6 Make sure that any data you present in this form is clear and easily understood. If you have to use colour or shading ensure that it does not obscure the text, but it is recommended that you do not use colour. Also make sure that the categories, scales, groups etc that you are presenting are clearly labelled on the appropriate axis of the graph or table column.

Tips to write an Effective Resume

A good job hunter knows that a good resume is the key to an interview invite and ultimately, to employment. Aside from a summary of your abilities, work experience and education, a resume should reveal your unique selling points to entice a potential employer to BUY you. 

The secret to an irresistible resume is to address the specific need of a specific job. A tailored resume has infinitely more impact than a one - size - fits - all. To write such a resume, first organize information under specific headings such as education, work experience, achievements, skills and activities. When everything is on paper, decide on the proper format to play up your outstanding qualities that fit the job's requirements.
Basically resumes are of three typesChronological resumeFunctional ResumeCombination Resume

Know Your Objective.

What job do you want? What are the skills and requirements necessary for this job?Keep them in your mind as you write your resume so that the interviewer reading it will see that you are the person they are looking for.

Compile all your information

List down your personal particulars, education history, extra - curricular activities including positions held, employment history, seminars attended, achievements, etc.Ensure the dates are correct. Leave out hobbies/interests, parent's occupation etc.Sort information under specific headings - Education, Work Experience, Achievements, Skills, Activities.

Start with your Name and Contact details

Write your full name, postal address, house and mobile numbers, email address.Leave out your marital status, sex, race, parent's name and occupation, birth details, etc.

Write your Employment details

Starting with your most recent work, list down all the jobs you have had, company names, dates of employment, position titles.Using bullet points, write the job description, nature of work and responsibilities held for each positionUse key words: responsible for, coordinating, prepared, managed, monitored, presented, accomplished, achieved, analyzed, delegated, etc .Highlight your achievements/job responsibilities.

List Education details

Lead with your highest education level to the lowest, include grades like CGPA.State courses or papers studied, e.g. Psychology, Contract Law, Multimedia.List activities like societies/clubs, position held and accomplishments if they are relevant to the job you are applying to. Otherwise, leave them out.

Include your Skills

List down your computer skills, language skills (and different dialects) including proficiency in reading and writing, and soft skills (public speaking, presentation, etc).

Reference

Not totally essential but if you need to mention references, choose people who know you personally and can give a good impression of you to the potential employer.Remember to give your reference's contact details.Make sure you inform your referees that they may receive calls from your interviewers so that they can prepare. Send them copies of your resume so that they know who you are and what you did.

Miscellaneous

Be short and concise

Resumes are usually read in only 30 seconds or less, so you have to be brief and go straight to the point.Resumes should be a maximum of two pages long. Use Size 12 fonts (Times New Roman or Garamond font) for easy read. Use three pages only if you have extensive professional experience.Use italic or bold fonts only to indicate important information or section breaks.Use a good printer, no stray marks, splotches, uneven or blurred letters.Use high quality A4 paper, white only. Do not use flashy colours like pink or red.

Be honest

Do not inflate your resume. 

Make sure you can back up what you claim.

Do not cheat/lie.

Check for spelling and grammar mistakes

Make sure your resume is free from spelling or grammar mistakes.

Ask someone reliable to check it for you.Do not depend on your word processor's Spell Check function.

Most importantly, proof read until your resume is perfect.

Use Power Verbs

Action words add "oomph" to your writing and enables you to describe clearly.

Tips to improve your writing skills contd...

1. It might sound a bit childish but don’t forget to take notes during classes and do all your homework! People seem to have forgotten to write down what the teacher says and the lack of time results in lack of homework. It is very demanding to study something while at the same time you’re working, but learning a language always requires a lot of effort.

Online graduate programs in education provide a great way to help balance your study and work time, all the while you are enhancing your language skills.

2. Translate! Translating tasks are not very popular nowadays, though can be useful for those you enjoy it.

3. Start correspondence with your foreign friends. Provided this lasts long enough, it has and always will be a useful way of improving your English written language.

4. Search interactive websites that provide online practice and correction! Like Quizlet, UsingEnglish, CardKiwi or Grammar Check.

5. Utilize social media! There are a great number of online platforms where you can share, chat and comment and all that in English! How to Learn English in a new way!

6. Improve your English writing skills by blogging.

Tips to Improve your Writing Skills

1. Keep All of your Writing in One Place

Buy a notebook or journal or start an electronic journal. By keeping your writing all in the same place, you will be able to see how much you are improving and keep it organized.

 

2. Practice Writing in English Daily

The importance of writing daily is that you start to create a new habit. Writing every day in English will soon become natural and something you look forward to. You will not see a significant improvement if you are not dedicated to becoming a better writer in English. You cannot create awesome stories and papers if you never try.

 

3. Pick a Topic and WRITE!

Don’t get stuck on figuring out what to write about. You can write about anything. You can write about what you do, things you hear or see, news, or make up a story. If you do get stuck, use some of English Tonight’s writing prompts to help you get started.

 

4. Write More than One Draft

Draft means a preliminary version of piece of writing. Sometimes, your best writing becomes better after you take a break and work on a second or third draft. When you revise (or rewrite) your work you are often able to get your message across more clearly. You make think of things that you did not think to write in the first draft and you can add it in a later draft.

 

5. Use Online Resources to Correct your Grammar

Yes, grammar is a pain. You don’t need to know everything about English grammar. Use online resources, such as Grammarly, GrammarCheck or GrammarBook.com to help you answer a grammar question when it comes up. You could also switch the spell and grammar check on MS Word, your iPad or Google Doc to check your spelling and grammar in English.

 

6. Think Outside the Box (or Lines)

Don’t write about the same thing every day or you will get bored. Try writing the same story from different perspectives or different tenses. If you are writing a story about a baby that won’t stop crying; first, it could be the mother telling the story; then from the perspective of the baby. Or you could write it in present moment…. ‘My baby hasn’t stopped crying in five days…’ and then write in the perspective of a pregnant woman that is thinking about having a baby that won’t stop crying. Don’t write about topics in the obvious way. Be creative!

 

7. Have a Friend Edit Your Writing

Have a friend that knows English correct or edit your work. Having another person read your work helps generate more ideas to better your writing. You could have them edit everything or just a part that you are stuck on. Often having another set of eyes look at your writing helps find mistakes that you have overlooked.

 

8. Find the Best Place for You to Write

You should try writing in different places or at different times of the day. Maybe you have writer’s block at night; try getting up 15 minutes earlier and writing in the morning. Maybe you have trouble writing where there is a lot of noise; try writing in a quiet and comfortable place. Experiment in finding the right (or write?) environment for you to write.

How to write an Introduction

Your introduction is the first impression your readers will have of your writing. A good introduction will show them that you know what you're talking about and that you're going to complete the task in question. It will also make them want to carry on reading and feel well disposed to what is to come. A bad introduction will have the opposite effect and might even prejudice the reader against the rest of the writing, even if it does improve.

The most common mistakes made by students are:
not to include an introduction at allto include an introduction, but one which is unrecognizable as suchto include too much background/historical information in the introductionto make the introduction too long
A good introduction will:
show that you are going to answer the question or complete the taskshow that you understand the issues and their implicationsshow how you are going to do this by indicating the structure of your answer and making clear the main areas that you are going to write about (your plan).show evidence that you have carried out some research by making a reference to one of your sourcesbe totally relevantbe concise: 8-9% of the total number of words is usually recommended (eg 120 words in a 1500 word assignment)

How to write an Essay

Collecting the material
It is important to collect information that is relevant.The best place to start is by quickly getting down what you already know about the question: you will probably know more than you realise. It helps to get you thinking about the topic and may also give you some ideas to follow up.

Purposeful reading 
You need to adopt a strategic method: in order to read purposefully, formulate a set of questions before you begin reading. As you read, more specific questions will arise and you can look for the answers to these too. It is easy to do too much research and end up getting confused by the facts and figures. Looking for the answers to predetermined questions helps to avoid this. 

Use varied sources of information 
You will usually have a book list which will list the major sources of information for your subject. Use the bibliographies in these books to extend your reading. You can refer to your lecture notes, but don't rely solely on these, as they are often a general overview or could contain incorrect information if you have misunderstood something. The most productive sources of information are often subject specific journals, the "broadsheet" newspapers and ever increasing on-line resources, such as the Internet. 

Keep a notebook, record cards or data base 
Jot down ideas, discussions, quotations or examples as you come across them. If you don't write them down, you will inevitably forget them when it comes to writing up time. This tactic also frees your mind, because you are not trying to remember small points which can block creative thinking. As an alternative, try using small record cards which can be shuffled and sorted out as you plan and write up your essay. This can also be easily done on a computer - but a computer is harder to carry around! 

Record your sources 
Your notebook should also be used to write down exact details of the sources of information which you use. Failure to do this will result in wasted time relooking for information, frustration and even information being wasted because you can't use it, due to not being able to state the source. 

A word on plagiarism 
Doing the above will help with this. If you use source material, either as a direct quotation or as a summary in your own words, you must make a reference to it in your text and give the full details in your bibliography. You must always credit the original author, otherwise your lecturer will think you are trying to cheat or pass off someone else's idea as your own. 

Understanding the question 
When tutors set an essay question, they are trying to get you to show them how much you know about a particular aspect of a subject, and if appropriate develop a convincing argument. You must always answer the specific question set. Many students go wrong because they don't answer the question; they get side-tracked and focus on the wrong aspect of the subject, or just write "all they know" about the subject. 
Some essay briefs are more helpful than others. Some will just give a statement followed by the word "discuss". Others give structured details which guide you step by step through what is really required. Whichever type you find yourself tackling, checking the assessment criteria can help you to see in what sort of depth you are required to write. Think of your tutor as your audience, be strategic, and find out what your tutor wants to know. 

Getting down to writing 
Even the most experienced writer can find a blank page daunting. The trick is to just start writing. It doesn't matter where you begin as long as what you write ends up in the right place in the end. Just write, don't worry about spelling and style. Get your first thoughts down on paper. Once you have done this you can sort out your ideas using your initial plan. 
If you compose on a computer you can "cut and paste", moving paragraphs around to their final place in the essay. If you prefer pen and paper, leave a line or two between ideas so you can physically "cut and paste". Get the scissors and sticky tape out and cut your essay up. Sitting on the floor with your work spread out around you can be useful at this stage. As long as you end up with a beginning (the introduction), a middle (the body of the essay), and an end (the conclusion), you won't go far wrong. 

Pattern To Write An Essay
An introduction should contain some comment on the topic of the essay - perhaps definitions are needed, or some explanation of what you understand by the title. This section should also state which aspects of the topic you intend to deal with and why. Remember you are not writing a book, so you need to select a few main arguments to support your answer to the question. Your introduction should consist of a guide to the essay giving the reader a clear idea of what will follow and making it clear to your tutor that you are going to answer the question set.

The body of the essay will take each of these main points and develop them with examples and illustrations, using clearly defined paragraphs. This is where you will need to think about the structure of your essay and make sure you follow a clear path through to your conclusion. This section is where most writers go wrong, but if you plan carefully you should have a direction for your essay before you start writing. 

Your conclusion will summarise your main ideas. It might also be appropriate to give a firm or tentative answer to the question. Or you may have chosen a question where you need to suggest wider implications, or future trends. You could also suggest areas worthy of further consideration. It is in this section that you can introduce your own views - as long as they are based on the arguments you have developed earlier.

Points To Remember Before Completing An Essay
Include informations on references and bibilographyEditing and proofreadingSummarizing the essay

How to write an Dissertation

The advice given here is very general in nature: you must always check with your supervisor and with course documentation what the specific requirements are on your course.

A good dissertation will: 
have a clear objective, based on a well worked out thesis or central question.be well planned and widely researched.show that the student has a good grasp of relevant concepts and is able to apply these in their own work.include analysis, critical evaluation and discussion, rather than simple description.contain consistent and correct referencing.be structured and expressed in an appropriate academic way.show your tutors that you have learnt something on the course and have been able to use this to produce a well argued extended piece of academic work.

A mediocre dissertation will: 
have a very general or unclear title.be poorly planned, with a narrow field of research.rely heavily on source material, with little or no attempt to apply this to the student's aims.be mostly descriptive.contain little or no referencing, perhaps in an incorrect format.be poorly structured, with possible plagiarism of source material.not convince your tutors that you have learnt much.

Structure Of Dissertation
A basic framework would be:

Title page 
Title, your name, course name, date, name of supervisor 

Abstract 
One paragraph summarising the whole dissertation 

Acknowledgements 
Thanks to those who have assisted you 

Table of contents 
Chapters and/or sections & sub-sections with page numbers 

Table of figures 
If appropriate 

Introduction 
A presentation of your question/problem/thesis, with a brief outline of the structure of your work 

Main body/discussion 
The facts, evidence, analysis, evaluation and discussion. All very well structured: arts/social sciences tending towards paragraphs; sciences/engineering towards sections; business a mixture of the two. 

Conclusion/findings 
Where you bring it all together, stating very clearly your answer to your central question and if appropriate making recommendations, suggestions etc. 

Bibliography 
A complete list of your sources, correctly formatted. 

Appendices 
Any information not central to your main text or too large to be included: 
for example, complete questionnaires, copies of letters, maps etc.

Other sections you may be asked to include could be terms of reference, procedure, methodology, executive summary, literature review or recommendations.

How to write an Abstract

Knowing how to write an effective abstract is very important for anyone who is required to write a formal paper.

If you are a student you may have to write an abstract as part of a larger paper to summarize the paper in a single paragraph.The abstract is used by many people as a way to determine whether or not they want to read the entire work or listen to the entire speech at a conference.When researching material for a dissertation or thesis, the abstracts of research and academic papers are read to determine whether or not the information is worth reading in detail.

Understanding what an abstract is and the purpose it serves can be of great assistance in helping you write an abstract effectively.

What Is an Abstract? 
An abstract is basically a short summary that is used for research surverys or large papers, such as a thesis or dissertation. As the majority of theses and dissertations are quite lengthy, an abstract is used to provide a very complete, but concise, summary of the entire academic writing.

The abstract is vitally important because it is a short representation of the entire findings or thesis. The abstract is what a person will read in order to determine if the overall material will be of interest to them. In many ways it can be considered the selling point for your entire work, and it should be treating as such by presenting the topic of your research or dissertation in a way that will make others interested in reading it thoroughly.

In order to write an abstract that will capture the attention of readers while summarizing the entire paper there are a few tips that you should follow.

Helpful Tips for Writing an Abstract 
To present the information from your research or thesis in a manner that will others to be interested in your academic writing, you should:

Identify the Problem and Research Solution-The abstract should have an opening that identifies that particular subject matter and how the research that you have done will provide a solution. It is very important to make this clear in the initial sentence or two of the abstract as people want to know immediately what the dissertation is about.Stick to the Word Count - In general, an abstract is usually no more than 250 words. It is important to keep the word count in mind when writing an abstract. Knowing that you only have 250 words to summarize your entire dissertation can prevent you from being overly descriptive.Include Information on Methods and Results - Part of the abstract should briefly mention the methods and results that pertain to your topic. The method is basically the type of research you did, and the results are what was learned or created as a result of the methods.Mention the Implications of Your Research- At the close of the abstract it is important to briefly mention how results affect the initial problem that was mentioned in the opening of the abstract.Review and Update the Abstract - Upon completing your entire dissertation, it may be necessary for you to review and update the abstract. As you write your dissertation, your views may change and it may be necessary to change the abstract to reflect the shift in viewpoint presented in your dissertation.

Types Of Abstract 
Descriptive abstracts 
These provide a description of the report's main topic and purpose, together with an overview of the contents. They are usually very short - just a sentence or two - and may even appear on the title page (or at the beginning of a journal article). All this type of abstract does is give a very general idea of what the writing is about; it like a slightly extended title, or a topic sentence in an introduction. Consequently, it is not necessary to summarise any details or conclusions found in the text.

A descriptive abstract will look something like this: 
The research analyzes the different approaches to reducing traffic congestion in the UK and provides conclusions and recommendations for future implementation.

Informative abstracts 
As the name implies, informative abstracts should inform the reader: they should make clear what the research is about and give the key information from each section of the report; indicate how it was carried out; and summarise what the main findings and conclusions are. You should not, however, indicate the structure of the writing - this would be included in your introduction. 
The essential parts of an informative abstract are: 
* Background: A simple opening sentence or two placing the work in context. 
* Aims: One or two sentences giving the purpose of the work. 
* Method(s): One or two sentences explaining what was done. 
* Results: One or two sentences indicating the main findings. 
* Conclusions: One sentence giving the most important consequence of the work.

How to write a conclusion

Just as your introduction is the first impression your reader will have of your writing, your conclusion is the last. A good conclusion will show that you have successfully answered the question or completed the task set.

A good conclusion should:
be more than just a summary. It should be a thoughtful end to a piece of writing; for example, by applying what you have written to the outside world.emphasize or reinforce your main ideas, but with your ideas restated in a fresh way: don't use the same language again. You should refer back to your introduction, either with key words or parallel concepts and images.fit in with the rest of the assignment. Different types of writing require different types of conclusion. A short piece will probably not require extensive restatement of your main points, whereas a longer piece probably will.perhaps include a provocative question or two; evoke vivid images or use quotations if appropriate.if appropriate, suggest results or consequences or make a call for some sort of action.make predictions or suggest solutions, again if appropriate.
A good conclusion should NOT:
include completely new ideas. If they're important, include them in your main text.be apologetic! Be confident with what you say: avoid phrases such as: "I may not be an expert .." or "At least this is my opinion"focus on minor points.qualify the impact of any previous points.

How to write a conclusion continued

Most writers have trouble writing a good conclusion . The length of a conclusion is generally proportional to the length of the whole text. While a single paragraph is usually all that's required to conclude a standard essay or composition , a lengthy research paper may call for several concluding paragraphs.

Conclusion = Closure 
The conclusion is often simply one concluding paragraph, although in longer works, such as books, it might be many paragraphs or even pages long. The conclusion provides a sense of closure - that the interest or question "opened" by the introduction has now been "closed" by the body of the paper. The concluding paragraph makes it clear how this is true, and uses some way of indicating the completeness of the writing. 

Concluding, and What Comes Next 
In many scientific fields, but certainly in other types of writing as well, the conclusion indicates relevant questions for further study or exploration. While this might seem to contradict the idea of closure, in fact, the closure on the article or essay usually occurs just before this suggestion, and this suggestion of further research areas serves to provide a large sense of completeness. In many topics of public concern, this "further research" suggestion takes a different form - a call for further awareness of an issue or problem.

The Concluding Paragraph Consolidates What Came Before 
The conclusion often makes clear how or why this topic is significant. It is highly unusual to introduce new ideas, new arguments, or new evidence in the conclusion. Frequently, a conclusion will connect to the introduction - by answering questions raised there, or through writing devices such as returning to a story or anecdote used in the introduction . In all cases, the purpose is to release the reader from the act of reading and return the reader to the world with some sense of having gained something from reading.

"Strong conclusions generally have four things in common: - They summarize the discussion. 
- They are concise . 
- They carry conviction. 
- They are memorable."

Strategies for Concluding an Essay 
"Although there are no set formulas for closing, the following list presents several options:

Restate the thesis of your essay, and perhaps your main points.Mention the broader implications or significance of your topic.Give a final example that pulls all the parts of your discussion together.Offer a prediction.End with the most important point as the culmination of your essay's development.Suggest how the reader can apply the information you have just imparted.End with a bit of drama or a flourish. Tell an anecdote , offer an appropriate quotation , ask a question , make a final insightful remark."

How to write a Report

Here are the main sections of the standard report writing format:

Title Section - If the report is short, the front cover can include any information that you feel is necessary including the author(s) and the date prepared. In a longer report, you may want to include a table of contents and a definitions of terms.Summary - There needs to be a summary of the major points, conclusions, and recommendations. It needs to be short as it is a general overview of the report. Some people will read the summary and only skim the report, so make sure you include all the relevant information. It would be best to write this last so you will include everything, even the points that might be added at the last minute.Introduction - The first page of the report needs to have an introduction. You will explain the problem and show the reader why the report is being made. You need to give a definition of terms if you did not include these in the title section, and explain how the details of the report are arranged.Body - This is the main section of the report. The previous sections needed to be written in plain English, but this section can include jargon from your industry. There needs to be several sections, with each having a subtitle. Information is usually arranged in order of importance with the most important information coming first. If you wish, a "Discussion" section can be included at the end of the Body to go over your findings and their significance.Conclusion - This is where everything comes together. Keep this section free of jargon as most people will read the Summary and Conclusion.Recommendations - This is what needs to be done. In plain English, explain your recommendations, putting them in order of priority.Appendices - This includes information that the experts in the field will read. It has all the technical details that support your conclusions.

This report writing format will make it easier for the reader to find what he is looking for. Remember to write all the sections in plain English, except for the Body. Also remember that the information needs to be organized logically with the most important information coming first.

Tips for Good Writing
Here are a few tips for good writing.

Keep it simple. Do not try to impress, rather try to communicate. Keep the sentences short and to the point. Do not go into a lot of details unless it is needed. Make sure every word needs to be there, that it contributes to the purpose of the report.Use an active voice rather than passive. Active voice makes the writing move smoothly and easily. It also uses fewer words than the passive voice and gives impact to the writing by emphasizing the person or thing responsible for an action. Here is an example: Bad customer service decreases repeat business.Good grammar and punctuation is important. Having someone proofread is a good idea. Remember that the computer can not catch all the mistakes, especially with words like "red, read" or "there, their."

Points To Remember Before Completing An Essay
A report is a systematic, well organised document which defines and analyses a subject or problem, and which may include:

the record of a sequence of eventsinterpretation of the significance of these events or factsevaluation of the facts or results of research presenteddiscussion of the outcomes of a decision or course of actionconclusionsrecommendations

Reports must always be:

accurateconciseclearwell structured

How to write a Literature Review

The aim of a literature review is to show your reader that you have read, and have a good grasp of, the main published work concerning a particular topic or question in your field. This work may be in any format, including online sources. It may be a separate assignment, or one of the introductory sections of a report, dissertation or thesis. In the latter cases in particular, the review will be guided by your research objective or by the issue or thesis you are arguing and will provide the framework for your further work.

It is very important to note that your review should not be simply a description of what others have published in the form of a set of summaries, but should take the form of a critical discussion, showing insight and an awareness of differing arguments, theories and approaches. It should be a synthesis and analysis of the relevant published work, linked at all times to your own purpose and rationale.

The literature review should:

* compare and contrast different authors' views on an issue 
* group authors who draw similar conclusions 
* criticise aspects of methodology 
* note areas in which authors are in disagreement
* highlight exemplary studies 
* highlight gaps in research 
* show how your study relates to previous studies 
* show how your study relates to the literature in general 
* conclude by summarising what the literature says

The purposes of the review are:

* to define and limit the problem you are working on 
* to place your study in an historical perspective 
* to avoid unnecessary duplication 
* to evaluate promising research methods 
* to relate your findings to previous knowledge and suggest further research

A good literature review, therefore, is critical of what has been written, identifies areas of controversy, raises questions and identifies areas which need further research.

Strcture Of Literature Review

The format of a review of literature may vary from discipline to discipline and from assignment to assignment. A review may be a self-contained unit -- an end in itself -- or a preface to and rationale for engaging in primary research. A review is a required part of grant and research proposals and often a chapter in theses and dissertations. Generally, the purpose of a review is to analyze critically a segment of a published body of knowledge through summary, classification, and comparison of prior research studies, reviews of literature, and theoretical articles.

Writing the introduction 
In the introduction, you should:

Define or identify the general topic, issue, or area of concern, thus providing an appropriate context for reviewing the literature.Point out overall trends in what has been published about the topic; or conflicts in theory, methodology, evidence, and conclusions; or gaps in research and scholarship; or a single problem or new perspective of immediate interest.Establish the writer's reason (point of view) for reviewing the literature; explain the criteria to be used in analyzing and comparing literature and the organization of the review (sequence); and, when necessary, state why certain literature is or is not included (scope).

Writing the body 
In the body, you should:

Group research studies and other types of literature (reviews, theoretical articles, case studies, etc.) according to common denominators such as qualitative versus quantitative approaches, conclusions of authors, specific purpose or objective, chronology, etc.Summarize individual studies or articles with as much or as little detail as each merits according to its comparative importance in the literature, remembering that space (length) denotes significance.Provide the reader with strong "umbrella" sentences at beginnings of paragraphs, "signposts" throughout, and brief "so what" summary sentences at intermediate points in the review to aid in understanding comparisons and analyses.

Writing the conclusion 
In the conclusion, you should:

Summarize major contributions of significant studies and articles to the body of knowledge under review, maintaining the focus established in the introduction.Evaluate the current "state of the art" for the body of knowledge reviewed, pointing out major methodological flaws or gaps in research, inconsistencies in theory and findings, and areas or issues pertinent to future study.Conclude by providing some insight into the relationship between the central topic of the literature review and a larger area of study such as a discipline, a scientific endeavor, or a profession

How to write Title pages

The title page should normally include the title, your name, date, the unit/subject, course and the name of the tutor to whom it is being submitted. Requirements do vary though from course to course, so check with your tutor what is expected.

Make sure you copy the title exactly as it has been given to you: don't paraphrase or summarise it in any way. Print the title in a bigger font (and maybe in bold) as it should stand out from the rest of the information.

Ensure everything is spelt correctly! A mistake on the title page creates a very bad impression.

It is generally best to avoid graphics and pictures (especially Microsoft clipart!); also avoid coloured and "fancy" fonts or effects. (An exception might be on some BIAD or possibly Built Environment courses). Your main aim should be clarity.
A couple of sample title pages follow.

Example 1 

The Permanent Search For Temporary Staff

Submitted by: ABC 

Submitted to: Dr. XYZ 
Date: 15 February 2008 

B.A. (Hons) Business Administration 
Year 2 
AAA City University 
Business School

Example 2 

AAA City University 
BA (Honours) Media and Communication 
Module 3 Assignment 2 

Examine the relationship between ownership of the mass media and control over the media's output 

Submitted by : ABC (Student Number: 98765439) 
Submitted to: Prof. XYZ 
Date of submission: 2 May 2008

How to write Effective Sentences

What is a sentence? 
A sentence is a group of words, almost always containing at least one subject and one verb, which expresses a complete thought or idea. Sentences always start with a capital letter, and always end with a full stop, a question mark or, in more informal writing, an exclamation mark.

Why are sentences important? 
In more formal written English clear structure is of paramount importance, and sentences are the foundation to achieving this. Unlike in spoken English, where the listener's understanding is greatly aided by intonation, facial expressions and body language, and where repetition, vagueness and uncompleted ideas are perfectly acceptable, in order to express yourself in formal written English you must write in clear, concise, complete, well - punctuated sentences.

Common errors while sriting a sentence 

Sentences are incompleteSentences are incorrectly punctuatedSentences are too longSentences are too shortUsing run - on/comma - spliced sentencesUsing sentence fragments

Types of SentenceSimple sentencesCompound sentencesComplex sentences

How to write Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements are usually included at the beginning of a long piece of work such as a dissertation or thesis. 

Example acknowledgements 
This is obviously a very personal part of your work; the extract below will simply give you an idea of the sort of language used. 

I would like to thank the following: Dr. Fred Titmus, my supervisor, for his encouragement, patience and expert advice; Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, for supplying so much invaluable information; members of the Learner Development Team, for help with my English and approaches to writing; and finally special thanks go to my friends and family who have supported me throughout my research.

Other expressions you might use include:

I am (most/very) grateful to ... 
I wish to (warmly) thank the following ... 
This paper could not have been written without the invaluable help of ... 
I acknowledge my gratitude to ... 
You can of course look at books you have used or at copies of previous dissertations/theses.

How to use Effective Cover Letter

At best, a cover letter can help a job - seeker stand out from the pack. At worst, it can make a promising candidate seem like an uncreative cut - and - paster. Here is six golden rules for writing a cover letter somebody will actually want to read. 

Don't repeat your resume

A lot of people write cover letters as if they were paragraph - form resumes. Fact is, your letter will be stapled (or attached to the same email) as your actual resume, so you can assume that they'll at least glance at it (and probably with a keener eye than your cover letter). Instead, use your cover letter to show personality, curiosity, and an interest in the field you are applying to work in. 

Keep it short

Less. Is. More. Three paragraphs, tops. Half a page, tops. Skip lengthy exposition and jump right into something juicy. 

Address Nobody

Sometimes, you don't know exactly who you should be addressing your letter to. Nix the generic and bland "Dear Hiring Manager" or "To Whom It May Concern". If you absolutely don't know who you should be addressing, then don't address anybody. Instead, just jump right into the body of the letter. 

Send it as a PDF

Not every office computer can read .docx or .pages files, but virtually everybody can open a PDF file without any conversion. File conversions are bad for two huge reasons. First, they are just as likely to not bother and move onto the next applicant. 

Never ever, ever use the following phrase 
"My name is ___, and I am applying for the position as ____". They already know this, and you'll sound inexperienced. 

Close strong 
Finish off by quickly (and I mean quickly) explaining how your experience or worldview will help you at the job. That's key. That's the closer. And it can be done in one to two seconds. If it goes any longer, you're just rambling. 

How to effectively use punctuation

Punctuation Mark

Use to...

( . ) Period

End a sentence: Dinner was delicious.

( ? ) Question Mark

End a sentence and denote inquiry: What time is it?

( ! ) Exclamation Point

End a sentence and denote excitement or emphasis: Watch out for that tree!

( , ) Comma

Denote a break within a sentence or direct address of a person or group: Mary, listen to me .

Separate any of the following:

- Two or more adjectives: He is a charming, attentive listener.

- Items in a list: Please buy eggs, milk, butter and flour.

- The name of a city from the name of a state: I live in Salt Lake City, Utah.

- Two independent clauses: The waiter still hasn't taken our order, and the play starts in five minutes.

- Direct quotations: Quoth the raven, Nevermore.

( ; ) Semicolon        

Separate two related but independent clauses: I asked Anne to look at my computer; she has a knack for them.

Separate a series of items that already contain commas:

- For our wedding colors, I chose white, the color of innocence; red, the color of passion; and yellow, the color of lemons.

- I have lived in Detroit, Michigan; Paris, France; and Sydney, Australia.

( : ) Colon

Introduce a list.

For Christmas, I would like the following presents: a hula hoop, a hippopotamus, and my two front teeth.

Introduce a statement that expands upon the clause before the colon.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.

( - ) Hyphen

Add a prefix: Trans-Atlantic flights are costly.

C reate compound words: Spider-Man is my favorite superhero.

W rite numbers as words: I have lived in this house for thirty-three years.

( or   ) Dash

Make a brief interruption within a sentence or a parenthetical phrase: Johnny asked me with a straight face, I might add if he could borrow the car for the weekend.

( ) Double Quotation

Enclose a direct quotation: If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

( ' ) Single Quotation

Denote possession: I believe that is Allen's pen.

Denote c ontraction: I know it's his because of the distinct monogram.

Denote a quotation within a quotation: He told me just last week, I do enjoy this monogrammed pen. My wife said, 'Allen, it isn't like people go around mistaking your pens for theirs all day.'

( ( ) ) Parentheses

Indicate clarification: Please bring home some real butter (as opposed to margarine).

Indicate an a fterthought or personal commentary: Anyone can edit Wikipedia (not that there's anything wrong with that).

How to effectively use punctuation continued

Good, correct use of punctuation is very important in your writing. Punctuation often plays the same role as variations in your voice do when you are speaking: full stops, colons, semi-colons and commas indicate various lengths of pauses; a question mark obviously indicates a question, whereas a rise or fall in your voice would do this. Lack of punctuation, therefore, or incorrect use of it, will result in your writing being difficult to follow, and your reader having to do unnecessary work. It could, in fact, be argued that correct punctuation is more important than correct grammar in making your writing easy to read.

Here are the names of the different types of punctuation, followed by notes on each.

[ . ] full stop

[ , ] comma

[ ; ] semi-colon

[ : ] colon

[ ? ] question mark

[ ! ] exclamation mark 

[ " " ] quotation marks

[ ' ] apostrophe

[ ( ) ] brackets

[ _ ] dash

[ / ] forward slash

Full stops 
These obviously indicate the end of a sentence and must always be followed by a CAPITAL letter. Make sure you don't split a sentence unnecessarily with a full stop, creating what are known as sentence fragments. 

Commas 
The biggest punctuation problem is the incorrect use of commas: not using them, or using them in the wrong place. Remember that commas should be used to indicate to your reader a break in the flow of writing. If you write a long sentence without commas, then it may be very difficult to follow. 

Semi-colons 
Semi-colons create a break in a sentence somewhere between a full stop and a comma. If you're unsure about their use, don't worry: it's never necessary to use them. They are used to connect sentences with very similar meanings or which are closely linked; in the following examples, however, the sentences could be written separately, or connected with a word likewhereas: 

Economics is regarded as a Social Science; Engineering is an Applied Science. 
It is a thriving department; cuts in funding do not seem to have had an effect on them.

Semi-colons can also be used to separate long items within a list: 
A balanced diet such include regular intake of carbohydrates, such as pasta or bread; fruit and vegetables, preferably fresh and ideally organic; meat, although excessive intake of red meat should be avoided; ... 

Colons 
Colons can be useful to add flexibility and variety to your writing, but it is rarely (or never) necessary to use them. They are perhaps most frequently used to introduce a long list, table or figure; or maybe a long quotation separated from the rest of your text. Shorter quotations are preceded by a comma. They might also introduce some examples: 

The data is presented here in tabulated form: 

Question marks 
These always come right at the end of the question sentence. Remember, though, that too many direct questions are best avoided in academic writing; indirect questions do not need a question mark. 

Exclamation marks 
Unless quoting what someone has directly said to you in an interview, avoid using exclamation marks in your academic writing. They are too informal.

Quotation marks (inverted commas) 
Don't worry too much about whether to use single or double marks, but do make sure you are consistent in your use. They can be used to indicate that a word is being used in a special way; perhaps if you are being ironic, or making a simile, or simply naming something: 

Ganguly (1988) described the process as 'asymmetric'. 
The behaviour of the English 'supporters' was despicable.

A lot of native English speakers are getting very confused about the humble little apostrophe. 
Apostrophes have two distinct uses in English:

To indicate possession 
To indicate a missing letter or letters in a contraction 

Note that apostrophes should only very rarely (if ever) be used to indicate plurals 

Possession
An apostrophe is used to indicate possession - that something belongs to somebody or something. For example:
The committee's decision (=the decision of the committee)
The President's mistake (=the mistake of the President)

Contractions
In spoken English and informal writing, contractions (e.g. I've) are extremely common: you will in fact sound very strange if you don't use them when you're speaking. The apostrophe indicates where the missing letters should be:
there's = there is
he's = he has or he is 
NOTE: Contractions should NOT be used in formal academic writing. Always write out the full form of the words

Plurals
Apostrophes are only used in plurals in one or two special cases (see below). In recent years, however, in this country, and also in other English speaking countries such as Australia and the USA, we have seen the emergence of what is sometimes called the"greengrocers' apostrophe": the use of the apostrophe to show a plural, as in: 
Apple's 40p a pound 

Brackets
Apart from in references, it is best to try to avoid brackets. Their use is bad style, they can make your writing difficult to follow, and are never necessary. Commas usually serve exactly the same purpose. 

Dashes
Don't use them; they are too informal. 

Forward slashes/strokes
Apart from internet addresses or other special uses, don't use them. Instead of cities/towns/villages you should write something like cities, towns or villages.

How to Write a News Article

Writing a news article is different from writing other articles or informational pieces, because news articles present information in a specific way. It's important to be able to convey all the important information in a limited word count. Knowing how to write a news article can help you expand a journalism career, exercise your writing skills and convey information clearly and concisely.

1. Compile all your facts.

Before you write a news article, make a list or outline of all the pertinent facts and information that need to be included in the article. This fact list will help prevent you from leaving out any relevant information about the topic or story and will also help you write a clean, succinct article.

2. Start with the lead

News articles begin with a leading sentence that is meant to grab a reader's attention and interest them. This is one of the most important parts of the piece, so start with the leading statement when writing a news article. Your lead should be one sentence and should simply, but completely, state the topic of the article.

3. Give all the important details

The next important step to writing news articles is including all the relevant facts and details that relate to your lead statement. Include the basics of what happened, where and when it took place, who is involved and why it's newsworthy. These details are important, because they are the focal point of the article that fully informs the reader.

4 Follow up main facts with additional information

After you've listed all the primary facts in your news article, include any additional information that might help the reader learn more, such as contact information, additional facts about the topic or people involved, or quotes from interviewees. This additional information helps round out the article.

5. Check facts before concluding

Be sure to double check all the facts in your news article before you submit it, including names, dates, and contact information or addresses. Writing accurately is one of the best ways to establish yourself as a competent news article writer.

6 Remain unbiased

A news article is meant to convey direct facts, not the opinions of its writer. Keep your writing unbiased and objective. Avoid any language that is overly positive or negative or statements that could be construed as support or criticism.

7 Conclude your article

Make sure your news article is complete and finished by giving it a good concluding sentence. This is often a restatement of the leading statement or a statement indicating potential future developments relating to the article topic.

How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay

While the classic five paragraph essay is a form seldom if ever used by professional writers, it is commonly assigned to students to help them organize and develop their ideas in writing. It can also be a very useful way to write a complete and clear response to an essay question on an exam. It has, not surprisingly, five paragraphs:

an introductionthree main body paragraphsa conclusion

We'll look at each type of paragraph, and at transitions, the glue that holds them together.

Introduction

The introduction should start with a general discussion of your subject and lead to a very specific statement of your main point, or thesis. Sometimes an essay begins with a "grabber," such as a challenging claim, or surprising story to catch a reader's attention. The thesis should tell in one (or at most two) sentence(s), what your overall point or argument is, and briefly, what your main body paragraphs will be about.

For example, in an essay about the importance of airbags in cars, the introduction might start with some information about car accidents and survival rates. It might also have a grabber about someone who survived a terrible accident because of an airbag. The thesis would briefly state the main reasons for recommending airbags, and each reason would be discussed in the main body of the essay.

Main Body Paragraphs (3)

Each main body paragraph will focus on a single idea, reason, or example that supports your thesis. Each paragraph will have a clear topic sentence (a mini thesis that states the main idea of the paragraph) and as much discussion or explanation as is necessary to explain the point. You should try to use details and specific examples to make your ideas clear and convincing.

Conclusion

Your conclusion begins with a restatement of your main point; but be sure to paraphrase, not just repeat your thesis sentence. Then you want to add some sentences that emphasize the importance of the topic and the significance of your view. Think about what idea or feeling you want to leave your reader with. The conclusion is the reverse of the introduction in that it starts out very specific and becomes a bit more general as you finish.

Transitions

Transitions connect your paragraphs to one another, especially the main body ones. It's not effective to simply jump from one idea to the next; you need to use the end of one paragraph and/or the beginning of the next to show the relationship between the two ideas.

Between each paragraph and the one that follows, you need a transition. It can be built in to the topic sentence of the next paragraph, or it can be the concluding sentence of the first. It can even be a little of both. To express the relationship between the two paragraphs, think about words and phrases that compare and contrast.

Does the first paragraph tell us a pro and the second a con? ("on the other hand . . .")Does the second paragraph tell us something of greater significance? ("more importantly . . .")An earlier historical example? ("even before [topic of paragraph 1], [topic of paragraph 2]")A different kind of consideration? (money versus time).

Think about your paragraph topics and brainstorm until you find the most relevant links between them.

You'll also want some kind of transition from the last paragraph to your conclusion. One way is to sum up your third body paragraph with some reminders of your other paragraphs. You don't need to restate the topics fully (that comes in the conclusion) but you can refer to a detail, or example, or character as a way of pulling your ideas together and signaling that you are getting ready to conclude.

How to Write a Descriptive Paragraph

1) Find and Explore a Topic 
Before you can write an effective descriptive paragraph, you need to do two things:find a good topic;study the topic carefully (a strategy that we call probing ).

2) Draft a Descriptive Paragraph 
Once you have settled on a topic for your descriptive paragraph and collected some details, you're ready to assemble those details in a rough draft that begins with a topic sentence . 

3) Revise a Descriptive Paragraph 
Now you will revise your descriptive paragraph, concentrating on its organization . That is, you will check to see that your sentences follow a clear and logical order, each detail related to the one that came before and leading to the one that follows.

4) Revise, Edit, and Proofread 
You're almost done. It's now time to invite someone else (a classmate, for example, or your instructor) to read your descriptive paragraph and suggest ways to improve it. Taking your reader's comments into consideration, revise the paragraph one last time

How to Write a Biography

A biography is simply the story of a life. Biographies can be just a few sentences long, or they can fill an entire book - or two.

Very short biographies tell the basic facts of someone's life and importance.Longer biographies include that basic information of course, with a lot more detail, but they also tell a good story.

Biographers use primary and secondary sources:

Primary sources are things like letters, diaries, or newspaper accounts.Secondary sources include other biographies, reference books, or histories that provide information about the subject of the biography.

To write a biography you should:

Select a person you are interested inFind out the basic facts of the person's life. Start with the encyclopedia and almanac.Think about what else you would like to know about the person, and what parts of the life you want to write most about. Some questions you might want to think about include:What makes this person special or interesting?What kind of effect did he or she have on the world? other people?What are the adjectives you would most use to describe the person?What examples from their life illustrate those qualities?What events shaped or changed this person's life?Did he or she overcome obstacles? Take risks? Get lucky?Would the world be better or worse if this person hadn't lived? How and why?Do additional research at your library or on the Internet to find information that helps you answer these questions and tell an interesting story.