| Can Your EFL Learners Write an Essay in English? | | | | (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) |
| "Teacher, if we have to write an essay, it's going to be | | | | learners to write an essay, is none other than the old |
| a problem for us." | | | | standby, "The Five Paragraph Essay". This writing |
| "No problem, I'll show you a simple format you can use | | | | structure is, of course, based on writing on a topic |
| to write an essay in English." | | | | using five paragraphs. Briefly, here's how it is set up. |
| Thus began an intermediate course in Writing for my | | | | Paragraph One - When you write an essay, the first |
| EFL learners. What about your English as a foreign | | | | paragraph provides the introduction to the essay or |
| language learners? Do they have problems with writing | | | | composition. It tells what is to be discussed and why. |
| in English? | | | | Your main points or arguments are briefly introduced. |
| A Natural Tendency with Foreign Language Learners | | | | This paragraph need not be a lengthy one, four to five |
| A natural tendency with foreign language learners is to | | | | sentences will usually suffice. |
| write in the same way they would - in their first | | | | Paragraph Two - In the second paragraph more |
| language (L1). While this may on occasion be a good | | | | background information is provided in more detail. Your |
| thing, for the most part it can be the root of a string of | | | | first, often strongest main point or argument is |
| serious problems when you write an essay. A foreign | | | | expanded upon. This second paragraph is usually |
| language is not a "translation" of English. Neither is | | | | longer than the first or introductory paragraph. There is |
| English a "translation of a foreign language, even if they | | | | a topic sentence, three to five sentences of |
| are in the same language family. This can even be true | | | | information, then a summary or concluding sentence |
| for varieties of English. In the "Queen's English", written | | | | which is used to allude or transition to the next |
| structure can and often does differentiate composition | | | | paragraph's content. |
| and structure. Sure, an American can easily read a | | | | Paragraph Three - The third paragraph provides your |
| British English composition, but would most likely NOT | | | | second key point or argument and ties it into your |
| write a composition or essay of their own in the same | | | | theme, when you write an essay or composition. |
| way. The Queen could certainly read an essay written | | | | Frequently, it is similar in length to the second |
| by an American, although it would almost certainly be | | | | paragraph. Information, support and background for |
| done in a far different style than issues forth from | | | | your second key point or argument are the main |
| Cambridge or Oxford. | | | | content here. Once again, the last sentence of the |
| The Spanish Language | | | | paragraph transitions to the content of the forth one. |
| The Spanish Language is one case in which distinctive | | | | Paragraph Four - In this fourth paragraph, you'll present |
| differences in writing clearly emerge. If you were to | | | | your third key point or argument. More in-depth |
| read a translation of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" | | | | information and background on this point is provided |
| by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, you'd | | | | here. Be sure to relate this point to your composition or |
| immediately note, even in English, a substantial style | | | | essay topic. Also, add quotations, statistics, facts, |
| deviation from say, Ernest Hemingway in his "The Old | | | | examples and other relevant data to support this third |
| Man and the Sea". Not just the writing style, but lexis, | | | | point or argument. As before, the last sentence is a |
| grammatical structure, syntax and means of | | | | transitional one. |
| expression are all so clearly different that you would | | | | Paragraph Five - The fifth and final paragraph is used |
| most probably know these two men are not from the | | | | to summarize or conclude when you write an essay |
| same culture. Nonetheless, clarity and organization are | | | | or composition. It shows how the three key points or |
| important when you write an essay. But I digress. | | | | arguments you have presented compare or relate to |
| A Simple Writing Format for EFL and ESL Learners | | | | each other. It also clearly re-states your initial position |
| A simple format for English as a Foreign Language | | | | from the introductory paragraph. |