A simple approach to write an essay for EFL students

Can your EFL students write an essay in English?

"Master, if we have to write an essay, is going to be a problem for us."

"No problem, I will show you a simple format that you can use to write an essay in English."

So begins an intermediate course in writing for my EFL students. And your English as a foreign language learners? They have no problem with writing in English?

A natural tendency, with students of foreign languages

A natural tendency of students with foreign language is to write the same way they would - in their first language (L1). Although this can sometimes be a good thing, for the most part can be the root of a number of serious problems when writing an essay. A foreign language is not a "translation" of English. Neither is English "translation of a foreign language, even if they are in the same language family. This may be true for the varieties of English. In the" Queen's English ", the structure and often written can make a difference and composition facility. Sure, an American can easily read a composition of British English, but most likely not to write an essay or a composition of them in the same way. Queen could certainly read an essay written by an American, although it would almost certainly be done in a very different style from that springs from Cambridge or Oxford.

The Spanish language

The Spanish language is a case in which the distinctive differences in the writing are clear. If you were to read a translation of "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, you would immediately notice, in English, with a detour style of substance to say, Ernest Hemingway in his "The Old Man and the Sea. " Not only the writing style, but vocabulary, grammar, syntax and means of expression are all so clearly different that you would most likely know these two men are not the same culture. However, the clarity and organization are important when writing an essay. But I digress.

A simple writing format for EFL and ESL Learners

A simple format for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) students to write an essay, is nothing but the old standby, "The Five Paragraph Essay." This writing is, of course, on the basis of writing on a topic using five points. In short, here's how it is configured.

Paragraph One - When writing an essay, the first paragraph provides an introduction to the essay or composition. He says what is to be discussed and why. The main points or topics are briefly introduced. This paragraph should not be a long one, four or five sentences is usually enough.

Two Paragraph - In the second point more background information is provided in greater detail. Your first, often main strength is extended, or topic. This second paragraph is usually longer than the first paragraph or introduction. Is there a topic sentence, three to five sentences of information, then a summary or concluding phrase that is used to refer to content or transition of the next paragraph.

Third paragraph - The third paragraph provides the second key point or argument and links it to your theme, when you write an essay or composition. Often, it is similar to the length of the second paragraph. Information, support and background for your second key point is the main content or topics here. Once again, the last sentence of paragraph transitions to the fourth content.

Fourth paragraph - In the fourth paragraph, which will be presented the third key point or argument. More detailed information and background on this issue is available here. Make sure to relate this point the composition or the subject assay. Also, add quotes, statistics, facts, examples and other relevant data to support this third point or argument. As before, the last sentence is a transition.

Section Five - The fifth and final paragraph is used to summarize or conclude when writing an essay or composition. It shows how the three key points or arguments that you presented to compare or relate to each other. It 'also clearly re-affirms its initial position of the introductory paragraph.

The end points of writing an essay in English

Some other, end points to remember when writing an essay of five points are:

o Do not use contractions
o Do not use first person "I" said that unless this is permitted
o Use simple sentences or compound only - NO complex sentences should be used
o Keep your writing well-organized
Ø Use quotations, examples, statistics, facts and supporting data for each section...