What makes one type of essay
different from another?
Descriptive
Compare & Contrast
Compare & Contrast
Process
Argumentative
Classification
Cause & Effect
Cause & Effect
Descriptive Essay Body
Thesis Statement – Frank Gehry’s most stunning and creative architectural design to
date is the Guggenheim Bilbao museum.
Topic Sentence 1 – The remarkable building has been called, in architectural circles, a
masterpiece.
Topic Sentence 2 – The primary source of inspiration for the building is the city’s basic
industrial strength.
Topic Sentence 3 – Finally, as remarkable as the building itself, is the location.
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Descriptive Essay Body
Topic Sentence
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
Finally, as remarkable as the building itself, is the location. It rises from an area of
what used to be empty factories and industrial wasteland enclosed within a bend of
the river Nervión, right in the middle of Bilbao. The city, with one million inhabitants in
its core and surroundings, is Spain's fourth largest, a once mighty, now dying centre
of steelmaking, shipbuilding, and banking. Where once there was the smell of smoke
and sulfur, now delicious aromas of popcorn and cotton candy hang in the air along
the walkways.
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Compare and Contrast Essay Body (Similarities)
Thesis Statement – Although there are a number of differences between Izmir
Economy and EGE Universities, the two are very similar on the basis of student
profiles, their scholarship opportunities and their reputations.
Topic Sentence 1 – At first glance, IEU and Ege universities have a lot in common such
as the student profile.
Topic Sentence 2 – A secondly point of comparison is that they can be compared in
terms of their scholarship opportunities.
Topic Sentence 3 – Lastly, Izmir Economy and Ege Universities can be compared in
terms of their reputations.
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Compare and Contrast Essay Body (Similarities)
Topic Sentence
Similarity 1
Detail (Example of Similarity 1)
Similarity 2
Detail (Example of Similarity 2)
Similarity 3
Detail (Example of Similarity 3)
At first glance, IEU and Ege universities have a lot in common such as the student
profile. First of all, both of them are located in Izmir, and try to attract students from all
over the country. They both do this by sending teachers from their schools to visit
high schools and attend fairs being held in different cities around the country, and this
means that both schools attract an overall similar student profile. Next we can
compare the average age of the students. In a recent poll conducted by Jones (2009)
the average age of an IEU student is 22.6, and that is very close to the average student
age at EGE which is 22.5. Lastly, both universities have close to the same number of
males and females. IEU has a ratio of %53 females to males, whereas EGE has a
similar ratio of %51 females to males.
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Compare and Contrast Essay Body (Differences)
Thesis Statement – The things that makes the Turkish cities of Istanbul and Izmir very
different from each other are their weather, people and opportunities.
Topic Sentence 1 – The first difference between the Turkish cities of Izmir and Istanbul
is their weather.
Topic Sentence 2 – The second difference between the Turkish cities of Izmir and
Istanbul is their people.
Topic Sentence 3 – The last difference between the Turkish cities of Izmir and Istanbul
is their opportunities.
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Compare and Contrast Essay Body (Differences)
Note: The example paragraph below shows only two differences. You however can
include as many differences as you can find for each topic.
Topic Sentence
Difference 1
Detail (Example of Difference 1)
Difference 2
Detail (Example of Difference 2)
The first difference between the Turkish cities of Izmir and Istanbul is their weather.
Izmir, located in the west of Turkey on the Aegean coast, is very hot in the summer.
Average temperatures are around 35-38 degrees Celsius. Because of this, and the fact
it is near the sea, Izmir is very popular for summer beach holidays. In the winter, it is
very mild with temperatures rarely falling below zero and an average of 8-10 degrees,
so if you don’t like really cold winters, it’s a good place to live. Although Istanbul is
also very hot in the summer, it is not as hot as Izmir. It is always about 5 degrees
cooler than Izmir and on average 30 degrees, but is much more humid. Research
conducted by Jones (2009) shows that most tourists find Istanbul to be very
uncomfortable and sticky, and this lowers the attractiveness of the city. The biggest
difference can be seen in the winter in Istanbul with snow and a lot of rain.
Temperatures often fall below zero and very cold weather stays there for at least 4
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months.
Process Essay Body Paragraph
Thesis Statement – If you follow four easy steps, you will be able to write a competent
essay; research your subject well, plan logically, support your thesis, and proofread
for errors.
Topic Sentence 1 – The first step in being able to write a competent essay is to
research your subject well.
Topic Sentence 2 – The second step in being able to write a competent essay is to plan
logically.
Topic Sentence 3 – The third step in being able to write a competent essay is to
support your thesis.
Topic Sentence 4 – The last step in being able to write a competent essay is to
proofread for errors.
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Process Essay Body Paragraph
Note: The example paragraph below shows only two steps. You need to include as
many steps that are needed to complete the paragraph topic that you are writing
about.
Topic Sentence
Step 1
Detail (Example of Step 1)
Step 2
Detail (Example of Step 2)
The third step in being able to write a competent essay is to support your thesis.
Usually, you need three supporting paragraphs and those can be the body paragraphs
of the essay. You should organize adequate and specific details. Supporting
paragraphs consist of concrete evidence such as examples, direct quotes, and
personal experiences, and each supporting paragraph helps to make the essay clearer.
Now you have an outline of the essay. Next, you need to arrange an introductory and a
concluding paragraph based on the thesis. Using opposing ideas or questions in the
introduction and predictions, recommendations and challenges as final comments are
ways you can make the essay more interesting and effective.
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Argumentative Essay Body
Thesis Statement – There are some people who believe that money is the most
important thing in life, however I strongly believe they are wrong because intelligent
people choose being in love, which is the most wonderful experience in the world.
Topic Sentence 1 – Firstly, people should choose love over money because love
creates special emotions that gives people memories lasting a lifetime.
Topic Sentence 2 – Secondly, being in love is the most important experience in the
world because it allows you to have a life-long companion.
Topic Sentence 3 – Lastly, being in love is the most wonderful experience in the world
because there is always someone there to give you encouragement.
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Argumentative Essay Body
Topic Sentence
Reason 1
Detail (Example of Reason 1)
Reason 2
Detail (Example of Reason 2)
Reason 3
Detail (Example of Reason 3)
Firstly, people should choose love over money because love creates special emotions
that gives people memories lasting a lifetime. One memory people have is about the
first person they fell in love with. According to recent data from Canada, Jones (2009)
reports that 89% of men and women remember who their first love was. Another thing
that makes love better than money is the emotion of togetherness. When married
couples grow old together it is quite a well known fact that when one elderly person
passes away, the spouse quite often also dies within one year, and this is most likely
caused by loneliness. Finally, love brings people happiness that they cannot get
elsewhere. It is easy to see a person in love because all you have to do is to see the
almost permanent smile that never leaves their face, and not even money makes a
smile last that long.
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Classification Essay Body Paragraph
Thesis Statement – All restaurants can be divided to three main groups according to
the type of food they serve: fast food, gourmet food and ethnic food.
Topic Sentence 1 – In the first group, as their name suggests, fast food restaurants are
noted for their quick service.
Topic Sentence 2 – The second group that restaurants can be divided into according to
the type of food they serve is gourmet food restaurants.
Topic Sentence 3 – The final group the restaurants can be divided into according to the
type of food they serve is ethnic food.
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Classification Essay Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Characteristic 1
Detail (Example of Characteristic 1)
Characteristic 2
Detail (Example of Characteristic 2)
Characteristic 3
Detail (Example of Characteristic 3)
In the first group, as their name suggests, fast food restaurants are noted for their
quick service. These establishments are usually preferred by teenagers and working
people. This is because they often have a tight schedule and little or no time to go
home and cook. In addition, at these restaurants customers can enjoy a filling meal at
a reasonable price. People from all social classes and economic backgrounds can be
found eating in fast food restaurants as a result. In addition, the friendly atmosphere of
these restaurants attracts them. Supporting this idea is Jones (2009) who states that
recent studies show that restaurants are the top favorite place for people to meet with
their friends and listen to the latest music while they are eating their meals.
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Cause and Effects Essay Body Paragraph (Causes)
Thesis Statement – Teenagers start to smoke for three basic reasons; rebelling against
society, copying adult examples and peer pressure.
Topic Sentence 1 – The first reason that teenagers start to smoke is to rebel against
society.
Topic Sentence 2 – The next reason that teenagers start to smoke is to copy adult
examples.
Topic Sentence 3 – Peer pressure is the final reason for teenage smoking.
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Cause and Effects Essay Body Paragraph (Causes)
Topic Sentence
Cause 1
Detail (Example of Cause 1)
Cause 2
Detail (Example of Cause 2)
Cause 3
Detail (Example of Cause 3)
Peer pressure is the final reason for teenage smoking. Young people often want to
look, act and dress like their friends, and often in these groups exist friends who
already smoke. As such, they copy their smoking friends because they think this
behavior will make them cool, and be accepted easier. Moreover, many teenagers feel
pressured by their peers to smoke. For example, even if a teenager knows smoking is
harmful and has been warned not to do it, he or she may still smoke because of their
desire to ‘fit in’ with everyone, not be different and left out. The next thing that peers
do is put pressure on their friends to smoke. In his recent study Jones (2009) proved
that over 50% of friends ‘tease’ their best friend into doing the same bad behaviours
that they are doing.
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Cause and Effects Essay Body Paragraph (Effects)
Thesis Statement – Studying for the Turkish university entrance exam affects students
in three negative ways; psychologically, physically and socially.
Topic Sentence 1 – The first group of effects that students preparing for the exam
suffer is psychological.
Topic Sentence 2 – The second group of effects that students preparing for the exam
suffer is physical.
Topic Sentence 3 – The last group of effects that students preparing for the exam
suffer is related to their social life.
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Cause and Effects Essay Body Paragraph (Effects)
Topic Sentence
Effect 1
Detail (Example of Effect 1)
Effect 2
Detail (Example of Effect 2)
Effect 3
Detail (Example of Effect 3)
The first group of effects that students preparing for the exam suffer is psychological.
Pupils often feel depressed in this preparation period, and according to Jones (2009)
students report that they get very sad and feel like the whole world is against them
during exam preparation time, and as a consequence, they have lower motivation to do
well in the exam. In addition, many students become very pessimistic about
everything. They do not see anything positively and feel that they have no chance of
passing the exam. Lastly, some students completely give up taking the exam. For
example, out of every one-hundred students scheduled to take an exam, only ninetyfive of them take it, which means 5% of all students decided not to take the exam.
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NOW
YOU
KNOW
EH !
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