year 7 essay structure

Essay Writing: A complete guide for students and teachers

P LANNING, PARAGRAPHING AND POLISHING: FINE-TUNING THE PERFECT ESSAY

Essay writing is an essential skill for every student. Whether writing a particular academic essay (such as persuasive, narrative, descriptive, or expository) or a timed exam essay, the key to getting good at writing is to write. Creating opportunities for our students to engage in extended writing activities will go a long way to helping them improve their skills as scribes.

But, putting the hours in alone will not be enough to attain the highest levels in essay writing. Practice must be meaningful. Once students have a broad overview of how to structure the various types of essays, they are ready to narrow in on the minor details that will enable them to fine-tune their work as a lean vehicle of their thoughts and ideas.

In this article, we will drill down to some aspects that will assist students in taking their essay writing skills up a notch. Many ideas and activities can be integrated into broader lesson plans based on essay writing. Often, though, they will work effectively in isolation – just as athletes isolate physical movements to drill that are relevant to their sport. When these movements become second nature, they can be repeated naturally in the context of the game or in our case, the writing of the essay.

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Planning an essay

The Boys Scouts’ motto is famously ‘Be Prepared’. It’s a solid motto that can be applied to most aspects of life; essay writing is no different. Given the purpose of an essay is generally to present a logical and reasoned argument, investing time in organising arguments, ideas, and structure would seem to be time well spent.

Given that essays can take a wide range of forms and that we all have our own individual approaches to writing, it stands to reason that there will be no single best approach to the planning stage of essay writing. That said, there are several helpful hints and techniques we can share with our students to help them wrestle their ideas into a writable form. Let’s take a look at a few of the best of these:

BREAK THE QUESTION DOWN: UNDERSTAND YOUR ESSAY TOPIC.

Whether students are tackling an assignment that you have set for them in class or responding to an essay prompt in an exam situation, they should get into the habit of analyzing the nature of the task. To do this, they should unravel the question’s meaning or prompt. Students can practice this in class by responding to various essay titles, questions, and prompts, thereby gaining valuable experience breaking these down.

Have students work in groups to underline and dissect the keywords and phrases and discuss what exactly is being asked of them in the task. Are they being asked to discuss, describe, persuade, or explain? Understanding the exact nature of the task is crucial before going any further in the planning process, never mind the writing process .

BRAINSTORM AND MIND MAP WHAT YOU KNOW:

Once students have understood what the essay task asks them, they should consider what they know about the topic and, often, how they feel about it. When teaching essay writing, we so often emphasize that it is about expressing our opinions on things, but for our younger students what they think about something isn’t always obvious, even to themselves.

Brainstorming and mind-mapping what they know about a topic offers them an opportunity to uncover not just what they already know about a topic, but also gives them a chance to reveal to themselves what they think about the topic. This will help guide them in structuring their research and, later, the essay they will write . When writing an essay in an exam context, this may be the only ‘research’ the student can undertake before the writing, so practicing this will be even more important.

RESEARCH YOUR ESSAY

The previous step above should reveal to students the general direction their research will take. With the ubiquitousness of the internet, gone are the days of students relying on a single well-thumbed encyclopaedia from the school library as their sole authoritative source in their essay. If anything, the real problem for our students today is narrowing down their sources to a manageable number. Students should use the information from the previous step to help here. At this stage, it is important that they:

●      Ensure the research material is directly relevant to the essay task

●      Record in detail the sources of the information that they will use in their essay

●      Engage with the material personally by asking questions and challenging their own biases

●      Identify the key points that will be made in their essay

●      Group ideas, counterarguments, and opinions together

●      Identify the overarching argument they will make in their own essay.

Once these stages have been completed the student is ready to organise their points into a logical order.

WRITING YOUR ESSAY

There are a number of ways for students to organize their points in preparation for writing. They can use graphic organizers , post-it notes, or any number of available writing apps. The important thing for them to consider here is that their points should follow a logical progression. This progression of their argument will be expressed in the form of body paragraphs that will inform the structure of their finished essay.

The number of paragraphs contained in an essay will depend on a number of factors such as word limits, time limits, the complexity of the question etc. Regardless of the essay’s length, students should ensure their essay follows the Rule of Three in that every essay they write contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Generally speaking, essay paragraphs will focus on one main idea that is usually expressed in a topic sentence that is followed by a series of supporting sentences that bolster that main idea. The first and final sentences are of the most significance here with the first sentence of a paragraph making the point to the reader and the final sentence of the paragraph making the overall relevance to the essay’s argument crystal clear. 

Though students will most likely be familiar with the broad generic structure of essays, it is worth investing time to ensure they have a clear conception of how each part of the essay works, that is, of the exact nature of the task it performs. Let’s review:

Common Essay Structure

Introduction: Provides the reader with context for the essay. It states the broad argument that the essay will make and informs the reader of the writer’s general perspective and approach to the question.

Body Paragraphs: These are the ‘meat’ of the essay and lay out the argument stated in the introduction point by point with supporting evidence.

Conclusion: Usually, the conclusion will restate the central argument while summarising the essay’s main supporting reasons before linking everything back to the original question.

ESSAY WRITING PARAGRAPH WRITING TIPS

●      Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea

●      Paragraphs should follow a logical sequence; students should group similar ideas together to avoid incoherence

●      Paragraphs should be denoted consistently; students should choose either to indent or skip a line

●      Transition words and phrases such as alternatively , consequently , in contrast should be used to give flow and provide a bridge between paragraphs.

HOW TO EDIT AN ESSAY

Students shouldn’t expect their essays to emerge from the writing process perfectly formed. Except in exam situations and the like, thorough editing is an essential aspect in the writing process. 

Often, students struggle with this aspect of the process the most. After spending hours of effort on planning, research, and writing the first draft, students can be reluctant to go back over the same terrain they have so recently travelled. It is important at this point to give them some helpful guidelines to help them to know what to look out for. The following tips will provide just such help: 

One Piece at a Time: There is a lot to look out for in the editing process and often students overlook aspects as they try to juggle too many balls during the process. One effective strategy to combat this is for students to perform a number of rounds of editing with each focusing on a different aspect. For example, the first round could focus on content, the second round on looking out for word repetition (use a thesaurus to help here), with the third attending to spelling and grammar.

Sum It Up: When reviewing the paragraphs they have written, a good starting point is for students to read each paragraph and attempt to sum up its main point in a single line. If this is not possible, their readers will most likely have difficulty following their train of thought too and the paragraph needs to be overhauled.

Let It Breathe: When possible, encourage students to allow some time for their essay to ‘breathe’ before returning to it for editing purposes. This may require some skilful time management on the part of the student, for example, a student rush-writing the night before the deadline does not lend itself to effective editing. Fresh eyes are one of the sharpest tools in the writer’s toolbox.

Read It Aloud: This time-tested editing method is a great way for students to identify mistakes and typos in their work. We tend to read things more slowly when reading aloud giving us the time to spot errors. Also, when we read silently our minds can often fill in the gaps or gloss over the mistakes that will become apparent when we read out loud.

Phone a Friend: Peer editing is another great way to identify errors that our brains may miss when reading our own work. Encourage students to partner up for a little ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’.

Use Tech Tools: We need to ensure our students have the mental tools to edit their own work and for this they will need a good grasp of English grammar and punctuation. However, there are also a wealth of tech tools such as spellcheck and grammar checks that can offer a great once-over option to catch anything students may have missed in earlier editing rounds.

Putting the Jewels on Display: While some struggle to edit, others struggle to let go. There comes a point when it is time for students to release their work to the reader. They must learn to relinquish control after the creation is complete. This will be much easier to achieve if the student feels that they have done everything in their control to ensure their essay is representative of the best of their abilities and if they have followed the advice here, they should be confident they have done so.

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Analysing The Features of Essay Writing Year 7

Subject: English

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

9 April 2018

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English Works

Writing Better Essays Years 7 – 10

The essay-writing process:

See our Super Book: Better Essays and Persuasive Techniques

Step 1: Researching information

Brainstorm the issue by investigating a wide range of sources — traditional (books) and non-traditional (web-based). Be sure to canvass a range of views from all stakeholders. (These are groups that have an interest — either personal or professional — in the issue.) What do the experts say? What are your own observations and experiences?

Step 2: Mapping ideas

Your mind map should identify the problem and include the facts, consequences and solutions. Draw arrows between related ideas or group  common points.

Step 3: Analysing and classifying information

After you have brainstormed all components of the issue, you need to put them under the microscope and identify the alternative viewpoints. You need to make sense of them and think about which side is more convincing.

1. Organise “for” and “against” points.

2. Think about your information.

• think about which side has the most convincing evidence;
• think in an independent manner; that is, don’t just follow an opinion because an expert or someone you admire thinks in a certain way;
• think logically and critically; that is, question or test your information. (See pp. 20-22.) What does it suggest? What are the consequences?  

3. Which side do you think is more convincing and why? You must be confident that your views are the most logical, sensible and persuasive.

  Step 4: Planning and drafting

  Take three scraps of paper: group together common ideas and write the related parts or a cluster of ideas on each sheet. Explain and develop each idea. 

• organise your points or sheets in order of priority;
• start with your most important reason; and
• choose a convincing point from the opposite side to include in your “rebuttal” paragraph.

  Think about the “big picture”: before dealing with the pieces, and getting lost among the details, we need to get a sense of the final puzzle so all the pieces fit together.

Headings: write a heading for each group of ideas. This will help you write the statements.

Step 5: Writing: what is your point of view?

Before starting your essay, write a summary outlining your ideas and  reasons. This will encourage you to think about what you want to prove.  Be specific and clear.  The summary will also help to keep you on track.

Your introduction

Your introduction should not only set the scene and arouse interest in the topic, but must clearly outline your attitude or “main contention” and supporting reasons in order of priority. Where necessary, you should also define any key terms and frame your response around these so that you keep on track.

The main contention is a concise statement summing up your point of view on an issue.  Take a stance — it is no use “sitting on the fence”. What is your view on the topic? For example, schools should drug test students. The Government should increase taxes on junk food to subsidise fresh fruit and vegetables.

Be confident and state your opinion clearly and assertively. It is important to pursue your views in a way that allows you to sound mature, intelligent and sensitive.

Your body paragraphs and topic sentences

The body paragraphs should outline your most important reasons in order of priority. Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that unifies the paragraph. There should be one main idea in each paragraph.

Topic sentences are statements that become the backbone of your essay and show how you intend to develop your ideas. They answer the question, “What do I want to say regarding the topic?”

You will be expected to follow the TEEL structure in school. TEEL is an acronym relating to the logical sequence of your paragraph according to the following rules: Topic Sentence, Evidence, Explanation, Link.

The topic sentence:

• shows the focus of each paragraph;
• shows how you are interpreting the evidence;
• develops your argument;
• controls the paragraph; and
• gives it unity and order.

You will need to outline your Evidence and Explain and interpret your evidence. What does it say about the topic? How does the evidence support my contention? Make your points and Link them back to your topic sentence.

In a well-written body paragraph, you must ensure that:

• the sentences develop and expand on the topic sentence;
• there is a logical step-by-step progression of ideas; and
• there are no irrelevant or unnecessarily repetitive sentences.

Your rebuttal

Your discussion should involve a rebuttal. That is, you must find weaknesses in the opponent’s argument and counter-punch. The rebuttal is generally your last body paragraph in your essay.

• Look for your opponent’s errors or blind spots.  What facts, surveys and statistics have been used and how have they been (mis)interpreted?
• Explain your opponents’ weaknesses or shortcomings. This gives you an opportunity to further strengthen your own views.
• Examine the opponent’s qualifications and motives. Are they likely to gain money or fame from the scheme or proposal? Consider their moral standing and credibility.Are they truthful? Is there evidence of double standards?Do they say one thing and do another?

Your conclusion

The concluding paragraph sums up your argument. It should tie together the ideas that were introduced in your introduction and developed in your body paragraphs. It must show how these ideas (causes/reasons/factors)  relate to each other and contribute to and reinforce your point of view.  If there are two or more parts to the question, be sure to include responses to each part in your conclusion. This gives your essay unity and coherence.

• Keep the structure simple.
• Begin with a link sentence that makes it clear that you are now summing up your main points. Phrases such as “in conclusion”, “finally, it is evident that …” or “to answer the question whether ….” seek to place your conclusion in a context and show that these are your final statements.
• Do not develop any new points.
• Do not include long quotations or simply restate your introduction. You may use a short pithy quote to inject colour into your conclusion, but basically the paragraph should be in your own words.
• Aim for an impact and leave the reader with a sense that your views offer the only course of action. For example, you may forecast future trends and the implications resulting from your discussion. Leave the reader with some food for thought.  What might happen in the future?

How can you improve your essay?

Refer Chapters 2 and 3 which cover key strategies that enable you to strengthen your TEEL structure. Specifically, it will help you sharpen your essay by thinking more precisely about the evidence, by making connections between key ideas, and by thinking about your style and the impact of your words.

The following strategies will help you examine your evidence and construct sharper topic sentences.

• Chapter 3: Persuasive strategies: Consider how you want your readers to think and feel. This chapter introduces you to some common appeals that you may use to influence your reader’s response. Such appeals also help you categorise your information and write sharper topic sentences: Attacking strategies: To counter your opponents’ views,  you must be well equipped with a variety of attacking strategies. Which facts have they (conveniently) overlooked or misrepresented? What are their biases? This section shows you how to criticise and isolate them: Stylistic strategies: Your tone, sentence structure, choice of words and pronouns all add to your message. They are part of your personality as a writer and help to influence readers.

Please see our slideshow for an overview:

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Free Printable Essay Writing Worksheets for 7th Year

Essay Writing just got better for Year 7 Reading & Writing teachers! Discover our collection of free printable worksheets to enhance students' skills and spark their creativity. Dive into Quizizz's resources now!

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Essay Writing worksheets for Year 7 are an essential resource for teachers looking to develop and enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets focus on various aspects of writing, including nonfiction writing, and are designed to help students in Year 7 improve their overall language proficiency. By incorporating these worksheets into their lesson plans, teachers can provide a structured and engaging approach to teaching essay writing. The worksheets cover a range of topics, from brainstorming and outlining to drafting and revising, ensuring that students gain a comprehensive understanding of the writing process. Furthermore, these Year 7 worksheets are designed to be adaptable to different learning styles and can be easily integrated into various classroom settings.

In addition to Essay Writing worksheets for Year 7, teachers can also utilize Quizizz, an online platform that offers a variety of educational resources, including interactive quizzes and games. Quizizz allows teachers to create custom quizzes that align with their lesson plans, providing a fun and engaging way for students to practice their reading and writing skills. This platform also offers a range of other resources, such as flashcards and study guides, that can be used alongside the Year 7 worksheets to further enhance students' learning experience. By incorporating Quizizz into their teaching strategies, educators can create a dynamic and interactive learning environment that not only supports the development of essential reading and writing skills but also encourages students to take an active role in their education.

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Australian Curriculum Version 8.4 in Queensland

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Year 7 English sample assessment - Persuasive speech

Image source: Microphone by Juan_Alvaro / CC BY 2.0

This sample assessment is based on previous versions of the Australian Curriculum.

Persuasive speech

Description.

Students are able to develop an awareness of how everyday texts seek to position them. Applying this awareness to their own writing and speaking will help students evaluate how best to position readers or listeners. Continued practice of writing and speaking formally in a familiar context will encourage students to feel more confident and interact successfully in different situations.

• plan and draft a persuasive speech where they attempt to convince their class to agree with their point of view
• analyse their persuasive speech
• present their persuasive speech.

Spoken/signed: Persuasive text

Year 7 English – Persuasive speech (PDF, 633  kB )

• Teacher guidelines (includes cover page)
• Student booklet
• Task-specific standards: Continua
• Task-specific standards: Matrix
• Assessment resource: Sample response
• Assessment resource: Persuasive devices
• Assessment resource: Note-taking and cue cards
• Assessment resource: Presentation feedback

Download the full assessment (contains the documents as Word files):

Year 7 English – Persuasive speech (ZIP, 9386  kB )

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