English Essay: How to Write about ANY Essay Topic

Summary

In this educational video, Jay introduces a versatile essay structure suitable for high-level English exams like IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL, as well as for high school essays. The structure includes a coherent and logical flow with an introduction that sets the context, body paragraphs that elaborate on the main ideas with reasons and examples, and a conclusion that mirrors the introduction while summarizing the essay's points. Jay emphasizes the importance of answering the essay question, making a quick plan before writing, and maintaining clarity and purpose in each paragraph. The video offers practical tips for crafting an effective essay that can lead to high scores.

Takeaways

• 😀 To achieve a high score on English essays, understand the essay types and question prompts.
• 😀 Always ensure you answer the question directly and comprehensively.
• 😀 The essay structure shared is versatile and can be used for IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, and high school essays.
• 😀 An essay should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• 😀 In the introduction, provide a broad background statement, rewrite the question prompt in your own words, and include a thesis statement.
• 😀 Body paragraphs should include a topic sentence, reasons or examples, and a summarizing sentence.
• 😀 The conclusion should restate the main ideas discussed and give your personal opinion.
• 😀 Planning is crucial before writing to ensure a coherent and logical essay.
• 😀 Use the structure to ensure each part of your essay is interconnected and stays on topic.
• 😀 Practice the structure to make it second nature for any essay type or question prompt.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the video by Jay?

The primary purpose of the video by Jay is to teach viewers an effective essay structure that can be used for high-level English exams like IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or even high school essays.

Why is it important to answer the essay question correctly?

It is important to answer the essay question correctly because fulfilling the requirements of the essay is the first step towards a high score, and it ensures that the essay is on topic and relevant.

What is the basic rule for constructing an essay according to Jay?

The basic rule for constructing an essay according to Jay is to make sure that each paragraph has a clear purpose: the introduction tells what will be discussed, the body paragraphs discuss it, and the conclusion tells what was discussed.

Why is making a quick plan before starting to write an essay important?

Making a quick plan before starting to write an essay is important because it helps to set a direction for the essay, prevents wasting time by deleting entire sections, and ensures that the essay flows logically and coherently.

What are the three parts of a three-part introduction as suggested by Jay?

The three parts of a three-part introduction as suggested by Jay are: a broad background statement, a paraphrased version of the essay prompt, and a thesis statement.

Can you explain the concept of 'mirroring' in the essay structure presented by Jay?

The concept of 'mirroring' in the essay structure refers to the way the introduction and conclusion reflect each other. The thesis statement in the introduction sets up what will be discussed, and the conclusion reiterates what was discussed, creating a coherent and logical flow.

What is the purpose of the body paragraphs in an essay?

The purpose of the body paragraphs in an essay is to expand on the main ideas introduced in the thesis statement. Each paragraph should discuss one main idea in detail, providing reasons, examples, and a summary of the idea.

How should the conclusion of an essay be structured?

The conclusion of an essay should be structured in two parts: the first part reiterates the main ideas discussed in the body paragraphs, and the second part provides the writer's personal opinion or a final thought on the topic.

What is the significance of the thesis statement in an essay?

The thesis statement is significant because it clearly states the writer's argument or position on the topic. It sets the direction for the entire essay and informs the reader about the main ideas that will be discussed.

How does Jay suggest to create a topic sentence for a body paragraph?

Jay suggests creating a topic sentence for a body paragraph by explicitly stating the main idea that the paragraph will discuss. This makes it clear to the reader what the focus of the paragraph is and helps maintain coherence.

What advice does Jay give for maintaining a logical flow in an essay?

Jay advises maintaining a logical flow in an essay by ensuring that each part of the essay is interconnected: the introduction sets up the discussion, the body paragraphs develop the ideas, and the conclusion reflects on what has been discussed, creating a coherent structure.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to High-Scoring English Essays

The video begins with an introduction to writing high-scoring English essays for exams like IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, and high school essays. Jay emphasizes the importance of answering the essay question directly and introduces the idea of using a flexible and powerful essay structure applicable to any essay type. He stresses the need to fulfill the essay's requirements by responding precisely to the question prompt.

05:01

✏️ Understanding Essay Structure

Jay outlines a coherent and logical essay structure that is easy to remember and use. He discusses how to write an introduction that connects to the body paragraphs and mirrors the conclusion. The structure helps in creating a clear and interconnected essay, which is essential for scoring well. Jay highlights the importance of making a quick plan before writing to ensure the essay stays on track.

10:06

📝 Writing the Introduction

Jay explains how to write a three-part introduction consisting of a broad background statement, a paraphrased question prompt, and a thesis statement. He demonstrates with examples how to set the context, rewrite the essay prompt in your own words, and clearly state the main ideas of the essay. This structure ensures that the reader understands the essay's direction from the beginning.

15:09

📖 Crafting Body Paragraphs

Jay details the structure of body paragraphs, which should include a topic sentence, reasons or examples supporting the main idea, and a summarizing sentence. He provides a sample paragraph demonstrating how to connect the introduction to the body paragraphs by elaborating on the main ideas outlined in the thesis statement. This method ensures coherence and clarity in presenting arguments.

🔄 Writing the Conclusion

Jay describes how to write a conclusion that mirrors the introduction and reiterates the main ideas from the body paragraphs. The conclusion consists of two parts: restating the main ideas and providing a personal opinion. This approach reinforces the essay's arguments and provides a strong, logical ending. Jay emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clear and consistent structure throughout the essay.

🔑 Recap of Essay Structure

Jay recaps the key concepts of the essay structure, emphasizing the importance of coherence and staying on topic. He summarizes the purpose of each paragraph: the introduction sets up the essay, the body paragraphs develop the main ideas, and the conclusion reiterates them. Jay encourages practice to master the structure, ensuring it becomes second nature for any essay type.

Keywords

💡Essay Structure

Essay Structure refers to the organization and arrangement of ideas within an essay. In the video, it is the central theme as the speaker discusses a coherent and logical structure that can be applied to any essay type or question prompt. The script outlines a four-part essay structure consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, which is crucial for maintaining coherence and addressing the essay prompt effectively.

💡IELTS

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, which is a globally recognized test for non-native English speakers to demonstrate their English language proficiency. The video mentions IELTS as one of the high-level English exams where the discussed essay structure can be effectively utilized, emphasizing its relevance for academic and immigration purposes.

💡Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages and Disadvantages are terms used to describe the positive and negative aspects of a particular subject or situation. In the script, the speaker uses these terms to illustrate how to approach a comparison essay, specifically discussing the pros and cons of renting versus buying a house, which is a common prompt in English language exams.

💡Introduction

An Introduction in an essay serves as the opening statement that sets the stage for the main ideas to be discussed. The video script explains that an introduction should include a broad background statement, a rephrased essay prompt, and a thesis statement. It is crucial as it introduces the topic and provides a roadmap for the essay's content.

💡Body Paragraphs

Body Paragraphs are the core sections of an essay where the main ideas or arguments are presented in detail. The script describes a structure for body paragraphs, which should include a topic sentence, reasons or examples, and a summarizing sentence. These paragraphs are essential for developing the ideas introduced in the thesis statement.

💡Conclusion

A Conclusion in an essay is the final part that summarizes the main points and restates the essay's thesis. The video emphasizes that the conclusion should mirror the introduction and reiterate the main ideas discussed in the body paragraphs. It is vital for leaving a lasting impression and reinforcing the essay's argument.

💡Thesis Statement

A Thesis Statement is a declarative sentence that presents the main argument or claim of an essay. In the script, the speaker explains that the thesis statement should be included in the introduction and should explicitly state what the essay will discuss, such as comparing the flexibility and financial aspects of renting versus buying a home.

💡Topic Sentence

A Topic Sentence is the first sentence of a body paragraph that clearly states the main idea of that paragraph. The video script illustrates how a topic sentence sets the stage for the discussion that follows, providing a clear and explicit statement of the paragraph's focus, such as the flexibility of renting a house.

💡Question Prompt

A Question Prompt is a statement or question that guides the writer in developing their essay. The script mentions that the essay structure should fulfill the requirements of the given question prompt, such as discussing the advantages and disadvantages of renting a home, which is essential for staying on topic and addressing the essay's purpose.

💡Personal Opinion

Personal Opinion refers to the writer's own viewpoint or stance on the topic being discussed. In the conclusion of the essay structure outlined in the video, the speaker advises to include a personal opinion, which adds a subjective touch and allows the writer to express their preference or judgment on the topic, such as preferring to rent for a flexible lifestyle.

Highlights

Introduction of an essay structure that works for high-level English exams like IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL, and even for high school essays.

Emphasis on the importance of answering the essay question directly to fulfill the essay requirements.

Explanation of a comparison essay prompt with an example about renting versus buying houses.

Presentation of a powerful and flexible essay structure applicable to any essay question.

Introduction paragraph should include a broad background statement, a paraphrase of the essay prompt, and a thesis statement.

Body paragraphs should include a topic sentence, supporting reasons or examples, and a summary sentence.

Conclusion paragraph should mirror the introduction and reiterate the main ideas from the body paragraphs.

Encouragement to make a quick plan before writing to ensure clear direction and avoid wasting time.

Detailed example of planning an essay about the advantages and disadvantages of renting a house.

Step-by-step guide on writing the introduction, including crafting a broad background statement.

Guidance on paraphrasing the essay prompt in the introduction to set the context.

Instructions on writing a clear and explicit thesis statement to outline the essay's main ideas.

Detailed breakdown of structuring body paragraphs with topic sentences, supporting details, and summary sentences.

Example of writing a body paragraph discussing the flexibility of renting a house.

Explanation of how to write a conclusion that restates the essay's main ideas and provides a personal opinion.

Recap of the key essay structure concepts: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Emphasis on the importance of practicing the essay structure for mastery.

Transcripts

Okay, so you need to write an English  essay. How do you get a high score? And  

what do you write about? If you're asking  these questions, this is the video for you.

Hi, my name is Jay and in this video, I'm  going to show you an essay structure that  

you can use for high level English exams like  IELTS, or PTE or TOEFL, or even just for high  

school essays. It works in any situation for any  essay type, or any question prompt. And speaking  

of essay types and question prompts, we need to  start there. Essay types and question prompts.  

So before I show you that unbelievable essay  structure, we first need to make sure that you  

fulfil the requirements of the essay you're given.  And to do this, you need to do one thing and one  

thing only. Answer the question. It sounds  simple, but people always seem to screw it up.  

If I give you a question prompt like this one  that requires you to write a comparison essay  

by providing advantages and disadvantages,  then just do that. In some countries,  

most people prefer to rent their houses rather  than buy their houses. What are the advantages and  

disadvantages of renting a home? Okay, now that we  have gotten that out of the way, we can move on to  

a powerful and flexible essay structure that you  can use for any essay question. Just before we do,  

click that subscribe button for excellent  English language videos each and every week.  

The essay structure. The essay structure I want  to show you looks like this. This is the ultimate  

essay structure. Trust me, it's perfectly  coherent and logical. And once you learn it,  

you'll never forget it. I'm going to teach you  how to write an introduction that connects to  

both your body paragraphs and mirrors your  conclusion paragraph, and I'll show you how  

the conclusion paragraph will connect back to  the body paragraphs and mirror the introduction.  

Honestly, this essay structure is so simple  and so powerful that you might end up teaching  

the class or you can keep it a secret and get  great scores just for yourself, it's up to you.  

Feel free to share this video on social media  if you want. Let's now look at each part of the  

essay and understand why each paragraph exists.  Paragraph purposes. So a standard essay will have  

four parts, an introduction, some body  paragraphs, maybe two, three or more. And  

a conclusion. There's actually a very simple  and powerful way to understand the purpose  

of each paragraph. In the introduction, you  simply tell the reader what you're going to  

tell them and then in your body paragraphs  you tell them. And then in the conclusion,  

you tell the reader what you told them. That's  it. That's the purpose of each paragraph.  

And it gives you some idea of how it's all  interconnected. Keep it simple and keep it clear.  

Teachers and examiners hate paragraphs and essays  that lack purpose. You're not writing a novel or a  

poem or a biography, you're answering a question  using a specific structure. Make a quick plan.  

Just before we start writing, I hate to  tell you, but you do need to make a quick  

plan. You should never start writing without  thinking the question through. If you start  

writing without planning, you end up deleting  entire sections and wasting heaps of time,  

you need to set a direction for your essay. Let's  plan my essay, it will only take a few seconds,  

and it's going to relate to yours. So  my essay prompt says, In some countries,  

most people prefer to rent their houses rather  than buy their houses. And the question asks,  

what is an advantage and a disadvantage of renting  a home? So we need to think for a minute here.  

In order to write my essay. I need to come  up with one advantage of renting a house and  

one disadvantage of renting a house. That's what  the question asked. So that's what we better do.  

Advantage of renting. Well what about; you  can move house when you want. Disadvantage  

of renting? Well, it's kind of a waste of  money because you're not paying off the house.

That was pretty easy. My tip here is to think the  question through, relax and come up with the main  

idea or ideas. If you can identify the most  important idea or ideas, then your essay will come  

together and flow much more easily. If you get  stuck on minor ideas, it becomes harder to write.  

But cool, I have my main ideas. So I'm now ready  to write my essay. Ready? The introduction.  

Alright, so we're going to  write a three part introduction,  

not necessarily three sentences, you  can write more sentences if you want,  

but there needs to be three parts. First, you  need to write a broad background statement.  

Second, you need to rewrite the question  prompt in your own words. Third, you need  

to write a thesis statement. Stay with me, this  isn't hard, I'll show you how to write mine.  

And you can follow along and copy the same  structure for your essay at the same time.  

So number one, the introduction sentence, where  we write a broad background statement. Your  

first sentence is very broad, you almost need  to pretend that your teacher or examiner or  

whoever is going to read your essay has no  idea of what you're writing about. And as such,  

you need to give them some background information.  You can't just jump straight into your arguments,  

you need to set the context. So let's look at my  question prompt. And let me show you a great first  

sentence for your essay. In some countries, most  people prefer to rent their houses rather than buy  

their houses. Alright, so what's the broad social  context here? Every essay has a social context.  

Well, this one is about renting versus buying  houses. So I'm going to write something like:  

For some people, the dream of owning a  home is not possible or is unfavourable.  

Pretty simple, right? I've written a simple  sentence, it's almost obvious. And yours  

needs to be obvious as well. Don't make it  confusing or profound. I've simply written that  

some people can't buy a house or don't want to buy  a house. It's actually a great opening sentence.  

Remember that essay diagram I showed you earlier?  Let's look at it again. So the introduction  

is an upside down pyramid and your first sentence,  the first sentence of the introduction is broad.  

Introduction sentence number two, rewrite the  essay prompt in your own words. So the second  

sentence of your introduction should simply  rewrite the essay prompt in your own words.  

Another way to say this is you need to paraphrase  the essay prompt. So let's do it to mine. Here's  

the prompt. In some countries, most people prefer  to rent their houses rather than buy their houses.  

Okay, so I'm going to rewrite this essay prompt,  not the question, the prompt the first part.  

Mine says, In some countries, many people decide  that renting their home is preferable to buying  

it. Notice how some words and phrases are  exactly the same. That's fine. Notice how  

some words are the same, but I've changed  the word forms like prefer and preferable.  

And notice that I've used some synonyms, different  words that have very similar or the same meaning.  

And I've also used a pronoun instead of a noun  there as well. So far, so good. We've started  

broad and now we're tightening our essay, we're  focusing in. Your teacher or examiner so far,  

we'll be super impressed. Who's this wonderful  student they'll ask? Introduction sentence  

number three, write your thesis statement,  tell the reader what you will write about.  

So a thesis just means an argument or your  position or what you think. Okay, so here we  

tell the reader, your teacher or examiner, our  two ideas from our plan. Let me show you mine.  

My thesis statement says, In this essay, I  will discuss why renting can allow for a more  

flexible lifestyle, but why it can eventually  be financially disadvantageous. Can you see the  

two ideas from my plan in here? And can you see  how explicit I'm being, I will discuss or you  

can write, I will compare or I will argue, or I  will show and then simply write your two ideas.  

Let's now continue on to the body paragraphs. And  remember to subscribe for more videos on English  

grammar and vocab that's going to help your  essay writing improve fast. The body paragraphs.

So in the introduction, we told the reader what  we'll tell them and now we need to tell them. Your  

body paragraphs are where you take the two ideas  from your plan and you write a paragraph about  

each of them. This is the meat in your sandwich.  Now your body paragraphs also have a structure.  

Each body paragraph will have four parts not  necessarily four sentences, you can write more,  

but four underlying parts. First a topic sentence  where you introduce your main idea. Second,  

a sentence where you give a reason or an example.  Third, a sentence where you give another reason  

or example. And fourth, and finally, a sentence  where you summarise your idea. This is the broad  

structure, and you can leave out a reason if  you want to or add two examples. It's up to you.  

Let's go through each part of the body  paragraph sentence by sentence now,  

so you're 100% Clear. And so your body  paragraph matches up with your introduction.  

So remember, in your thesis statement, the third  part of your introduction you said in this essay,  

I will. I said in this essay, I will discuss why  renting can allow for a more flexible lifestyle.  

I now need to write my paragraph about that.  By doing that we're connecting our introduction  

to our body paragraph like this. So here's my  first body paragraph. The main benefit of renting  

a house rather than buying one is because you can  move at any time. If you change jobs, for example,  

and your new office is far away, then you can rent  a house closer to work, which will save you lots  

of time commuting or for whatever reason crime  becomes an issue in your local neighbourhood,  

you can pack up your belongings and move.  Clearly there are advantages to renting a home.  

Let's unpack it. Here is my topic sentence  where I make it very clear what the paragraph  

is about. It's not a mystery story, I make it  explicit. The main benefit of renting a house  

rather than buying one is because you can move at  any time. Great. Now I need a reason or an example  

to back up that main idea. If you change jobs, for  example, or your new office is far away, then you  

can rent a house closer to work, which will save  you lots of time commuting. Now I need another  

reason or another example to give my main idea  even more support. Or for whatever reason, crime  

becomes an issue in your local neighbourhood,  you can pack up your belongings and move.  

And finally, I now need to summarise my main  idea in a short little wrap up sentence. Clearly  

being able to move is a key advantage of renting.  Can you see how the final wrap up sentence also  

connects back to the essay question prompt. It's  very clever. Now for your second body paragraph.  

Just repeat that structure again with your second  idea. Simple, powerful. By now you're well on your  

way to an a plus or a top score. Now we're going  to put it all together and write a conclusion that  

mirrors the introduction and re-iterates the main  ideas mentioned in our body paragraph one and two,  

the conclusion. The conclusion is simple to  write. You're not writing anything creative,  

and you're not adding new ideas. In the  conclusion you're simply repeating or  

reiterating what you've already said. Remember  the paragraph purposes we discussed earlier.  

In the introduction, you tell the reader what  you will tell them. In your body paragraphs  

you tell them and in the conclusion,  you tell the reader what you told them.  

Easy. So our conclusion will have two parts,  not necessarily two sentences, but two parts.  

In the first part of the conclusion, you will  write, this essay discussed or argued or compared  

or showed and then you'll express main idea  one and main idea two. And in the second  

part of your conclusion, you'll give your  opinion. Notice how that first sentence of  

the conclusion almost perfectly mirrors the final  sentence of the introduction that we saw earlier.  

The thesis statement of the introduction,  the final sentence of the introduction said  

in this essay I will and the first sentence  of the conclusion says in this essay I did  

I argued I discussed I showed. This is how you  create that powerful, coherent and logical flow.

And the final sentence, the in  my opinion part, that's easy.  

You just give your opinion. Here's my  conclusion. In this essay, I argue that  

renting provides greater flexibility while  owning results in greater financial reward.  

Personally, I prefer to rent so that I can live  a more flexible lifestyle. Can you see how I've  

repeated my main idea one and my main idea two in  the first sentence of the conclusion? And you can  

you see how I've given my opinion in the second  sentence to finish the entire essay? Recap.  

So today, we've learned an essay structure that  you can use for the rest of your life. It works  

for every essay type, and every question prompt  in any situation. It's powerful, because it's  

interconnected, and it keeps you on topic. Th e  logic and coherence of this structure is powerful,  

but you need to practice it. Once you do that,  you can't forget it, it just makes perfect sense.  

Let's just recap the key concepts one more time.  So in an essay, you need to tell the reader what  

you will tell them, in the introduction, then you  tell them, in the body paragraphs, then you tell  

them what you told them in the conclusion. Your  introduction starts broad, paraphrases the essay  

prompt and finishes with your thesis statement.  This essay will... Your body paragraphs have an  

opening or topic sentence where you introduce  the main idea, give reasons and examples  

and then wrap up with a final sentence. Then,  in your conclusion, you mirror your introduction  

and you write, In this essay I, whatever,  argued disgust showed etc. And you simply  

finish with your personal opinion. Job done. Cool.  Hopefully that clarifies what an essay is and how  

to write it. Now you can get started just before  you do that though. Remember to click like on this  

video, leave a comment and subscribe to this  YouTube channel. My name is Jay See you soon.