Essay Structure: Argumentation and Language Resources
Essay Structure
Opening
Nowadays, there is a debate about [topic of the essay]. Some people believe that [opposing view], while I believe that [your opinion]. In this essay, I will explain my point of view and why I hold this opinion. In a nutshell, [short summary of your opinion].
Body 1
Firstly, it is important to highlight that [first reason]. This is because [reason or example]. For example, [specific example]. Moreover, I believe that [develop the argument with more details or facts]. As a result of this, [cause and result connector], it makes sense to consider [explanation or consequence of your argument]. Taking everything into account, it is clear that [reinforce your point].
Body 2
Secondly, [second reason]. A clear example of this is [example or related fact]. In this way, [cause and result connector] [additional explanation of the argument]. Furthermore, it is important to make sure that we [related idea or action]. As a result, [reaffirm the previous idea]. We shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket, meaning we must consider [related idea].
Closing
In conclusion, after considering both sides, I believe that [restate your opinion]. To sum up, [summarize your main reasons], and therefore, I am convinced that [reaffirm your opinion]. Ultimately, making this decision will do us good, as it will ensure [final thought]. However, we must take our time to ensure that [additional thought].
Useful Words and Expressions
- do exercises: hacer ejercicios
- do research: hacer investigaciones, investigar
- do the housework: hacer las tareas domésticas
- do well: irle / salirle bien (a alguien)
- make a mistake: cometer un error, equivocarse
- make an effort: hacer un esfuerzo, esforzarse
- make deliveries: hacer repartos / envíos
- make predictions: hacer predicciones / pronósticos
- make progress: hacer progresos, avanzar
- take advantage of: aprovechar(se) / sacar provecho (de)
- take for granted: no valorar / apreciar (algo / a alguien); dar (algo) por hecho
- take part in: participar en
- take place: tener lugar
- take pride in: enorgullecerse / sentirse orgulloso/a de
Relative Clauses
Defining Relative Clauses
Uses
- who and that refer to people
- which and that refer to objects, animals
- when and that refer to a moment in time
- where refers to a particular place
- whose refers to possession
Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Use
- that cannot be used
Examples
- Mary is the girl who/that went to school in Finland.
- The lessons which / that they attended were enjoyable.
- He’ll never forget the day when / that he started studying at university.
- This is the library where we do our weekly assignments.
- That’s the man whose scientific research was a success.
Example
Anne, who is a history expert, got a doctorate in 2011.
*Anne, that is a history expert, got a doctorate in 2011. [No es correcto]
Irregular Verbs
1. arise – arose – arisen
2. be – was/were – been
3. beat – beat – beaten
4. become – became – become
5. begin – began – begun
6. bend – bent – bent
7. bite – bit – bitten
8. bleed – bled – bled
9. blow – blew – blown
10. break – broke – broken
11. bring – brought – brought
12. broadcast – broadcast – broadcast
13. build – built – built
14. burn – burnt – burnt
15. burst – burst – burst
16. buy – bought – bought
17. catch – caught – caught
18. choose – chose – chosen
19. come – came – come
20. cost – cost – cost
21. creep – crept – crept
22. cut – cut – cut
23. deal – dealt – dealt
24. dig – dug – dug
25. do – did – done
26. draw – drew – drawn
27. dream – dreamt – dreamt
28. drink – drank – drunk
29. drive – drove – driven
30. eat – ate – eaten
31. fall – fell – fallen
32. feed – fed – fed
33. feel – felt – felt
34. fight – fought – fought
35. find – found – found
36. fly – flew – flown
37. forbid – forbade – forbidden
38. forget – forgot – forgotten
39. forgive – forgave – forgiven
40. freeze – froze – frozen
41. get – got – got
42. give – gave – given
43. go – went – gone
44. grow – grew – grown
45. hang – hung – hung
46. have – had – had
47. hear – heard – heard
48. hide – hid – hidden
49. hit – hit – hit
50. hold – held – held
51. hurt – hurt – hurt
52. keep – kept – kept
53. kneel – knelt – knelt
54. know – knew – known
55. lay – laid – laid
56. lead – led – led
57. lean – leant – leant
58. learn – learnt – learnt
59. leave – left – left
60. lend – lent – lent
61. let – let – let
62. lie – lay – lain
63. light – lit – lit
64. lose – lost – lost
65. make – made – made
66. mean – meant – meant
67. meet – met – met
68. pay – paid – paid
69. put – put – put
70. read – read – read
71. ride – rode – ridden
72. ring – rang – rung
73. rise – rose – risen
74. run – ran – run
75. say – said – said
76. see – saw – seen