Friday Self-study - You've got work to do!

A. You are going to use the Internet to find some information about how to write an introduction to an academic essay. Remember – your written assignments this month involve writing an introduction (200 – 250 words) to an essay.

Visit these websites from British universities:

http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/introductions.htm

http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm

Read the information carefully and try to answer these questions:(post the answers on your blog, or write them down if you don't have a blog)

1. Looking at the information on both the websites – what should a good introduction contain?

2. On the University of Manchester page, look at the suggested language for different sections of the introduction. Which verb tenses are most commonly used in each section? (write down a verb tense and an example for each…)

Establishing the importance of the topic:

Establishing the importance of the topic (time frame given):

Highlighting a problem or controversy in the field of study:

Highlighting a knowledge gap in the field of study:

Focus and aim:

Outline of structure:

B. Now visit this site:

http://www.englishforuniversity.com/search/label/Writing%20an%20introduction

1. What is the introduction a chance for you to do?

2. Why do you think planning is important when you are writing an introduction?

3. Look at the example essay question: "Is the present level of immigration in the United Kingdom beneficial to the country?" Read the introduction (below the plan). You should be able to see that the introduction contains all the elements from your answer to question 1 in the Section A. Also, notice the use of verb tenses.

4. I would like you to rewrite this introduction (to the same question) using the language suggestions from the University of Manchester website and post it on your blog by the end of this class. If you do not have a blog, write it on a separate sheet of paper to give to me by the end of class.

Excellent! Well done.
Maybe over the weekend you could write down what you find difficult about writing introductions and more generally about academic writing in English.
Have a good weekend!