How to write an essay in English

The College Entrance Essay

The college entrance essay is a way for admissions officers to get to know you. It may focus on your interests, hobbies, accomplishments, or how you faced a particular challenge. There is a variety of topics, but they will all ask you about some aspect of your life separate from test scores and grades.

Overview of the Essay Writing Process
1. Pre-writing
2. Thesis Statement
3. Outline
4. The First Draft
5. The Final Draft

All essay writing follows a process:
1) Prewrite 
2) Thesis Statement
3) Outline
4) Compose a 1st Draft
5) Revisions and Final Draft

Pre-writing

Take a few minutes to write down everything that comes to mind in response to the essay topic. Don’t worry about grammar, the quality of your ideas, or the order in which you write them. This is simply an opportunity to get your first thoughts onto the page.

Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is the main idea of your essay. It should be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph. The rest of the essay will build upon the thesis statement with facts, details and examples.

Outline
Use your prewriting to compose an outline. This is a plan of your ideas in the order in which you will present them. It can be written in alphanumerical order or simply be a bulleted list.

Idea 1: 
a) supporting idea 
b) supporting idea  

Idea 2:
a) supporting idea
b) supporting idea

Idea 3:
a) supporting idea
b) supporting idea

The First Draft

Compose the first draft of your essay based upon your outline. Most college entrance essays are between 250-650 words. A typical essay will be about five paragraphs. This includes an introduction, conclusion, and 2-3 body paragraphs.

The Final Draft
Proofread and revise your first draft for clarity and organization. You may want to consider asking a former teacher look over your draft. Always perform  spelling and grammar checks on your document.

Watch the full explanation of this presentation in this YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPNMeyyGwU4

Presentation available on podcasts:

• Google Podcasts
• Apple iTunes Podcasts
• Spotify

Text prepared by ELI teacher, Phil Cameron.

English Language Institute

College of Staten Island

The City University of New York (CUNY)

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The English Language Institute offers intensive English instruction for international students and professionals. The program is comprehensive. It covers all aspects of the language, including speaking, listening, reading and writing. The focus is on developing the skills and confidence needed in academic, professional and social situations.

ELI academic program

The ELI offers intensive, comprehensive English language instruction and cultural orientation throughout the year. The program covers all aspects of spoken and written English, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Classes are given at three levels of proficiency, from beginner to advanced. Course content includes the proper use of English structures, fluency and accuracy of expression with acceptable pronunciation, listening and reading comprehension, and writing for personal, academic, and professional purposes. Students communicate in English from the first lesson at the beginner level. At all levels they work on integrated skills, focusing on the active, knowledgeable use of the language, rather than mere passive comprehension.

ELI courses:

• Reading & Writing
• Grammar
• Communications (Conversation)
• TOEFL Workshop

https://www.csi.cuny.edu/campus-life/student-services/center-global-engagement/english-language-institute/academics