Part 2 LDC 121

C.
The Body
• In this part, you have a number of paragraphs that discuss
the thesis statement.
• Organize your ideas. Identify issues that you will explore;
structure or outline the issues you will deal with.
• Each paragraph should begins with a topic sentence:
• the topic sentence states the main ideas of the
paragraph, and it must be related to the thesis statement
in the introduction. You expand the main idea.
• It also helps to make the transition from the paragraph
before.
…The body
• The first paragraph in the body should cover the first
thing your introduction said would address.
• Other sentences in the paragraph develop the topic
sentence with relevant examples, details, evidence,
quotations and references.
• The paragraph finishes with a clincher statement, and
a linking sentence (transition sentence).
• The concluding paragraph of the body should also
contain a clincher statement.
Outline of ideas/ structure
Effects of Information and Communication Technologies on
University Education
D. Conclusion
• The conclusion brings closure to the reader.
• It draws together your essay- bringing the points and ideas
from each section, thus summing up the points proving your
final perspective on the topic (recasting your clincher
sentences). DO NOT restate them exactly.
• Restate the thesis statement if the essay is long, and only
main ideas for short essays.
• Refer to primary or secondary source (quotation) that
amplifies your point, or puts it in different perspective.
• Even an anecdote can end your essay in a useful way.
…the conclusion
• Make it clear why those conclusions are important or
significant.
• Final sentence should leave the reader with
something to ponder . It works well if you sum up
your argument briefly – relating it to the attention
grabber or the thesis statement.
Practice: Look at the following example and
explain the strategy used to end the essay
• Despite the claim that the 50-50 campaign will
increase the number of women in parliament by the
year 2020, the number of women in parliament is
diminishing. This is consistent with KII1 (2018) that
democracy extinguishes/weakens women’s
participation in politics. In order to increase the
presence of women in parliament, a deliberate effort
or affirmative action by the government is a necessity.
Examples: Clincher relating back to thesis statement
• Thesis statement: The incidence of depression has created a

crisis in Malawian society that must be addressed through a
combination of counselling, medicine and social acceptance.
• Clincher technique 1: Make a prediction: If Malawian society
continues to isolate people suffering from depression, these
people will continue to experience difficulties, pain, and
loneliness.
• Clincher technique 2: Offer a recommendation: The Malawian
mental health community should work towards raising
awareness of the impact of depression on society. By making
this clear to community leaders, the mental health community
can be a voice for positive change.
• Clincher technique 3: Suggest opportunities for
further research: Future research should examine the
treatment strategies employed in other countries and
incorporate successful approaches in the struggle
with the disease. By making use of this information,
Malawi could actively support those who live with
depression.
• Clincher technique 4: Ask a thought provoking
rhetorical question: With all that is known about
depression and its devastating impact, why has
Malawi not committed more political and economic
resources to the fight against the disease?
Example: Clincher relating back to grabber
• Example grabber: “No challenge poses a greater

threat to future generations than climate change”
(Obama, 2015).
• Example clincher relating back to grabber: As
Obama (2015) pointed out, with the increasing
threats posed by climate change to our future
generations, Malawi cannot afford to neglect this
issue any longer.
Tips in Writing Essays
1. Focus: understand the question you have been given.
What knowledge or skill are you being required to
demonstrate?
2. Critical reading: reading for strengths and
weaknesses to gain a deeper understanding of a point
of view rather than necessarily accepting the writer’s
position. Whatever the topic, it is likely that there is a
range of views which take different positions, contradict
each other, support each other, use alternative
evidence and refute the positions of others and so on.
• Draw a sketch of your essay plan.
3. Use logical bridges to achieve
a. Paragraph unity: One idea per paragraph.
b. Coherence: forming unified whole (between sentences in a
paragraph (internal) and between paragraphs (external)
• Use linkers: Signposts to the reader about the direction
your line of reasoning is about to take. Link the sentences
within the paragraph, and from paragraph to paragraph.
Continuity: Also, moreover, furthermore, besides,
above all, in fact
Chronological order: Firstly, secondly; another, to
conclude, last, finally (chronological)
Similarities and differences: In comparison, conversely, on
the other hand, however, nonetheless…
Cause/effect: As a result, consequently, hence, therefore…
4. Use synonyms to add flavour e.g. If you used
“beautiful” at first, the second time you can use
“attractive”, “pleasant” etc.
5. Pronouns to avoid monotony
6. Use sources: do not simply state your personal
opinion or what is in your head. Use materials read
(secondary sources) or primary sources to give reasons,
evidence, examples and case studies.
7. Be emotionally neutral: stand back and analyse
dispassionately, an objective onlooker.
8. Use formal English
Practice: Compare these two paragraphs talking about the same
story. What problems can you see?
• In order to assess whether it is necessary to evacuate the villages in
Mposa, three main factors need to be taken into consideration. The
first is the element of safety. According to climate change experts
working on Africa, there is likely to be major flooding within the next
few weeks (Achebe, 2015). Achebe argued that flooding is likely to
destroy the same villages over a radius of 120 miles (Achebe, 2008: 7).
• Mposa is going to flood – it’s gonna take up everything when it

happens. It’s frightening to think how floods would affect such a vast
area. Think of the damage to be caused! People need to start moving
out of the village because, from the way it looks, the flooded area will
be huge. I have heard about how things happen over here.
Finishing Touches
• Check your writing:
• Read and Reread your work, does it make logical
sense?
• Have you run a spell checker or a grammar
checker? These aids cannot catch every error,
but they might catch errors that you have
missed.
• Check the instructions of the assignment- When you
prepare a final draft, you must be sure to follow all
the instructions you have been given.
Have you reached the word limit?
Are your margins correct?
What other information (name, date, etc.) must
you include?
Did you space your lines (double spacing or one
and half)? What about the font size.
For further reading on this topic refer to your LDC 121

teaching notes from Pages 37-51 (Essays)

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C.

• Thesis statement: The incidence of depression has created a

• Example grabber: “No challenge poses a greater

• Mposa is going to flood – it’s gonna take up everything when it

For further reading on this topic refer to your LDC 121

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