The combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole is called composition. In another word, a short essay, especially one written as an academic exercise is called composition. It is the collection of paragraphs related to a topic is called composition. After learning how to write effective sentences and paragraphs, we learn to organize them into a full-length composition.
What is Composition and what are its basic parts?
A composition is a piece of writing in full length. This is an act of putting together a whole by combining words and sentences. There are different kinds of composition. For example, letter writing, essay writing, dialogue writing, story writing, report writing, etc. are writing, story writing, report writing, etc. are all compositions.
Preparation and Planning
When a topic is given to you for composition, the first thing we should remember is the kind of reader you are writing for. Secondly, we should choose the style: formal or informal. If you are writing a letter to your close friend, then you should use informal language. Thirdly, you should think about the purpose of the composition. You should be clear about whether you are writing to convince or to entertain the readers. Fourthly, after you know the purpose of writing, then you should collect the materials on the subject that you will write.
The first thing you will do is start with the outline. For example, if the given topic is “Students’ Protest – Purposeful or Harmful”, the outline can be like this:
- Students’ protests is purposeful, not harmful.
- How it was purposeful in the past.
- What students’ protest is achieving now.
- What it can achieve in the future.
- Therefore, the conclusion justifies the writer’s point of view.
Option B:
- Students’ protests are more purposeful than harmful.
- How this protest is purposeful.
- How it can be harmful.
- Your conclusion shows the advantages of students’ protest over its disadvantages.
The Three Pillars of Composition
Just as words are linked together to make sentences, and sentences are linked together to make paragraphs, the paragraphs are also linked together to compose a piece of writing or to have a composition. In the composition, we should keep in mind the requirements of a good sentence such as clarity, consistency and economy. Similarly, we should also maintain the principles of a good paragraph such as unity, coherence and emphasis. All kinds of composition have three main parts: 1. the introduction, 2. the body and 3. the conclusion.
Part I: Writing the Introduction
The introductory paragraph should catch the attention of the reader, announce the subject of the composition and make clear the stand the writer is going to take. You can choose any one of the following techniques:
- Concrete Illustration: Giving relevant incidents or explanation of the thesis.
- Relevant Quotation: May be used at the beginning or the end. (Example: As Goethe said, ‘Every solution to a problem is a new problem.’)
- Simple Factual Statement: Useful for short compositions.
- Shocker Sentence: A sentence that shocks or startles the reader to arouse curiosity.
Part II: Writing the Body (Development Methods)
The body paragraphs are also called the middle paragraphs because they come between the introductory and the concluding paragraphs. They should deal with the central idea. Methods include:
- • Classification: Dividing general concepts into a number of different types.
- • Comparison and Contrast: Dealing with similarities and differences between two subjects.
- • Definition: Elaborating on a subject beyond dictionary meaning.
- • Cause and Effect: Explaining why something happened and its results.
- • Narration: Telling a story to support the idea.
- • Argument: Providing logical reasons to emphasize importance.
- • Description: Providing a vivid picture as if the subject is alive.
Part III: Writing the Conclusion
The concluding paragraph should bring the composition to an end, provide no new evidence and sum up what has been said. Techniques include:
- Signal Phrases: Like ‘To sum up,’, ‘In conclusion,’ or ‘finally’.
- Sentence Length: Gradually reducing sentence length to end with a short, bold sentence.
- Reintroduction: Returning to the introductory paragraph and restating the main ideas.
Professional Tips for Essay Writing
An essay is highly personal by nature because the author expresses his/her personal ideas and opinions on some topics. There is no strict rule to write an essay. The author can start any way he/she likes. Each essay has a beginning which starts with the introduction of the topic or title of the essay. The beginning should be catchy. The author should be careful about his first sentence. It is the key moment of the essay.
The Rewriter's Mindset: Before writing an essay, we should plan how to start and finish. The first sentence should be written perfectly before moving to the second sentence. Writer’s Choice says "I will write the first sentence and I will rewrite and rewrite and rewrite, then using the first two sentences and rewrite them both I am a real rewriter. I never leave anything alone".
Typology of Essays
| Type | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Narrative | Imagined events/experience; first-person POV; mentions time/place; chronological; indicates feelings. |
| Descriptive | Describes particular place/person/thing; uses five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell); presents images through words. |
| Expository | Informs audience; breaks subjects into parts; explains sequences; shows interrelations/causes; uses categories. |
| Persuasive | Aims for persuasion; uses arguments/logic; uses humor/satire; supports clear thesis with evidence; no logic errors. |
Step-by-Step Writing Process
- Assignment: The teacher gives you an assignment.
- Approach: Think about how you want to approach the topic or choose your own.
- Brainstorm: Prewrite and create an outline (jot down ideas on paper if time is tight).
- Rough Draft: Get as much completed as possible, knowing it will be revised.
- Second Draft: Pay attention to structure and grammar. Let it "rest" for a few days if possible.
- Final Draft: Incorporate feedback from students, teachers, or friends for the third and final version.
Elements of the Five-Paragraph Structure
Analyzing Essay Structure: An essay can be divided into three parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction moves from the general to the specific. It often begins with a hook to capture the reader’s attention.
What is a Thesis Statement?
What is a Topic Sentence?
What is a Hook?
What is SAFER?
Five Paragraph Essay Sample: Climate Change
Are you concerned about climate change? This is a question asked around the world as weather conditions become more extreme and cause more damage to areas inhabited by people, plants, and animals. Is human activity the cause of climate change? If so, what effect will this have on the planet? If the climate is actually changing, is there anything that we can do about it?
Scientists believe global warming is caused by human activity, and this leads to climate change. As fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas are burned to produce energy, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere. These CO2 emissions have a direct impact on air temperature by absorbing and retaining more energy from the sun. This is also known as the "Greenhouse Effect." Scientists have detected a measurable increase in both CO2 emissions and in the average air temperatures around the world over the last 100 years. The relationship between the two is clear, but ignoring the effects of global warming could have devastating consequences.
Worldwide, increasing air temperatures have resulted in more precipitation in some areas while other areas have become drier. The severity of strong storms and high winds has increased. Ice that normally remains intact year-round at the North Pole is melting, creating more open water which absorbs more heat. Permafrost in Canada and Greenland is also showing signs of melting. All of these events indicate a warming planet.
Despite an abundance of evidence that climate change is now upon us, there are many who remain sceptical of the science. However, time is of the essence and we need to start changing our behaviour immediately while science is still being debated. The prudent thing to do now is to develop alternatives to coal and gas consumption. Not only does this improve air quality, it also becomes a source of new jobs and clean industries that produce solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Additionally, the construction industry has seen a boom in recent years of new, dense housing located closer to places where people work. It has also been shown that corporations and consumers can save money by recycling, reusing once-discarded materials and reducing waste. Actions were taken to reduce a carbon footprint become a "win" for all who are involved.
Ultimately, the truth of the situation will be revealed. Scientists acknowledge that the Earth's climate naturally changes over long durations of time; however, careful measurements of air and soil samples show that human activity has greatly accelerated climatic changes in a short amount of time. The planet is now covered with cities, highways, machines, and human beings whose activities are directly impacting the environment. To say that the presence of nearly seven billion people does not have an impact on the Earth's ecosystem is to live in denial of the facts and the evidence that proves the Earth's climate is, indeed, changing.
