BASIC GUIDELINES FOR WRITING ACADEMIC ESSAYS

The one-three-one essay format @IELTSIELTS TELEGRAM CHANNEL

The standard essay essentially has three main parts: the introductory paragraph,
body paragraphs and concluding paragraph. This format is presented in the
diagram below.
Introductory Paragraph

Thesis Statement
(Central Idea)

Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3

Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Topic Sentence
(Controlling Idea 1) (Controlling Idea 2) (Controlling Idea 3)
- Supporting Details - Supporting Details - Supporting Details

Concluding Paragraph

Summary of Main Points

Closing Remarks

The Introductory Paragraph

The introductory paragraph introduces the reader to the essay topic. Essentially,
this is achieved through the thesis statement. The thesis statement states what
the writer’s stance or opinion towards the topic is, and so in turn gives the reader
an idea about what the essay is about. Below is an example of a thesis statement:

topic central idea

Pursuing a tertiary education abroad is better than pursuing one in your own
country.

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The thesis statement could also contain the three controlling ideas to be
discussed in the essay (i.e. body paragraphs), as shown below. This is the
preferred method.

topic central idea

Pursuing a tertiary education abroad is better than pursuing one in your own
country as there are more study options abroad, students will be exposed to more
challenging life experiences there, and an overseas degree is always more
prestigious than a local one.

3 controlling ideas

(i) How to Write Thesis Statements

 A thesis statement has to be a complete sentence.

Example:

My fear of the dark. – not a thesis statement

My fear of the dark has made my life miserable – thesis statement

 It has to express an opinion, attitude, or idea; and does not simply

announce the topic the essay will develop.

Example:

I am going to discuss the effects of air pollution.

– not a thesis statement

The effects of radiation are often unpredictable. – thesis statement

 It should express an opinion, not a fact so that it is argumentative. It is a

statement that needs to be explained or proved.

Example:

Cows produce milk. – not a thesis statement

The milk cows produce is not always fit for human consumption. – thesis
statement

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  It should express only one idea toward one topic. If a thesis statement that
contains two or more ideas, the essay runs the risk of lacking unity and
coherence.

Example:

Going to a college located in the city can be fun, and I have found that living in
a suburb or a large city is the best way to live while at college.
– not a thesis statement

Going to a college located in the city can be fun. – thesis statement

EXERCISE 1

Study the following statements carefully. If the statement is a thesis

statement, write ‘yes’ in the blank, and if it is not, write ‘no’.

1. _____ The advantages of majoring in mass communication.

2. _____ I would like to discuss my views on the Olympic games.

3. _____ Students should be allowed to work part-time.

4. _____ When I came to Singapore, I wasn’t used to eating the local food, and

I was amazed at the shopping malls.

5. _____ Why do I want to be a computer programmer?

6. _____ The difference between the Mandarin and the Hunan dialects.

7. _____ knowing a foreign language can be beneficial to anyone.

8. _____ This advertisement attempts to appeal to the readers’ sense of

patriotism.

9. _____ I am going to describe my home.

10. _____ There are many similarities and differences between New York and

Hong Kong.

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EXERCISE 2

Study the following statements, which are not thesis statements.

Rewrite each of the sentences to make it a thesis statement.

1. I am going to explain why I decided to go to college.

____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

2. The hazards of storing chemical wastes.

____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

3. There are many similarities and differences between life in the

country and life in the city.
____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

4. New York city is the largest city in the United States.

____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

5. Governments should have better pension schemes for citizens;

they should also review the health care benefits.
____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

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 (ii) How to Write Good Introductory Paragraphs

To ensure that an introductory paragraph is truly effective, the following methods

can be employed:

 The ‘Funnel’ method

Start with a general statement about the topic, and then work toward the more
specific thesis statement at or near the end of the introduction.

Example:
(Traveling to a foreign country is always interesting, Begins with a general topic of
especially if it is a country that is completely different from “traveling to a foreign country.”
your own. You can delight in tasting new foods, seeing new
sights, and learning about different customs, some of which
may seem very curious.) [If you were to visit my country, for
instance, you would probably think that my people have some Thesis Statement
very strange customs, as these three examples would
illustrate.] This general topic is narrowed
down to a more specific one (i.e.
“customs in writer’s own
country”)
The three examples would be the
Topic = customs in writer’s
controlling ideas to be developed
own country
in the body paragraphs.
Central idea = strange

 The ‘Turnabout’ method

Start with a few sentences summarizing a point of view that is actually opposite
of you thesis. By the end of the introduction, make a complete turnabout by
presenting your own point of view – the opposite of what you started off with.

Example:
(We live in an era where television is the national Begins with a generally held
pastime. Since the invention of the television set, people have view that watching television is a
worthwhile pastime.
been spending more of their free time watching television
than doing anything else. Many of the television addicts feel
that this particular pastime is not a bad one; indeed, they
argue that people can learn a great deal watching television. I Thesis Statement
am sure that if you look long and hard enough, you can
probably find some programs that are educationally An opposing view (i.e. “that
motivating.) [But, for the most part, I say that watching watching television is a waste
television is a waste of time.] of time”) is presented.

Topic = watching television

Central idea = a waste of time

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  The ‘Dramatic Entrance’ method

This method helps to capture your reader’s attention. Start with a description of
a scene that leads to the thesis statement.

For example, if you want to write about the steps involved in preparing for a
hurricane, you may begin your introduction by describing the consequences of
being unprepared for it.

Example:
Begins with a description of a
scene (i.e. hurricane).
(The rain pours down as if running from a faucet,
lightning streaks across the dark restless sky, and thunder
pounds the roof and wall of the house. All of a sudden, the
wind kicks up. Trees sway madly back and forth; loose Thesis Statement
objects are picked up and thrown all around. The house creaks
and moans with every gust of wind. Windows are broken by Topic = hurricanes
pieces of shingle from a neighbor’s roof or by loose objects
Central idea = steps in
picked up by the wind. Power lines snap like thread. The preparing for hurricanes
unprepared house and its occupants are in grave danger as the (implied)
awesome hurricane approaches. Had they prepared for the
hurricane, they might not be in such danger. [Indeed, careful The specific steps in preparing
preparation before a hurricane is essential to life and for hurricanes (i.e. the controlling
ideas) are discussed in the
property.] succeeding body paragraphs.

 The ‘Relevant Quotation’ method

Start with quotation by an authority on the topic or by someone who says
something relevant to what is discussed in the essay. Then work the quotation
into the topic.

In the following example, the writer uses a quotation to introduce an article

about the process of harvesting ‘saffron’, a kind of spice in Spain.

Example:

(“The saffron is an arrogant flower,” begins an old, Begins with a quotation – words
Spanish song about this lush, purple blossom. “It is born with from a song about the saffron
flower.
the sunrise and dies at sunset.”) [For a couple of weeks in
October, in Spains’s La Mancha region, the arrogant crocus is
harvested frenetically, as fast as it flowers.]
Thesis Statement

For saffron is the world’s most precious spice, often Topic = the saffron flower (i.e.
‘the arrogant crocus’)
rivaling, ounce for ounce, the cost of gold. A pound of its tiny
threads, or stigmas currently costs well over $2,000. There is Central idea = harvested
such a demand for these little fibers that the Spanish call it frenetically
“red gold”. Almost all that is harvested will be sold …
The process of harvesting
6 saffron is discussed in the
succeeding body paragraphs.
The Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs come after the introductory paragraph. They

help to support the writer’s opinion or attitude (i.e. central idea)
toward the topic being discussed. This is done through expanding the
‘controlling ideas’. There are typically 3 to 4 controlling ideas
supporting the central idea. Take the following example for instance.

topic central idea

Pursuing a tertiary education abroad is better than pursuing one in your

own country as there are more study options abroad, students will be
exposed to more challenging life experiences there, and an overseas
degree is always more prestigious than a local one.

3 controlling ideas

Each of the controlling ideas would need to be discussed in one body

paragraph – ‘more study options abroad’ in Body Paragraph 1, ‘students
will be exposed to more challenging life experiences’ in Body Paragraph 2;
and ‘an overseas degree is always more prestigious than a local one’ in
Body Paragraph 3.

Format of a Body Paragraph:

A body paragraph always has a ‘topic sentence’ that states the

controlling idea, followed by supporting details.

(i) How to Write Topic Sentences

Topic sentences introduce paragraphs; they inform readers about what the
paragraphs would be about. They are normally found at the beginning of a
paragraph, and are often the first sentence. However, they can also be
found in the middle or at the end of a paragraph.

A topic sentence always contains the topic discussed by a particular

paragraph, as well as the controlling idea (or main idea). A controlling idea
is a word or phrase that states the writer's opinion or attitude towards the
topic.

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 Example:
controlling idea topic

Firstly, students will have more study options when they pursue a
degree overseas.

(ii) How to Develop Supporting Details

Supporting details provide information to 'support' and explain the

controlling idea. They consist of information, explanations, facts or
illustrations (examples) that answer one or more of the following
questions:

Why? When? Which? What? Who? How?

For example, supporting details for the topic sentence above would have to
explain why and how students have more study options when pursuing a
degree overseas.

A complete body paragraph would as a whole, support the central idea as

presented in the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph (e.g. that
it is ‘better’ to pursue a tertiary education overseas).

EXERCISE 3:

Here are some thesis statements and possible breakdowns into controlling ideas
for the body paragraphs. How were the breakdowns determined? Underline the
central idea for each of the thesis statements, and write a suitable question based
on the answers (i.e. controlling ideas) given. The first one has been done for you.

1. Thesis Statement:
The village is the best environment for me to live in.

Question:
What makes it a good environment?

Answers:
The cooperation among people.
Its lack of pollution.
Its security.

2. Thesis Statement:
In order to make a good impression at a job interview, you should
prepare well for the interview.

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 Question:

_____________________________________________________

Answers:
Plan your answers to possible questions.
Plan and prepare what you are going to wear.
Make sure you arrive on time.

3. Thesis Statement:
Watching television is not a waste of time.

Question:
_____________________________________________________

Answers:
Because it is a valuable educational tool.
Because it helps us to relax.
Because it provides something for our family to discuss.

4. Thesis Statement:
New York and Hong Kong are more alike than people think.

Question:

_____________________________________________________

Answers:
They are both enormous.
They both have people of many different ethnic groups.
They are both port cities.

EXERCISE 4:

Following are thesis statements, each with two supporting topic sentences. Study
the thesis statements and their supporting topic sentences to determine the logic or
the principle behind the breakdown. A good way to start is by identifying the central
ideas in the thesis statements. Then fill in a topic sentence for each.

1. Thesis Statement:
The city is the place for me to live.

Topic Sentences:
a) I like its excitement.
b) I like the availability of resources.

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 c) _____________________________________________________

2. Thesis Statement:
Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health.

Topic Sentences:
a) Heavy cigarette smoking can cause throat diseases.
b) Smoking can damage the lungs.

c) _____________________________________________________

3. Thesis Statement:
Jogging isn’t the only way to improve your circulation.

Topic Sentences:
a) Many have found cycling an excellent aerobic exercise.
b) Another way to improve circulation is to swim.

c) _____________________________________________________

4. Thesis Statement:
Taking a foreign language should be required in high school.

Topic Sentences:
a) Students can learn about other cultures.
b) It can help business in the future.

c) _____________________________________________________

EXERCISE 5:
For each of the following topic sentences, underline the controlling idea, and then
write out two examples that support that idea. Be sure that the examples are
adequately explained. The first one is done for you.

1. Mr. Morales displays kindness wherever he goes.

a. When he is on the bus, he talks to people who look sad. He tells them
funny stories that would make them smile.
b. Last week when he heard that his neighbor was sick, he made some
soup and delivered it to her, along with a bouquet of flowers.

2. There are several things you can do to reduce pollution.

a. ________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________
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3. You can find some unusual items in the bookstore.

a. ________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________

4. Exercise is good for health.

a. ________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________

5. My sister is a lucky woman.

a. ________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________

6. The cost of living has been rising lately.

a. ________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 6:

Study the following groups of topic sentences and supporting details. For
each topic sentence, circle the letter of the detail(s) that does not support the
controlling idea.

1. Smoking cigarettes is unhealthy.

a. Studies have shown that cigarette smoking increases the risk of

cancer.
b. Smokers have a higher rate of respiratory diseases such as
bronchitis and emphysema.
c. Studies also indicate that cigarette smokers have a higher rate of
high disease.
d. Moreover, cigarette smoke stains the teeth.

2. Polar bears are not considered to be endangered because in the 1960s, five
countries worked together to insure their survival.

a. Norway outlawed the hunting of polar bears.

b. In the United States, the Marine Mammal Protection Act insures that
only the natives of Alaska can hunt polar bears.
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 c. In Greenland, the native Inuit hunt only 100 to 150 bears each year
for food and clothing.
d. The Soviet Union made the hunting of polar bears illegal as early as
1955.
e. In the 1960s, Canada began research which lead to a quota system
designed to prevent over hunting of the bears.
f. In recent years, poaching in Russia has increased, and researchers
worry that oil spills in the Artic Ocean may cause polar bears
numbers to decrease.

(iii) How to Develop Coherent and Cohesive Paragraphs

The supporting details that elaborate the controlling ideas in each body paragraph
must always be organized logically and consistently; that is, coherently. There
must also be unity or cohesiveness between them. Two methods for achieving this
include organizing the controlling ideas and supporting details according to either
the order of importance, the order of familiarity or the order of time.

 Order of Importance: Saving the Best for Last

The least important or least impressive supporting details (i.e. examples) are
placed at the earlier part of the body paragraphs, while the most important and
most impressive is placed at the end.

 Order of Familiarity: From the Most Familiar to the Less Familiar

The supporting detail that is most obvious or familiar with the target readers is
placed early in the paragraph, followed by the lesser obvious ones, and ending
with the least obvious.

 Order of Time: From the Past to the Present

The supporting details are ordered according to time: what happened first, followed
by what occurred next, and so on.

Note:

The above principles of organization can also be applied to the organization of the
essay as a whole – which controlling idea should be presented in Body Paragraph
1, which in Body Paragraph 2, and so on.

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EXERCISE 7:

Study the following topic sentences and their supporting details. Rearrange
the support so that each detail is in its most logical position. Remember,
there is no set order, but you must be able to justify your choices.

1. China has suffered from some of the worst disasters in history.

a. The worst disaster of all time occurred in 1931, when the Huang He River
flooded, killing 3.7 million people.
b. On January 24, 1556, 830,000 people died in an earthquake.
c. In 1642, 300,000 Chinese perished as a result of flood waters.
d. In 1887, the Huang He River flooded, causing the death of 900,000
Chinese.
e. The year 192, saw another devastating earthquake, killing 200,000 people.
f. There was an earthquake in Tangshan in 1976 that killed 242,000 people.
g. In 1982 and 1983, over 1,7000 people died from floods.

2. Some people think that enjoying work is more important that the amount of
money earned.

a. Mary Bright, a cab driver, has an annual income of $17,800. She is fifty-
three and has been driving a taxi since 1981. She says, “I love it.”
b. Bob Jones, a fifty-five-year-old patrol officer, has been on the job twenty-five
years. He likes it a lot and thinks his salary of $29,000 is just fine.
c. Susan Smith helps build homes for $15,000 a year. It’s enough for her to
get by on while she pursues a second profession in art.
d. Al Johnson could be making more as an assistant engineer working on the
government’s missile project. Instead, he makes $19,000 a year as a
photographic technician for a magazine.
e. Sixty-year-old Roberta Howell is a senior food service aid at a hospital in a
small town. Although she could make more in the city, she is satisfied with
the $22,000 she earns per year and loves her home in the peaceful town.

d) The Concluding Paragraph

Just as the introductory paragraph functions to open the essay discussion by

introducing the topic and the central idea (thesis), so the concluding paragraph
wraps up the discussion, bringing the discussion to a logical end.

If the body paragraphs have done their job – that is, developed the thesis through
the controlling ideas, then the conclusion should follow logically.

There are three approaches to writing good concluding paragraphs:

 Restate the Main Points (i.e. controlling ideas)

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 Be brief as you have already discussed them at length in the body paragraphs.

 Restate the Thesis (i.e. central idea)

Avoid sounding repetitious – so restate the thesis in different words.

 Present a Recommendation / Suggestion / Advice

Use only if relevant to thesis (e.g. an essay which discusses the causes of air
pollution can end with suggestions on how to solve this problem). Be brief.

EXERCISE 8:

Following are thesis statements, their supporting topic sentences, and conclusions.
Study each conclusion to determine if it logically concludes. If the conclusion is not
appropriate, write “not good” in the blank, and write the reason it is not good. If the
conclusion is appropriate, simply write “logical” in the blank.

1. Thesis Statement
Watching television is not a waste of time.

a. It is a valuable educational tool.

b. It provides entertainment to help us relax.
c. It provides something our family can have in common to discuss.

Critics of television will continue to put down the “boob tube.” But because of its
educational value, its entertainment value, and its provision of things we can
discuss together, our family is going to continue watching television for a long time,
and so should others. Indeed, watching television is a good way to spend one’s
time.
_________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. Thesis Statement
Communicating in a foreign language can create some embarrassing
misunderstandings.

a. Mispronouncing words can lead to real embarrassment.

b. Misunderstanding what someone says to you can create amusing
problems.
c. Misusing vocabulary words can really make you blush.

Everyone who speaks a foreign language is bound to have

misunderstandings from time to time. What you need to do is to go to the
laboratory as often as you can to improve your language skills.

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 The people there are very nice, and they will help you with your grammar
and pronunciation.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. Thesis Statement
Television commercials are entertaining.

a. The Coca-Cola commercial is a good example of an entertaining

commercial.
b. The Chevrolet commercial is as good as any situation comedy.
c. The Fritos commercial is particularly amusing.

If you do not have a television, you are certainly missing out on the fun of
commercials. There are also a lot of entertaining programs to see. In
addition, the news programs can keep you informed about the world.
Indeed, everyone should have a television set.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

4. Thesis Statement
In order to make a good impression at a job interview, you should prepare well for
it.

a. The first thing you should do is plan your answers to the possible questions
the interviewer might ask.
b. Then you should carefully plan and prepare what you are going to wear.
c. Finally, you should make sure that you arrive on time.

As you can see, it is necessary to be well prepared for the job interview. Having the
answers ready, being properly dressed, and being on time can all help to make a
good impression on the interviewer. If you follow these steps, you will find yourself
sitting behind the desk at the coveted job in no time at all.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Transitions

Now that you have learnt the basic guidelines for writing academic essays, you
should also familiarize yourself with how to use transitions.

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  Transitions are words and phrases that help connect the ideas in your essay so
that they flow smoothly – this helps your reader to understand your thought
progression.

 Transitions are used to:

a) connect the ideas within a paragraph

b) connect the ideas between paragraphs

 A list of transitions as well as their specific functions are found below:

Function Transitions

Chronological First Next To begin with Eventually

order Second After that Last Finally Subsequently

Example For example For instance To illustrate Take for instance

Take for example Such as Like One example (of)

Addition Also Furthermore In addition Another example

Besides that Moreover Other than that An additional example

Likewise Similarly In the same way On the other hand

Comparison / Similar to Like Unlike Even though Conversely

Contrast In contrast However On the contrary Different from

In contrast to Whereas Compared with At the same time

Conclusion In conclusion Finally To conclude In summary In a nutshell

Note: All transitions used in sample essays in these notes are bolded and
italicized.

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 Sample Essay
Types of Hotels

Introduction Paragraph
a) Topic & Explanation

Hotels are found in every country and city of the world and even in communities
with few inhabitants.

b) Your opinion

In my opinion, the hotel industry ranks high among the largest worldwide
industries.

c) 3 supporting reasons

Generally, we can classify these hotels into three large groups based on location:
those near the airports, those in downtown areas and those in resort areas.

Body Paragraphs:
Paragraph 1:

a) Supporting Reason 1

First, airport hotels accommodate the air traveller.

b) Explanations

Since air travel has become more common, this kind of hotel has become more
popular. The principle distinction is that it is located near airports. Therefore, it is
very convenient to the traveller.
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 c) Secondary Information

Its guest includes passengers with short stay-overs or cancelled flights and
travellers who are in business. The length of stay is between one to three days for
guests. These kinds of hotels provide a limited level of service and the rates are
usually below low to medium.

d) Examples

The Hilton, the Marriot and the Holiday Inn are large chains that have hotel near
airports. Best Western and Travelodge are among the smaller hotel chains.

Paragraph 2:

a) Supporting Reason 2

Next, downtown hotels, which are also called commercial hotels, are located near
large office complexes and retail stores in the major metropolitan areas.

b) Explanations

Their primary markets are in the business industry. The downtown hotels are near
business destinations for daytime activities and are close to the city’s
entertainment centres for night-time activities. This combination is attractive to
people attending meetings and conventions.

c) Secondary Information

Although the primary market for these hotels is the business traveller, many
tourists use them as well. The length of stay for the guests is between three to five

18
days and rates can run between medium to high, depending on the hotel.
Moreover, the downtown hotels have a variety of services such as room service, a
coffee shop, a formal dining room, laundry services, a gift shop and a swimming
pool.

d) Examples

The downtown Hyatt-Regency and The Hilton are well-known hotels in this
category.

Paragraph 3:

a) Supporting Reason 3

Finally, there is also the resort hotels located near the beaches, mountains or
spas.

b) Explanations

Resort hotels are destinations or parts of a destination complex and their primary
clients are vacationers and recreation-minded people. Guests in these resorts can
spend from one week to an entire season. Therefore, the resort hotels must
provide guest entertainment. For this reason, guests are willing to pay high rates
to be entertained right on the premises.

c) Secondary Information

Furthermore, the level of services is much higher than what an airport or downtown
hotel offers. These complexes are designed with the family and children in mind.

d) Examples

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The most famous of these is the Walt Disney World Resort, which includes not
only the theme park but also all varieties of water sports, camping grounds and golf
courses.

Concluding Paragraph – Summary

a) Restate your opinion

In my view, the lodging industry offers many new alternatives for the traveling
public. Some properties offer luxury accommodations; others offer budget
accommodations; while still others accommodate the need of travelers to be away
from home.

b) Restate the reasons

Similarly, there may be a few other general areas where hotels are located, such
as along the interstate highways. Conversely, most of them are located near
airports, in the downtown areas and in resort areas.

c) Suggestions / Recommendations

In conclusion, when choosing a hotel, business travelers or tourists should bear in

mind the types of services and location that the hotel provides and whether it
meets the needs of the traveler

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FINAL COPY

Hotels are found in every country and city of the world and even
in communities with few inhabitants. In my opinion, the hotel industry
ranks high among the largest worldwide industries. Generally, we can
classify these hotels into three large groups based on location: those
near the airports, those in downtown areas and those in resort areas.
First, airport hotels accommodate the air traveler. Since air travel
has become more common, this kind of hotel has become more
popular. The principle distinction is that it is located near airports.
Therefore, it is very convenient to the traveler. Its guest includes
passengers with short stay-over or cancelled flights and travelers who
are in business. The length of stay is between one to three days for
guests. These kinds of hotels provide a limited level of service and the
rates are usually below low to medium. The Hilton, the Marriot and the
Holiday Inn are large chains that have hotel near airports. Best
Western and Travelodge are among the smaller hotel chains.
Next, downtown hotels, which are also called commercial hotels,
are located near large office complexes and retail stores in the major
metropolitan areas. Their primary markets are in the business industry.
The downtown hotels are near business destinations for daytime
activities and are close to the city’s entertainment centers for night-time
activities. This combination is attractive to people attending meetings
and conventions. Although the primary market for these hotels is the
business traveler, many tourists use them as well. The length of stay
for the guests is between three to five days and rates can run between
medium to high, depending on the hotel. Moreover, the downtown
hotels have a variety of services such as room service, a coffee shop,
21
a formal dining room, laundry services, a gift shop and a swimming
pool. The downtown Hyatt-Regency and The Hilton are well-known
hotels in this category.

Finally, there is also the resort hotels located near the beaches,
mountains or spas. Resort hotels are destinations or parts of a
destination complex and their primary clients are vacationers and
recreation-minded people. Guests in these resorts can spend from one
week to an entire season. Therefore, the resort hotels must provide
guest entertainment. For this reason, guests are willing to pay high
rates to be entertained right on the premises. Furthermore, the level of
services is much higher than what an airport or downtown hotel offers.
These complexes are designed with the family and children in mind.
The most famous of these is the Walt Disney World Resort, which
includes not only the theme park but also all varieties of water sports,
camping grounds and golf courses.

In my view, the lodging industry offers many new alternatives for

the traveling public. Some properties offer luxury accommodations;
others offer budget accommodations; while still others accommodate
the need of travelers to be away from home. Similarly, there may be a
few other general areas where hotels are located, such as along the
interstate highways. Conversely, most of them are located near
airports, in the downtown areas and in resort areas. In conclusion,
when choosing a hotel, business travelers or tourists should bear in
mind the types of services and location that the hotel provides and
whether it meets the needs of the traveler.

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ESSAY WRITING
Please circle the appropriate mark for each assessment item.

Assessment Items Marks

Content

 Sufficient main ideas are relevant and accurate 0 1 2 3 4 5

 Adequate elaboration of the controlling ideas effectively 0 1 2 3 4 5

Organisation

 Flow of thoughts / ideas are coherent, logical and 0 1 2

systematic

 Systematic paragraphing – Introduction, Body and 0 1 2

Conclusion

Introduction 0 1 2
 Thesis statement is present - clearly states the topic and
the central idea (stand on the topic).
0 1 2

Body
 Body paragraphs are presented clearly – there is one main
0 1 2
idea for every body paragraph

Conclusion
 Adequate conclusion - a summary or restatement of the
thesis, a prediction or a recommendation

Language
0 1 2 3 4 5
 A mastery of grammatical forms (sentence structures,
tenses, etc.) is demonstrated 0 1 2 3 4 5
 A firm grasp of mechanics (spelling, punctuation,
capitalization) is evident 0 1 2 3 4 5
 Appropriate / varied vocabulary is employed 0 1 2 3 4 5
 Signposts / signal words / linking words are used effectively

Total Marks / 40

 Deduct 1 mark if essay is less than 220 words or more than 270 words.

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