Reports vs. Essays LA: Essay Writing

Reports Are presenting information, usually in descriptive, explanatory way. Should not have a bias or opinion: a report should be neutral in tone.

Report Example The Rocky Road to Independence: The Rise of the Independence Movement in Alberta in the Last Fifteen Years. The rise of separatist parties in Alberta after The signing of the Red Deer Manifesto in Fear of a new NEP by Alberta’s politicians.

Essays Are written as an argument. You are arguing a point of view or opinion. Details and information are used to back up your argument. The focus is on the argument not the facts though. The tone is not neutral.

Example Time to Separate: Why Alberta Needs to Leave Canada The Canadian gov’t is heavily biased towards eastern Canada through special deals. Alberta pays more than its fair share to Canada and doesn’t get much back in return. Albertans can better govern Alberta than people in Ottawa who have nothing in common with us.

The Introductory Paragraph Start with a general statement describing your topic and get progressively more specific. The second last sentence of your paragraph should be your thesis statement: your statement of argument. The last line of your sentence should list out your three supporting points which will become your three body paragraphs.

Thesis The thesis is the central argument of your essay: Everything in your essay should tie back to and support your thesis. Albertans need to vote to separate from Canada for the good of the province and its people. The Canadian gov’t is heavily biased towards eastern Canada through special deals. Alberta pays more than its fair share to Canada and doesn’t get much back in return. Albertans can better govern Alberta than people in Ottawa who have nothing in common with us.

Body Paragraphs The topic sentence of each body paragraph represents a separate supporting point mentioned after the thesis sentence. The rest of the paragraph contains facts, quotes and other details which reinforce and support the topic sentence. At the end of a paragraph, a transition sentence is written which connects the two body paragraphs.

Concluding Paragraph Usually started with the phrase In summary,… or In conclusion,… The thesis statement is rewritten USING NEW WORDING. The three supporting points are mentioned again. Finally, a general concluding statement relating your paragraph to the larger topic is written.