Essay Writing for Academic Purposes

Students of the English language often show an inability to express themselves in the target language. They find it easier to translate thoughts and ideas word for word from their native language into English. This way, however, they are inevitably led to incorrect language patterns caused by a difference in style of language patterns of expression in their native language and the target language. Teaching writing is undoubtedly more difficult than teaching other language skills, especially for ESP students who have limited knowledge of the target language. Students should be able to recognise how a sentence is formed and functions in English, how a number of sentences can be linked together to form paragraphs centralising in a certain topic and, finally, how a number of paragraphs composes an essay that defines, exposes or explains a certain topic in the target language. Reading, on the other hand, is a skill that helps students acquire information and knowledge and use this information and knowledge in expositions of their own.