Activity Session Plan
Activity Session Plan
Essay Writing—Micro- and Macrostructure
Essay Writing—Micro- and Macrostructure
Introduction
Activity Outline
This session introduces students to the more detailed structure of an essay than was covered in the
previous session. Here they work with the idea of a micro and macrostructure – the idea that the
overall essay must have a structure as well as each paragraph have a structure. They also use the idea of
transition words and phrases to link between ideas and paragraphs.
Pg.
Activity
Outcome
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1. Students discuss how an essay is structured and are introduced to the idea of a
macrostructure via the worksheet on pg. 3.
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Learning Objective
2. Students identify the thesis statement, outline and conclusion in the examples on
Students will identify and use the concepts of micro and macrostructure when writing an essay, focusing
on the content of each paragraph and the transitions between paragraphs.
5-6
Learning Outcomes
3. Students discuss how a paragraph is structured and are introduced to the idea of
a microstructure via the worksheet on pg. 5.
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4. Students identify the topic sentence, supporting evidence and concluding
evidence in the examples on pg. 6.
1. Recall that an essay should have a macrostructure – thesis statement, outline and conclusion and
identify these in example texts.
2. Recall that an essay should have a microstructure – topic sentence, support and concluding
sentence and identify these in example texts.
3. Identify a list of transition signals to indicate when paragraphs are linked together.
4. Use the microstructure and transition signals to create a two (or more) paragraph document which
can then be peer assessed.
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5. Students are given a topic either by the lecturer or by using the topic on pg. 5
and write at least a two paragraph essay on the topic, demonstrating use of the
microstructure and transition words in pg. 7. Students swap and peer assess, giving
useful feedback to each other.
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Timings: 20 minutes but could be extended as long as needed by adding in extra practice for writing
paragraphs and peer assessing these paragraphs. Some formative examples of past essays or
paragraphs related to the specific course would be beneficial for students to see examples of good
practice and identify why they are good practice, in terms of micro and macrostructure and transitions.
Optional Self-study for extension of skills using Skills4study Campus
Writing skills
Skills4study campus can be accessed from: http://www.skills4studycampus.com/orglogin.aspx
Pre-activity Requirements from Students:
It would be useful if students could bring an example of an essay they have written to analyse for its
micro and macrostructure. It would also be useful if they could bring their documentation from the
previous session (they should have a mindmap or linear essay plan), as this session follows on from it,
expanding on how to plan an essay in more detail.
Resources: Student resource booklet, pages 3-7.
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Examples
Macrostructure
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An essay has both a microstructure and a macrostructure. The macrostructure looks at how the overall
essay is constructed. It should contain three elements, listed below and then described in detail:
“Global warming and climate change are often mistaken for being the same thing,
and having the same underlying causes. Climate can be thought of as weather over a
large area over a certain period of time whereas global warming is a name given to the
These can be in any
order!
process of the earth being heated by the energy from the sun. Climate change has been
attributed to both natural and anthropogenic factors, but despite the recent media
Thesis Statement
Introduction
interest, the exact contribution from man and from natural factors remains unclear. This is
The main argument you are making
due to the short time series over which data has been reliably recorded. Although data
Background
The Context of your topic
exists from the 1800s, the methods used to measure variables such as sea surface
Outline
Order of your main points
temperature differ greatly from those used today due to significantly inaccurate measuring
devices and methods. Additionally, when considering the part played by factors such as
large volcano eruptions, data is limited to historical records, and the further back in time
Argument
Main Body
Evidence
one considers, the more subjective these sources become, compared to the scientific
TIP! Make sure your argument and
methods used today. These factors will be considered in turn to illustrate that at present,
evidence is presented with clarity and
that it flows well.
there is insignificant data to determine and precisely attribute the contribution to climate
change from man and natural sources.”
Summary
Conclusion
Your Perspective
TIP! Don’t include any new
information here—it is the place to
draw the essay to a close.
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“Education in the UK seems to constantly be under reform, a process which makes
measuring the impact of an incentive or policy change hard to measure. Examining
the recent changes of Government over the last decade and the specific strategies that
have been introduced (and disbanded), it will here be demonstrated that no longevity
Do
exists, and consequently that thousands of children are reduced to the role of educational
Read through the example introductions on the next page and identify the thesis
statement, the argument and the outline. If your lecturer has given you some
examples of previous essays for your course, discuss and identify the structures
described above (introduction, main body, conclusion etc.)
lab rat in a laboratory with no note-book. This results in confused public opinion and
reduced confidence in educational policy and ministers.”
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Microstructure examples
Microstructure
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The microstructure of an essay looks at the structure and contents of each paragraph. Each paragraph
should contain a main idea (the topic sentence) surrounded by supporting evidence and finally a
concluding sentence. This is sometimes referred to as ‘the sandwich paragraph’.
“Public confidence in climate scientists should be reduced due to the lack of reliability
of their sources. Sea surface temperatures are a way of measuring the amount of
Paragraph
climate change that is occurring throughout the planet. The methods used for collecting
these temperatures has changed significantly since records began, but the data does not
Topic Sentence
reflect this, leading to a time series that is based upon incomparable data. This
dramatically affects the reliability and validity of any conclusions drawn from such data, but
Support
this is not reflected in conclusions made and distributed to the public. For example, when
mariners first started exploring the seas, the sea surface temperature was taken using a
Concluding Sentence
wooden bucket, scooping up the top most layer of water and then putting a thermometer
in it once it was aboard the ship. The amount of error in this process is massive, due not
Do
Read through the example paragraphs on the next page and identify the topic
sentence, supporting evidence and conclusion. If your lecturer has given you
example essays for your course, repeat the same process for each paragraph in
these essays.
least to the error in older thermometers, and only using the top layer of water from the
ocean. Recent methods to achieve a sea surface temperature involve using satellites.
Despite this lack of parity, the data from both methods are still lumped together and used
to formulate the time series for graphs, such as the famous ‘hockey stick’ graph used to
create and inform public opinion. This example is one of many ways to highlight why public
It is important to link each paragraph together to create a continuous flow and argument in your essay.
There are several phrases and words that indicate a transition, these are called ‘transition signals’ and can
be found on pg. 7.
Do
1.
2.
3.
confidence in climate scientists should be reduced.”
Read through the list of transition signals on pg. 7.
Identify and highlight the transition signals used in the examples given in
these worksheets.
Discuss with your peers or class.
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“The National Strategies could be considered one of the more successful government
interventions in recent educational policy. Due to the renewed term of the labour
government, the national strategies were in effect for an extended period of time in
Do
comparison to other government initiatives. This allowed the impact to be measured
Using either a title your lecturer gives you, one you create yourself or the example
below, write at least two paragraphs on the topic, paying careful attention to your
microstructure and transitions.
Swap with your peers and identify the
microstructure and transitions on the work of your peer. Give them constructive
feedback.
throughout a whole cohort of pupils from primary to secondary level, unlike the recent
reform of KS3 science, which having been documented, will now change due to the
Government’s National Curriculum reform. This reform should look at what has been
‘Judge the impact of the London Olympics 2012 on the surrounding community,
considering social, economic, educational and cultural implications’.
learnt from the National Strategies and integrate it into the curriculum reform, using its
success to provide continuity for children, parents and teachers.”
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To Contrast
in contrast...
however...
a different view is...
on the other hand...
on the contrary...
differing from...
balanced against...
unlike...
To Introduce an
Opposite Idea (or
Exception)
however...
whereas...
yet...
despite...
Still...
on the other hand...
while...
nevertheless...
even though...
in contrast...
instead...
in spite of...
but...
but one could also say...
To Compare
in a different way/sense...
whereas...
similar to...
similarly...
balanced against...
like, just like...
likewise...
by comparison...
conversely...
To Summarise/
Conclude
in summary...
as a result...
as shown...
consequently...
to conclude...
in conclusion...
on the whole...
ultimately...
thus...
to summarise...
in brief...
summing up...
therefore...
in other words...
finally...
conversely...
To Introduce
an Example
for example...
on this occasion...
this can be seen...
for instance...
to illustrate...
when/where...
in this case...
to demonstrate...
take the case of...
To Indicate Time
Transition
Signals
immediately...
prior to...
then...
at that time...
thereafter...
previously...
soon...
before..., after...
formerly...
finally...
during...
To Indicate
order
To Introduce an
Additional Idea
first, second etc.
next, last, finally
first of all
concurrently
simultaneously
at this point
previously, subsequently
and then
at this time
followed by
after that
next, before, after
meanwhile
in addition...
moreover...
and then...
besides that...
also...
furthermore...
further...
Nor...
finally...
one can also say...
another...
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