This document provides guidance on writing an effective essay for a seminar. It discusses including an engaging introduction that grabs the reader's attention through questions, facts, or anecdotes. The body should develop and support the central idea with details and evidence. The conclusion should summarize the main points and reinforce the idea while drawing the essay to a gentle close. Sample introductions and conclusions are provided. Key elements of essay structure like motivation, experiences, and future plans are suggested as possible topics. The document emphasizes making the essay a personal story and following the major steps of brainstorming, planning, and drafting with proofreading.

1. Essay Writing Seminar
October 2012
Almaty

2. Question
Imagine we are all in a boat that is about to
drown due to an overload. One of us should
leave the boat…
Who should it be?
Why should you stay in the boat?

3. Essay Structure
1. Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion

4. Introduction
 open a story of the essay
 engage the reader/make a hook/grab
attention/differentiate from others
 present surprising facts and statistics
 relate a dramatic anecdote
 ask a provocative question/use a fitting
quotation

5. Introduction sample 1
Have you ever come across the Fibonacci
numbers? Probably, while watching a famous
The Da Vinci Code you heard Mr. Tom Hanks
uttering it to find clues to the anagrams. I
discovered this mathematical sequence in my
early childhood. Whether it is a seashell or a
galaxy , everything in our Universe is under
the rules of balanced ratios that my beloved
Mathematics explains.

6. Introduction sample 2
How do you think could a lake with water half
fresh and half saline exist on the Earth? Many
people would doubt this. But such a Lake does
exist - it is located in Kazakhstan and called
Balkhash. I came across such a phenomenon
at my first lesson of geography; however a
more meaningful lesson it taught me was
ahead…

7. Body
 develop main/central idea
 give details/facts/evidence of your story
 describe/explain/argue main topic
 write the biggest part of the essay

8. Body paragraph
My sincere interest in geography was rewarded
by high grades and awards at high school
student intellectual contests (Olympiads). I won
the top places at district Olympiads in
geography among several hundred high school
students. A participant of different conferences
in ecology, I took part also in the ecological
marathons hold in school.

9. Conclusion
summarize the story
reinforce/restate the above mentioned main
idea
reflect on the evidence presented
draw the essay to the gentle close
say why you want to be accepted/chosen

10. Conclusion sample 1
Since that time I am addicted to numbers, power of
information and hunger for a better people life. Last
year I graduated from KIMEP with a B.S. degree. I was
21 years old. At the age of 34 I expect to participate in
big scale financial reforms. At 55 I see myself as a
university professor teaching Finance. At 89...hmm, I
am still thinking. 21, 34, 55, 89… Is this the end of
Fibonacci sequence in my life? I guess, no. 144 national
satellites, 233 high-tech enterprises, 377 great
scientific inventions, 610 wind power stations, 987 new
schools, 1597 newborns… 514229 happy smiles… I
cannot stop this sequence. I am on my way. And I
believe it should start from XXX University…

11. Conclusion sample 2
I compare myself with the clear dry bed of the
unique lake Cerknica that shrinks and expands
every year in Europe. In that sense an
exchange year at the University of XXX will
increase my knowledge waters to the
maximum extent above the ground...

12. The Most Important
Essay is your own story!!!

13. Possible essay topics
• Motivation
• Family Background
• Extracurricular activities
• Work/Volunteer experience
• Future plans
• Challenges, difficulties, tragedies
• Other issues/ideas

14. Major Steps
Brainstorm
Plan
Draft
Check/Proofread

15. What do we look for?
Passion
Enthusiasm
Aspiration
Leadership
Commitment

16. Thank you!