In academic writing and speaking, you MUST give specific examples to support your main points. Most body paragraphs start with a topic sentence and then are followed by detail including examples. Therefore, this skill is essential!
GOOD EXAMPLES - provide names | are specific | narrow the meaning from the previous sentence | match the topic sentence
Imagine you make this point at the start of a body paragraph.
Global warming is having catastrophic effects around the world.
Topic sentence | Following example (GOOD) |
Global warming is having catastrophic effects around the world. | One case is the islands in the Pacific Ocean. Some of them are being covered by rising sea levels, which leads to loss of animal habitats. |
This is a good example of an example because it is specific and it gives the negative consequence to match the topic sentence.
Here are some more good examples.
Topic sentence | Following example (GOOD) |
It is a well-known fact that children develop at different rates. | My niece, for example, did not start speaking until the age of three. In contrast, her brother was already using simple sentences at the same age. |
Many countries develop a tourism industry to boost their economy quickly. | Australia is a good example of this. Its government has invested heavily into the hotel and transport sectors to make sure that international visitors are attracted. |
Many countries develop a tourism industry to boost their economy quickly. | In cases such as France, the government has invested heavily into the wine and cheese industries to make sure that tourists put a lot of cash into the economy and the agricultural sector too. |
Many people around the world interact with strangers through the power of the internet. | For example, students at an Australian university can complete a project with students in Greece on the other side of the world, by using online tools and email. |
Learning a language has many benefits for the learner. | The learner can get a better job, for example. He will also find it easier to travel the world, especially if he learns a widely spoken language like Chinese or Spanish. |
The examples in the right column are GOOD because they give names, specific situation and match the topic sentence on the left.
Now, are you ready to look at some BAD examples of examples? And understand how to avoid these writing mistakes?
Topic sentence | Following example (BAD) |
It is a well-known fact that children develop at different rates. | For example, girls develop faster than boys. (not specific, not an example, no names or numbers or situations, very difficult to prove because this idea is too broad) |
Many countries develop a tourism industry to boost their economy quickly. | For instance, they invest in tourism to build up their income. (not an example, merely a repeat of the same information from the topic sentence, who are 'they'?, no example provided) |
Here is my video lesson on giving good examples in your writing and speaking.
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