My First Essay

I remember the very first essay that I wrote. I can't even recall how old I was at that time, but I do remember that we were asked to write about a childhood experience. I was so undecided about what to write as I had so many things to talk about. After a long reflection, I finally decided to write about a situation that always made me smile whenever I thought about it. This is how my essay looked like:


An Unforgettable Childhood Experience


Our childhood experiences are unique for every one of us. They are those that can leave a positive or negative mark on us and even affect the way we respond to people in the society in general.


I was the second child of 4; quiet but very mischievous. I used to do the weirdest things and later sit in my corner when I was scolded by my parents. On one Friday morning, I picked up my dad's identity card and for no good reason, I sat behind the sofa and tore it into pieces. To my greatest dismay, my dad caught me in the act and I got the beating of my life. To me, my dad's identity card was just another piece of well-cut paper with his photograph on it. Till this day, I still do not know why I had to hide behind the sofa to do what I did.


I was angry; yes, I was very angry with my parents for punishing me so badly because of that piece of paper. In protest, I refused to eat all day long. It was around 11 p.m when I started feeling that I could take it no more. I was so hungry that I could barely walk to the door of the bedroom. I headed straight for the kitchen and opened the only pot that I saw on the cooker. And lo! What happened? I dropped the lid of the pot and it broke the silence of the calm night. My parents sprang out of their bed and barged into the kitchen, each holding a club. They were relieved to find that it was me, for they thought that a thief had gotten into our home. To my greatest surprise, my parents did not shout at me. My mum served me some food and after I had emptied my plate, we all went to sleep.


Our childhood experiences could make us smile or make tears well up in our eyes. Whatever be the case, we could draw lessons from them. One thing that I learnt from this experience was to never sulk when I was corrected for a wrong deed.

Writing a Research Thesis or Dissertation

Disseminating research results is important as the outcome of research can lead to development of new techniques and procedures. There are many ways of putting down results on a piece of paper, but what is most important is the way you disseminate it so that readers can depict what you have arrived at.

The dissertation or thesis should follow a presentation format. This usually varies from one institution to another. The presentation format includes:
-the page margin size
-line spacings
-font size
-formats of the title page, content page, tables, figures, appendix, and the references
-the numbering systems
-citation of references
-citation of figures
-equations and tables
-and the tense in which the dissertation or thesis is written


Before you start, inquire about the guidelines set by your institution as concerns the presentation format. Alternatively, you can get a copy of a thesis or dissertation written by a student from your institution. Usually, this can be gotten from the library or from the office in charge of student affairs.


Your thesis is going to be organised into chapters or sections. How this is organised is referred to as the structure of the thesis. This is not dictated by institutions but in general, the structure should consist of the following:
-the title page
-the abstract
-the contents list
-the list of tables and figures
-the nomenclature list
-the acknowledgements
-the main text which is divided into chapters
-the references,
-the appendices


Remember that you would always save time when you plan the structure of your thesis before starting to write. To make your work look neat and organised, always start a new chapter or section on a new page. It is easier if you write the Abstract and the Introduction chapter last. Always refer to the work of a former student as a guide to help you with the formatting and the organisation of the chapters.


Ensure that each chapter is linked to the next so as to maintain consistency. The way you end a chapter can tell the reader what to expect in the next chapter, and the way you start a new chapter can remind the reader of what he/she read in the previous chapter. 


Some tips to remember:


1. Choose your words and build your paragraphs wisely so as to maintain flow. 
2. Repetition of words or paragraphs kill the flow. You should avoid this as much as possible. 
3. Write in a simple and clear way. Avoid the use of "big words" to show how super smart you are in mastering the language.
4. Use the active voice in writing unless you do not have strong evidence to support a statement.

The Abaya

This cloak, which covers the entire length of the body, is the common daily dressing (in public places) for women in Saudi Arabia and in most Gulf countries in general. Traditionally black in colour, it is amazing to find that many women wear abayas of varying colours these days. It is worn with a veil and in some cases with a face veil or 'niqab'.


It is interesting to visit the biggest malls on a weekend, as these are usually full of customers. Even if the colour of the dark fabric escapes your eye, you would be caught by the way Saudi women move around gracefully in their stylish and classy abayas. You might also be shocked to see that some young girls (most probably in their late teens) have an audacious way of wearing their abayas. Some practically leave the front open so that you can see their awesome outfits beneath. On a few occasions, I have noticed some teens who tied the edge of their abayas around their waists, leaving their legs clad in tight jeans under the scrutiny of curious passers-by.


There are even more stories that women would tell you about the abaya; especially the expatriate women who were never used to wearing them in the first place. Some have gotten used to it as a covering that they have lost their taste for fashion. A few have reported going out wearing their pyjamas underneath their abayas! While some expatriate women have gotten used to wearing the abaya and even liking it, some women still find it difficult to adjust. In particular, they find it uncomfortable when they are jogging or when temperatures are high.


Whatever be the case, the abaya has been worn for many years by women, and it still remains the proper dressing for muslims. With fashion and modernism, this cloak which was traditionally simple and made as a covering for women, has undergone several modifications to suit the desire of the ever fashion-hunting women.