Elements of an Essay

STRUCTURE

INTRODUCTION BODY CONCLUSION DISCUSS: What’s the most important? What’s the least important?

INTRODUCTION Immediately captures the interest of your reader (GRABBER/HOOK) Gives appropriate background information. Summary of ideas that will be in the body Information related to your topic Thesis statement

The THESIS STATEMENT

1. GRABBER Grabs the attention of your reader. GRABBER

UNUSUAL DETAIL Manitoba, because of its cold climate, is not thought of as a great place to be a reptile. Actually, it has the largest seasonal congregation of garter snakes in the world.

STRONG STATEMENT Cigarettes are the number one cause of throat cancer in the United States.

STARTLING INFORMATION More Americans have died in automobile accidents than have died in all the wars ever fought by the United States.

QUOTATION Elbert Hubbard once said, “Truth is stronger than fiction.”

STATISTIC or FACT Close to 90% of the earth’s surface is made up of water.

QUESTION What if one day the entire human population woke up without being able to hear?

EXAGGERATION or OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENT The whole world watched as the comet flew overhead.

AVOID Grabbers that have no connection to your thesis. Asking questions such as: Have you ever..? Would you..? Did you ever…?

Grabber Example “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”

2. TOPIC SENTENCE Introduce the BIG IDEA GRABBER BIG IDEA (Bk Info)

Topic Sentence Example Like the proverbial box of chocolates, objects have symbolic meaning.

3. NARROWING SENTENCES Focus that brilliant idea!!! GRABBER BIG IDEA Narrow it down and connect

Example For example, a dove could symbolize peace, whereas a pearl necklace could symbolize unity. Regardless of what the object may be, some type of symbolic meaning can be found in anything.

4. THESIS STATEMENT A single sentence identifying the main point of the entire essay GRABBER BIG IDEA Narrow it down and connect THESIS

THESIS EXAMPLE By examining a line of tape placed on the floor of a classroom, its features can be found to symbolize the traits of the main characters from the movie, Freedom Writers.

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” Like the proverbial box of chocolates, objects have symbolic meaning. For example, a dove could symbolize peace, whereas a pearl necklace could symbolize unity. Regardless of what the object may be, some type of symbolic meaning can be found in anything. By examining a line of tape placed on the floor of a classroom, its features can be found to symbolize the traits of the main characters from the movie, Freedom Writers. INTRODUCTION EXAMPLE

EXAMPLES Read the Freedom Writer examples. Based on what we know about introductions, what introduction is a good example? What introduction is a not so good example? Rate them. Discuss as a group. SHARE with the class.