Essay Outline Introduction & Conclusion

Introduction – 1 st Paragraph Contains: Hook – grab the reader’s attention Background information – give some basic information about the topic Thesis statement – State the main claim of the essay followed by reasons.

The Hook Here are a few simple ways to write your hook: 1. Ask a question 2. State an interesting or startling fact / statistic 3. Use a quote 4. Create an ‘Imagine if’ scenario Try to do this without using any form of “you” or “I.”

Examples (Topic: Ocean sports) Ask a question Ever gone stand up paddling before? State an interesting or startling fact / statistic Seventy-five percent of athletes who tried stand up paddling claim it improves balance, coordination, and strength. Use a quote “Surfing’s the source man… swear to God.” - Bodhi / Patrick Swayze ‘Imagine’ scenario Imagine the roar of the ocean, 20 ft. waves pounding the shore, and the rush of adrenaline as the next set comes in.

Examples Matriculation hook Wouldn’t it be great for 8 th graders to be rewarded for all their hard work at the end of the year? Food Inc. hook Imagine being cooped up in a cage, force-fed to the point of being unable to move, and forced to stand in manure all day.

Hook: Your turn With your elbow partner, come up with a possible hook sentence related to your topic (look at your thesis statement). Ask a question State an interesting or startling fact/statistic Use a quote from the article or a quote from a famous person ‘Imagine (if)’ scenario

Background Information (2-3 sent.) Give the reader some basic information about the topic before going into the Thesis Statement. Who? What? When? Where? Why? (Why does it happen, Why is it important)? How? (How does it happen, How does it relate to the audience?)

Background Example Food Inc. example: This is what it is like for many animals, such as chicken, hogs, cows, and ducks that are raised on what the American food industry calls, factory farms. Factory farms are large, industrialized farms where mass amounts of livestock are raised at a cheap cost. Oftentimes, the conditions they are raised in are unhealthy.

Put it together with the Hook Imagine being cooped up in a crowded cage, force-fed to the point of being unable to move, and forced to stand in excrement all day. This is what it is like for many animals, such as chicken, hogs, cows, and ducks that are raised on what the food industry calls, factory farms. Factory farms are large, industrialized farms where mass amounts of livestock are raised at a minimal cost. Oftentimes, the conditions they are raised in are unhealthy.

Thesis Statement This is the main claim of your essay followed by your reasons. This is what you will argue for. Thesis Statement = Opinion + Topic supported by reasons & evidence. Read your thesis statement aloud to your elbow partner.

Thesis Statement: Examples Matriculation Eighth grade students should have a matriculation ceremony because it recognizes their accomplishments, and it involves parents in school activities. Food Inc. Factory Farms have a negative effect on society and the environment because it causes E. coli poisoning, pollutes the environment, and results in cruelty to animals.

Introductory Paragraph Hook + Background Info. + Thesis Statement

Intro paragraph: Food Inc. example Imagine being cooped up in a crowded cage, force-fed to the point of being unable to move, and forced to stand in excrement all day. This is what it is like for many animals, such as chicken, hogs, cows, and ducks that are raised on what the food industry calls, factory farms. Factory farms are large, industrialized farms where mass amounts of livestock are raised at a minimal cost. Oftentimes, the conditions they are raised in are unhealthy. Factory farms have a negative effect on society and the environment because it causes E. coli poisoning, pollutes the environment, and promotes animal cruelty.

Conclusion: Restate your thesis statement in a different way Maybe your original thesis statement looked like this: Video games have a positive effect on teens because it improves hand-eye coordination and sharpens problem solving skills. Simply restate it by switching it around like this: In conclusion, strong hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills are ways teens can benefit from playing video games.

Concluding Statement Add another final sentence(s) and you’re done! Leaves a strong impression on the reader or Persuades the reader to take some kind of action.

Concluding Paragraph 1. Restate your thesis statement and write it in the template. 2. Come up with a strong statement to end your essay. Ask your elbow partner for help.