Introductions Body Paragraphs Conclusions Essay Structure Introductions Body Paragraphs Conclusions

Introductions

What an Introduction does… Provide the context necessary to understand your thesis. Clearly state the main point of the essay "Hook" the reader Set the tone for the essay

Parts of an Introduction Hook Background Thesis Example: Example topic: "The high cost of living in Tokyo" Hook: Can you imagine how much a single day can cost if you live in Shibuya, Tokyo? Comments and background: Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world. The prices of things in Tokyo are much higher than in other parts of Japan. Many people living in Tokyo have a difficult time paying for their lifestyles. Thesis Statement: Tokyo definitely is one of the most expensive cities for many reasons.

The Hook a question or comment that inspires an emotional response from the reader. It should be used to get their interest. There are many strategies to “hook” the reader.

A good “Hook” QUOTATION Start with a quote from a text, a film, a subject-matter expert, or even a friend or relative if he or she said something relevant to the topic and of interest to your reader. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," said Napoleon in George Orwell's classic novel Animal Farm.

A Good “Hook” QUESTION Open up with a question to get your readers thinking. Of course, the question (and its answer) should be relevant to your thesis. What's in a name? Nothing—and everything. It is, after all, just a name, one tiny piece of the puzzle that makes up a person. But when someone has a nickname like "Dumbo," a name can be the major force in shaping one's sense of self. That's how it was for me.

A Good “Hook” This type of hook provides "shock value" for the reader. SURPRISING STATEMENT or FACT This type of hook provides "shock value" for the reader. If you don't believe our current tax law is ridiculously out of control, consider this: Our total tax law consists of 101,295 pages and 7.05 million words. That means our tax law has almost 100 times more pages and ten times as many words and the Bible. Bloated? You bet. But it doesn't have to be. The government would collect equal or greater tax revenue and save millions of dollars in compliance costs by instituting a flat tax system.

A Good “Hook” AN IMAGINARY STORY OR SCENARIO Hook your readers with your imagination. You might ask them to place themselves in the scene, or you can let them simply witness it. You've been drifting at sea for days with no food and no water. You have two companions. Suddenly, a half-empty bottle of water floats by. You fight over the bottle, ready to kill the others if you have to for that water. What has happened? What are you—human or animal? It is a question that H.G.Wells raises over and over in The Island of Dr.Moreau. His answer? Like it or not, we're both.

A Good “Hook” ANECDOTE Start your essay by telling a short, interesting story related to your subject. Maybe something that happened to you or something else real

A Good “Hook” Interesting Background Information Tell your reader something unusual about your subject. Here's a revision of the Frankenstein introduction using this strategy: Incredibly, Frankenstein—one of the most important novels in Western literature—was written by a teenager. When it was published in 1818,Mary Shelley was only 19 years old. Despite her youth, Shelley's story raises a question that is more important today that ever: What is the creator's relationship to his or her creation?

A Good “Hook” Reword or rework an old standard to create a fresh hook. A New Twist on a Familiar Phrase Reword or rework an old standard to create a fresh hook. To eat or not to eat? That is the question millions of Americans struggle with every day as they fight the battle of the bulge. But it seems to be a losing battle. Despite the millions spent on diet pills and diet plans, Americans today are heavier than ever.

The Background give a history or some information regarding the topic. Depending on what you are writing about you may need to include: The piece of written work (title, author, dates) The event (people, places, dates) Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein was published over 180 years ago. But this remarkable novel raises a question that is more important today than ever: What is a creator's responsibility for his or her creation?

Thesis Statement the last sentence in the introduction paragraph and it describes what the essay is about Your readers should know from the beginning what idea you will be developing throughout the essay. A clear thesis statement is a key component of an effective introduction.

Thesis Statements A thesis MUST: Take a position Be supportable with research Be expressed in one sentence NOT be a general statement Example: General: Charles Dickens writes good novels. Specific: Dickens uses the setting of his novels to emphasize the themes. In X, by Y, Z shows……….

Body Paragraphs

Paragraphs A paragraph is a group of related sentences that address a particular topic. Writing and organizing good paragraphs is one of the most important aspects of creating a well-organized essay.

What is a Body Paragraph? The term body paragraph refers to any paragraph that follows the introduction and comes before the conclusion. The majority of any essay consists of multiple body paragraphs, and it is in these paragraphs where the main information is presented.

What is a Body Paragraph…cont. The longer an essay is, the more body paragraphs there will be. Because the body paragraphs present the important facts and information from an essay, having well-written body paragraphs is essential in writing a successful essay.

Important Aspects of a Body Paragraph A clear topic sentence Specific evidence or supporting detail Examples Unity and cohesion Transitions between sentences and paragraphs

Topic Sentences A topic sentence generally appears early in a body paragraph (often the 1st or 2nd sentence) and controls the paragraph. A topic sentence is like a mini thesis sentence for each paragraph and serves to unify the contents of the paragraph. Everything that follows in the paragraph needs to relate to the topic sentence.

The Details… No matter what type of essay is being written, all body paragraphs need to be fully developed and provide supporting detail. This detail can come in the form of personal examples, statistics, and/or quotes from an expert. When writing an essay that requires the use of research and outside sources, this information should be used to support the topic sentence.

Transitions All body paragraphs should also provide transitions. These transitions need to occur within the individual sentences of a paragraph and from one paragraph to the next.

To Add: additionally, in addition, again, besides, moreover, what’s more, equally important (also important), finally, further, furthermore, first (second, third, etc.) next, lastly To Repeat: as mentioned, as has been noted, in brief To Show Exception: however, nevertheless, in spite of, yet, still, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes, unfortunately To Compare: however, on the other hand, on the contrary, in contrast, whereas, but, yet, nevertheless, by comparison, compared to, conversely, up against, balanced against, but, although, meanwhile, after all, while this may be true To Emphasize: indeed, certainly, in any case, without a doubt, obviously, definitely, extremely, in fact, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, emphatically, unquestionably , undeniably, without reservation, always, never To Prove: furthermore, moreover, in example, in fact, indeed, because, for, since, for the same reason, for this reason, obviously, evidently, besides, in addition, in any case To Give an Example: for example, for instance, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, in another case, take the case of, on this occasion, in this situation To Show Sequence: as a result, subsequently, consequently, concurrently, following this, now, at this point, afterward, simultaneously, thus, hence, therefore, first (second, third, etc.) To Show Time: immediately, thereafter, then, soon after, next, and then, finally, later, previously, formerly, first (second, third, etc.) To Summarize or Conclude: In conclusion, as demonstrated, to conclude, summing up, in brief, as a result, therefore, accordingly, consequently, hence, on the whole

Conclusions

While conclusions are often considered an afterthought, a good conclusion is necessary for a good paper. This is the last part of the paper that will be read, and a good conclusion leaves the reader thinking about the essay and the important points that are presented.

Writing a conclusion Just as every essay has a clear beginning, it should have a clear ending. The last paragraph, also know as the conclusion, should make your essay sound finished. The concluding paragraph typically has two parts: The summary statement is one or two sentences which restate the thesis in a fresh way to reinforce the essay's main idea. 2. The clincher is a final thought which should create a lasting impression on the reader.

The Summary Statement The summary statement is an effective way to start your concluding paragraph because it helps to drive home the ideas you've expressed in your essay. Look at your thesis statement again and rework it in a new way. Avoid repeating key words and phrases from the thesis statement because you don't want the summary statement to sound boring or repetitive. Using a thesaurus is a good way to find new, interesting words. Thesis Statement: Many Americans are buying the Toyota Corolla because of its competitive price, fuel economy, and high resale value. Summary Statement: Reasonable pricing, low miles per gallon, and an attractive resale value have all contributed to the popularity of the Toyota Corolla in today's market. Thesis Statement: San Francisco is a stimulating place to visit because of its magnificent location, its theaters and art galleries, and its many fine restaurants. Summary Statement: If you love beautiful surroundings, world class theater and art, and an exquisite meal, then San Francisco is the place for you.

The Clincher The clincher, also referred to as the closer, is your last opportunity to connect with the reader. One way to make the most of this moment is to return to the technique you used for your grabber. Complete the anecdote. Make a prediction or recommendation based on the facts or statistics. Ask a final rhetorical question. Use a new quotation or refer back to the opening quotation. Continue the original description of a character, setting, or object.

A Checklist for Conclusions: Does it flow from the last body paragraph Does it restate the thesis of the essay? Does it remind the reader of other important details and/or points made during the essay? Does it have a call to action or describe the benefits of implementing what is argued for in the essay?