An Overview of a Well-Structured Essay Created by: Darren Chiang-Schultheiss English Department Fullerton College www.wiredprof.com

Before We Get Started... Guiding Principles: Structure Organization Communication

(¶) Paragraphs Have a Structure: 3 Main Parts Topic sentence Must contain a subject and a claim (angle or opinion about the subject of the essay) Central or controlling idea of the ¶ Focuses the paragraph on a single main idea Limits what you can talk about in the ¶ Supporting sentences Should develop the topic sentence with: Details Examples Specifics Concluding sentence Should bring a sense of closure to the ¶

Essays Have a Structure: 3 Main Parts Introductory paragraph Multiple main body paragraphs Conclusion paragraph

The Introductory Paragraph The introductory paragraph should accomplish three tasks: Hook the reader; Establish the subject of the essay; State the thesis in the form of a declarative sentence.

What Is a Thesis Statement? It’s the most important element of the essay. It’s the brain, the central nervous system of the essay. There are different kinds of thesis statements, but we’ll deal with the declarative thesis first.

The Declarative Thesis Statement Makes a claim or assertion about that subject 2 forms of a declarative thesis: Generalized: Traveling can broaden one's outlook. Mapped: Traveling can broaden one’s outlook on acceptable public behavior, on non-verbal communication, on personal space, and on differences in personal hygiene.

Multiple Main Body Paragraphs The job of the main body is to: Support Prove Explain the thesis statement that was in the introductory ¶. Each ¶ in the main body should be in charge of breaking the thesis statement down into smaller, more manageable parts. Therefore each ¶ develops one sub-idea of the thesis.

The Conclusion Paragraph The primary job of the conclusion ¶ is to let the reader know that you’re finished writing. Bring the essay full circle to where you started the essay.

Summary endings Vs. conclusions Summaries regurgitate information Conclusions: bring closure to the essay; make final statements; leave the reader with a powerful thought; put the subject matter into a larger context; call the reader to action

Paragraph and Essay Structures Are Similar Topic Sentence Developing Sentences Conclusion Sentence ESSAY Introductory ¶ with thesis statement Main Body ¶s Conclusion ¶