The Structure of an essay

The essay usually contains three parts: Introduction Body Conclusion

Introduction The introduction contains 3 parts: –Hook –Background information –Thesis –The thesis is the most important part of the essay. It gives the purpose of the essay and the writer’s point of view or opinion about the topic or issue. A thesis can be direct or indirect.

Body Paragraphs Topic sentence - This is the first sentence of the body paragraph that tells the reader what the paragraph will be about. Supporting sentences – These sentences give details, examples and explain and discuss the main point of the paragraph. These sentences should support the topic sentence and the thesis of the essay.

Conclusion paragraph This doesn’t just restate and summarize the essay. This paragraph can - discuss the importance of your ideas - make a prediction - give the reader a new perspective - challenge the reader - propose a solution or suggestion - discuss what people can learn - discuss how this issue affects society/world - leave the reader with a thoughtful question Don’t just list the same points from your essay. Don’t introduce too many ideas!

Example Introduction –Is coffee a drug? People everywhere are trying to cut back on their consumption of coffee, a harmful drink that people crave but feel guilty about. Coffee is said to cause nervousness and is purported to be addictive. We have all heard about these harmful effects of coffee, but many Americans continue to drink it daily. What if instead of feeling guilty about drinking coffee, people could feel good about taking this herbal supplement? There are many benefits to coffee such as fighting drowsiness, boosting athletic performance, and enhancing the pain relief of aspirin.

Example body paragraph First of all, coffee is best known as the powerful stimulant that helps people stay awake during night driving and cramming before final exams. Its caffeine is capable of boosting energy, increasing alertness, and quickening reaction time. It is also a mood elevator and may help mild depression. The explanation for this may lie in research conducted in the mid 1980’s, which suggested that the chlorogenic acids in coffee might have an antidepressant effect on the opiate system in the brain. A cup of coffee could help in performance of tasks requiring sustained attention, even during low alertness situations such as after lunch, at night, or when a person has a cold.

Example Conclusion –Although most people don’t think of it as such, coffee is clearly America’s most popular herbal beverage. Despite the scare tactics of those who would try to discredit coffee’s reputation, years of research have not shown harmful effects when coffee is taken in moderation. It not only helps a sleepy nation wake up in the morning, but it also has significant therapeutic value, which has been scientifically proven. Not only should people not feel guilty about drinking coffee, they should encourage more drinking of it as well as encourage others to drink it for its many benefits.

Essay taken from Blueprints 2: Composition Skills for Academic Writing by Folse, Mahnke, Soloman and Williams 2003, Houghton Mifflin Company