Writing a Multi- paragraph Essay

This is how a multi-paragraph essay should look. 1st Body Paragraph 2nd Body Paragraph 3rd Body Paragraph Conclusion Paragraph Introduction Paragraph

Your intro should start general and then get more specific. Use an attention grabber (a question, a strong image, etc.) Talk about the general themes or topics in a way that anyone can relate to. Your thesis statement should be the final sentence in your introduction and should contain a debatable opinion Thesis

Thesis Statement Perhaps the single most important sentence in your essay THE TOPIC + YOUR OPINION = THESIS This sets the topic for your entire essay It should be general enough to allow you to discuss all the issues you want to cover in your essay It should be a debatable opinion using powerful words and strong language

Which Thesis Statements follow the guidelines for good thesis statements? In the novel Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, the main character is a boy named Cole Matthews. In the novel Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, Cole Matthews is forever changed during his stay on an isolated Alaskan Island. In the novel Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, the main character is an angry young man named Cole Matthews who gets sent to an Alaskan island for savagely beating another boy. Cole Matthews, the main character in the novel Spirit Bear by author Ben Mikaelsen, experiences a rebirth due to his experiences on a remote Alaskan Island.

YOUR THESIS This is the format you will use for your paper’s thesis. Plug in the info for your paper into the blanks: In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, the character ______________ allegorically represents the Russian figure/organization ______________ because ______________________ _____________________________.

Body Paragraph #1 - #3 Should begin with a topic sentence that supports your thesis This sentence sets the topic for this entire paragraph It should contain concrete details which illustrate or support your topic sentence Those concrete details should be followed by commentary sentences which explain their importance Commentary sentences should be original ideas or thoughts Good commentaries go beyond the obvious #3 #2 #1

This is what your body paragraph should look like. Topic sentence Concrete Detail #1 Commentary 1 Concrete Detail #2 Commentary 2 Concrete Detail #3 Commentary 3 Concluding Sentence

More about Body Paragraphs The Topic sentence of each paragraph should be a commentary type sentence expressing an opinion which supports your thesis It should not be just a concrete detail A good conclusion should wrap up what was learned or pointed out in the entire paragraph Think of this sentence as a summary of your paragraph.

Using Transition Words in your body paragraphs It is important to use transition words when you switch between concrete details They can also be used between commentary sentences that do not build on one another Or they can help to transition between one paragraph and the next

How to properly use transitions Use a transition when joining two commentary sentences that do not build on one another. Example: When Holmes first meets Dr. Mortimer he says, “ I observe from your forefinger that you make your own cigarettes ” (Doyle 9). Holmes has the ability to notice details that most people overlook, and this is a skill he is most proud of. Additionally, these observational skill assists him in solving difficult mysteries. Use a transition between one “ chunk ” in your paragraph and another.

Conclusion Paragraphs Conclusion should wrap up the essay It should move from specific to general It should leave the reader with something to ponder or think about It should not just be a complete restatement of the intro. 1. Restate the thesis

Restating the Thesis The first sentence in your conclusion should restate the thesis statement of your essay Restate means, using fresh new words, remind the reader the point/opinion of your essay Try to think of an overall universal moral or message that you can talk about to round out your conclusion

Example of a Good Conclusion Thesis: In the novel Spirit Bear by Ben Mikealsen, Cole Matthews goes through a reincarnation of sorts and becomes a completely different person once his experience on the island is over. Conclusion #1: Due to his experiences on the Alaskan island, Cole is completely transformed and becomes reborn as a truly compassionate and caring human being. He would not have been able to make these miraculous changes had he never visited the island. Cole changed because he worked hard to overcome his past and the hard life he had before coming to the island. We learn that to change you must work hard.