GENERAL OUTLINE FOR AN ESSAY Introduction Body Conclusion
Introduction Hook Connecting or background information Thesis Statement
Hook A hook is an opening statement or statements. A good hook will make the reader want to read the rest of your paper.
Hook Ask a question: How many people don't like their jobs? Make an interesting observation: Many students want to study in the US. Tell a scenario or story: Traveling at more that one hundred miles an hour, he feels as though he is not moving. He is engulfed in complete silence. For a moment, it is as if he has entered another dimension. Use a quote: "Time is money."
Connecting or Background Information After the hook, the writer usually writes three to five sentences that help connect the reader to the topic. This can be some background or general information about the topic.
Thesis Statement This is the last part of the introduction. In the thesis statement the writer tells what to expect in the essay.
Thesis Statement Direct statement: directly state the outline of the essay – The main problems facing South African countries are lack of job opportunities, increasing demand for better health care, and limited university programs. Indirect statement: indirectly state the outline of the essay - The important problems facing South African countries today require immediate attention.
Body The body of the essay contains the main part of the essay. It usually consists of two to four paragraphs between the introduction and the conclusion.
Body Topic Sentence Supporting Details
Body Topic Sentence: It controls the whole paragraph. When you read the topic sentence, you know what to expect in the paragraph.
Body Supporting Details: provide information to support and explain the topic of the paragraph. They answer questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? and give details.
Body Supporting Details Explain: The family moved from the village to the capital for economic reasons. Describe: She lived in a lovely, three-story castle surrounded by a forest. Give reasons: Larry finally quit his job because of the stressful working conditions. Give facts: More than ten percent of the university's student population is international. Give examples: Oranges and grapefruits grow in Florida.
Conclusion The conclusion tells the reader you have completed your essay.
Conclusion Summarize the main points in the body of the essay OR Rewrite the thesis statement using different words.
Conclusion The conclusion may also include a final comment.
Conclusion Final Comment Suggestion: The facts strongly suggest the existence of a greenhouse warming effect on our atmosphere. It is vital, therefore, that we heed the warnings and do our best to keep this problem from getting worse. Opinion: Certainly there are advantages and disadvantages to both of the plans presented here. However, because the second plan has more mass appeal than the former one, it would be a much better choice for the citizens of our country. Prediction: This essay has presented strong arguments in favor of government control of television. Without this control, there will continue to be a decline in the moral values of American society.