An Overview of a Well-Structured Essay

Before We Get Started... 4 Guiding Principles: –Structure –Organization –Communication

(¶) Paragraphs Have a Structure: 3 Main Parts 4 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 ¶ 4 Supporting sentences –Should develop the topic sentence with: Details Examples Specifics 4 Concluding sentence –Should bring a sense of closure to the ¶

Essays Have a Structure: 3 Main Parts 4 Introductory paragraph 4 Multiple main body paragraphs 4 Conclusion paragraph

The Introductory Paragraph 4 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? 4 It’s the most important element of the essay. 4 It’s the brain, the central nervous system of the essay. 4 There are different kinds of thesis statements, but we’ll deal with the declarative thesis first.

The Declarative Thesis Statement 4 Makes a claim or assertion about that subject 4 2 forms of a declarative thesis: –Generalized: Traveling can broaden one's outlook and help communication. –Mapped: Traveling can broaden one’s outlook facilitating an expansive world view and cultural acceptance, which leads to effective personal and professional communication.

Multiple Main Body Paragraphs 4 The job of the main body is to: Support Prove Explain the thesis statement that was in the introductory ¶. 4 Each ¶ in the main body should be in charge of breaking the thesis statement down into smaller, more manageable parts. 4 Therefore each ¶ develops one sub-idea of the thesis.

The Conclusion Paragraph 4 The primary job of the conclusion ¶ is to let the reader know that you’re finished writing. 4 Bring the essay full circle to where you started the essay.

Summary endings Vs. conclusions 4 Summaries regurgitate information 4 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 ESSAY  Introductory ¶ with thesis statement  Main Body ¶s  Conclusion ¶ PARAGRAPH 4 Topic Sentence 4 Developing Sentences 4 Conclusion Sentence