1. How to organize your papers
Essay Structure
How to organize your papers

2. Does writing papers make you feel like this?

3. Don’t worry! You are not alone!

4. That’s why I have come up with a simple formula for writing essays!

5. Simply put, all written works must have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

6. These sections have specific names and jobs.

7. The Introduction
The job of the introduction is to familiarize the reader with the topic and the specific area of that topic the writer will address. (i.e. what’s the big umbrella topic and what about it?)
It must also interest the reader so that he/she will WANT to keep reading.
Background must also be given so the reader knows from whence this issue comes…where it’s coming from!

8. That’s a lot of work for one paragraph!

9. However, the introduction can handle it! Watch and learn!

10. Parts of the Introduction
Hook- this is the part of the intro. that grabs the reader and lets him know the focus of this paper will be interesting!
There are several kinds of hooks:
The anecdote- a story
The quote
Setting the scene- description of the setting
Startling fact- something really shocking you found in your research

11. The Background
This gives the reader an idea of why the writer is writing this paper and any basic information the reader will need to understand the information better.
It consists of one or two sentences- no biggy!

12. The Thesis This is the guiding light of the entire paper.
A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about what you plan to prove in your writing.
Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your ideas focused.

13. Pretty Easy?

14. OK! Then let’s move on!

15. Once you make your claim (thesis) you have to prove it!

16. Body Paragraphs Prove your thesis statement
Give reasons, examples, proof
Use citations from credible sources
Always tie back to the thesis

17. The Body Paragraph
Transition + Topic Sentence- this will be the first reason to back up your thesis
There should only be one topic per body paragraph
Citations
Explanations of citations and connections to topic sentence
Final connection of paragraph to thesis

18. Got that?

19. Finally…

20. The Conclusion Ties everything together Restates the thesis
Reviews the topics used in body paragraphs
Gives a final thought on the subject

21. The Conclusion Thesis restatement Review of paragraph topics
Zinger- final thought

22. There are other tools to use with this basic outline, but…

23. We will learn those as we actually study each section!

24. For now, just take this in as you begin the journey into the world of the…

25. Inquiry Based Project