1. Essay Writing and Paragraph Composition
A Formulaic Approach

2. Introductory Paragraph
GS: General Statement (introduces the topic of the essay);
E: Example or Supporting Detail Sentence;
ThS: Thesis Statement
5. ThS
4. E3
3. E2
2. E1
1. GS
Introduction

3. But, what is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement is an arguable opinion about the subject of your essay. To be a true thesis statement, a sentence must provide TWO bits of information: (1) the subject of the essay, and (2) an arguable opinion about the subject that the essay’s body paragraphs will explain and prove.
Let’s practice identifying some thesis statements, and then let’s practice writing some thesis statements!

4. Is it a Thesis Statement?
The causes of the Civil War were economic, social, and political.
The Simpsons represents the greatest animated show in the history of television.
Everyone needs at least one good friend.
Despite their high-tech special effects, today's graphically violent horror movies do not convey the creative use of cinematography or the emotional impact that we saw in the classic horror films of the 1940s and 50s.
E-coli contamination should not happen.

5. Try your hand at composing a Thesis Statement
Topic: Teenagers and privacy;
Topic: Choose a movie/television/music/sports performer;
Topic: School improvement;
Topic: Grades;
Topic: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Topic: You

6. But there’s more to an essay than the Introductory Paragraph, right?
Of course that’s right. A solid introduction is like a road map for anyone who reads your essay. It slowly unfolds what the topic is, elaborates upon it, and then asserts an opinion about it. Once that is done, some paragraphs need to follow that go into more specific detail about the main points you want to make about your topic. The magic number of these paragraphs, also known as body paragraphs, is 3.

7. Body Paragraph Planning and Formatting
For your thesis statement, you need to be able to make three main points. These will form the content of your three body paragraphs.
TS = Topic Sentence
E = Example Sentence
OS = Opinion Statement (about this particular point of your essay)
5. OS
4. E3
3. E2
2. E1
1. TS
Body
Paragraphs

8. Concluding Paragraph Planning and Formatting
Begin the conclusion by re-wording and re-stating your thesis.
Then, re-word and re- state each Opinion Statement that ends your three body paragraphs.
Finally, form an overall concluding opinion for the entire essay.
5. Final
Opinion
4. R-OS3
3. R-OS2
2. R-OS1
1. R-ThS
Conclusion

9. Pre-Writing for a Personal/College Essay
INTERESTS
HOBBIES
SCHOOL
FRIENDS
FAMILY
WHO
AM I?