1. Essay Structure Overview of a Successful Essay

2. Before We Get Started... Guiding Principles: – Structure – Organization – Communication Why?

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

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

5. The Introductory Paragraph 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.

6. What Is a Thesis Statement? It is perhaps the most important element of the essay. It’s the brain of the essay. There are different kinds of thesis statements, but we’ll deal with the declarative thesis first.

7. The Declarative Thesis Statement A declarative thesis statement must: – Make a claim or assertion about that subject; A declarative thesis statement can: – Talk about different aspects of the subject; – Work as a roadmap for what the essay will explain.

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

9. The Conclusion Paragraph The primary job of the conclusion ¶ is to bring closure to the essay, to let the reader know that you’re finished writing. Some writing teachers call this ¶ a summary, but we’ll refer to it as a conclusion. Why & What’s the difference???

10. The difference between a summary and a conclusion is… In your own essays, you will be encouraged:  To conclude them without summarizing;  To make final statements;  To leave the reader with a powerful ending.

11. Paragraph and Essay Structures Are Similar ParagraphEssay Topic sentenceIntroductory ¶ with thesis statement Developing SentencesMain Body ¶s Conclusion SentenceConclusion ¶