Essay Writing

The Essentials

Purpose of Introduction• To clarify what the

essay is about• To put the topic of

the essay in context

• To set the tone for the essay

• To “hook” the reader into wanting to read more

Introductions• The following can be

included in an introduction:– Background

information needed to understand the rest of the essay

– Relevant statistics– Definitions needed for

the rest of the essay– Thesis statement

What isn’t an Introduction?• DOES NOT

summarize your essay

• DOES NOT state evidence (other than main points given in your thesis statement)

• DOES NOT “dilly-dally” – straight and to the point!

Introduction• Identify the title and author of the book• Give a BRIEF summary of the story

Thesis Statement• THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE OF YOUR

ENTIRE ESSAY• Last sentence of your introductory

paragraph• List the three main points of your essay

Thesis StatementExample: Boy soldiers are not morally

responsible for the acts they commit in wars because __________________, ___________________, and _________________.

Recipe for Paragraphs• One topic

sentence• Many supporting

ideas and evidence

• Enough transitions

• One closer

Ingredient #1: Topic Sentences• Each paragraph MUST

start with a topic sentence– Provides a relevant idea

about the paper– States something specific– Introduces the main idea– Lets the reader know

what the paragraph will be about (a “hook” for that section)

Ingredient #2: Supporting Ideas

• Be relevant to the topic• Give specific details,

facts, or statistics to “prove” the main idea of the paragraph

• Be descriptive and interesting

• Explain or refine ideas/terms that may be unclear to the reader

Ingredient #3: Transitions

• Help the essay flow• Link one idea to

another: each sentence should connect to the one before but should still introduce new material

• Strengthen ideas

Ingredient #4: Closers• Restate the main idea of

the paragraph – USING DIFFERENT WORDS

• Remind the reader of the writer’s feelings toward the topic

• Appear at the end of the paragraph

• After the closer it should only be natural for the paragraph to come to a close

In General…• Unity: each paragraph

should only have ONE idea• Coherence: each paragraph

should make sense (transitions!)

• Adequacy: each paragraph should have a fully-developed topic (needs to be more than two-three sentences)

Body Paragraphs• Topic Sentence: introduce the topic of the

paragraph and how it relates to the thesis – there should be NO question as to what the paragraph is about THE TOP PIECE OF BREAD

• Supporting Details: PROVE the main point in relation to the thesis THE MEAT

• Quote: should relate directly to your supporting details (and thus your topic sentence) THE “EXTRAS”

• Closer: draws the paragraph to a close – should tie closely with topic sentence THE BOTTOM PIECE OF BREAD

Body Paragraphs• Example: One reason it is evident that Miss

Maudie believes differently from the rest of her community is by how she interacts with others. While many of the adults frown upon the children’s antics, Miss Maudie celebrates their curiosity and innocence and greatly respects them. After Tom Robinson was found guilty, the kids were very upset; Miss Maudie had them over for cake the following morning and talked with Jem: “I thought to myself, well, we’re making a step – it’s just a baby-step, but it’s a step” (246). Because Miss Maudie was able to see the positive in an otherwise horrible situation and furthermore show that optimism to the children, they are able to see the possibility for a different future.

Body Paragraphs• Make sure your quote is cited

correctly:– “I thought to myself, well, we’re making

a step – it’s just a baby-step, but it’s a step” (246).

Quote

Page Number in Parentheses

Period (outside of parentheses)

Transitions• The essay must flow

smoothly and coherently

• You may use simple transitions such as “one reason,” “another reason,” and “the final reason,” BUT…

• Be more creative and look for different transitions

What are Conclusions?• Are interesting• Leave the reader with a

strong sense of what the paper was about

• Leave the reader with something to think about

• Are lively and keep the reader involved

• Can relate to the introduction to give the reader a sense of order

• Must be at least three sentences

What Aren’t Conclusions?

• Don’t leave the reader hanging

• Don’t insult the reader by telling him/her what you just wrote

• Don’t summarize your essay

Conclusion• Restate your thesis statement in

DIFFERENT words• Leave the reader in awe of your wisdom!

Conclusion• Example: Many characters in Maycomb exhibit

qualities characteristic of the time period, but Miss Maudie Atkinson stands apart from her peers and is ready for a positive change. At one point in the book, Miss Maudie says, “It’s a sin to kill a mockingbird” (90), and it is clear that she is not talking about birds but is instead discussing equality, fairness, and respect of all individuals with the children. Through this instance and additional interactions with others, the conflicts she faces, and others’ views of her, Miss Maudie Atkinson is identified as not only the most progressive individual but also the most positive influence and best teacher in To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Big No-No’s• Do not say, “This essay is

about…”• Do not use 1st or 2nd person

point-of-view– I, we, me, us, you, etc.

• Do not use contractions: spell out “does not” instead of “doesn’t”

• Do not use slang• Do not make grammar

mistakes regarding rules we have discussed – you WILL be required to correct them

WRITE LIKETHIS

The Big Yes-Yes’s• Double-space your essay• Write in 12-point font

(Times New Roman, Arial, Century Gothic)

• Title your paper – centered underneath heading and before your introduction

• Head your paper (top left):– Name– Teacher– Class– Due date

The Big Yes-Yes’sIshmael BeahMs. BollingerEnglish IJune 2, 2011

The Magnificent Miss MaudieDespite common belief and stereotype, not all

individuals in the South in 1935 were racist. In To Kill a

Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows that the majority ofMaycomb was very conservative but that there

werecharacters such as Miss Maudie Atkinson who stoodagainst the rest…

HEADINGTITLE

ESSAY