Essential parts of an Essay

                                                                                     

 

Great Writing 5 - Unit 1

Let's begin with the INTRODUCTION. 

There are several ways to bring your reader into your essay - maybe asking a question, giving a general overview of your topic or background, or supplying a definition, etc.

Your first sentence of the Introduction is essential in getting your reader's attention. Our text calls it the HOOK. A Hook grabs the reader's attention. There are several ways to invite your reader in - see pages 8-10 of Great Writing 5 (GW5) textbook for samples of "hooks."

PLEASE NOTE: The first sentence in every paragraph in this class needs to be indented five spaces.

For sample Introductions, read the Introductory paragraphs of the sample essays in our text:

"Against E Voting"  - page 6

"Camouflage for Survival" - page 14

"Study Skills" - page 17

 

Some teachers have no preference where the Thesis Statement falls as long as it is somewhere in the Introduction. In this class, your Thesis Statement is the last sentence in the introduction.  The thesis should only be one sentence long. Notice in the three essays in text, the Thesis Statement is the last sentence in the Introduction.  Read page 11 for Thesis discussion.

The thesis is the "controlling idea" of your entire essay. Every paragraph in support of your thesis will connect to this controlling idea. For example, the essay thesis on page 17 is:

"A wide variety of study skills and techniques can aid students as they work towards their objectives in all of their classes."

This essay will discuss the kinds of skills and techniques that are used to help students. Body paragraphs will give details on these aids. 

 

                                               

TOPIC SENTENCES

Every body paragraph needs to begin with a Topic Sentence. This sentence tells the reader what is contained in that particular body paragraph only. The Topic Sentence comes from your three Major Points in Outline.

Read the Topic sentences in the essays on page 6, 14, and 17  

A Topic sentence is simply one sentence long.  Read page 13 for discussion of Topic Sentences and body paragraphs. Again, always indent topic sentence five spaces.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

Body Paragraphs will follow your outline of ideas. Whatever details you put in your outline, are now placed in order in each paragraph, using full sentences. All details should be on topic that support your thesis statement and in logical order.  Be careful not to go off topic. Discuss in your paragraph what is on your outline.

Body paragraphs should contain at least 6-8 sentences full of examples of your point in this paragraph. The more examples, the more clear your particular point is to your readers. Specific examples explain in detail what point you are trying to make. You want your reader to visualize your details.

Examine body paragraphs in essays on pages 6, 14, and 17. Notice how they neatly fit into the overall theme of the essay as shown in the thesis statement. See how the details match the Topic Sentence of that paragraph.

                                                                                                                 

 

CONCLUSION

Conclusions wrap up your essay and relate back into your Thesis statement, or controlling idea. It's a good idea to restate your thesis with final thoughts. Do not bring in new ideas here. Read page 16 on conclusions.

Okay, good, you've finished this part of examining the essential parts of a five-paragraph essay. We will discuss this more in Module Four, for a writing assignment.

Next is a grammar, vocabulary assignment from this Unit to be completed and turned in.