The Elements of An Excellent Essay Title Introduction Thesis Statement Body Paragraph 1-3 Conclusion

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Introduction

Also called the

introductory paragraph

.

The first paragraph in an essay.

It includes the

thesis

, most often at the end of the paragraph.

•Begin with a sentence that captures the reader’s attention •Give background information on the topic •Enhance the paragraph with an interesting example, •Surprising statistic, or other thought-provoking item •Include the thesis statement 2

Thesis

States the main idea of the essay Mentions the main point of each of the body paragraphs More general than the supporting material 3

Thesis

A sentence with a

subject

and

opinion

. (opinion =

commentary

) This comes somewhere in your

introductory paragraph

and almost always at the end.

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Writing a Thesis

A

thesis

is a general sentence with a subject and an opinion (commentary).

Example: Australia is the best country of all for a vacation.

In this sentence, Australia is the subject. The rest of the sentence tells the writer’s opinion, or

commentary

, about it—that it’s the

best country for a vacation.

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Body Paragraph

A middle paragraph in an essay.

It develops a point you want to make that supports your

thesis

.

•Begin with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph and relates it to the thesis statement •Fill with well-organized evidence, examples, quotations, comparisons, analogies, and/or narration analyze •Should end with a transition 6

Body Paragraph 2-3

•Begin with a topic sentence that states the main point of the paragraph and relates it to the thesis statement •Fill with well-organized evidence, examples, quotations, comparisons, analogies, and/or narration analyze •Should end with a transition 7

Conclusion

Also called the

concluding paragraph

.

The last paragraph in your essay.

It could sum up your ideas . . . …reflect on what you said in your essay, …give more

commentary

about your subject, …or give a personal statement about the subject.

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Conclusion (cont.)

Your

conclusion

is ALL

commentary

NOT include

concrete detail

.

and does It does NOT repeat key words from your paper and especially NOT from your

thesis

and

introductory paragraphs

.

It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay.

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Conclusion (cont.)

May pose a question for future thought or suggest a course of action Include a detail or example from the introduction to “tie up” the essay.

End with a strong image or a bit of wit.

10

Concrete Details ~

CD

Specific details that form the backbone, skeleton, framework, or core of your

body paragraphs

.

Synonyms for

concrete detail

include

facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof, supporting evidence, quotations, paraphrasing, or plot references.

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