arranging an essay
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ARRANGEMENTPatterns for College Writing
Chapter 3
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Understanding the Parts of an Essay• An essay is a group of paragraphs that makes an
argument about a topic.• An effective essay should:
• introduce a topic• state that topic clearly• explain that topic through evidence and examples• make a argument or debatable conclusion about that idea.
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What is an Essay?• An essay has four main sections:
• an introduction that states the topic of the essay and make a point through the Thesis Statement
• supporting or body paragraphs that contain the supporting point that explain the details of the topic
• a conclusion paragraph that ties all the points of the essay together and restates your main point.
• A reference or works cited page that documents your sources.
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Introductions• There are several ways to begin an essay. You could:
• give background information• begin with an original definition of a concept or term• tell a story or anecdote that relates to your topic• begin with a question (that you then answer)• give a meaningful or important quotation• make a surprising statement that catches the reader’s attention• give a contradiction• start with a fact or statement.
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What NOT to do in an Introduction• Be sure to avoid the following when creating an
introduction:• Don’t apologize – never start with statements like “In my opinion” or
“I may not be an expert, but…”• Don’t begin with dictionary definitions – avoid beginning an essay
with “According to Dictionary.com,”• Don’t announce what you intend to do – never start with phrases
such as “In this essay, I will…” “I am going to argue that…”or “The purpose of this essay is to…”
• Don’t wander – give a detailed but short overview of your topic. Give your reader just enough to make them want to read the rest of your essay.
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Body Paragraphs• It is important to make sure that each body paragraph you
write is:• Unified – relates to the main idea/topic of the essay• Coherent – flows smoothly and logically from one paragraph to the
next• Well developed – has plenty of supporting evidence, facts, and
explanation to make your ideas clear.• Follows a pattern of development• Clearly supports the Thesis Statement – make sure each paragraph
relates back to and connects to the Thesis Statement.
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Conclusions• The conclusion should give your readers a final
impression of your topic and entire essay. In your conclusion you could:• review your main points or restate your thesis• give a recommendation of what your reader should do after reading
your essay• give a prediction of what will follow• end with a relevant quote
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What NOT to do in a Conclusion• Avoid making the following common mistakes when
writing your conclusion:• Don’t repeat word for word your thesis or main point – come up with
a new way of giving your earlier thoughts• Don’t end with an empty phrase – avoid clichés such as “You don’t
know what you’ve got till it’s gone” or “That’s how the cookie crumbles”
• Don’t introduce new points or go off in a new direction – a conclusion should always connect to what was said earlier in the essay.
• Don’t’ end with an unnecessary announcement – never end by saying you are ending such as “In conclusion” or “As you can see”
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Essay Organization• You can organize your body paragraphs using one of the
three following layouts:• A point-by-point layout separates your essay sections by the points
you are making• A subject-by-subject layout separates your essay sections by the
subjects/objects/texts you are using.• A chronological layout puts your essay sections in order according
to time.
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Formal Outlines• Before you draft your essay, it is recommended that you
generate a formal outline.• A formal outline allows you to layout each point and sub-
point of your essay in the order you have chosen. • Your outline should follow the general pattern below:
I. IntroductionI. Thesis Statement
II. Point/Subject/Event (as many as you are making in your essay)I. Supporting evidence/examples
III. ConclusionI. Restate Thesis