The Essay Structure

• How many paragraphs should your essay have?

• What are those paragraphs called?• What do we write for each of those

paragraphs?

The Essay Structure • Introduction Paragraph

• Hook: 1st sentence. Needs to grab the attention of your reader. Consider asking a question relating to your prompt.

• Provide background information about your topic. Introduce the topic to your reader, but don’t provide specific details (save those for the body paragraphs)

• Last sentence should be your thesis or claim.

• Body Paragraph 1• Body Paragraph 2• Body Paragraph 3

• Should provide specific details/opinions about your topic backed up by textual evidence.

• 1st Sentence should be a topic sentence clearly stating the topic that will be discussed in this paragraph.

• Next, provide textual evidence that supports your topic sentence. You must properly cite your evidence.

• Next, offer your opinion or commentary on that evidence and how it relates/proves your topic.

• Repeat as necessary

• Conclusion Paragraph • You should focus on briefly restating your thesis and each topic sentence.

• Be sure to tie up all loose ends • Be sure you have completely answered your prompt

Narrative Background Information

• Set the Scene 1. Provide the information the reader will

need to understand the story: 2. Who are the major characters? 3. When and where is it taking place? 4. Is it a story about something that

happened to you, the writer, or is it fiction?

Narrative “Thesis”• The thesis of a narrative essay plays a slightly

different role than that of an argument or expository essay.

1. A narrative thesis can begin the events of the story: “It was sunny and warm out when I started down the path”;

2. offer a moral or lesson learned: “I’ll never hike alone again”;

3. or identify a theme that connects the story to a universal experience: “Journeys bring both joy and hardship.”

Informative Background Information

• Facts about topic of essay• Introduce the topic after the hook• Definitions • Explain why you are writing about a certain

topic or person• Pretend your reader knows nothing about the

topic—provide descriptive details and info

Informative Thesis• Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only

what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

• The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.

• do not use personal pronouns (I, he, she, we)• do not use second person pronouns (you, yours, your,

yourself)• write it as one sentence• Thesis must address the prompt. Thesis must include all

parts of the prompt.• do not include your opinion• do not use small details (numbers)

Argument Background Information

• Introduce the controversy • Explain the controversy • Introduce the topic• State your opinion as fact

Argument Claim1. Claim

An argument is usually a main idea, often called a “claim,” backed up with evidence that supports the idea.

2. Claim (your argument)3. This is what you intend to prove in your essay stated in a

very direct and concise way. (keep it simple!!)4. • Should answer question posed in one sentence 5. • Should NOT start in “yes” or “no” (even though you

are answering a question!)6. • Should state the response in one sentence using words

such as DOES or DOES NOT7. • Should NOT end in a colon8. • Should not be wordy