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