12: Essay Organization
- Page ID
- 120096
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Learning Outcomes
- Write a thesis that summarizes the main point of an essay
- Write a topic sentence that summarizes the main point of a paragraph
- Introduce relevant specific evidence to support a topic sentence
- Integrate quotations and paraphrases from other texts as support
- Connect a new idea to a previous point or to the thesis
- Introduce essays in ways that engage the reader in the specific topic
- Conclude essays in ways that sum up as needed and point toward further questions or implications.
- 12.1: Developing a Thesis Statement
- A short, clear statement of the main idea of an essay will help readers stay focused and see the writer's purpose.
- 12.2: Topic Sentences
- Each paragraph needs to focus on one idea and include a sentence that summarizes that idea.
- 12.3: Showing How a New Idea Fits in (Transitions)
- As we move from one point to the next, we can signal to readers how the new point fits into the overall argument.
- 12.4: Referring Back to Make the Connection (Cohesion)
- We can help orient readers to a new idea in the course of an essay by referring back to an old idea and showing how it connects.
- 12.5: Developing Paragraphs
- In addition to a topic sentence, a paragraph needs supporting sentences to explain and give evidence for its main idea.
- 12.6: Quoting and Paraphrasing
- We can use quotations and paraphrases as support by introducing them and clarifying how they relate to the ideas in the paragraph.
- 12.7: Introductions
- Introductions serve to interest the reader in the topic and build up to the thesis.
- 12.8: Conclusions
- Conclusions can go beyond restating the main point to suggesting an area for further thought or action.
