2.1: Organizing a Basic Essay—One Model
- Page ID
- 45555
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Introductory Paragraph
- Begin with an attention getter: an anecdote or story, a vivid description, a compelling fact or statistic, or a rhetorical question.
- Give some background information on your topic, narrowing it down to a central idea or focus.
- Arrive at your thesis statement—a single claim or assertion that might include a list of your major supporting points.
Body Paragraph Number One
- Topic sentence with your first major point/idea
- Supporting details: examples, explanation, direct quotations or paraphrases, etc.
Body Paragraph Number Two
- Topic sentence with your second major point/idea
- Supporting details: examples, explanation, direct quotations or paraphrases, etc.
Body Paragraph Number Three
- Topic sentence with your third major point/idea
- Supporting details: examples, explanation, direct quotations or paraphrases, etc.
Concluding Paragraph
- Revisit your thesis without copying and pasting it word for word.
- Now that your readers have finished your essay, what do you want them to take away from the experience? Do you want to leave them with a memorable quotation? A call to action? A thought-provoking question? Can you give your audience something witty or memorable to unify the entire essay?