3.1: Introduction to Essay Organization
- Page ID
- 170503
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The French etymology of the word “essay” is “essai” meaning “trial, attempt essay” (https://www.etymonline.com). Given its French origin, the purpose of the essay attempts to express and develop a thought in a brief written piece. Building an essay begins with a unique process that involves clear organization, backing up positions with specific evidence, and engaging language. In other words, when writing an essay, you are attempting to establish a clear arguable opinion that has supporting points and evidence, organized with appealing words and wrapped with an introduction and conclusion. It is quite similar to a house.
Every well-built house must have a solid foundation. When thinking about the basics of an essay, we imagine it as a two-story home. The introduction stands as the foundation in an essay. The thesis statement serves as the entry into the house. The beginning body paragraph establishes first floor and the second floor contains the additional body paragraphs. The second floor contains multiple paragraphs because it provides additional support and evidence needed to solidify the “entry” of thesis statement/proposal. The conclusion wraps up or covers the essay just like a roof.
Introduction (Foundation)
Let us consider that the foundation is the introduction. This is where you provide your readers with information that they need in order to know what the essay with cover. While we will talk about this more later, the introduction will have a good hook (something to capture the reader’s attention) and some background information. It will also end with a thesis statement, the “entry” into the essay.
Thesis Statement (Entrance)
The thesis statement comes at the end of the introduction in a basic essay format. It is important to understand that the thesis statement is an essential element, just like the front door of a house. The thesis statement functions as a pathway to walk readers into the interior of the essay. When there is no thesis statement, readers don’t know where to go in your essay, but like a front door and a hallway, the thesis will guide your reader through the house. A good thesis statement will be a clear sentence that identifies the precise and arguable opinion of the essay.
Beginning Paragraph (First floor)
The first floor is the beginning paragraph and it must match the foundation (introduction) and the entrance (thesis statement) in order to make the house stable. In the beginning paragraphs, it is important to stay on topic, and while, the beginning paragraph may differ in focus, they should always be aligned to the introduction and thesis statement. You can use the beginning paragraph to present background of the topic, a summary and context of the topic for the reader. Once you do that, you need to provide examples from other sources to establish credibility. Simply put, the beginning paragraph must contain a topic sentence, supporting details and a concluding sentence.
Additional Paragraphs (Second Floor)
Once you have passed the first floor, this is where “things get real!” The second floor in most houses contains the bedrooms, the area that is the “heart” of the home. In an essay, additional paragraphs beyond the beginning paragraph builds the argument, analysis, compare/contrast or any other type of essay. These paragraphs will “build a staircase” from the beginning paragraph to the other paragraphs. Between these paragraphs, there will be transitional expressions that will allow readers to follow along in the essay. Again, these paragraphs must have a topic sentence, supporting details and a concluding sentence.
Conclusion (Roof)
Without a solid roof, the house will not be complete. In an essay, if you do not have a conclusion in your essay, it will be incomplete. The conclusion enables you to “cover” the essay and give a sense of closure, whatever that may be. It will start with a rephrasing of the thesis statement, a brief mention of the supporting points in the paragraphs, and an impactful thought that will not be a new idea.
Topic Sentence (Bedrooms)
The job of the topic sentence is to control the development and flow of the information contained in the paragraph. The topic sentence takes control of the more general topic of the paragraph and shapes it in the way that you choose to present it to your readers. It provides a way through a topic that is likely much broader than what you could ever cover in a paragraph, or even in an essay. This more focused idea, your topic sentence, helps you determine the parts of the topic that you want to illuminate for your readers—whether that’s a college essay or a thank you letter to your Aunt Martha.
“The Topic Sentence”