Introduction
Essay Writing
n essay is a piece of writing that methodically analyses a topic or issue. Fundamentally, an essay is designed to get your academic opinion on a particular matter. Writing a great essay is not about simply surveying and re-telling existing ideas. Instead, a good essay takes into account various opinions and points of view and puts forward an argument that reflects the writer's informed opinion. Before one begins planning any essay, then, it is crucial that he or she has a clear idea of what he or she thinks about the topic. A position is needed, an argument, or clear stance on a topic, that is defended with an evidence and argument. This is called a thesis statement.
An essay consists of five imperative parts. These are the Introduction, the three Supporting Paragrapghs and the Conclusion.
The introduction consists of:
1) An attention grabber- As its name suggests, this is what engrosses the readers and get the interested in what is about to be said.
2) Background information- Background information about the topic should be provided in order to write an effective essay. Interesting facts, quotations, or definitions of important terms that will be used in the essay may be included.
3) Stance- This is what you agree about and hence will be talking about in your essay.
4)Thesis- These are the three main points that will be discussed in your essay.
After the Introduction comes the Supporting Paragraphs. Supporting paragraphs make up the main body of your essay. They develop the main idea of your essay. When writing supporting pagraphs, one should:
1. List the points that develop the main idea of your essay.
2. Place each supporting point in its own paragraph.
3. Develop each supporting point with facts, details, and examples.
To connect your supporting paragraphs, you should use special transition words. Transition words link your paragraphs together and make your essay easier to read. Use them at the beginning and end of your paragraphs.
Example of transition words that may assist with the linking of the different paragraphs in an essay:
For listing different points:
- First
- Second
- Third
For counter examples
- However
- Even though
- On the other hand
- Nevertheless
For additional ideas
- Another
- In addition to
- Related to
- Furthermore
- Also
To show cause and effect
- Therefore
- Thus
- As a result of
- Consequently
Like all good paragraphs, each supporting paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a summary sentence. In typical essays three supporting paragraphs are used with three supporting points each.
Fisrt Supporting Paragraph
The first paragraph of the body should contain the strongest argument, most significant example, cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the "reverse hook" which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the introductory paragraph. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the second paragraph of the body.
Second Supporting Paragraph
The second paragraph of the body should contain the second strongest argument, second most significant example, second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow up the first paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the first paragraph of the body. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional hook to tie into the third paragraph of the body.
How do I write one?
Third Supporting Sentence
The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, weakest example, weakest illustration, or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the body. The first sentence of this paragraph should include the reverse hook which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph. The topic for this paragraph should be in the first or second sentence. This topic should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph. The last sentence in this paragraph should include a transitional concluding hook that signals the reader that this is the final major point being made in this paper. This hook also leads into the last, or concluding, paragraph.
Conclusion
The conclusion comes at the end of the essay after all ideas are finished being developed. It summarizes or restates the main idea of the essay. You want to leave the reader with a sense that your essay is complete.
1. Restate the strongest points of your essay that support your main idea.
2. Conclude your essay by restating the main idea in different words.
3. Give your personal opinion or suggest a plan for action.