How To Write An Essay

How To Write An Essay Essay Format, Introductions, Body, Conclusions, Thesis Statements, and Topic Sentences

Essay Format Introduction Thesis Statement Body Conclusion

Introduction • First part of an essay • Try to capture the reader’s attention Introduction Format • 1. Attention getter • 2. State your problem • 3. Bridge or transition sentences • 4. Thesis statement (always at the end)

Ways to Start Your Introduction • Strategy • Provide some interesting background about the topic in the form of a general statement • Use a thought-provoking quotation • Ask a question about your topic • State a surprising fact or a puzzling statement • Start with a short story • Examples • Today’s gnome owners become tomorrow’s leaders. • “Gnomes are creatures to be loved, not feared!” Dr. S. Rosner • Why don’t many people like gnomes? • In 1693, the first gnome was brought to America. • Little Susie looked out her window, only to see her precious gnome, Willard, was being stolen….

Ways to Start Your Introduction • Strategy • State a common misconception • Describe a problem • Give an analogy • Show how the topic is related to the reader’s experience • Examples • People don’t learn bad habits from gnomes. • Everyone knows what a problem gnome-napping has become in our society. • Gnomes are just like children. • Most people know how difficult it is to take care of garden gnomes.

Introduction • Make a bridge to connect the attention getting sentence(s) to your thesis statement • Common way to make a bridge is to explain why the topic is important. • This bridge is often a few sentences long. • Conclude introductory paragraph with the most important idea of the essay-THE THESIS STATEMENT

The Parts of a Thesis Statement

The Functions of a Thesis Statement

Example of an Introduction • Example Gnome-Phobia in America 1. In 2004, the Gnome Liberation Front (GLF) was created. This group of people believes that gnomes should be free, not prisoners of their owner’s garden. 2. The GLF has now begun gnome-napping, the act of stealing gnomes and “freeing them” in the wilderness; however, the law is unwilling to do anything. 3. Many police state that the gnomes are not a serious enough offense to deal with and that they have larger crimes to deal with. This is not acceptable. The law should be taking the gnome-napping more seriously because people are committing a crime. 4. Gnome-napping is stealing personal property, and is illegal, morally wrong, and disrespectful. • 1. Attention getter • 2. State your problem. • 3. Bridge or transition sentences • 4. Thesis statement • **NOTE: This doesn’t mean your intro is 4 sentences long. It just has 4 parts.

The Body • The body is a set of paragraphs that develop the idea expressed in the thesis statement. • Make a list of main ideas that support the thesis statement. Each main idea becomes the main idea sentence for a body paragraph. • Arrange the main ideas in logical order (time, place, importance) • Plan out each body paragraph by listing major details that support each main idea • Order the details within each paragraph in a logical way. Each body paragraph may end with a concluding sentence.

Example Essay Outline Thesis Statement Gnome-napping is stealing personal property, and is illegal, morally wrong, and disrespectful. Body Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: Gnome-napping is stealing someone’s personal property, and stealing is illegal. Main Points: 1. 2. 3. Body Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence: It is morally wrong to take anyone’s property, whether it is a gnome or a car. Main Points: 1. 2. 3. Body Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence: The GLF is incredibly disrespectful because they take items that don’t belong them. Main Points: 1. 2. 3.

The Writing Stage • After planning and arranging your main ideas and major details, begin writing your body paragraphs. • The number of paragraphs depends on the topic’s complexity, inclusiveness, and your purpose for writing. • Usually a short essay contains 3 to 5 body paragraphs, plus an introduction and conclusion • Remember to use signal words to make smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs. • Cite scholars’ work to support your claims and arguments.

Research & Analysis • Research and scholarly debate within literature and moving existing scholarship forward. • Paper is researched detailed and historically accurate with critical evidence from a wide variety of sources. • Critical, relevant and consistent connections made between evidence, subtopics, counter-arguments & thesis/topic showing excellent analysis. • Clear, logical, mature, and thorough development of subtopics that support thesis with transition b/w paragraphs.

Signal/Transition Words • For examples: For example, for instance, to illustrate • For organization or chronological order: The six steps are…, next, finally first, secondly, third • For additional points: Furthermore, in addition, also, moreover • For opposing ideas: On the other hand, in contrast, although, however • For similar ideas: Likewise, similarly, in comparison

Signal/Transition Words • For exceptions: However, nevertheless, but, yet, still • For emphasis: Above all, finally, more importantly • For understanding: In other words, in essence, briefly • For summarizing: In conclusion, to sum up, for these reasons, in a nutshell • For exams: Remember this, this is important, this could be on the test

Analysis of Topic • Have you clearly stated and explained the primary issues and problems? • Does your work reflect the range of research and issues related to your analytical position as a whole rather than just a small subset?

Analysis of Information • Are your arguments factually accurate? • Are your arguments logically coherent? • Have you made clear where the available information is incomplete or where sources conflict? • When sources conflict, have you made clear which position you find most compelling and why?

Recommendations • Have you stated and supported a clear position? • Have you made specific recommendations for a course of action (things to pursue, things to avoid, things that need further research, etc.)?

Use of Evidence • Have you supported your claims and arguments with specific evidence and example? • Have you limited your use of direct quotation to a minimum? • Have you clearly marked all quoted material? • Is ALL borrowed material clearly attributed to source? • Did you provide full citations (properly formatted)?

Mechanics • Is your writing clear and concise? • Have you used full sentences? • Are your grammar and spelling correct? • Have you paid attention to word choice, usage, tone, sentence structure, and sentence sense?

Conclusion • Leave the reader thinking about your topic. Leave an impression on them! • No new information in conclusion but suggesting implications • Be sure to recap your ideas • Should follow logically from the body of the essay • Restate your thesis statement in different words • You might want to have your reader do something after reading.

Liberalism & Possible Topics • Core value: it denounces economic and social inequality, promotes liberty, freedom, individualism, and strong civil society. • Liberalism on March: Fight for Social Equality • Liberalism and Pluralism • Liberalism: individual liberty at the expense of other values? • Asian Value: A Challenge to Liberalism • From Neo-Liberalism to Liberal Neo-Welfarism

Marxism & Possible Topics Karl Marx wrote the seminal works of this political ideology, which described the strengths and weaknesses of the capitalist economic system and argued that it would eventually be overthrown in order to bring about a more just and equal society. This would mean first implementing a socialist system and inevitably a communist society. According to Marx, all injustices and inequalities in the world can be traced to the class struggle, or the inequalities inherent to the capitalist system. Marxists may consider themselves socialists or communists as there exists much overlap between these ideologies.

Communism & Possible Topics An ideology based on the communal ownership of all property and a classless social structure, with economic production and distribution to be directed and regulated by means of an authoritative economic plan that supposedly embodies the interests of the community as a whole.

Socialism & Possible Topics An ideology based on collective or governmental ownership and democratic management of the essential means of the production and distribution of goods. It aims to abolish capitalism by peaceful way by evolution instead of revolution. It emphasizes high taxation to support social programs, government intervention and regulations, universal coverage of health care, free education, and job security.

Fascism & Possible Topics Fascism tends to celebrate masculinity, youth, mystical unity, and the power of violence. Often, but not always, it promotes racial superiority doctrines, ethnic persecution, imperialist expansion, and genocide. Usually, fascism espouses hypernationalism, totalitarianism, eliltism, irrationalism, and militarism. Economic policy is dominated by national socialism.

Conservatism & Possible Topics Conservatism favors tradition (in the sense of various religious, cultural, or nationally-defined beliefs and customs) in the face of external forces for change. It emphasizes organic society, hierarchy, social order, and the protection of personal property. It acknowledges human imperfection and social inequality.

Anarchism & Possible Topics Anarchism considers the state undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, and instead promotes a stateless society, or anarchy. Anarchists seek to diminish or even eliminate reliance upon authority in the conduct of human relations. It believes that all forms of involuntary rule or government are undesirable, unnecessary, or unethical, and that society could function without a ruler or involuntary government (a state).

How To Write An Essay