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An Overview of a Well-Structured Essay. Created by: Darren Chiang-Schultheiss English Department Fullerton College www.wiredprof.com. Before We Get Started. Guiding Principles: Structure Organization Communication. (¶) Paragraphs Have a Structure: 3 Main Parts. Topic sentence
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An Overview of a Well-Structured Essay Created by: Darren Chiang-Schultheiss English Department Fullerton College www.wiredprof.com
Before We Get Started... • Guiding Principles: • Structure • Organization • Communication
(¶) Paragraphs Have a Structure: 3 Main Parts • Topic sentence • Must contain a subject and a claim (angle or opinion about the subject of the essay) • Central or controlling idea of the ¶ • Focuses the paragraph on a single main idea • Limits what you can talk about in the ¶ • Supporting sentences • Should develop the topic sentence with: • Details • Examples • Specifics • Concluding sentence • Should bring a sense of closure to the ¶
Essays Have a Structure:3 Main Parts • Introductory paragraph • Multiple main body paragraphs • Conclusion paragraph
The Introductory Paragraph • The introductory paragraph should accomplish three tasks: • Hook the reader; • Establish the subject of the essay; • State the thesis in the form of a declarative sentence.
What Is aThesis Statement? • It’s the most important element of the essay. • It’s the brain, the central nervous system of the essay. • There are different kinds of thesis statements, but we’ll deal with the declarative thesisfirst.
The Declarative Thesis Statement • Makes a claim or assertion about that subject • 2 forms of a declarative thesis: • Generalized: Traveling can broaden one's outlook. • Mapped:Traveling can broaden one’s outlook on acceptable public behavior, on non-verbal communication, on personal space, and on differences in personal hygiene.
Multiple Main Body Paragraphs • The job of the main body is to: • Support • Prove • Explain the thesis statement that was in the introductory ¶. • Each ¶in the main body should be in charge of breaking the thesis statement down into smaller, more manageable parts. • Therefore each ¶develops one sub-idea of the thesis.
The Conclusion Paragraph • The primary job of the conclusion ¶is to let the reader know that you’re finished writing. • Bring the essay full circle to where you started the essay.
Summary endings Vs. conclusions • Summaries regurgitate information • Conclusions: • bring closure to the essay; • make final statements; • leave the reader with a powerful thought; • put the subject matter into a larger context; • call the reader to action
ESSAY Introductory ¶with thesis statement Main Body ¶s Conclusion ¶ PARAGRAPH Topic Sentence Developing Sentences Conclusion Sentence Paragraph and Essay Structures Are Similar