How To Write A Short Essay

1. How To Write A Short Essay

2. Short Essay Formula 5 main sections to an essay: • Hook • Thesis Statement • Main Points • Textual Evidence • Conclusion

3. Example Writing Prompt What characteristics are important in a friend? Support your answer using examples from text you have read.

4. Hook • Grabs the reader’s attention • Connects the reader to the paper • Comes before the thesis

5. Hook • Example: A great friendship can be rare, but once found, can last a lifetime.

6. Thesis Statement • Fancy word for your opinion on the topic given • Answers the Question • Mentions the (3) topics for supporting sentences/paragraphs

7. Thesis Statement • O.K. thesis: I think 3 characteristics are important in a friend. A friend must be kind, trustworthy, and loyal.

8. Thesis Statement • Better thesis: A person must have characteristics such as kindness, trustworthiness, and loyalty in order to be considered a friend.

9. 3 Main Points • Outlined in the thesis: A person must have characteristics such as kindness, trustworthiness, and loyalty in order to be considered a friend.

10. 3 Main Points • Write a sentence or 2 for each point. Example: Kindness is a characteristic that helps a friend feel cared for by someone else. It is nice to know that someone else is willing to help whenever help is needed.

11. Textual Evidence • Where should it come from? • Re-read the prompt to find out Prompt: What characteristics are important in a friend? Support your answer using examples from text you have read.

12. Textual Evidence • Example: Kindness is a characteristic that helps a friend feel cared for by someone else. It is nice to know that someone else is willing to help whenever help is needed. An example of kindness is in the novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Ron reaches out as a friend to help Harry in his times of need.

13. Conclusion • Restate your 3 main points and “wrap up” your essay. • True friends are rare, but always kind, trustworthy, and loyal, just like Ron and Harry in the Harry Potter series.

14. Label the Sections What makes a great friend? Many different friends may have many different character traits, but there are three that stand out above the rest; kindness, trustworthiness, and loyalty. Kindness is a characteristic that helps a friend feel cared for by someone else. An example of kindness is in the novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Ron reaches out as a friend to help Harry in his times of need. The second trait that a great friend posses is trustworthiness. Friends are trusted with secrets and wishes to hold tight and keep. The last great characteristic of a friend is loyalty. Being loyal means to stick with a friend, even if it is not the “cool” thing to do. Although there are several different characteristics that make a friend, nothing compares to a friend’s kindness, trustworthiness, and loyalty.