Writing an Effective Essay
How to outline and structure an
effective essay.
Writing Is a Process
• A good essay doesn’t just happen.
• A good essay develops an argument and
clearly communicates a writer’s ideas.
• A good essay
begins with an idea,
is developed through an outline,
must be drafted,
and is completed through revision.
Thesis
• must be arguable
• must narrow your topic
• must communicate your paper’s
purpose
• must contain more than one key
point for your topic
What does a thesis look like?
• Example 1:
When London sponsored the Olympics in 2005, the
influx of people from around the world had both positive
and negative effects on London’s citizens.
• Example 2:
The formation of America’s Dream Team in the Olympic
Games brought positive results for American players and
impacted basketball players from other countries during
the games.
Topic Sentences
• Your topic sentence is always the first
sentence in your paragraph.
• Your topic sentence must address a portion
of your thesis statement.
• Your topic sentence must be clear and
concise.
• Your topic sentence tells the reader what
that paragraph will be about.
What do good topic sentences
look like?
• Example 1:
When London sponsored the Olympics in 2005, the influx of people
from around the world had both positive and negative effects on
London’s citizens.
Topic Sentence 1: England experienced a high number of visitors during
the weeks the Olympics was sponsored.
Topic Sentence 2: Positive effects of hosting the Olympic games were
experienced by the citizens and the country of England.
Topic Sentence 3: London’s citizens experienced several negative effects
from the large number of visitors the city had.
What do good topic sentences
look like?
• Example 2:
The formation of America’s Dream Team in the Olympic Games
brought positive results for American players and impacted basketball
players from other countries during the games.
Topic Sentence 1: America’s Olympic committee formed the Dream
Team to represent the USA in the Olympic Games.
Topic Sentence 2: Many American basketball players reaped positive
results from participating in the Olympic Games.
Topic Sentence 3: American athletes have impacted other countries’
sponsorship of the sport and the rise of basketball players from other
nations.
Conclusion
Your concluding paragraph should contain:
• restate the overall topic of your paper,
• one summary sentence for each body paragraph
( This could be a rewording of your topic
sentence.),
• restate the thesis restated another way to
emphasize your position on the topic.
When your Conclusion is finished, you should
have 4-5 completed sentences summarizing each
part of the essay.
Conclusion Examples:
• Example 1:
(1) Choosing to sponsor the Olympic Games is a large undertaking for
any country, but especially smaller countries such as England.
(2) The large number of visitors that arrive with the athletes and
Olympic committee members challenge countries abilities to be a good
host.
(3) Many positive effects were felt by the citizens of London during
their hosting of the 2005 Olympic Games, but (4) the country also
experienced negative repercussions directly resulting from the games.
(5) As stated in this essay, London citizens experienced both positive
and negative effects from sponsoring the Olympic Games in 2005.
Conclusion Examples:
• Example 1:
(1) Basketball’s inclusion in the Olympic Games opened the doorway
for a sport that many American’s love.
(2) America’s Dream Team was created to represent America in the
worldwide Olympic Games.
(3) American players benefitted from their Olympic experiences, and
(4) set a higher standard for that sport within the Olympics.
(5) As shown above, the American Dream Team participating in the
Olympic Games produced not only positive results for American
players, but made difference for basketball players worldwide.
Your job…
Now, it’s your turn.
**Use the graphic organizer handed out to plan your
paper.
**Write in complete sentences, so they can be easily
transferred into your paper.
**Attach your Works Cited information to the
outline.
**Turn your finished outline in for a grade.
If you need help, ask for it!