May 2009
Attention getter – get the reader’s attention.
 Rhetorical question
 Relevant quote from an outside source
 Relevant quote from the movie
 Fact or statistic
 Description of initial response to the work
 Shocking or amusing generalization
 Necessary information
 Author’s full name
 Title of the novel (underlined)
 Brief plot summary
 Thesis – the last sentence of your introduction should be your thesis (this is your
answer to the essay topic that you’ve chosen to write on) The thesis should be at the
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end of your introductory paragraph.
Do not say in your introduction, "In this essay, I am going to tell you about..." Let your essay speak for
itself.
http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/English/blettiere/TIQA.htm#TIQA
Your body paragraphs should provide a topic sentence. The rest of the paragraph should provide context for
a quote or a paraphrase example. Then you should provide that example. After you provide that
example, you should explain how it supports your thesis statement. DO NOT merely tell your reader
what the quote means; this can lead to summary. You need to analyze.
Follow TIQA:
Topic sentence
Introduce quote: put the quote into context.
Quote: provide your quote
Analyze: explain to the reader the importance of the quote and how it supports your
topic sentence.
Transition sentence: transition from the first example to your second example.
Introduce quote: introduce your second piece of evidence.
Quote: provide your second quote.
Analyze: analyze your second quotes, and if possible, tie the two pieces of evidence
together to make a larger argument.
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Discussion, Support, or Elaboration of the Point Made in the Topic Sentence
Some of the weaknesses found in Grade 10 English papers occur in the development of body or support
paragraphs. Usually students do not explain or discuss their topic sentence in enough detail within a
body paragraph for the reader to really understand the significance of the issue. Discussion and
explanation are crucial to a well-developed body paragraph.
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Concrete Examples, Statistics, or Facts
Good writers always include concrete evidence to support the topic sentence and the explanation and
development. They follow any generalization with a concrete, specific example.
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A Concluding Sentence that Restates the Main Point of the Paragraph
It is very easy to wander off topic in a paragraph, and a concluding statement that restates the topic or
point of the paragraph keeps the reader focused on your argument or discussion.
http://www2.pvc.maricopa.edu/tutor/eng/engessbody.htm
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Have a clear thesis statement in your introduction paragraph – this is what you are trying
to prove in your essay (your one sentence answer to the essay question above).
Remember that your whole essay is “proving” your thesis statement.
Include sufficient details to support your thesis statement.
Provide an example from the novel to prove your point in each paragraph (except your
introduction and conclusion). Explain the example as if I have not read the novel.
Use transition words to link ideas together.
Pay attention to spelling and capitalization. Avoid the use of contractions (i.e. instead of
"didn't" use "did not")
Avoid the use of slang and colloquial expressions (i.e. expressions used in everyday
informal talk, but not in formal speech or writing eg "they've had it", "it's a cinch")
Avoid run-on sentences and fragments – use an interesting variety of sentences.
Are all verbs are in the correct tense; sections in which the plot is summarized are in the
present tense.
Remember to acknowledge the other point of view, and then show why your opinion is
stronger.
Give your essay a title that states something about the content of the essay, not just “Of
Mice and Men”.
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You should have a quotation from the book in all paragraphs (except your intro and conclusion) to back
up your thoughts/point of view. Your quotations are your evidence for your thoughts!
It is important to make a smooth transition from your own words to those of another source. Never
simply drop a quotation into a paragraph. A quotation can never stand in a sentence by itself without an
introduction.
To avoid dropping quotes in, use signal phrases. These are phrases which precede the quotation. They
may include the author’s name and a verb (argues, compares, suggests, demonstrates, points out, etc.).
FORMATTING OF QUOTES
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“____________________” (Steinbeck 63). – use this example if there are other works that you have used
in your Works Cited page (and thus in your essay/research)
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“____________________” (63). – use this example if Steinbeck is the only work that you have used in
your Works Cited page (and thus in your essay/research)
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When you are quoting a quote - put the double quotation marks first ", then followed by a single
quotation mark ' to show that it is in quotation marks in the text. End the quote and then follow it by a
single quotation mark, then a double quotation mark, and the page number in brackets, then a period.
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Example: "'Glad ta meet ya,' the big man said. 'My name's Carlson'" (35).
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Restate, or reword, your thesis
Synthesize, don't summarize - Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. They have read it.
Show them how the points you made and the support and examples you used were not random, but fit
together.
Answer the question "So What?" (remember the “what”, “so what”, “now what” prompts we used in the
Tuesdays with Morrie unit?!)Show your readers why this paper was important. Show them that your
paper was meaningful and useful.
Clincher: try to end your paper with a short sentence that reinforces your position. This is like the
attention-getter in your introduction and it’s best if it relates back to your introduction.
Strategies for writing a conclusion http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html