American Born Chinese
Writing the Essay - Paragraph Guide
This guide provides information about what each type of paragraph in the essay should look like. You will
rely mostly on your outline as you write your essay, but keep this guide nearby. Many students do not
write effective introductions and conclusions, so be sure to read through these tips thoroughly.
Introduction​: ​All analytical essays have an introductory paragraph. Your thesis statement should be the
last sentence of this paragraph. An introduction should orient your reader to both the subject and nature of
the story you are analyzing in the essay. Naturally it should read smoothly. Look below at a basic
structure of an introductory paragraph:
a) general discussion of topic​ (introduces the subject in an broad but engaging way)
i)
do NOT mention the book yet
ii)
start with the topic or big idea (e.g. “poverty,” “stereotypes,” “the power of
transformation,” etc.)
iii)
think about how people have typically thought about or dealt with this topic in the “real
world” (as opposed to the book)
b) bridge ​(relates/connects subject to the literature and leads the reader to the thesis statement)
i)
NOW is when you introduce the literature.
ii)
provide a short (one or two sentence) summary of the book
iii)
connect the topic you’ve been discussing to the book as you “set up” the thesis
c) thesis statement ​(states what you intend to prove in your essay)
i)
end the paragraph with your thesis statement
ii)
you may need to slightly modify the wording of your original thesis to fit with your
current introduction
Sample Introduction (based on an essay about ​The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian)
General
Discussion
Students in high school are often motivated to work hard because they hope to get
accepted into a good college that will eventually lead to a satisfying and financially
rewarding career. Many people do find success this way, but what if intelligence,
desire, and hard work aren’t enough? Kids growing up in extreme poverty and facing
abuse, addiction, and racial hostility often find themselves trapped by barriers both in
and outside the home.
Bridge
Sherman Alexie writes about how Native Americans deal with these kinds of struggles.
In his novel, ​The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian​, the main character, Arnold
“Junior” Spirit, decides to leave his reservation to attend the predominantly white
school in the neighboring town. Junior wants to escape the poverty he has grown up in,
but encounters obstacles both at his new school and at home.
Thesis
Junior is smart, determined, and courageous, and he wants to make a better life for
himself. While many people in his life want him to succeed, they also stand in his way,
either intentionally or unintentionally, demonstrating just how difficult it is for people
to break free of the oppressive cycle of poverty and racism.
Body Paragraphs:​ Follow the pattern detailed below for each of your body paragraphs. (You
may recall this template from the PTI “Laughter and Tears” paragraph assignment.)
Topic Sentence/Assertion/Claim​:
what part of the thesis you are trying to prove in this
paragraph; it should be a defensible claim (NOT a statement
of fact)
Lead-in/Context #1:
provide literal information about the quotation; summarize
what’s happening in this moment of the story.
Quotation #1:
textual evidence; example from the story (cite page number
in parentheses).
Analysis/Commentary #1: ​explain how the evidence
(quotation) helps to prove the assertion (claim); make
inferences; comment on author’s use of language or literary
elements; interpret how the quotation relates to the overall
meanings of the story
Transition & Lead-in #2:
shift from the previous example to the next one; provide
literal information about the quotation; summarize what’s
happening in this moment of the story.
Quotation #2:
textual evidence; example from the story (cite page number
in parenthases)
Analysis/Commentary #2:​ explain how the evidence
(quotation) helps to prove the assertion (claim); make
inferences; comment on author’s use of language or literary
elements; interpret how the quotation relates to the overall
meanings of the story.
Transition & Lead-in #3:
shift from the previous example to the next one; provide
literal information about the quotation; summarize what’s
happening in this moment of the story.
Quotation #3:
textual evidence; example from the story (cite page number
in parentheses).
Analysis/Commentary #3: ​explain how the evidence
(quotation) helps to prove the assertion (claim); make
inferences; comment on author’s use of language or literary
elements; interpret how the quotation relates to the overall
meanings of the story
Concluding Sentence:​ Synthesize your ideas; this usually
involves re-emphasizing your assertion (without repeating it
word for word), and offering a final insight (or perhaps
transitioning to a new paragraph).
Conclusion: ​Once you have written the introduction and the body of your essay, you should finish it by
writing the conclusion. While conclusions are the most open-ended of the paragraphs, their structure is
often the opposite of the introduction. A conclusion begins with the thesis (or preferably a restatement of
its ideas rather than a word-for-word recitation) and then ends with a general discussion of the issues.
a) thesis, rephrased
i) begin the conclusion paragraph with a reworded version of your thesis
b) review the “highlights” of your paper
i) consider offering a one-sentence summary of each body paragraph
c)
universal significance
i)
ii)
Bring the essay back to the “real world.” Why do these issues matter outside the pages of
the book? What implications do the lessons of the book have for its readers?
The conclusion may even leave the reader with a new question or idea suggested by a
thoughtful reflection on your own analysis.
To quote the Harvard College Writing Center: “​The end of an essay should convey a sense of
completeness and closure as well as a sense of the lingering possibilities of the topic, its larger meaning,
its implications: the final paragraph should close the discussion without closing it off.”