ESSAY WRITING Introductory, Body & Concluding Paragraph A paragraph is a collection of sentences expressing ideas, opinions or beliefs about one main idea. Most paragraphs are indented. A paragraph has it own unity. A paragraph with unity has ideas that are related to each other and are presented in a logical order. • Every sentence in the paragraph should be related to the main idea in some clear way. Some orders of organization that you should be familiar with: chronological: the order of events, or time order spatial: looking at how things are arranged in a space (descriptive) emphatic: details presented in their order of importance or for emphasis cause and effect: a certain situation causes – or results from – another comparison/contrast: examining the similarities or differences between things Transitional words help signal to the reader shifts in thought or sequence. They help present ideas in a clear and organized way. Some transitional words help present the sequence of ideas; others are used to clarify the relationship between ideas. Descriptive Paragraphs: ??? Example Paragraphs: ??? Process Paragraphs: ??? Opinion Paragraphs: ??? Narrative Paragraphs: ??? Descriptive Essays: ??? Narrative Essays: ??? Opinion Essays: ??? Comparison and Contrast Essays: ??? Cause and Effect Essays: ??? A classic format for compositions is the fiveparagraph essay. Paragraph The topic sentence states the topics. The topic sentence states the controlling ideas. Essay • The introductory paragraph states the topic. • The thesis statement states the controlling idea. Paragraph The supporting sentences of the paragraph support the ideas in the topic sentence. Essay • The body paragraphs support the idea in the thesis statement. Each body paragraph has a topic sentence. Paragraph The concluding sentence summarize the idea in the topic sentence. Essay • The essay conclusion summarize the idea in the thesis statement. A Some instructors and courses require the student to use a 1-3-1 essay format. Introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of an essay. Its purpose is to invite the reader will not want to stop reading. Introductory paragraph contains a thesis statement. The first several sentences of an introductory paragraph should consist of attention getting or interest sentences. Some different techniques which may be used to lead the reader to the thesis statement, which is the final one or two sentences of the introductory paragraph. Narration Factual data or statistic Quotation Startling statement General statement Combination The thesis is a statement of the main idea of that essay. It is the statement of what the writer is going to explain, defend, or prove about topic. It is usually placed at the end of the introductory paragraph. The thesis statement is a complete sentence that presents a viewpoint about the topic, which can be defended or shown in the essay. A thesis statement should not be a simple statement of fact. An effective thesis statement contains Topic Claims Major points 1. Avoid telling the reader that you are beginning your essay: In this essay, I will discuss . . ./ I will talk about . . ./ I am going to prove . . . 2. Do not apologize in your paper: Although I am not an expert . . . / In my humble opinion . . . 3. 4. Do not make your introduction too long. Do not use second person you as if your reader were sitting next to you. Paragraph is a group of sentences that stick together and focus on one single topic. • Paragraph has three main parts – topic sentence, supporting sentences, concluding sentence. … the middle section, or body, of your essay develops and supports your thesis. A strong body paragraph explains, proves, and/or supports your paper’s argumentative claim or thesis statement. Unity – every sentence relates directly to the main idea of the paragraph. Coherence – its sentences are smoothly and logically connected to one another. Development – it contains the examples, evidence, and explanations readers need to understand its main idea. Topic Sentence (Reason) A key reason capital punishment should not be used in Texas is there is always the possibility of executing an innocent person. Evidence For example, in April 1999 Gerald Wilkins, who had served 12 years on death row in an Illinois prison, was found not guilty of the crime he had been convicted of because of new DNA evidence (Wallace 12). Explanation If Mr. Wilkins’s sentence – death by lethal injection – had been carried out promptly, an innocent man would have died. Fortunately, he was still waiting for his execution date, and this made it possible to partially correct the error of his conviction. Further Development: More Evidence & Explanation Gerald Wilkins’ situation, however, is not an isolated case. (Provide a transition, the next piece of evidence, and explanation here.) Concluding Sentence As long as Texas continues to sentence convicted people to death, there will always be the possibility of executing an innocent person. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Insert a Topic Sentence Explain Your Topic Sentence Introduce Your Evidence Insert Your Evidence Unpack Your Evidence Explain Your Evidence Insert a Concluding Sentence •In conclusion,… . •Finally,… •In the end,…. •In short,… •In summary,… •To sum up,… The conclusion is your last chance to make your point clear. Your conclusion is your opportunity to wrap up your essay in a tidy package and bring it home for your reader. It is a good idea to recapitulate what you said in your “Thesis Statement” in order to suggest to your reader to remember. This paragraph should include the following: a mention to the pattern used in the introductory paragraph, a restatement of the thesis statement, using some of the original language. a summary of the three main points from the body of the paper. a final statement that gives the reader signals that the discussion has come to an end. (This final statement may be a “call to action” in an persuasive paper.) The conclusion should not raise any new points but must be related to the thesis statement or body of the essay. Do not apologize in your paper. Do not make your introduction too long Finish your essay with your good concluding paragraph now. Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Discuss. The causes of traffic accident in Cambodia Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in the past 10 years?
