ESSAY OUTLINE
Essay Topic
Notes (Ideas for essay topic – pick your top three points)
Thesis Statement
Main Points (three points – also called Topic Sentences – mentioned in
your thesis, which will be explored in each of your body paragraphs)
1.
Point, Evidence, Explanation
P:
E:
E:
Transition from paragraph 1 to paragraph 2:
2.
Point, Evidence, Explanation
P:
E:
E:
Transition from paragraph 2 to paragraph 3:
3.
Point, Evidence, Explanation
P:
E:
E:
Conclusion
Refreshed thesis:
How main ideas fit together:
Final words on the subject:
Introductory Paragraph
Although construction varies from genre to genre (and essay to essay), good
introductory paragraphs general accomplish the same tasks and follow a
few basic patterns.
Tasks: The introductory paragraph to a short essay usually attempts to do
three things:

Introduce the topic with some indication of its inherent interest or
importance, and a clear definition of the boundaries of the subject
area.

Indicate the structure and/or methodology of the essay, often with
the major sections of the essay or its structural principle clearly stated

State the thesis of the essay, preferably in a single, arguable
statement with a clear main cause.
Patterns: The standard pattern for an introductory paragraph follows the
order of the tasks outline above. Below is an outline of that pattern,
written as if it were the first section of a formal outline of the entire essay:
A. The topic
1. Its boundaries
2. Why it is interesting
B. Structure and/or Methodology
1. The essay’s main sections (structure)
2. Why they come in that order (structural principle)
3. How the author plans to draw the necessary conclusions from the
information available (methodology)
C. The Thesis Statement (usually a single sentence)
1. Its premise (the general claim about the information available
2. Its conclusion (the consequences of the first claim)
Not every essay contains every element in precisely this order, but most
good essays cover all of them, either explicitly or implicitly.
-----------------------------------------------------------Body Paragraphs
Paragraphs contain three main sections:
Main point: the topic sentence, which describes the focus of the paragraph
Support: explanations, evidence, and examples that reinforce the main point
Transitions: connections between this paragraph and
o Thesis statement
o Nearby paragraphs
Main Point
o All paragraphs should be focused: they should discuss only one major
point. That point should connect with the overall focus of the essay
(as described in the thesis statement).
o The major point of a paragraph is often called the controlling idea.
Every paragraph should have a different controlling idea, each one
discussing one aspect or part of the overall essay.
o Body paragraphs will often begin with a summary of the controlling
idea: the topic sentence. The topic sentence summarizes the
paragraph in the same way that the thesis statement summarizes the
whole essay.
o The rest of the paragraph supports that topic sentence, by explaining
it in detail, giving an example, or citing evidence that reinforces it.
Support
o The largest part of any body paragraph is the support: explanations,
evidence, and examples.
o Explanations use logic to fully explain the point raised in the topic
sentence. It is not enough to just explain an idea, however, you need
to show that outside evidence supports it as well.
o Evidence can include:

Facts

Published opinions

Research from books, journal articles, websites, etc.

Published case studies

Research data
o All evidence must be relevant to the topic, and it must be used and
credited properly
o Outside sources can be quoted, summarized, or paraphrased.
Crediting outside sources is known as referencing.
Transitions
o Body paragraphs do not exist in isolation – they should fit together
like a jigsaw puzzle. Transitions show the connections between
paragraphs themselves, and the connections between the paragraphs
and the overall focus of the essay (the thesis statement). They often
appear at the end of a paragraph.
-----------------------------------------------------------Conclusion

“wraps” up your essay

Demonstrates to the reader that you accomplished what you set out
to do

Shows how you have proved your thesis

Provides the reader with a sense of closure on the topic
STRUCTURE OF A CONCLUSION
-is the opposite of an introduction
-introduction begins generally and ends specifically
-conclusion begins specific and moves to the general
CONCLUSION OUTLINE

Topic Sentence
o Fresh rephrasing of thesis statement

Supporting sentences
o Summarize or wrap up the main points in the body of the essay
o Explain how ideas fit together

Closing Sentence
o Final words
o Connects back to the introduction
o Provides a sense of closure