What your essay should look like and what it should do
I. Introduction
a. First you need an overall topic sentence that will give your reader an idea about the content of
your essay. Nothing too broad or general, just something that leads into your essay.
b. Then you need to introduce the authors by their full names and the full title of their piece
(text).
c. Be sure to identify each author’s main argument or point—this may seem like a bit of
summary, but just a very small bit! It is necessary to establish their positions.
d. Be sure to connect both author’s points together in relation to the assignment question and
then…
e. Provide the reader with YOUR main point, position or THESIS! It should not be too general
or vague. It should address the assignment and the author’s ideas without mentioning them.
You have an intro!!
II. Body Paragraphs
a. Each paragraph must start with a TOPIC SENTENCE in the form of an original claim!
b. This claim must support your thesis, not be part of it. It must reflect the work of this
paragraph!
c. Then you must use quotations from the text(s) to illustrate the point of this paragraph.
d. To do this you must introduce a quote and give the quote (with proper citation).
e. Then, and here is the vital part, you MUST explain, analyze, or interpret the quote. Fully
explain how it is supporting your claim and thesis.
f. Then you must provide a bridge sentence (may start with ‘similarly’, ‘on the other hand’, etc.)
that moves into the next quote—then do the same as you did for the first quote.
g. Finally, you need a sentence that will bring it all together and actually tie back to your main
point. You may have some new insight into your topic or idea, or something that moves you to
the next paragraph.
Here is a quick and easy formula to help you think about the format of a paragraph for Basic
Comp.
IIA. Barclay's Super-Secret Formula for Connection (patent pending)
retrieved from : http://wp.rutgers.edu/printit.php3 on 9/18/07
Connection = Cl+I+Q1+E+T+Q2+Ce
Where:
• Cl = Start by stating your claim, what you are trying to prove.
• I = Then introduce the first quotation.
• Q1 = Give the first quotation.
• E = Explain it in your own words.
• T = Give some sort of transition to the next quotation, providing a clue to connection.
• Q2 = Give the second quote.
• CE = Explain how the second quote connects to the first one in a sentence or two.
This last part is crucial. You need to explain the connection in order to really prove it.
YOU NOW HAVE A BODY PARAGRAPH—
DO THE SAME 3, 4, OR 5 TIMES! DON’T BE STUCK IN THE 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY
FORMAT FROM HIGH SCHOOL! BREAK OUT OF THE MOLD AND FILL 4-5 PAGES!
III. Your Conclusion
a. Please do not start your concluding paragraph with ‘In conclusion’ or “In summary’—it is not
necessary!
b. Don’t repeat something you already said.
c. Do pull your ideas/claims together and revisit your main point/thesis.
d. Leave your reader with a clear idea or understanding about your essay. After all, you just spent
hours writing, revising, and editing your work. Make it shine!