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“So you have to write a paper…”
1. The first thing you need in a formal paper is some BRAINSTORMING. There are several ways to
do this.
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free writing
making lists
pictures
charts of some kind
Mostly this is just to get down the information you already have in your brain and maybe organize it
into a format you can understand.
Example: golden retrievers
they are nice
they are good with
kids
have long hair
can be used for
hunting
like to run
like to work
like to learn
tricks
used as
service dogs
smart
aren’t hyper
they are
protective
can swim well
2. Now split your information into three main points. (add more info if you need to)
are easily trained: can be used for hunting, like to
work and learn new tricks, are
used as service dogs because they are
smart, aren’t too hyper normally, can
usually swim well
are easy to care for: have long hair, easy to groom
because they are nice, popular
breed most groomers are used to working
with
their personality is perfect for families: they are
nice, they are good with kids, aren’t too
hyper normally, they are protective,
aren’t too hyper normally, can usually
swim well
You might also need to do some RESEARCH to add to your information. But remember too
that ANYTHING you learn in that research should be cited in your paper and on your “works cited”
page.
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(You may choose to switch the order of steps 3 and 4, whatever is easier for you.)
3. So what is next? You should now have the three ideas you want to write about and convince others
to agree with. You will need to make these into complete declarative sentences. They will be called
your TOPIC SENTENCES and will come at the beginning of your body paragraphs.
Topic sentence formula: Topic + Verb + What about it?
Golden retrievers can be easily trained.
topic
+ verb + what about it?
Golden retrievers are easy to care for.
topic
+ verb + what about it?
The personality of golden retrievers make them great companions for kids.
topic
+ verb + what about it?
Be sure these sentences start in a variety of ways. This site might help you get started:
http://www.virtualsalt.com/transits.htm
Here is a list of verbs that will help too:
compares
defines
describes
explains
gives
lists
presents
shows
tells
acknowledges
adds
advises
answers
asks
asserts
assures
blames
captures
causes
clarifies
classifies
confirms
confronts
confuses
considers
contrasts
critiques
defends
demonstrates
denounces
depicts
discourages
encourages
endorses
entertains
entices
enumerates
evaluates
explores
expresses
features
furnishes
identifies
illustrates
invites
judges
mentions
names
offends
offers
praises
predicts
proposes
provides
recommends
shows
simplifies
solves
suggests
supports
teaches
traces
am/is/are/was/were
be/being/been
have/has/had
do/does/did
may/might/must
can/could
should/would
You may want to think about the order in which these three topic sentences will appear in your
paper. Most experts say to move from your weakest to your strongest reason, but you need to choose
what you believe will be the most effective way to present your argument.
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4. Finally, when you have a good amount of information down and your topic sentences written, you
need to decide on a THESIS STATEMENT. A thesis statement is the main idea of your entire essay.
It should be a statement (not a question) that says your topic is good, bad, right, wrong, true, untrue,
should be changed, should stay the same, etc.
Thesis formula: Topic (for your whole paper) + Verb + What about it? (what your whole paper is about)
Golden retrievers make great family pets.
topic
+ verb + what about it?
Other Examples:
 Spearfish High School should adopt a four-day school week.
 Bolle sunglasses are the best value for their price.
 Big Sky, Montana is a better ski resort than Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Your topic sentences should support your thesis statement. They should be the three general
subtopics that will support the main idea of your paper. If any of your topic sentences don’t fit with
your thesis, you need to either expand your thesis to include more (make it more general) or change
the topic sentences to fit your thesis.
!!!Notice that these thesis statements are specific as to the topic and your position on that topic, but
they do not include any details!!!
5. By this time you should be filling out an outline with your thesis and topic sentences. (See the
example at the end of this handout)
6. Now you need to fill in the details. (You may need to do research here too if you do not have
enough evidence to support your topic sentences.) Here is where you are going to give very specific
details (EVIDENCE) to support your topic sentences. Be sure to consider what kind of details will be
most helpful to inform and convince your audience. Direct quotations are great, just make sure they
are correctly woven, punctuated, and cited. Also be sure the evidence is placed in the correct
paragraph and supports the topic sentence.
As you can see from the outline, each body paragraph as three sub-topics. These are your support 1,
2, and 3. For each support you are to give a good piece of evidence, and then the sentence after that
should explain HOW that evidence fits with or supports the topic sentence.
For example (body paragraph):
topic sentence
I. One reason golden retrievers make good pets is that they are easily trained.
Support 1
explanation/
example
Support 2
explanation/
example
A. Around the house the puppies can be house-trained within just the first few weeks of their lives.
B. They quickly learn their names, simple commands, and tricks.
C. As they get a little older some golden retrievers are also trained to hunt
D. These dogs are named retrievers because they flush and retrieve birds by learning to obey particular
whistles, voice commands, or even move left or right by recognizing hand signals.
Support 3
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E. These dogs are so smart they are also used as service dogs.
explanation/
example
F. They learn to open doors and cabinets, they lead people who are blind, and they can even tell
when it is safe to cross a street.
G. Concluding Sentence/Transition
That last sentence is a little different. The last sentence of the body paragraph serves one or two
purposes. One is to summarize the paragraph or leave a final comment that gives closure. Another
option is that it can also lead into/set the stage for the next paragraph.
Example:
G. Obviously golden retrievers are smart and learn quickly, but that isn’t the only reason they make
good pets.
Here the concluding sentence summarizes how smart they are and how quickly they learn, but it also
hints that there is another reason coming in the next paragraph.
7. Once you have written a thesis statement, filled out your outline with topic sentences and details,
and written three body paragraphs (beginning with your topic sentences), then you need to decide
how you will START and FINISH your paper. You know what your subject is and have chosen all
the good reasons and details your reader needs in order to be well informed and convinced, now
consider how to first draw your reader in.
!!!!DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SAY, “This is my paper about…”!!!!
Think about how you will grab your reader’s attention and funnel it down to your thesis. You can
start with one of these:
1. background information
2. a fitting story or example (a true one or a scenario)
3. a definition (sometimes difficult to connect to thesis)
4. an interesting fact or statistic
5. a quotation (generally difficult to connect to thesis)
6. a rhetorical question (usually not done well and is overused and a bit lame)
The point is to choose something nearly everyone can understand and connect to easily through one of
these five options. After you choose one, consider how you will connect this great attention-getter to
your thesis. This might take a few sentences to connect these two, but take your time and be sure to
really connect them or your thesis will read like an orphan without a family. Other sentences will be
near or ahead of your thesis, but it will still feel awkward and alone. 
Sample Introductory Paragraph
I. Dogs have long been called “man’s best friend,” except in those houses where the dog is constant source
of disappointment.
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A. Dogs have long been called “man’s best friend,” except in those houses where the dog is constant
Attentiongetter
source of disappointment. Chewed toys, torn furniture covered in hair, “surprises” left in someone’s
closet, and a clawed paintjob on the new car in the driveway seem to discount this whole “best
friend” theory. There are also those horror stories of dogs that make Cujo look like a pleasant family
transition
thesis
pet and turn dog lovers into goldfish lovers. So what is a good American family to do when the kids
start begging for a pet that will be a longtime friend?
B. With a minimal amount of information the answer will be inevitably clear, that golden retrievers
make great family pets.
8. Finally you need to decide how to end your paper without the cliché and fairytale-ish “THE END”.
A good conclusion might:
1. summarize what has been said (although in different words so it doesn’t sound repetitive)
2. restate the thesis (although in different words so it doesn’t sound repetitive)
3. mirror or refer to the approach used in the introduction (quotation, background info,
example, etc.) (although in different words so it doesn’t sound repetitive)
4. a vivid story that illustrates your point and leaves a lasting impression on your audience
Some other options might be:
5. a call for action (for persuasive essays)
6. a warning of what will happen if the audience does not agree with your thesis (for persuasive
essays)
Whatever you choose, make sure it leaves the audience with the feeling that you are done and they
can move on with life. Do not leave your readers with a sense of “To be…
continued.” They may not forgive you for it, and they certainly will not look for the sequel.
Sample concluding paragraph
V. So while one family is cursing the day they ever decided to get a pet and is just hoping some freak
antifreeze “accident” takes care of their canine problem for them, another family is enjoying the wonderful
addition of a golden retriever.
A. They are thankful that Goldie was easy to train, sheds very little when she is brushed regularly,
and loves playing with the kids.
B. Although dogs in general are supposed to be man’s best friend, golden retrievers are no doubt
man’s, woman’s, and child’s best friend.
C. A family couldn’t choose a better pet.
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Here you can see that I have used a combination of different options in this conclusion, but
they have been worded so that the information doesn’t sound like I am just repeating what I covered
in the paper.
This outline is what we call a “sentence outline.” It is much more complete than just a topic outline.
The best part about this though is that when you are done with the outline, you are nearly done with
your paper. Be sure to save your outline as a second file and change its name to something like
“golden retrievers final draft.” Then just take out all the A,B,C’s and I,II,III’s and make it look like a
regular paper with indented paragraphs.
(check out the MLA version of the outline on my website)
Introduction
I. Attention-getter (question, interesting fact, definition, background, quotation etc.)
A. Transition-connection to what you will talk about
B. Thesis (topic + verb + what? for your entire paper)
II. Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)
A. Support 1 (for research or literary analysis papers, quote the text for your “supports” )
B. Connection, comment, or explanation
C. Support 2
D. Connection, comment, or explanation
E. Support 3
F. Connection, comment, or explanation
G. Concluding Sentence/Transition
III. Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)
A. Support 1
B. Connection, comment, or explanation
C. Support 2
D. Connection, comment, or explanation
E. Support 3
F. Connection, comment, or explanation
G. Concluding Sentence/Transition
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IV. Topic Sentence - (topic + verb + what? for your entire paragraph)
A. Support 1
B. Connection, comment, or explanation
C. Support 2
D. Connection, comment, or explanation
E. Support 3
F. Connection, comment, or explanation
G. Concluding Sentence/Transition
V. Conclusion: choose one or more of the following
A. Summarize main points (although in different words so it doesn’t sound repetitive)
B. Restate thesis (although in different words so it doesn’t sound repetitive)
C. mirror or refer to the approach used in the introduction: quotation, background info, example,
etc. (although in different words so it doesn’t sound repetitive)
D. Call for action
E. warn what will happen if the audience does not agree with your thesis
F. give vivid example that illustrates your point and leaves a lasting impression on your audience
G. Concluding Sentence
Don’t forget:
1. You may have more than one sentence for any of these items, and you may add more body
paragraphs if needed (depending on the assignment).
2. Write in 3rd person point of view ONLY! No: I, we, us, our, my, mine, you, your, yours
3. Don’t announce or choose the obvious topics or words.
4. Replace dead words like “stuff” or “things” with more specific words.
5. Use natural language. Do not use slang, but don’t sound like a dictionary either.
6. Use MLA guidelines.
7. USE TRANSITIONS!!!! http://www.virtualsalt.com/transits.htm
8. Have it proofread by the smartest person you can find. Ask them about their English grade. If
it isn’t an A or B, ask someone else to proof your paper.
9. In order to combine two complete sentences, you must use a comma AND a conjunction or a
semicolon.
10. Hand it in ON TIME!!!!