Before Writing
Introductions: Introductions essentially include topic sentences, a thesis statement, and a preview of
support. Lets define these three terms.
1. Topic sentences introduce your topic in a subtle way before identifying the author and work that is
the subject matter of your essay. Analytical essays must include the author’s name and the title of the
work under review. Before introducing the author and title, introduce your topic.
2. Thesis statements are ideas you need to prove. A thesis is not a fact. Rikki is the protagonist in the
story “Rikki Tikki Tavi” is not a thesis statement. The thesis statement must include an OPINION you
are going to prove and a key term.) In the story “Eveline,” a good thesis sentence might be; Eveline
uses the promise to her mother as an excuse to stay with her father and not run away with Frank.
(This is not a fact, but something you must prove). How to write an easy thesis statement. Begin with
a factual independent clause and follow it up with a thematic depcendent clause: Eveline struggles to
make a difficult choice BECAUSE a fear of the unknown has a crippling affect on Eveline.
3. The preview of support1 is a mini outline for your reader, a road map of your key ideas. It
essentially lists a series of ideas that you will explore in the body paragraphs. Each idea is referred to
as a main supporting point (MSP). Take a look at the example below. It includes topic sentences, a
thesis, and a preview of support. Generally, a preview of support has three main supporting points, but
it does not have to have three and it may have more.
a. Young adults often struggle with family obligations and personal choices. These decisions
can create all sorts of conflict. In the short story “Eveline” by James Joyce, the
protagonist struggles with a decision that might change her life. In Joyce’s story, Eveline
uses the promise to her mother as an excuse to stay in Dublin instead of running away with
Frank, and Eveline’s fear has a crippling affect on her ability to better her life. A study of
characterization, foil, and family loyalty reveals the reasons for Eveline’s fears.
Paragraph Two becomes MSP 1: Remember to ask yourself a self-imposed question and then
answer it. Use textual support from the book to support your answer. In the preview of support above,
paragraph two is about characterization. It should probably focus on characters other than Eveline.
(Through characterization, we learn about the people in Eveline’s life and the external forces that
impact her.)
Paragraph Three become MSP 2: Remember to ask yourself a self-imposed question and then
answer it. Use textual support from the book to support your answer. In the preview of support
statement above, paragraph three is about foiling.
Paragraph Four becomes MSP 3: Remember to ask yourself a self-imposed question and then
answer it. Use textual support from the book to support your answer. In the preview to support
statement above, paragraph three is about family loyalty. How does family loyalty affect Eveline?
This is more of an internal conflict. Notice the way the paragraphs slowly build toward Eveline and
her troubling situation.
CONCLUSION: We will discuss conclusions at a later date.
1
The preview of support allows you to lay out the design, scope, and focus of the essay. Thinking about scope and purpose
is essential to writing. All elements of the introduction are prewriting activities that actively change throughout the course
of writing and editing. Remember, do not use the introduction to analyze. Analyzing takes place in the body paragraphs.
Before Writing
Main Supporting Point
What is a main supporting point?
A main supporting point is a paragraph that supports your thesis. In a five paragraph essay, there are
three main supporting point paragraphs. Each main supporting point paragraph focuses on one topic.
The ideas for your MSPs are found in the preview of support you created in the introductory
paragraph.
The main supporting point includes the following elements.
1. A self-imposed question with a thematic word that reveals the meaning and purpose of the
paragraph.
2. A topic sentence that will focus on your primary topic of the paragraph. (The topic sentence is
the self-imposed question turned into a statement.)
3. An explanation of your topic sentence.
4. Examples, with textual evidence, to support your ideas.
5. An explanation of your quotes and how they reinforce the topic of your paragraph.
6. A hook sentence is a sentence that ends a paragraph and leads into the next paragraph. This
should be done seamlessly without revealing the content of the next paragraph but leading to
the topic.
How do you write a main supporting point (MSP) paragraph?
The best way to begin a main supporting point paragraph is to begin with a question (self imposed
question). Basically, ask yourself a question that includes your first main supporting point. In the
short story “Eveline,” the first main supporting point is characterization. A question might look
something like this: How does characterization help the reader better understand Eveline’s difficulty?
Characterization helps the reader better understand Eveline’s difficulty. As we begin to study Eveline’s
father, we see different aspects of his character. In the beginning of the story, we are not sure if he is
nice or mean. Eveline remembers when he once read her a “ghost story and made toast for her” when
she was sick (3). This moment of kindness seems to stick with Eveline, but the reader sees other parts
of his personality that make us question his kindness. There are times when her father’s behavior
suggests other things; after all, he was an alcoholic who was “fairly bad on a Saturday night,” and he
often sent Eveline out to the market to buy Sunday’s dinner when almost all the stores were closed (2).
His unreliability made life hard for Eveline and the family, and she always gave “all her wages” to the
family because the father was undependable. She also needed to “tend to the children left in her
charge” (2). These different personalities create conflicts in the story that expose different themes.
Once you have finished your paragraph, you can remove the self-imposed question. Remember; do
not remove the self-imposed questions until you have completed the entire essay. It is good to look up
at the question as you are writing to see if you are staying on topic. Also, you may find that your
response has slightly changed and that the question needs slight altering.
SEE THE NEXT PAGE
Before Writing
Requirements for the essay
o Please bring a paper copy of your essay to class on Friday 15 November. The essay should
meet all MLA styling requirements. Please remember to include page numbers. In addition,
your essay should include the following.
 Introduction
 MSP 1
 MSP 2
o On a separate page, include a second copy of your introduction and your self-imposed
questions for MSP 1 and MSP 2. In addition, please bold the topic sentences of your
paragraph. Italicize your thesis statement and underline the preview of support.
o Remove the self-imposed questions from the actual essay.
Remember, the purpose of this essay is to make sure you can build an essay with the essential
elements needed to drive your thesis. This essay only includes three of the five elements that drive a
five-paragraph essay. You are not including a third MSP or a conclusion. We will discuss these at
greater length on your next essay. We all want to make sure our essays are starting off soundly so that
we can learn to finish strong.