Writing a Multiparagraph
Essay
This is how a multi-paragraph essay
should look.
Introduction
Paragraph
1st Body Paragraph
2nd Body Paragraph
3rd Body Paragraph
Conclusion
Paragraph
Introduction Paragraph
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Your intro should start
general and then get more
specific.
Talk about the general
themes or topics of the book
in a way that anyone can
relate to.
If you are talking about a
work of literature, you should
not mention the name of the
work or any details about it
until your thesis statement.
Your thesis statement should
be the final sentence in your
introduction and should
contain a debatable opinion.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Thesis
Thesis Statement
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Perhaps the single most important
sentence in your essay
Gives you permission to talk about ideas
and issues
This sets the topic for your entire essay
It should be general enough to allow you
to discuss all the issues you want to cover
in your essay
It should be a debatable opinion using
powerful words and strong language
Thesis Machine
Topic + position/opinion + 3 subtopics
or
Topic + a particular stand, feeling or feature
Introductory Paragraph Example
The initial thrill of experimenting with
drugs can be luring, but it is not worth the
agony that can follow. Many young people
who have been using drugs for a short time
are still filled with the excitement of trying
something that is new and somewhat
mysterious to them. Few of these drug users
realize that their physical well-being may be
permanently ruined, that their mental capacity
may be destroyed to the point of insanity, and
that their ability to maintain a normal social life
may be lost.
Body Paragraph #1 - #3
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Should begin with a topic
sentence that supports your
thesis
This sentence sets the topic
for this entire paragraph
It should contain concrete
details which illustrate or
support your topic sentence
Those concrete details
should be followed by
commentary sentences which
explain their importance
Commentary sentences
should be original ideas or
thoughts not directly
expressed in the book if you
are writing about one.
Good commentaries go
beyond the obvious, and try
to explain deeper themes and
meanings.
#1
#2
#3
This is what your body
paragraph should look like.
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Topic sentence
Concrete Detail #1
Commentary 1A
Commentary 1B
Concrete Detail #2
Commentary 2A
Commentary 2B
Concluding Sentence
More about Body Paragraphs
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The Topic sentence of each paragraph
should be a commentary type sentence
expressing an opinion which supports
your thesis
It should not be just a concrete detail
A good conclusion should wrap up what
was learned or pointed out in the entire
paragraph
Think of this sentence as a summary of
your paragraph.
Using Transition Words in
your body paragraphs
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It is important to use transition
words when you switch between
concrete details
They can also be used between
commentary sentences that do not
build on one another
Or they can help to transition
between one paragraph and the
next
Example of how to properly
use transitions
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Use a transition when joining two commentary
sentences that do not build on one another.
Example:
When Holmes first meets Dr. Mortimer he says, “I
observe from your forefinger that you make your own
cigarettes.” (p 9) Holmes has the ability to notice
details that most people overlook, and this is a skill he
is most proud of. Additionally, these observational
skill assists him in solving difficult mysteries.
Use a transition between one “chunk” in your
paragraph and another.
How to use Transitions (2)
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Use a transition between one “chunk” (1cd +
2cms) in your paragraph and another.
Example: (TS)One way in which Cole transforms while on the island is
that he learns to control his anger better. (CD#1)After Edwin teaches him
about soaking in the cold pond, Cole uses this ritual to help him begin
each day. “This was the first day he felt angry since Edwin and Garvey
left. This was also the first day he had skipped going to the pond.” (p
180) (CM)Using the pond in the mornings helps Cole to rid himself of
anger by going “numb.” (CM)When he does not soak in the pond his
anger returns because he has not taken the time to clear his mind and
focus on what he needs to do to have a good day. (CD#2)Similarly, Cole
also uses the dances that Edwin taught him about to end his day and
review what he has learned about life. When he tells Edwin, Garvey and
Peter what he learned from the mouse dance he said, “Mice are survivors
that make the best of whatever they have.” (p 230) (CM)With each dance
Cole not only learns something about the world around him he also learns
something about himself. (CM)Furthermore, with each dance he does he
learns more about himself, and as he learns more about himself he is
better able to deal with his anger.
Using lead-ins before quoting
from a novel or book
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A lead in set the scene for a quote
It tells the reader where in the story
the quote happened
It also can provide important
background details so that the quote
is more understandable
Example of how to properly
use a lead in
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Quote: “I observe from your forefinger that
you make your own cigarettes.” (p 9)
Adding a lead-in: In the novel, when Sherlock
Holmes first meets Dr. Mortimer he says, “I
observe from your forefinger that you make
your own cigarettes.” (p 9)
Quote: “Indeed, sir! May I inquire as to who
has the honour to be the first?” (p 10)
Adding a lead-in: Later, when Dr. Mortimer
says that he came to Holmes seeking the
second highest mind in Europe, Holmes
responds by saying, “Indeed, sir! May I
inquire as to who has the honour to be the
first?” (p 10)
Conclusion Paragraphs
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Conclusion should wrap
up the essay
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It should move from
specific to general
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It should leave the reader
with something to ponder
or think about
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It should not just be a
complete restatement of
the introduction
paragraph
1. Restate the thesis
2.
3.
4.
Restating the Thesis
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The first sentence in your conclusion
should restate the thesis statement of your
essay
Restate means, using fresh new words,
remind the reader the point/opinion of
your essay
If you are doing a response to literature
essay, you do not need to repeat the
name of the novel or the author in your
restatement of the thesis
Try to think of an overall universal moral
or message that you can talk about to
round out your conclusion
Compare the Conclusions
Thesis: In the novel Touching Spirit Bear by Ben
Mikealsen, Cole Matthews goes through a reincarnation of
sorts and becomes a completely different person once his
experience on the island is over.
Conclusion #1:
Due to his experiences on the Alaskan
island, Cole is completely transformed and becomes reborn
as a truly compassionate and caring human being. He
would not have been able to make these miraculous
changes had he never visited the island. Cole changed
because he worked hard to overcome his past and the hard
life he had before coming to the island. We learn that to
change you must work hard.
Compare the Conclusions
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Conclusion #2:
In the novel Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikealsen,
Cole Matthews goes through a reincarnation of sorts and
becomes a completely different person once his experience
on the island is over. Cole accomplishes a dramatic
personal transformation through both hard work,
persistence, and with the help of others. This type of
personal change is a difficult thing. It can only happen if
one believes in themselves and is open to examining past
mistakes and problems in order to find solutions. The real
lesson that can be learned from this novel is that by letting
go of anger one can begin to see the possibilities of life.
Remember
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“Now in days” is actually spelled
“nowadays”
Do not start your essays with any
variation of “I’m going to be talking
about,” “In this essay,” or “This is
essay is going to be about”
Do not use contractions (ex. don’t,
didn’t) - spell them out
Remember
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Do not use slang words
Do not use text messaging language
Spell out numbers one through ten,
any number above ten, use the
numeral
Use punctuation
Indent your paragraphs
Capitalize when appropriate
Remember
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The titles of songs, short stories or
poems need to be put in quotation
marks
The titles of books should be either
underlined or italicized (NOT both)
All font size, color and style should
be the same throughout your entire
essay