WRITING THE ESSAY - Definition

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WRITINGTHE ESSAY - Definition

• From
• Paragraph
• to
• Essay

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What is an Essay?

• A writing of several paragraphs
• One topic
• Too complex for one paragraph
• Divided into several paragraphs
• One for each major point
• Treated more completely

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Lets Review . . .

• Parts of the Paragraph
• Topic Sentence (TS) Contains the Main Idea
• Supporting Detail Sentence
• 1. Example
• 2. Example
• Supporting Sentence
• 1. Example
• 2. Example
• Supporting Sentence
• 1. Example
• 2. Example
• Concluding Sentence (CS) Re-states the Main Idea

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What are the Parts of an Essay?

• 1. Introductory paragraph
• Contains Thesis Statement (last sentence)
• 2. Body paragraph(s)
• Develop(s) Thesis Statement
• 3. Conclusion paragraph
• Short! Summarizes the essay
• Re-states the Thesis Statement

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From Paragraph to Essay

• Writing an essay writing a paragraph
• Only MORE..

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• ESSAY (3 Paragraphs)
• I. INTRODUCTION
• ?Hook
• ?General Statement
• ?Thesis Statement
• II. BODY PARAGRAPH(S)
• A. Topic Sentence
• 1. Support
• a. Example
• b. Example
• 2. Support
• a. Example
• b. Example
• 3. Support
• a. Example
• b. Example
• B. Concluding sentence

• PARAGRAPH
• Topic Sentence
• Contains the Main Idea
• A. Support
• B. Support
• C. Support
• Concluding Sentence
• Re-states the Main Idea

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Lets take a closer look

• The Introductory Paragraph
• A great hook
• Comments and background
• A Thesis Statement

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First, lets look at the Hook

• A hook is a
• question
• comment
• quote
• inspires
• grabs readers interest
• catches attention
• want to read more

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Comments and background

• Can give your reader any info theyll need to
  understand your topic.
• Might be a history of an issue
• Might define/explain terminology to be used
• Might introduce people/places/concepts to be
  discussed
• Must be brief!

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The Thesis Statement

• Most important sentence in the essay
• Clearly states
• Topic
• Writers perspective on the topic
• Three-part map of the essay

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1) Expresses the controlling idea for the
entire essay.

• The Thesis Statement is the main statement for
  the entire essay, so make it a statement
• . . .NOT an announcement
• NOT a Thesis Statement I am going to discuss
  the effects of radiation.
• Thesis Statement The effects of radiation are
  often unpredictable.
• . . . and NOT a question
• NOT a Thesis Statement Why do I want to be a
  teacher?
• Thesis Statement There are many rewarding
  aspects of being a teacher.

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2) Expresses only one idea about the
topic.

• NOT a Thesis Statement Going to college in the
  Midwest can be fun, and I have found that living
  in a suburb of a large city is the best way to
  live while at college.
• Thesis Statement Going to college in the Midwest
  can be fun.

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3) Expresses a perspective or attitude
about the topic.

• It expresses a perspective, not just a fact
• NOT a Thesis Statement
• Cows produce milk.
• Thesis Statement
• The milk which cows produce is not always fit for
  humans.
  

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4) Expresses an idea that needs to be
explained or proved.

• It is a statement that can be argued
• NOT a Thesis Statement
• There are many advantages and
  disadvantages about going to college (not
  an arguable point).
• Thesis Statement
• The advantages of going to college far outweigh
  the disadvantages.

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Lets take a closer look

• The Body Paragraph(s)
• Need(s) topic sentence and concluding sentence
• Support(s) main idea
• Each support detail addresses one part of Thesis
  Statement map
• Facts, statistics, examples, illustrations

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Concluding Paragraph

• Signals the end of the essay
• Restates your main points
• Dont use the same words used in thesis statement
  or topic sentences
• Dont introduce new ideas!
• Gives your final thoughts on topicLast chance to
  convince your reader