Parts of an Essay

Introduction Paragraph
What is an introduction paragraph?
The introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of your essay.

What does it do?

It introduces the main idea of your essay. A good opening paragraph captures the interest of your
reader and tells why your topic is important.

How do I write one?

1. Write the thesis statement. The main idea of the essay is stated in a single sentence called the
thesis statement. You must limit your entire essay to the topic you have introduced in your thesis
statement.

2. Provide some background information about your topic. You can use interesting facts,
quotations, or definitions of important terms you will use later in the essay.

Example:

Hockey has been a part of life in Canada for over 120 years. It has evolved into an extremely
popular sport watched and played by millions of Canadians. The game has gone through several
changes since hockey was first played in Canada.

Supporting Paragraphs
What are supporting paragraphs?
Supporting paragraphs make up the main body of your essay.

What do they do?

They develop the main idea of your essay.

How do I write them?

1. List the points that develop the main idea of your essay.
2. Place each supporting point in its own paragraph.
3. Develop each supporting point with facts, details, and examples.

To connect your supporting paragraphs, you should use special transition words. Transition
words link your paragraphs together and make your essay easier to read. Use them at the
beginning and end of your paragraphs.
Examples of transition words that can help you to link your paragraphs
together:
For listing different points

First
Second
Third

For counter examples

However
Even though
On the other hand
Nevertheless

For additional ideas

Another
In addition to
Related to
Furthermore
Also

To show cause and effect

Therefore
Thus
As a result of
Consequently

Like all good paragraphs, each supporting paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting
sentences, and a summary sentence.

Summary Paragraph
What is a summary paragraph?
The summary paragraph comes at the end of your essay after you have finished developing your
ideas. The summary paragraph is often called a "conclusion."

What does it do?

It summarizes or restates the main idea of the essay. You want to leave the reader with a sense
that your essay is complete.

How do I write one?

1. Restate the strongest points of your essay that support your main idea.
2. Conclude your essay by restating the main idea in different words.
3. Give your personal opinion or suggest a plan for action.

Example:

Overall, the changes that occurred in hockey have helped to improve the game. Hockey is faster
and more exciting as a result of changes in the past 120 years. For these reasons, modern hockey
is a better game than hockey in the 1890s.
Last Monday, Rahim went to school on foot as usual but he woke up late that
morning. He walked fast to school otherwise he would be late. He used
another lane to school instead of the normal lane he used to .On that
deserted road, a bag caught his attention. He thought that someone has left
the bag and he decided to ignore it.

Rahim couldn't make head nor tail of the bag. He also knew that curiosity
killed the cat. However, he decided to check the bag. He was quite shocked
to see the bag full of money. The money could be very useful for him but he
decided not to take money as honesty is the best policy. He looked around
and there was nobody. He thought that something smells fishy.

Rahim quickly went to police station which is a stone's throw away from
the spot. The policeman asked him for the information of the bag and he
narrated honestly. The policeman praised him for his honesty. Without
spending too much in the police station, he excused and paced up quickly to
school. His watch showed 8 o' clock. He knew that it was too late.

When he had arrived at the school gate, the gate was locked. He had
butterflies in his stomach. Luckily, the security guard allowed him to enter
the school after noting his name. He went to his classroom quickly. Everyone
had their eyes glued on him. He explained to his teacher the reason why he
was late to school.

During recess, the policeman came to the school to explain the reason
why Rahim was late to school. Rahim was called by the principal to his room.
The policeman and the principal praised Rahim for his brave and quick
thinking action. The policeman also added that the money in the bag was
robbed from the bank and it was returned to bank owner. He had just
breathed a sigh of relief.
It was my semester break. I had worked very hard for the year and
passed with flying colours. My parents decided to bring us for an outing
to relieve my stress during the year end holidays besides fostering our
family bond. We left our house early as the beach was too far from our
house. There were a lot of people at the beach when we had arrived.

As soon as we arrived, we dashed to find a suitable picnic spot. We

spread a mat under a shady tree. Then my mom arranged all of
favourite food on the mat. My father also lent a helping hand to my
mother. My mom also prepared our favourite desserts. We ate all of the
mouth-watering delicacies as our lunch.

After having our lunch, my father and I took out the kites we had
brought along. We went to fly our kites. My father challenged me that
who could fly the kite the highest. I accepted my father's challenge.
Our kites were flying high but my father still was in the lead. I was
trying to weed out my father's kite and finally I did so. My father's kite
string snapped and fell into the stomach of the sea.

Suddenly, I heard the shouts of a few boys. I quickly informed my

father. From a distance, I could see a boy drowning in the sea. He was
panicked and had butterflies in his stomach. Although there were a lot
of people at the beach, the screaming fell deaf ear to them. They were
also little number of people standing there watching. I was
disappointed with their inhumanity.

Out of nowhere, my father jumped into the sea and swam towards
the drowned boy. The sea water was trembling and my father had
difficulty in swimming in the water. The boy was carried away by the
wave. He could not do anything as his legs were cramped. He was still
shouting for help. However, dad successfully saved the boy.

The boy was brought to the shore. Both of them were as wet as a
fish. The boy's mother hugged the boy tightly and breathed a sigh of
relief. She thanked my father for his help and said that she was very
grateful for his help. My father was speechless and he became the hero
at that moment. All of us gave him a round of applause and I was
proud of my father. Everyone was happy to see the boy reuniting with
his mother.