Essay Skeleton Template:

Module:
Question:

INTRODUCTION
Thesis Statement: Guess what? So what?

Texts: Prove it!

name, composer, date, genre/form/medium, context
e.g. The Tempest, William Shakespeare, 1610, dramatic tragicomedy. Involves criticisms of Elizabethan society, colonialism etc.
1]

2]
MAIN BODY PARAGRAPHS
Version one = two texts per paragraph
P1]
Topic sentence:

Context, external quotes and relevant info:

Evidence (2-4 quotes per text)

“quote”, technique, brief analysis

1]
-

2]
-

Concluding sentence:
P2]
Topic sentence:

Context, external quotes and relevant info:

Evidence (2-4 quotes per text)

“quote”, technique, brief analysis

1]
-

2]
-

Concluding sentence:
P3]
Topic sentence:

Context, external quotes and relevant info:

Evidence (2-4 quotes per text)

“quote”, technique, brief analysis

1]
-

2]
-

Concluding sentence:
CONCLUSION
Conclusion summary: (restate thesis, answer question, refer briefly to main body ideas, state conclusive statement/ big takeaway!)
MAIN BODY PARAGRAPHS
Version 2 = Alternative paragraph set up for discussing one text per paragraph (repeat for each main idea):

IDEA ONE: state the idea that you will be discussing in your first two paragraphs

P1]
Topic sentence: (Note: you will need to have a reworded topic sentence for your following paragraph P2 which introduces the same idea in
relation to the new text)

Context, external quotes and relevant info:

Evidence (3-6 quotes)

“quote”, technique, brief analysis
-

Concluding sentence:
P2]
Topic sentence: (refer to P1, reword, relate)

Context, external quotes and relevant info:

Evidence (3-6 quotes)

“quote”, technique, brief analysis
-

Concluding sentence:
IDEA TWO: state the idea that you will be discussing in your next two paragraphs

P3]
Topic sentence: (Note: you will need to have a reworded topic sentence for your following paragraph P2 which introduces the same idea in
relation to the new text)

Context, external quotes and relevant info:

Evidence (3-6 quotes)

“quote”, technique, brief analysis
-

Concluding sentence:
P4]
Topic sentence: (refer to P1, reword, relate)

Context, external quotes and relevant info:

Evidence (3-6 quotes)

“quote”, technique, brief analysis
-

Concluding sentence:
Remember:
- Answer the question (in thesis, in each paragraph, in conclusion)
- 10-15 quotes per essay
- Quotes can be one word
- Find interesting techniques (anthropomorphism, asyndeton)
- Make sure your evidence supports your topic sentence
- All handwriting practice is good practice for your exams!