Parts of an Essay

Part 1: Introduction
There are 2 purposes to the
introduction:

1. To get the reader’s attention

(hook)
2. To introduce the topic (thesis
statement)
Part 1: Introduction

Guidelines:
1. Be relevant to the topic
2. Do not give details about the topic.
3. Have at least 2 sentences before
thesis statement.
4. Thesis statement comes at the end
of the paragraph.
Part 1: Introduction
Types of Introductions

— Short story

— Historical information

— A thoughtful question
Part 1: Introduction

Introductions are written with general information at the

beginning and moves to specific information at the end
(thesis statement).

Called a “funnel”
Part 1: Introduction
Thesis Statement
—Most important sentence in
essay
—Comes at the end of the
introduction paragraph
Part 1: Introduction

Thesis Statement
—Like a topic sentence:
—Topic
—Controlling idea
Part 1: Introduction
Thesis Statement

It may have a “predictor” which gives the reader how many

paragraphs will be in the body.

Ex: Losing the sense of taste can cause problems in a person’s

social, professional, and family life.

How many paragraphs in the body?

Three
Part 2: The Body
This is the “meat” of the essay.

— Each paragraph is about one of the ideas you referred to

in your thesis statement.

— Give examples and details to support your thesis

statement.

— Each paragraph may begin with a transition (First, The

next example…, The final reason…).
Part 3: The Conclusion
Every conclusion should have the following:

1. A conclusion to let the reader know it’s the end (In

conclusion, To summarize, All in all,)

“Finally” is not used to introduce the conclusion.

It is used for the last paragraph in the body.

Part 3: The Conclusion
A conclusion should also have:

2. A summary of the main points from the body.

Or restate the thesis statement in different words. (Both

are OK, too.)

3. A final thought: prediction, recommendation, or an

opinion about the topic.