Part of an Essay

Introduction Paragraph

The Hook: Interesting sentence about the topic (A thing or a person you are writing about)

Background information on the topic: Facts, numbers, group opinions or history

Thesis Statement : Main idea about the topic + 3 reasons

Body Paragraphs (Goal : Prove that the thesis statement of the main idea is true because it helps us
to decide what to write.)

Topic Sentence: Tells 1 reason from the thesis statement

Detail Sentences: Explains the topic sentence with facts, reasons or examples.

Conclusion sentence: Remind us of topic sentence

Conclusion Paragraph

First sentence: Reviews the main idea of the thesis statement in different words

Middle sentence: Review the 3 body paragraph topic sentences in different words

Last sentence: Tells a result, consequence, or recommendation based on the thesis statement

Introduction

Type of Hook Example

1. Surprising fact According to the World Health Organization ,1 in 4 adults do not get
or statistic enough exercise.
(Specific facts require a
Citation and a works cited
page or bibliography)
2. Interesting question Does exercise only improve health if it’s difficult?

3. Wise quote Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body ,according to Joseph
Addison.
4. Contradiction People think strenuous exercise is better for them than easy exercise -
but almost no one does a strenuous routine twice.
5. Why the topic is important People need exercise to stay healthy.

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The “Hook” Examples

(Why the topic is important, but we don’t use the word important)

1. Vegetables Vegetables have vitamins that cannot be found in other foods.

2. Driving license A driving license gives a person independent.
3. Human Brain The human brain controls everything we do and say.
4. The character Romeo Romeo is one of the Shakespeare’s most famous characters.

Background Information. Complete the table. Write the types of hooks in an introduction
paragraph and give an example of each.

• Don’t use all these facts but you only need to use three or four sentences.
• Background information should help your reader understand what you are going to write.

Background Example
information
1. Surprising A vigorous 30-minute walk rises your heart rate and burns over 100 calories.
Statistic or fact
2. Definition Vigorous exercise is physical activity that raises the heart rate and speeds
up breathing.
3. Positive Many people view walking as too easy to improve health or help weight loss.
or negative
opinion
4. Opposite opinion Some people enjoy walking but others prefer higher-intensity sports like running,
weight lifting, or swimming.
5. History Historically, people walked as a form of transportation. By 1900, walking was an
Olympic event.
6. Trends or By the 1990’s, walking was a popular US sport with over 65 million regular walkers.
recent changes

Thesis Statement

Parts of a Thesis Statement = Main idea about the topic + 3 reasons

Main idea = your message about the topic

➢ 3 steps in a process
➢ 3 types of something
➢ 3 parts of something
➢ 3 examples of something

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 Prompt Thesis Statement
The prompt asks a question. The thesis statement answers the question.
1. What is the best exercise? Write an The best exercise is walking because it is easy, convenient ,
Essay that explains your answer. and usually done outside. (3 reasons)
2. What is one thing everyone should do? Everyone should eat lots of vegetables for vitamins , minerals
and fiber. (3 reasons)
3. Explain how to get a driver’s license. Getting a driver’s license requires a few steps ,including to
learn rules , practice driving and pass exams.
(3 steps in a process)
4. Describe the parts of the human brain. The human brain has three mains parts ,including the
cerebrum , cerebellum and brain stem. (3 parts of something)
5. Analyze the character Romeo and The character Romeo is driven by devotion to his family ,
explain what motivates him. friends and Juliet. (3 examples)

The Best Exercise

People need exercise to stay healthy. Adults should exercise 20 minutes daily, but most people do not.
Activities like swimming, lifting weights, and playing sports are often inconvenient or too expensive. The best type
of exercise is walking because it is easy, convenient, and usually done outside.
First , walking is easy. When exercise is too difficult, people stop doing it. However ,when exercise is simple,
people often enjoy it and continue to do it. Also , easy activities cause fewer injuries and less pain than strenuous
activities. Walking is great exercise because it is simple and pleasant to do.
Secondly , walking is convenient. A person can walk anywhere—in the city, country, or mountains. Many
other forms of exercise require special equipment or locations. For example, swimming requires a pool. Lifting
weights requires barbells and benches. Walking can be done anytime and anywhere without special preparation.
Perhaps most importantly , walking is often done outside. During exercise, the body produces chemicals
called endorphins and serotonin, which calm stress and make people feel happy. Scientists found that people who
spend time outdoors in nature feel happier than people who do not. As a result, walking outside helps mental and
physical health.
Walking is an ideal exercise. It is easier than many other sports. It is also more convenient than many other
activities, as a person can do it at almost any time or place. Finally , walking is usually done outside, which helps
people feel happy and less stressed. For these reasons , everyone who wants regular exercise should try walking.

The Best Exercise

People need exercise to stay healthy. Adults should exercise 20 minutes daily, but most people do not.
Activities like swimming, lifting weights, and playing sports are often inconvenient or too expensive. The best type
of exercise is walking because it is easy, convenient, and usually done outside.
One reason that walking is an ideal exercise is because it is easy. When exercise is too difficult, people stop
doing it. However , when exercise is simple, people often enjoy it and continue to do it. Also , easy activities cause
fewer injuries and less pain than strenuous activities. Walking is great exercise because it is simple and pleasant to
do.
Another reason that walking is the best exercise is because it is convenient. A person can walk anywhere—
in the city, country, or mountains. Many other forms of exercise require special equipment or locations. For example
, swimming requires a pool. Lifting weights requires barbells and benches. In a nutshell, walking can be done
anytime and anywhere without special preparation.
One more reason that walking is a great activity is because it is done outside. During exercise, the body
produces chemicals called endorphins and serotonin, which calm stress and make people feel happy. Scientists found
that people who spend time outdoors in nature feel happier than people who do not. Consequently , walking outside
helps mental and physical health.
Walking is an ideal exercise. It is easier than many other sports. It is also more convenient than many other
activities, as a person can do it at almost any time or place. Finally , walking is usually done outside, which helps
people feel happy and less stressed. Given these points, everyone who wants regular exercise should try walking.
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A transition is: A word or phrase that connects ideas. A transition is like a bridge between ideas.
Type of Transition List Example sentence(s)
1. Step or Order First , firstly ,first of all First , you should join Basic
Second , secondly ,… English Class.
Next , Third , thirdly
Then, Fourthly
Lastly , last but not least, Finally ,
2. Similar or Also, Additionally, I am interested in art. In other word,
Additional ideas Furthermore, In addition, I would like to create more artistic
In other words, works.
It’s also true that,
Likewise, Moreover,
Plus,
3. Contrasting or Although, Conversely , Although she is fifty , she is active
Different ideas Despite, However , and smart.
In spite of ,
Nevertheless,
Otherwise ,
On the other hand,
To the contrary,
4. Reasons and As a result , She always has perseverance ,
results (cause and Because of , patience and determination. As a
effect) Consequently , result , she is a top worker in her
For this reason, job.
Therefore,
Since,
5. Examples Example include For example , swimming is the best
For example , form physical exercise you should
For instance, try.
More specifically,
Namely,
To illustrate this point,
Specifically,
6. Summaries In a nutshell, We have made several attempts to
In short, be successful in our business. To
In summary, sum up, we are able to overcome a
To sum up, variety of difficult situations.
To summarize,
7. Conclusions All in all Considering these points, children
All things considered, should be trained to be good citizen
Altogether, since childhood.
Considering these points,
In a word,
In conclusion,
To conclude,

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