STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY

 
INTRODUCTION 

Provides Background Information necessary for understanding 

  • Title and author
  • Brief summary or definition 
  • Thesis – Argument to be proven 
    Must use ACTIVE VERB 
BODY PARAGRAPHS 

Used as data to support thesis statement 
 

  • Topic sentence –  Read 1st sentence then ask yourself if your whole paragraph is about this topic 
  • Explain topic, add supporting details to topic 
  • SPECIFIC EXAMPLE 
    1.  Background information – what the     reader needs to know to understand      the example 
    2.  Quotation that proves your point 
    3.  Explain how this example proves     topic 
  • Conclusion – Explain how topic proves thesis 
 
CONCLUSION 
(OR SO WHAT?) 
 
  • How is your thesis accurate?  What else could help prove or disprove your thesis? 
  • Why is knowledge of the thesis of value? 
  • Why does the author construct the text in this way? 
  • How does knowledge that your thesis is true affect the reading of the text? 
 
 NOTE:  The 5 paragraph essay is a very basic structure for an essay.  As you progress in high school and once you attend college, the 5 paragraph essay will turn into 8, 10, 15 or more paragraph essays.  This structure is what remains at the root of the multi-page essay.  In a book, an author has a chapter for an introduction instead of a paragraph.  The 5 paragraph essay is equivalent to ½ as opposed to the forthcoming 5/10, 20/40, and 100/200 more advanced essays.

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