How to construct an essayParts of an essay

A few types of essays

A piece of writing on a specific topic.

Essays are written forms of information that provides insight, ideas, clarification and information about a topic to a reader.

Types of essays: Narrative: telling experiences about real-life stories in

nonfiction form to make a statement about something

Descriptive essays: paint a picture through sensory details to provide information on a topic. Uses reader’s emotions to do this.

Expository essays gives balanced analysis of a topic (informative essays fall under this category)

Persuasive essays: essays used to convince people (argumentative essays fall under this category)

Essays include:

All essays include the following sections:

An introduction

Body paragraphs

A conclusion

THE INTRODUCTION

The introduction paragraph contains three parts: The hook

Transition phrases

General or necessary information about topic

The thesis

The hook

The hook (or lead) in an essay is the first line.

Its job is to hook the reader’s attention, so they want to continue reading.

It should connect directly to your topic.

Some types of effective hooks: Anecdotal (a little story)

Bold statement

Quotation by a famous person

A question

A surprising, but true, fact or idea

Definition

Type of hook #1: Use anAnecdote

An anecdote is a very short story.

Use this only if the story relates to the overall message or point of essay

Shouldn’t be more than a few sentences in length.

Keep it short and to the point. The idea is to draw your reader in so that you can direct them to your essay’s main topic.

Example:

As a teen, Bill Gates use to go dumpster diving at his workplace, seeking information; that's how he got his hands on some impressive source codes.

What would you expect this essay to be about?

Type of hook #2: Bold

statement

Find a bold statement that draw out an immediate emotion from your reader.

Make sure it connects with your main point of your essay.

Example: You'll soon be able to upload your dreams to

Youtube.

What would you expect this essay to be about?

Type of hook #3: Quotation

Choose a quotation that is directly connected to the main message or point in your essay

ONLY use quotations from famous people or people famous in that field

Make sure it focuses the essay to your main points.

Example: Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you wish

you see in the world.”

What would you expect this essay to be about?

Type of hook #4: A Question

A question that inspires curiosity but cannot be simply answer.

Should not be a “yes” or “no” question.

The answer to the question should be addressed in your essay.

Example: What does it mean to be happy?

What would you expect this essay to be about?

Type of hook #5: Surprising, but true, fact

Uses fact that are surprising to entice the reader.

Facts should relate to the message of the essay!

Example: According to the European Cockpit

Association, "Forty-three percent of pilots admit to involuntarily falling asleep during a flight.“

What would you expect this essay to be about?

Type of Hook#6: Definition

A definition of a term or concept that is relevant to your topic.

Caution! Do NOT use the dictionary definition. Put the term in your own words and make sure it draws out your topic.

Example:

A weevil is a small, herbivorous beetle that is known to wipe out entire crops of cotton and stored grains.

What would you expect this essay to be about?

Next step in the Introduction:Transitionfrom your hook to background information

Connect your hook to your background information. Think of it as the bridge between your hook and your main idea.

Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you wish you see in the world.” Gandhi seems to be saying that if we want to change the world we have to start by changing ourselves. People cling to habit and routine. We are creatures of habit, so changing ourselves becomes a difficult task, but it can happen if one focuses on little habits each day. This essay will focus on simple habits anyone can add to his/her life to become a better person.

Hook

transition

Background info

Thesis

Another example

Another example:

As a teen, Bill Gates use to go dumpster diving at his workplace, seeking information; that's how he got his hands on some impressive source codes. Digging through dumpsters isn’t an idea that’s often associated with Bill Gates, but even the most successful people started somewhere. For Bill Gates, that meant being resourceful.Bill Gates built a multi-billion dollar company over the last two decades. He created programs and devices that changed technology. This essay will explore how Bill Gates changed the world of technology and went from dumpster-diving teen to multi-billion dollar inventor.

Transition

Hook

Background info

Thesis

Background or general information about your topic

Make sure you introduce enough information about your topic to get the reader familiar with it, but don’t give too much information or give away your essay points.

Example:

Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you wish you see in the world.” Gandhi seems to be saying that if we want to change the world we have to start by changing ourselves. People cling to habit and routine. We are creatures of habit, so changing ourselves becomes a difficult task, but it can happen if one focuses on little habits each day. This essay will focus on simple habits anyone can add to his/her life to become a better person.

Another example

As a teen, Bill Gates use to go dumpster diving at his workplace, seeking information; that's how he got his hands on some impressive source codes. Digging through dumpsters isn’t an idea that’s often associated with Bill Gates, but even the most successful people started somewhere. For Bill Gates, that meant being resourceful. Bill Gates built a multi-billion dollar company over the last two decades. He created programs and devices that changed technology. This essay will explore how Bill Gates changed the world of technology and went from dumpster-diving teen to multi-billion dollar inventor.

Writing a thesis statement

Next step: Your thesis Statement

A thesis statement presents your opinions or thoughts on a subject or an issue. You cannot write an essay without one.

A thesis statement answers a question about your topic (this is either the question you created or the one presented to you in an assignment).

Put it in one sentence.

Thesis statements

A good thesis statement is short and simple: it should be no longer than one sentence, regardless of essay length.

Good Example: Success is a result of doing the right things consistently.

Bad Example: In a world full of success gurus and books about success, it becomes ever so more important to delineate the one trait that ultimately determines success: doing the right things consistently.

2. A good thesis statement is limited to one main idea.Good example: The key to successful dieting is focusing on a specific goal.

Bad example: The key to successful dieting is focusing on a specific goal, which is also the key to successfully running a business and coaching a football team.

3. A good thesis statement is a declarative sentence with no qualifiers (might, maybe, perhaps, etc.):Good example: Lebron James' ability to score, pass, and rebound make him the league's most valuable player.

Bad example: Does Lebron James' ability to score, pass, and rebound make him the league's most valuable player.

Bad Example: Lebron James' ability to score, pass, and rebound just might make him the league's most valuable player.

Organize Create a graphic organizer to organize your main points.

Use the handout on the blog.

BODY

This is where you expand and explore the main topics of your essay.

Use a graphic organizer or notes to organize your ideas BEFORE you begin. Map them out and then use that to guide your body paragraphs.

Use a transition to signal to your reader each time you add a new paragraph, new idea, or additional information

Use a main idea sentence at the beginning of each paragraph.

In-text citations

Activity in class.

For quotations, use this procedure:

I.C.E. Introduce your quotation

Cite your quotation

Explain your quotation

Conclusion Restate your main points and re-explain why your topic matters.

What do you want your reader to know most about your topic? Do you want your reader to do anything from the information they learned? Call them to action.