So you want to learn how to write an organized essay…

…that is right on target????

Are you tired of being frustrated?

Do you want to be successful?

I am here…

To show you where to find the good stuff!

Here’s what you need in a 5 paragraph essay

• Introduction

• Three body paragraphs

• Closing

Simple. Right?

Let’s start with the introduction

• Hooks the reader into your essay

• Gets him or her warmed up and interested in the topic

• Offers a thesis statement of purpose

What makes a good intro paragraph?

Start describing your topic or theme with a specific description or story

* It could be: A time when you misjudged A time when you misjudged someonesomeone

* It could be: Describing your best soccer gameDescribing your best soccer game* It could be: An experience when you were An experience when you were

very angryvery angryHappyHappy

SadSadConfusedConfused

So your reader can be warmed up for your topic

Spend the rest of your introduction

Telling me what your purpose is for your essay.

Ask yourself:

What PointsPoints am I trying to make?

What are my 3 Main Topics3 Main Topics?

Now you’re ready for the meat of your essay!

• Body Paragraph 1—Topic 1

• Body Paragraph 2—Topic 2

• Body Paragraph 3 –Topic 3

What should each body paragraph look like?

• A topic sentence (TSTS)• A concrete detail (CDCD)• Your commentary (CMCM)

• A concluding sentence (CS)CS)(transitions to the next paragraph)

Remember: These are only for body Remember: These are only for body paragraphs, not introductions or paragraphs, not introductions or concluding paragraphsconcluding paragraphs

Again, I’m glad you asked. Pay close attention! And I’ll show you

The topic sentencetopic sentence introduces the paragraph’s main idea

For example: “The themetheme of couragecourage is found in many places in the movie, ‘Braveheart.’ ”

Rarrrrr!Rarrrrr!

Your Concrete DetailConcrete Detail is a passage from the text that is an example

of the point you’re makingFor example: “William Wallace says to his

fellow Scots just before battle, ‘They They may take our livesmay take our lives. But they will

never take, OUR FREEDOM!’ ”

Rarrrrr!Rarrrrr!

Your CommentaryCommentary is the most important part of the paragraph to me

Because this is where YOUYOU tell me

what the example meansexample means! This is your explanation or interpretation of

the text! VERY important!

Back to our ‘Braveheart’ example

“This showsThis shows that William

Wallace has couragecourage because even though he is leading men into battle and they face almost certain death against an army larger and better trained than theirs, he still speaks words that inspire men to fight for something greater than themselves.”

Rarrrrrr!Rarrrrrr!

The theme of couragetheme of courage is found in many places in the movie, “BraveheartBraveheart.” (TS). For exampleFor example, William Wallace says to his fellow Scots just before battle, “They may take our lives. But they will They may take our lives. But they will never take, OUR FREEDOMnever take, OUR FREEDOM!” (CD). This shows This shows thatthat William Wallace has couragecourage because even though he is leading men into battlebattle and they face almost certain death against an army larger and better trained than theirs, he still speaks words that inspireinspire men to fight for something greatergreater thanthan themselvesthemselves. (CM).

Your final paragraph is your conclusion. It should:

• Wrap upWrap up your points by

summarizingsummarizing them

• RestateRestate your thesisthesis statement of purpose

• Put a nice finishing touchfinishing touch on a finely worded essay.

• In a persuasive essay, you want a call for call for actionaction , which is telling the reader what action you want him or her to take as a result of reading your essay.