Essay Structure

ESSAY STRUCTURE

WHY DO WE WRITE? To communicate a subject to an audience for a purpose

WHAT IS AN ESSAY? An essay consists of five (5) related paragraphs which prove and/or support a

thesis statement (main or controlling idea).

I. INTRODUCTION (4-6 sentences)

A. Lead-in Sentences–attention getters

B. Thesis Sentence–main idea to be developed in essay

1. Provides three (3) points of development

2. Provides preview

3. Provides order of development

4. Implies attitude/tone

5. Last sentence in introduction

II. BODY (minimum of three paragraphs)

A. 1st Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences)

1. Topic Sentence–main or controlling idea to be developed

a. Subject–what the paragraph is going to be about

b. Focus–what is said about the subject

2. 1st Subtopic Sentence–introduces the details, facts, statistics, examples, etc., used to

support topic sentence.

2nd Subtopic Sentence–introduces the details, facts, statistics, examples, etc., used to

support topic sentence.

3. Concluding Sentence–summarizes the paragraph by briefly restating the writer’s concluding thought about the subject of the paper.

B. 2nd Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences)

1. Topic Sentence–main or controlling idea to be developed

a. Subject–what the paragraph is going to be about

b. Focus–what is said about the subject

2. 1st Subtopic Sentence–introduces the details, facts, statistics, examples, etc., used to

support topic sentence.

2nd Subtopic Sentence–introduces the details, facts, statistics, examples, etc., used to

support topic sentence.

3. Concluding Sentence–summarizes the paragraph by briefly restating the writer’s concluding thought about the subject of the paper.

C. 3rd Supporting Paragraph (8-12 sentences)

1. Topic Sentence–main or controlling idea to be developed

a. Subject–what the paragraph is going to be...