Generic Essay Format

Introduction
Introduce the Big Ideas in your thesis; this should be general, focusing on the world/human nature, and should take 1 to 2 sentences.
Gist-“text message length” summary of the story that contains the title and author of the work; mention characters/ events you will later analyze.
Thesisstatement- a one-sentence answer to the prompt question(s); this may be a compound/complex sentence. Think of this sentence in terms of containing ideas you can break down into paragraphs (usually 3).
Body 1
Topic sentence- contains the first idea in the thesis with a rationale; this should present main point(s) of the entire paragraph, not examples.
A sentence that expands these ideas. This is not an embedded quote.
Embed a quote from the text- this must support the rationale in the topic sentence, and be a logical conclusion about the reading; this is not a restatement of events (summary).
Analysis-provide elaboration that answers the following questions:
a)How? (How is this different from the beginning of the work? How are you sure of this inference? Provide an example/quote from the text to support thinking)
b)Why? (Why did this happen/change? What were the motives behind the character’s actions?
c)So what? (What is the significance of this statement or information?)* Use D.C.H. whenever possible
Second example from the text—provide more evidence of the inference stated. Repeat analysis elaboration. *only ONE quote per paragraph
Concluding statement- this sentence summarizes the body paragraph and transitions into the next paragraph. Use concluding transition!
Body 2
Repeat the process for second body paragraph.
Body 3
Repeat the process for third body paragraph.
Conclusion
Restate thesis- keep the ideas the same, but word them differently.
Connect main points from topic sentences- remember to keep the same order you followed in your body paragraphs; refer to topic sentences, but don’t merely list- ask yourself how one idea relates to or connects to the next? Use transitions.
Concluding statement- goes beyond the obvious and is a conclusion about human nature that the main points reveal (Big Idea Statements). *No quotes in conclusion
  • A note when you get “stuck” writing analysis, use the Depth, Complexity questions to help you develop a response. Focus on the questions that make sense with what you are writing/ analyzing, and do not forget to use transitions.
  • Some helpful transitions to signal conclusion are: therefore, hence, indeed, ultimately, as a result, in final analysis, accordingly, in final consideration, and thus.
  • Write out contractions (can’t=cannot), and avoid “to be” verbs: are, were, be, being, is, was.