GUIDELINES FOR WRITING AN ESSAY

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH WITH THESIS—This states the purpose of the entire paper.

*Start with a “hook”: Introduce the topic in an interesting way. NO “YOU”

* Include a one sentence story summary.

*Use all key words from the prompt, story’s title, author’s name.

* Place the THESIS statement at the end of the paragraph. (Answer the prompt: What’s your point? What are you trying to prove?)

BODY PARAGRAPH—This includes a topic sentence, examples, elaborations and a concluding statement.

1)TOPIC SENTENCE—The topic sentence (first sentence) gives the point to prove in the new paragraph. It is a general statement about what information will be explained in the paragraph – no facts or evidence,

2) EXAMPLE —This sentence follows the topic sentence in the same paragraph and gives the evidence.

*Use direct quotes or references to story events.

*Find quotes from different parts of the story.

* Put the page number where you found the quote in parenthesis at the end of this sentence.

*Start your example sentence with a transition like these:

  • For instance,
  • For example,
  • An example of this was when…
  • This was demonstrated when…
  • It was made clear when…
  • This was noted when…
  • This was seen when…
  • Proof of this was when…
  • In another case,

3) ELABORATION—After your example, explain howthis quote or example proves your thesis. Use more than one sentence to do this!

*Don’t use the same exact words you have already used.

*Begin your elaboration sentences with a transition:

  • In other words,
  • This could be interpreted as…
  • This could be understood to mean…

4) REPEATstep 2 with anotherExample.

*One example is not good enough!

*Look for more quotes and text examples. Explain them just as you did above.

5) REPEAT step 3 with an elaboration on this example.

6)SUM UPyour body paragraph(s) with a concluding statement. Each body paragraph ends with this statement. This should sum up the entire paragraph in one sentence.

*Start with a transition word that hasn’t been used yet to signal the end of this paragraph:

For these reasons,Thus, Therefore,

BODY PARAGRAPHS 3, 4, ETC. (depending on how long your essay needs to be)

START ANOTHER BODY PARAGRAPH WITH A NEW TOPIC SENTENCE, MORE EXAMPLES, MORE ELABORATION, AND A CONCLUDING STATEMENT.

(See Steps 2,3, 4 above.) Remember to prove the same point of your thesis statement.

Use the same format as the first body paragraph, but:

Write a new topic sentence based on information in that paragraph

USE NEW TEXT EVIDENCE

USE TRANSITIONS YOU HAVE NOT USED YET

Write a different concluding statement based on the information in the paragraph.

CONCLUSION—This is the last paragraph.

First, restate your THESIS (using all key words) in a different way.

*Use a transition. Do not use the same transition used earlier.

For these reasons,Therefore,In summary,

Next, show the importance and relevance of your essay (Choose one of the topics below):

*What universal truth does this story support?

*What does the author want you to learn about people or life from this passage?

*How can the lesson the character learned help others?

*Was what happened in the story right or wrong? Why?

  • From this passage, I learned that people can help others by…

Finally, end with a final thought or mention your “hook” again to bring closure to the essay.

WHEN YOU ARE “FINISHED,” go back and REVISE.

Check the rubric to verify that you have met all the requirements.