Ask and Answer Essay Writing Process

INTRODUCTIONS

INTRO Paragraph Sentence Types

• Attention Getter or Hook (Write a sentence that gets the reader’s attention on the topic)

• Question (Ask a general question regarding the topic)

• Statistic, Example, or Quote (Provide a relevant statistic, example, or quote on the topic)

• Explain the Statistic, Example, or Quote (Explain the relevance of the statistic, example, or quote)

• THESIS (Write the controlling sentence of the entire essay) MAIN IDEA OF THE ESSAY

Step 1

• Look at the essay writing process like a conversation with another person.

Step 2• Ask yourself a question based upon the prompt.

• This question becomes the 1st sentence of the essay (THE HOOK/ ATTENTION GETTER).

• Example Prompt:

• Many people suffer from smoking related illnesses and afflictions. These ailments, regardless of the

abundance of preventative campaigns against smoking, continue to increase annually. This increase

unfortunately leads to the untimely deaths of thousands. Therefore, recently, politicians have proposed a

law that bans the sale of cigarettes. So, the question remains: should tobacco products be banned?

Step 3• Once you have identified the actual question in the prompt, use this question as your Hook (attention getter).

• Example Prompt:

• Many people suffer from smoking related illnesses and afflictions. These ailments, regardless of the abundance of preventative campaigns against

smoking, continue to increase annually. This increase unfortunately leads to the untimely deaths of thousands. Therefore, recently, politicians have

proposed a law that bans the sale of cigarettes. So, the question remains: should tobacco products be banned?

• Example Intro:

• Should tobacco products be banned? (Hook or attention getter)

• *Please note that this is only the 1st sentence of the INTRO

Step 4

• Remember the notes on Follow Logically Ordered Wording, and answer the question that the HOOK makes in a brief statement as if you were discussing the subject with someone.

• Example Intro:

• Should tobacco products be banned? Well, many people do believe that tobacco is a dangerous substance.

This sentence answers the HOOK in a very natural manner that allows for further development.

Step 5

• After you have written the 2nd sentence, please turn it into a question on a separate sheet of paper.

• Example Intro:• Should tobacco products be banned? Well, many people do believe

that tobacco is a dangerous substance.

Why do many people believe that tobacco is a dangerous substance?

Step 6

• Once you have the 2nd second sentence turned into a question, answer the question in a declarative statement as though you were still in a conversation.

• Example Intro:

• Should tobacco products be banned? Well, many people do believe that tobacco is a dangerous substance.

Why do many people believe that tobacco is a dangerous substance?

In fact, they think that it causes a lot of problems for the average body.

This sentence is an example of a response to the new question that was just formed

Step 7

• Write the response to the question as the 3rd sentence.

• Example Intro:

• Should tobacco products be banned? Well, many people do believe that tobacco is a

dangerous substance. In fact, they think that it causes a lot of

problems for the average body.

Step 8

• Repeat steps 4 – 7.

Now You Try It

• Finish the INTRO below in the manner that you have just learned. REMEMBER, the thesis should be the LAST sentence of the INTRO

• . Example Intro:

• Should tobacco products be banned? Well, many people do believe that tobacco is a

dangerous substance. In fact, they think that it causes a lot of problems

for the average body. (CONTINUE FROM HERE)

Example INTRO

• Should tobacco products be banned? Well, many people believe that tobacco is dangerous. In fact, they think that it cause a lot of

problems to the average body. (What are the problems?) These problems can include breathing issues, bad breath, and cancer.

(What in tobacco causes illness?) The nicotine in tobacco products has been linked to several illnesses. (How is nicotine

actually linked to illnesses?) Nicotine is a substance that coats the lungs and other organs necessary to breathe with millions of

carcinogens. (What is a carcinogen?) Carcinogens are cancer causing agents that are frequently found in many chemicals. (At

this point, you can continue with the ASK & ANSWER format, or go directly to the THESIS.) Therefore, tobacco should be

banned because it detrimentally affects breathing, contains nicotine, and introduces carcinogens into the body that cause cancer.

• Attention Getter or Hook (Write a sentence that gets the reader’s attention on the topic)

• Question (Ask a general question regarding the topic)

• Statistic, Example, or Quote (Provide a relevant statistic, example, or quote on the topic)

• Explain the Statistic, Example, or Quote (Explain the relevance of the statistic, example, or quote)

• THESIS (Write the controlling sentence of the entire essay) MAIN IDEA OF THE ESSAY

Should tobacco products be banned? Well, many people believe that

tobacco is dangerous. In fact, they think that it cause a lot of problems

to the average body. (What are the problems?) These problems can

include breathing issues, bad breath, and cancer. (What in tobacco

causes illness?) The nicotine in tobacco products has been linked to

several illnesses. (How is nicotine actually linked to illnesses?)

Nicotine is a substance that coats the lungs and other organs necessary

to breathe with millions of carcinogens. (What is a carcinogen?)

Carcinogens are cancer causing agents that are frequently found in

many chemicals. (At this point, you can continue with the ASK &

ANSWER format, or go directly to the THESIS.) Therefore,

tobacco should be banned because it detrimentally affects breathing,

contains nicotine, and introduces carcinogens into the body that cause

cancer.

General

Development

Specific

Main Idea

Major Details

Minor

Details

Attention Getter or Hook (Write a sentence that gets the reader’s

attention on the topic)

Question (Ask a general question regarding the topic)

Statistic, Example, or Quote (Provide a relevant statistic,

example, or quote on the topic)

Explain the Statistic, Example, or Quote

(Explain the relevance of the statistic, example, or

quote)

THESIS (Write the controlling

sentence of the entire essay)

MAIN IDEA OF THE ESSAY

INTRO

BODY

Conclusion

Attention Getter or Hook

Question

Statistic, Example, or Quote

Explain the Statistic, Example, or Quote (

THESIS

Should tobacco products be banned?

Well, many people believe that tobacco is dangerous. In fact, they think that it cause a lot of problems to the average body. These problems can include breathing issues, bad breath, and cancer. The nicotine in tobacco products has been linked to several illnesses. Nicotine is a substance that coats the lungs and other organs necessary to breathe with millions of carcinogens. Carcinogens are cancer causing agents that are frequently found in many chemicals.

Therefore, tobacco should be banned because it detrimentally affects breathing, contains nicotine, and introduces carcinogens into the body that cause cancer.