Writing An Organized EssayEnglish 221

Mrs. Langevin

The Two Most Important Factors Are:

• Function– What is your essay trying to accomplish?– You must thoroughly understand the

requirements of the assignment before you being drafting and writing.

• Audience– Who will read this essay? – The vocabulary you choose should be

appropriate for your audience.

The Parts of an Essay

Introduction Paragraph

• Hook– This sentence attracts the readers attention.

• Narrow to issue– Here the writer narrows to the issue to be

discussed and identifies the topic.• Thesis

– This is the essay’s main point, its opinion, argument, stand, position, and controlling idea.

Optional Extended Intro

• Background– Provide any necessary information that the

reader may require.• Definition

– Define any terms or concepts that the reader may require.

Body Paragraphs• Topic Sentence

– This sentence should be the first sentence in the paragraph.

– It serves as a guide to the reader as to what the paragraph will be about.

• Evidence– These sentences prove the topic sentence

by giving support.– The writer can support the topic of the

paragraph by including examples, data, comparisons, contrasts, definition, description, quotations, analogies, and anecdotes.

The Conclusion

• Restates the thesis• No new material that is directly related

to the evidence of the essay’s argument.

• Review the argument• Refer back to your hook• End in the general