Writing Essays
Introduction
1. What are you going to talk about?
2. How are you going to talk about it?
3. What are you going to prove? (precise claim or thesis statement)
- this is a statement that says clearly what you are trying to prove or clearly answers the question
- example for an essay on my favorite president = The best president is Franklin Roosevelt because his political strength and communication with people.
2. How are you going to talk about it?
3. What are you going to prove? (precise claim or thesis statement)
- this is a statement that says clearly what you are trying to prove or clearly answers the question
- example for an essay on my favorite president = The best president is Franklin Roosevelt because his political strength and communication with people.
Body
1. introduce your point
2. explain your point
3. give supporting evidence
4. explain how the point and evidence relate to your thesis
5. Address any counter-claims (views that are opposite of yours)
2. explain your point
3. give supporting evidence
4. explain how the point and evidence relate to your thesis
5. Address any counter-claims (views that are opposite of yours)
conclusion
1. Restatement of your introduction
2. summarize your main points
3. restate your precise claim
2. summarize your main points
3. restate your precise claim
Outline format
I. Introduction
a. subject
b. main points
c. precise claim (thesis)
II. Point 1
a. intro and explanation of point
b. evidence
c. how point relates to precise claim
III. Point 2
a. intro and explanation of point
b. evidence
c. how point relates to precise claim
IV. Point 3 or Address Counterclaim
a. intro and explanation of point
b. evidence
c. how point relates to precise claim
V. Conclusion
a. summarize main points
b. restate precise claim or thesis
a. subject
b. main points
c. precise claim (thesis)
II. Point 1
a. intro and explanation of point
b. evidence
c. how point relates to precise claim
III. Point 2
a. intro and explanation of point
b. evidence
c. how point relates to precise claim
IV. Point 3 or Address Counterclaim
a. intro and explanation of point
b. evidence
c. how point relates to precise claim
V. Conclusion
a. summarize main points
b. restate precise claim or thesis
Helpful organizers
Below are some worksheets that can help you organize your essay if you would like to use them