Basic Essay Format

Introduction This takes the reader (audience) out of the world (hook) and into your essay. This should introduce the reader to the general ideas behind your essay, and then ultimately the introduction should end with your thesis statement as the final sentence. –An essay without a thesis statement is like a boat without a rudder -- it can go nowhere. Your thesis statement is your main claim that will govern the entire essay.

Thesis Statement In its simplest terms it is a sentence with a subject and an opinion. We can also say that it is a sentence with a focus or topic and a specific impression. It is the controlling idea for the entire essay; you might say that it expresses the main idea of the whole essay. In an essay the thesis statement is the last sentence of the introduction.

“But what should I talk about?” A Thesis Statement, for this paper, is informing the reader about a modern social injustice and why it is an injustice.

A Thesis should be composed… 1.Topic (your issue) 2.a(n) –statement of fact about –opinion about –conclusion/assertion about 3.A way to prove your assertion –how? –why? your social injustice issue

Examples of Thesis Statements… J.R.R. Tolkien’s Ruling Ring in The Lord of the Rings symbolizes the allure of power over man, inspiring corruption, even to the point of self- destruction.

Jack London’s belief that man’s struggle against nature is ultimately futile is demonstrated through his short story “To Build a Fire”.

Introduction Global (the world outside of the essay) Essay Specific (via thesis statement)

Sample Intro Paragraph Author and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel, once proclaimed "For the dead and the living we must bear witness...." Through this simple quote he expresses the importance of preserving the memory of the horrific time in history known as the Holocaust. Wiesel’s own Holocaust story is beautifully and tragically recalled in his autobiographical narrative, Night. In order to survive camp life Elie Wiesel had to become a totally different person. In the novel Night, Elie Wiesel’s experiences cause him to change emotionally and spiritually and these changes lead him to a place of despair. Last sentence in the intro paragraph

Body Paragraphs You will usually have two (2) to four (4) body paragraphs in most of the essays that you write over the next few years. The body paragraphs provide the crux (main or central feature) of your essay. Body paragraphs require a topic sentence, which is the first sentence.

Body Paragraphs Topic Sentence: While the thesis statement maps out the entire essay for the reader, the topic sentence merely maps out the paragraph. –Nothing should be discussed in the paragraph that is not implied by the topic sentence. This is the first sentence of a paragraph.

Body Paragraphs Concrete Detail (a.k.a. Evidence): This is evidence from the text that supports your topic sentence (and ultimately thesis statement). –Elie arrives at his first concentration camp claiming that "[he] was still the spoiled child [he] had always been" because he refused to eat the soup that was given to him (39); however, he three days later observes of himself that "[he] was eating any type of soup hungrily" (40).

Citation You must always introduce your quote –FQ= floating quote (you didn’t introduce it) –Give the name of the author of the outside source you are using Article titles must be put in quotation marks

Body Paragraphs Commentary: It is important to explain to your reader why your concrete detail is significant to the discussion. You cannot just leave a reader alone with a quote to decide for herself what it demonstrates. You must provide the connection between the evidence (CD) and the claim (TS).

Conclusion Do not write "In conclusion." Of course it is your conclusion; it is your last paragraph; anyone can see that. Also, unless you are really good at writing conclusions, please only write two sentence conclusions for the next couple of essays. Many people use the conclusion to simply retell. This is a waste of writing, time, and energy. Odds are your essay wasn't so long that the reader can't remember your main points.

Conclusion Your first sentence should restate (not repeat) your thesis statement. If your original thesis statement was this: –"Considering the legal system as it stands today, the death penalty is costly and immoral.“ Then the first sentence of your conclusion could be this: –"Perhaps in history there was a time when capital punishment worked because the system was not as flawed as it currently is.“ Think globally on your second sentence in your conclusion. You brought the reader in from the outside world with your hook; now lead them back out into the world outside your essay with something insightful yet not cliché. –The bottom line about the cost of health care should not be about the amount of money that taxpayers spend; it should be about providing for America's children who cannot provide for themselves. If their parents cannot or even will not sacrifice for the sake of the children, then perhaps it is about time that the rest of us do.

Prompt The Scottsboro Boys was a heartbreaking example of social injustice. In our modern world there are many instances of social injustice. Your job is to investigate a modern social injustice issue. Investigate a modern example of social injustice. Write an informative paper detailing the issues within this modern issue. Support your writing with examples from outside sources. You must incorporate at least TWO outside sources and provide a works cited page.

Essay Format Intro Paragraph –2-3 sentences giving context –Last sentence is your thesis statement A modern example of social injustice is_________________because _____________ and ______________. Body Paragraph 1 –TS: _______________ is an example of social injustice because __________. –CD: Evidence from an outside source –CM: How does your evidence prove that this is social injustice? –CM: –CD: –CM: –CS:

Essay Format Cont. Body Paragraph 2 –TS: Another reason _____________ is an example of social injustice is because ___________________________. –CD: Evidence from an outside source –CM: How does your evidence prove that this is social injustice? –CM: –CD: –CM: –CS: Conclusion: –Re-write thesis statement (use different words) –Leave the audience with a thoughtful remark