Essay Format Some essays may be four paragraphs; some may be five; some may be six etc.

Introductory Paragraph: The objective of the introductory paragraph is to set up the thesis statement.

Strategies for Intro. Paragraph 1. First sentence should get to the point. Example-Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is a science-fiction novel that predicts a chillingly self-destructive society that accurately parallels present day society. The first sentence is more general in scope and builds to a much more specific thesis statement.

More possible strategies for an effective intro. paragraph Give some brief summary of story that will refresh reader’s mind of plot but be certain that all commentary relates to the upcoming thesis statement. Remember the main objective of all commentary of intro. is to set up the thesis statement, all aspects of it. A smooth transition to thesis is imperative.

Various Ways to Build a Bridge to Thesis You might ask a few questions that will be answered in the body of the paper. You might generalize on each prong before stating the thesis. You might insert a quotation or two. You might write an open thesis before you state your closed thesis.

Example of Open and Closed Thesis Used Together The novel explores and predicts the downfall and destruction of society. Ray Bradbury in his classic novel Fahrenheit 451 portrays a doomed society preoccupied with selfish pleasure, violent entertainment, and foolish indifference.

The Thesis Statement The LAST SENTENCE of the introductory paragraph should be the THESIS. The thesis statement is a sentence that specifically states the purpose of your paper. Thesis should be stated in parallel structure. When related ideas have same grammatical form, you have parallelism.

First Topic Paragraph (same as second paragraph of essay) 1. THE FIRST SENTENCE of this paragraph WILL BE A TOPIC SENTENCE. 2. After identifying topic, proceed to give examples and illustrations that support this topic. Quotes, explanations, and some plot summary are necessary here. 3. Support topic with multiple examples. 4. Make transitions from each example. 5. CONCLUDE PARAGRAPH CLEARLY!

Strategies for Writing Topic Paragraphs Make transition from previous paragraph (First topic paragraph has this already built in because it follows thesis.) smooth by incorporating the topic from previous paragraph with the upcoming topic. Thus, the topic sentences for all topic paragraphs (excluding the first) will be a transitional topic sentence.

Example for transitional topic sentence: Not only does Bradbury warn that conformity leads to complacency, but he clearly prophesizes that a self-indulgent, pleasure-seeking society breeds violence.

Give any information leading up to example or illustration that might be necessary for clarity. Example: Through a conversation with Montag, Bradbury portrays violence through Clarisse. “’I’m afraid of children my own age. They kill each other’” (30).

Illustrate and/or explain example, and infer on topic for good focus. Clarisse says that her grandfather explained that once young people were more responsible. Perhaps Bradbury’s message warns that society is headed in a downward trend. Violence seems to be a symptom of an indulgent population.

Make transition to next example. Another instance of violent vulgarity is when Mildred suggests that Montag take the Beetle out, drive it fast, and hit some animals. She prescribes this because she admits it makes her feel better. Once again, F. 451 society proves ugly in its violent nature.

Make conclusions clear. Bradbury warns that an uneducated, pleasure-seeking, consumer-oriented society will certainly lead to violence and chaos.

Short Quotations Short quotations are four lines or less in the text. They are part of the paragraph. Set up: Bradbury seems to imply that Americans are oblivious to the rest of the world through Montag’s following comment. “’ I’ve heard rumors; the world is starving, but we’re well fed. Is it true the world works hard, and we play?’” (73-74). The novel strives to make society more introspective. Is Bradbury criticizing ignorance and hedonism?

Interior and Regular Quotations The previous slide used interior quotations along with regular quotations. Use interior quotations (with regular quotations) when you are quoting dialogue. Use regular quotations for narrations. Example: “…[T]he river was mild and leisurely, going away from the people who ate shadows for breakfast and steam for lunch and vapors for supper” (140).

Long Quotations: Long quotations are more than four lines in the primary text. Double-indent for all lines in left margin. Use no quotations for narration and use quotations for dialogue. Use quotations when you see them.

Examples for Long Quotations Using Ellipses Faber explains to Montag about books: “It’s not the books you need…. The same things could be in the ‘parlor families’ today through the…televisors, but are not…. Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, old motion pictures….” (82) Bradbury might be suggesting that we use our media wisely.

Long Quotation from Narration Clarisse represents revelation to Montag as expressed in the following simile: She had a very thin face like the dial of a small clock seen faintly in a dark room in the middle of the night…with a white silence and a glowing, all certainty and knowing what it had to tell of…further darknesses[] but moving also toward a new sun. (10)

Concluding Paragraph The concluding paragraph is to the essay what the clincher is to the paragraph. Save something profound for the end of essay; don’t just sound like a parrot. Yes, you need to echo the thesis, but your conclusion reiterates the points you made through out the essay but with finality. It is the last impression you make on your reader. Make it powerful.