1. The essay body Introduction: Main Body: Conclusion:
1. Attention getter (Lead)
2. Contextualize topic
3. Thesis stament / question
4. Outline Thesis
Main Body:
1. The body is organized into three
supporting paragraphs that prove
your thesis statement
2. Each supporting paragraph needs to be
illustrated with details, facts,
examples, or quotes that make your
point clear. (NO OPINIONS)
Conclusion:
Summarizes the essay’s main points!
1.Summarize main points and answer thesis question.
2. Connect the answer to a new issue / topic.

2. NEVER begin an essay with “in this essay”!
Notes
Introduction
NEVER begin an essay with “in this essay”!
Grab the reader’s attention (lead)
• Begin with a quote from the story “___________________”
• Start with a strongly stated question that your readers might have (it may have a predictable answer)
• Start with a unique observation about the story or character
• Start with a snapshot (a piece of information or short description that gives an understanding of a situation at a particular time.)
• Begin with a metaphor that shows the story’s significance

3. Notes
Thesis Statement: A statement that gives the main idea or focus of an essay.
Your thesis needs to be something that you are going to support with evidence throughout your essay.
List THREE main points to your thesis so that these three points can be the three paragraphs in the body of your essay.

4. Transition Words and Phrases
Use these transitions to help you connect the ideas between your sentences and between your paragraphs.
TO INTRODUCE EXAMPLES
for example in fact in one instance
for instance in one case as proof
to illustrate to begin with in one example
TO ADD ANOTHER POINT
also in addition (to) furthermore
moreover another a second (third, fourth, etc.)
besides further
TO SHOW TIME RELATIONSHIPS
before since in the meantime
after meanwhile to begin with
next eventually at the same time
then at last not long after
finally afterward as time passed
TO SIGNAL RESULTS OR EFFECTS
as a result because (of) for this reason
due to therefore in response to
thus consequently in conclusion
TO SHOW COMPARISON OR CONTRAST
similarly in contrast different from
like unlike on the other hand
just as the same as on the contrary
as well (as) equally important
TO CONNECT IDEAS
yet however nevertheless
so though moreover

5. Miscellaneous things to remember when
Tips
Miscellaneous things to remember when
writing an essay
Style
*Never refer to yourself in the essay. Don’t say things like “I think...” or
“I saw...” Just make your point. It’s obvious that you believe what you say.
After all, it’s your essay.
*Avoid the use of contractions in a formal essay. The only exception would be if they appear in a quotation from the text that you are using word for word. Instead, spell out the two words in the contraction. “Douglass is not deterred in his plan”--not “isn’t”.
*Keep your writing in present tense. It seems more “alive” if you do. Say, “Douglass is a man who...” rather than “Douglass was a man who...” Again, you don’t want to change the wording of direct quotes, so if they use a verb tense other than present tense, copy it as it appears in the text.
* Use standard English when writing. Avoid using slang (‘sup or could of),
“texting” jargon (ppl, idk, lol, bff), or symbols (&).

6. Using and documenting quotations and passages from the text
Tips
Using and documenting quotations and passages from the text
There are several things to learn about using passages from the text to support your points.
*Remember, the majority of the essay is in your words. You need to explain your points clearly and thoroughly enough so that someone not familiar with the text can understand you.
*Use quotes/passages from the text to illustrate or support a point you make. They don’t have to be long passages. They should not be longer than two sentences. You should weave or blend short, but powerful, quotes or passages from the text into your essay.
*When you weave or blend quotes they should not appear in your essay as a sentence by themselves. Instead, they should fit smoothly into your explanation so if you were reading your essay aloud, listeners wouldn’t even know where your words end and the quoted passage begins.
*For each quote or passage used, you must document where it appeared in the text. To do this for an essay in which all of the quotes are from the same source, the story you read, all you have to do is put the line number in parentheses before the final end punctuation

7. Final reminders… Don’t use 1st person. (I, me, you)
Don’t use your opinion. (I think, I believe)
Avoid using contractions
Keep your verb tense consistent
Keep your verb tense in the present tense to make it seem more “alive”
Leave your reader with something to think about!
Be sure to use strong transitions between paragraphs.
Be sure to explain your quotes!
Broaden your opening question so that it isn’t so predictable.
Avoid saying well, …
Spell out numbers 1 – 10
Avoid saying “in this essay…”
Provide a bit more background info.