1. Topic, Supporting, and Concluding Sentences
Essay Writing
Topic, Supporting, and Concluding Sentences

2. Paragraph Review
Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent house pets. In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of care. In many ways, cats are the ideal house pet.

3. Introduction of an Essay
Your introduction paragraph should include:
A “hook”, which is an interesting statement that catches the reader’s attention.
Background information/A bridge, or general statements that give a broad picture of the subject.
A thesis statement, which contains the topic and controlling idea of the essay. It gives the main idea that the writer is trying to explain or prove in the essay. It may state the supporting ideas that will be developed in the essay.

4. Body of an Essay
Each body paragraph develops one idea that supports the thesis. Each body paragraph includes:
A topic sentence that states the topic of the paragraph.
Supporting sentences, which all relate to the topic and give information to support and develop the idea.
A concluding sentence, which summarizes the ideas in the paragraph.
There may also be a transition sentence or clause that helps connect the ideas between paragraphs.

5. Conclusion of an Essay
The conclusion brings the essay to a close. A conclusion paragraph can do any of the following:
Summarize the main points in your essay
Restate your thesis
Give a suggestion
Predict about the future
Give a wish or hope
Give the author’s opinion
Give a result
The conclusion cannot include any new information.

6. Essay Analysis

7. Paragraph Review
Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent house pets. In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of care. In many ways, cats are the ideal house pet.

8. Paragraph Review Thesis Statement
Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent house pets. In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of care. In many ways, cats are the ideal house pet.
Thesis Statement
Supporting Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence
Supporting Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence
Supporting Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence
Conclusion Paragraph: Restating the Thesis

9. Visceral Example

10. Introduction
Thesis

11. Hook
Bridge
Thesis

12. Thesis
Your thesis statement will be the argument of your essay. It includes your essay’s topic and controlling idea
You will need to explain or prove this argument in the supporting paragraphs.
Since your thesis controls the entire essay it’s the best place to start

13. Qualities of a good thesis statement:
A good thesis is…
Not a question
Poor Example: Why is it important to be in various afterschool clubs?
Better Example: It is important to be in various afterschool clubs to add more value to your education.
Not a statement about absolute fact
Poor Example: Florida is in the southern part of the United States.
Better Example: Because Florida is so far south, it makes an ideal location for a spring vacation.
Since your thesis controls the entire essay it’s the best place to start

14. Your thesis statement should NOT:
use “In my opinion…”
use “My essay is about…”
use “I think that…”
be too vague or too broad
list facts
ask questions
Since your thesis controls the entire essay it’s the best place to start

15. Are the following theses good or bad?
____ Senator Debbie Stabenow works for Michigan. ____ My thesis is about how to get good grades. ____ Comparing and contrasting the two poems will illustrate why “If” by Kipling is the best poem. ____ While on vacation I experienced the most amazing adventure of my life. ____ Edgar Allen Poe was born in January ____ Implementing school uniforms would have many pros and cons. ____ I am against school uniforms. ____ There are many factors such as age, gender, appearance, and environment that influence whether to help some in need or not.
Since your thesis controls the entire essay it’s the best place to start

16. Introduction
Hook

17. Hook / Lead
Your hook is an attention grabbing strategy that engages the reader.
You want your hook to get your readers interested in the rest of your essay.

18. Effective Hook Techniques:
Quotation or Statistic
A personal story
Anecdote
Unexpected Claim or Humor
Vivid Description
Since your thesis controls the entire essay it’s the best place to start

19. Introduction
Bridge

20. Building Bridges
A bridge is two or three sentences that connect your hook to your thesis.
Your bridge will begin to narrow your idea into your thesis statement.
You will bring up the topic of your paper, but nothing specific yet – not your controlling idea.
Hook
Bridge
Thesis

21. Identify the Thesis, Hook, and Bridge
Most people don’t choose who they eat dinner with every night. It is usually whomever a person lives with, or is around at dinnertime. There are many fascinating people to spend time with while eating dinner. If I were able to choose any three people, dead or alive to eat with, it would take me awhile to decide. After great consideration I would invite Oprah, my grandma, and President Lincoln.

22. Identify the Thesis, Hook, and Bridge
Most people don’t choose who they eat dinner with every night. It is usually whomever a person lives with, or is around at dinnertime. There are many fascinating people to spend time with while eating dinner. If I were able to choose any three people, dead or alive to eat with, it would take me awhile to decide. After great consideration I would invite Oprah, my grandma, and President Lincoln. THESIS

23. Identify the Thesis, Hook, and Bridge
Most people don’t choose who they eat dinner with every night. HOOK It is usually whomever a person lives with, or is around at dinnertime. There are many fascinating people to spend time with while eating dinner. If I were able to choose any three people, dead or alive to eat with, it would take me awhile to decide. After great consideration I would invite Oprah, my grandma, and President Lincoln.

24. Identify the Thesis, Hook, and Bridge
Most people don’t choose who they eat dinner with every night. It is usually whomever a person lives with, or is around at dinnertime. There are many fascinating people to spend time with while eating dinner. If I were able to choose any three people, dead or alive to eat with, it would take me awhile to decide. BRIDGE After great consideration I would invite Oprah, my grandma, and President Lincoln.