1. Organizing an Academic Essay Introduction Conclusion Body Paragraphs

2. Introduction What is an essay ? An essay is a piece of writing that usually has five or more paragraphs. An essay is written about one topic that has several main points. The main points are introduced in an introductory paragraph and supported in body paragraphs. The conclusion is the last paragraph. Essay Introduction _____________ Body Paragraph 1 _____________ Body Paragraph 2 _____________ Body Paragraph 3 _____________ Conclusion _____________

3. Parts of an Essay An Introduction An introductory paragraph is the first paragraph in an essay. It contains two parts. 1. General Statements: a few sentences about your subject that catch the attention of your reader. 2. A Thesis Statement: one sentence that tells your reader the main points of your topic and states the overall “plan” of your essay.

4. Example An Introduction General Statements Thesis Statement “Some of the most unexpected heroes throughout history have been women. Despite being banned from the battlefield, women have made significant contributions in times of war. Some women have acted as medics, and others, like Mary Anne in Tim O’Brien’s novel “The Things They Carried” were rumored to have joined the special forces and disappeared into the Vietnamese landscape. Whether this sub-plot was fact or fiction, it depicts an important truth. Women have a rightful place to defend their country.”

5. Parts of an Essay Body Paragraphs The body consists of one or more paragraphs following the introduction. Each paragraph supports the main idea of your essay by breaking it down into smaller ideas or sub- topics. Each body paragraph consists of a topic sentence and several supporting sentences. A conclusion sentence draws the paragraph together. Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3 Introduction

6. Example Body Paragraph Topic Sentence Concluding Sentence “Mary Anne quickly adapted to life in the Vietnamese bush. She proved that she was able to survive in the wilderness, just like the other male soldiers. Women are perceived as being beautiful, and needing a certain standard of luxury in order to be fulfilled and happy. Mary Anne contradicted this perception on many different levels. As soon as she got to Vietnam, she began evolving. “…she quickly fell into the habits of the bush. No cosmetics, no jewelry, no fingernail filing” (O’Brien 94). This quote demonstrates how hygiene became of little importance to Mary Anne once she became acclimated to life as a soldier. It proves that she had no interest in traditional beauty standards once she was living in the Vietnamese countryside; she adapted just like the men did.

7. Parts of an Essay Conclusion The conclusion paragraph is the last paragraph in the essay. It completes the essay by summarizing or repeating the most important ideas. The conclusion can also include an opinion, a prediction, or a solution to a problem. Body Paragraph 1 Introduction Conclusion Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3

8. Example Conclusion Summary of Main Ideas Prediction “In conclusion, women have a definite place in the military. Many women have the capability to perform at the same level if not better than their male counterparts. The chapter, On the Song Tra Bong from O’Brien’s novel highlights Mary Anne’s capacity to adapt to war life. Mary Anne is representative of many women who fight for and defend out country. Men might be threatened by women like Mary Anne because they redefine the way that men previously viewed women, and how gender roles are played out within society.

9. Overview of an Essay Body Paragraphs Support the main ideas of the thesis statement Begin with topic sentences Introduction General statements and information about the topic Thesis statement- lists the main ideas in the essay Conclusion Brief summary of main points of the essay Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph 2 Body Paragraph 3

10. Practice… Now, you are ready to practice what you’ve learned. Develop an outline using the academic essay outline that you took notes on in class. Follow the directions on the bottom of the thesis anticipation worksheet to prepare for your outline.