1. Basic Guide to Essay Writing

2. Writing the Introduction Your introductory paragraph should start out very broad and narrow down to your topic, position, and reasons. Your introductory paragraph should start out very broad and narrow down to your topic, position, and reasons. An introductory paragraph should be at least 4 sentences in length. An introductory paragraph should be at least 4 sentences in length.

3. Writing the Introduction Start with a HOOK! Start with a HOOK! Need to have something that grabs your reader’s attention. Need to have something that grabs your reader’s attention. Story Story Description Description Quote Quote Question Question Statistic Statistic

4. Writing the Introduction Examples: Examples: $5.85 can buy a gallon and a half of gas. It can buy a sandwich—not a meal—at Subway. It can buy a movie ticket, but only if it’s a matinee. $5.85 is how much a minimum wage worker makes in an hour in the United States. $5.85 can buy a gallon and a half of gas. It can buy a sandwich—not a meal—at Subway. It can buy a movie ticket, but only if it’s a matinee. $5.85 is how much a minimum wage worker makes in an hour in the United States. How much is an hour of manual labor worth? Shoveling rocks, laying grass, or planting bushes in the hot sun might feel like it’s worth at least $10.00 an hour, but for many minimum wage workers, it’s only about half that. How much is an hour of manual labor worth? Shoveling rocks, laying grass, or planting bushes in the hot sun might feel like it’s worth at least $10.00 an hour, but for many minimum wage workers, it’s only about half that.

5. Writing the Introduction THEN you need to ELABORATE as you narrow to the topic. THEN you need to ELABORATE as you narrow to the topic. $5.85 can buy a gallon and a half of gas. It can buy a sandwich—not a meal—at Subway. It can buy a movie ticket, but only if it’s a matinee. $5.85 is how much a minimum wage worker makes in an hour in the United States. That amount of money doesn’t go very far, and in today’s society it’s getting even more difficult to stretch a paycheck to cover all the bills. $5.85 can buy a gallon and a half of gas. It can buy a sandwich—not a meal—at Subway. It can buy a movie ticket, but only if it’s a matinee. $5.85 is how much a minimum wage worker makes in an hour in the United States. That amount of money doesn’t go very far, and in today’s society it’s getting even more difficult to stretch a paycheck to cover all the bills.

6. Writing the Introduction THEN you need to ELABORATE as you narrow to the topic. THEN you need to ELABORATE as you narrow to the topic. How much is an hour of manual labor worth? Shoveling rocks, laying grass, or planting bushes in the hot sun might feel like it’s worth at least $10.00 an hour, but for many minimum wage workers, it’s only about half that. Is it really fair that a worker in this country should earn so little money for putting in such effort? How much is an hour of manual labor worth? Shoveling rocks, laying grass, or planting bushes in the hot sun might feel like it’s worth at least $10.00 an hour, but for many minimum wage workers, it’s only about half that. Is it really fair that a worker in this country should earn so little money for putting in such effort?

7. Writing the Introduction FINALLY, you need a THESIS statement—this is your topic, position, and main points. FINALLY, you need a THESIS statement—this is your topic, position, and main points. I strongly believe that the minimum wage should be raised because the cost of living has increased, people work much harder than they are paid, and more money will equal better work. I strongly believe that the minimum wage should be raised because the cost of living has increased, people work much harder than they are paid, and more money will equal better work. This is the last sentence in your introduction. This is the last sentence in your introduction.

8. Full Introduction Example $5.85 can buy a gallon and a half of gas. It can buy a sandwich—not a meal—at Subway. It can buy a movie ticket, but only if it’s a matinee. $5.85 is how much a minimum wage worker makes in an hour in the United States. That amount of money doesn’t go very far, and in today’s society it’s getting even more difficult to stretch a paycheck to cover all the bills. I strongly believe that the minimum wage should be raised because the cost of living has increased, people work much harder than they are paid, and more money will equal better work. $5.85 can buy a gallon and a half of gas. It can buy a sandwich—not a meal—at Subway. It can buy a movie ticket, but only if it’s a matinee. $5.85 is how much a minimum wage worker makes in an hour in the United States. That amount of money doesn’t go very far, and in today’s society it’s getting even more difficult to stretch a paycheck to cover all the bills. I strongly believe that the minimum wage should be raised because the cost of living has increased, people work much harder than they are paid, and more money will equal better work.

9. Full Introduction Example How much is an hour of manual labor worth? Shoveling rocks, laying grass, or planting bushes in the hot sun might feel like it’s worth at least $10.00 an hour, but for many minimum wage workers, it’s only about half that. Is it really fair that a worker in this country should earn so little money for putting in such effort? I strongly believe that the minimum wage should be raised because the cost of living has increased, people work much harder than they are paid, and more money will equal better work. How much is an hour of manual labor worth? Shoveling rocks, laying grass, or planting bushes in the hot sun might feel like it’s worth at least $10.00 an hour, but for many minimum wage workers, it’s only about half that. Is it really fair that a worker in this country should earn so little money for putting in such effort? I strongly believe that the minimum wage should be raised because the cost of living has increased, people work much harder than they are paid, and more money will equal better work.

10. Main Points Each of the reasons listed in your thesis, should make up one of your body paragraphs. Each of the reasons listed in your thesis, should make up one of your body paragraphs. You need a clear topic sentence— You need a clear topic sentence— One reason that the United States needs to raise the minimum wage is because the cost of living has increased. One reason that the United States needs to raise the minimum wage is because the cost of living has increased. THEN you need to add information, statistics, and analysis to support this point. THEN you need to add information, statistics, and analysis to support this point.

11. Writing the Conclusion At the end of your paper, you need a clear conclusion. The purpose of the conclusion is to give a sense of wrap-up to your paper. At the end of your paper, you need a clear conclusion. The purpose of the conclusion is to give a sense of wrap-up to your paper. Start by re-stating your thesis **This often is re-worded from your original statement. Start by re-stating your thesis **This often is re-worded from your original statement. Example: Example: Overall, I strongly believe that the United States should raise the minimum wage. The increase is needed to support the increasing cost of living, to compensate people for their hard work, and to inspire people to produce a better product. Overall, I strongly believe that the United States should raise the minimum wage. The increase is needed to support the increasing cost of living, to compensate people for their hard work, and to inspire people to produce a better product.

12. Writing the Conclusion The rest of the conclusion should continue to offer wrap-up—moving away from the specifics and possibly making a connection to your introduction. The rest of the conclusion should continue to offer wrap-up—moving away from the specifics and possibly making a connection to your introduction. Example: Example: If the minimum wage was raised, people would finally be able to afford more than a sandwich or a matinee movie ticket. People would be able to support their family and pay their bills—which is really the most important thing of all. If the minimum wage was raised, people would finally be able to afford more than a sandwich or a matinee movie ticket. People would be able to support their family and pay their bills—which is really the most important thing of all.

13. Final Conclusion Example Overall, I strongly believe that the United States should raise the minimum wage. The increase is needed to support the increasing cost of living, to compensate people for their hard work, and to inspire people to produce a better product. If the minimum wage was raised, people would finally be able to afford more than a sandwich or a matinee movie ticket. People would be able to support their family and pay their bills—which is really the most important thing of all. Overall, I strongly believe that the United States should raise the minimum wage. The increase is needed to support the increasing cost of living, to compensate people for their hard work, and to inspire people to produce a better product. If the minimum wage was raised, people would finally be able to afford more than a sandwich or a matinee movie ticket. People would be able to support their family and pay their bills—which is really the most important thing of all.