Basic

Components of an Essay: **Our rule of thumb is to write 5 paragraph essays with at least 5 sentences in each paragraph. A. Introduction 1. Hook: An attention-grabbing sentence. 2. Supporting sentences: Link the hook and the thesis. This is the place to provide a brief overview, or summary of your topic. 3. Thesis: States the purpose and plan for the whole paper. The thesis MUST relate to the topic of your paper. Remember that the thesis promises readers what the paper will be about. B. Body Paragraphs (x3) 1. Topic sentence: Sentence that explains the main idea of each paragraph and supports your thesis statement. (Consider the topic sentence the umbrella that covers the entire paragraph) 2. Supporting evidence/details: Must be related to your main idea and include examples to illustrate each point. 4. Typically, three supporting details should be found in each paragraph. 5. Closing sentence: This sentence should wrap-up your paragraph and restate the topic sentence in a new way. C. Conclusion ** Please avoid statements such as In conclusion, So, as you can see, and I hope that you have enjoyed reading my paper when writing a conclusion. 1. Summary Statement: Reinforce the main ideas of your essay using vivid words. Refer to your topic sentences as a guide when restating your key ideas in a new way. 2. Restate your thesis in a new way. 3. Clincher: An interesting closing statement that should leave a lasting impression on the reader.