Basic Essay Structure

Answers to the handout given in class

1. Attention Grabber
1. Introduction

2. Linking Sentences
3. Thesis Statement

1. Hooks the readers attention

(Ex: question, story, strong statement,
or interesting fact)

2. Connects the Attention

Grabber to the Thesis Statement
(They often narrow the focus.)

3. Tells the reader what the

essay is about. (The most
important sentence in the essay)

1. Tells the reader what the

paragraph is about. (The most

2. Body Paragraphs
1. Topic Sentence
2. Supporting Details
3. Concluding Sentence

important sentence in the paragraph)

2. Reasons, explanation, details

and/or examples that support
the topic sentence.
3. Closing idea (can be similar to the
topic sentence, or can help reader
transition to the next paragraphs idea)

1. Summarizes the essay in one

sentence (similar to the thesis
1. Summary Statement
3. Conclusion

2. Summary of main points &

Significance of the essay
3. Clincher

statement) (can include the summary

of the body paragraphs main ideas)

2. Reviews the main ideas of the

essay and/or talks about why
the essays ideas are important
to the reader
3. Closing idea of the essay