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Essential Components of Essay Writing

The document provides detailed guidelines for writing an effective essay, including components for the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The introduction should include a lead statement, link, plan of development/thesis. Body paragraphs should each contain a topic sentence, argumentation with a point, proof, and comment, and concluding statement. The conclusion should restate the thesis, review key arguments, and end with a general closing statement. Important points emphasize writing with an objective tone, coherent flow, and using quotes appropriately to support the thesis in 3 or fewer sentences.

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Safa Kamal
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37 views4 pages

Essential Components of Essay Writing

The document provides detailed guidelines for writing an effective essay, including components for the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The introduction should include a lead statement, link, plan of development/thesis. Body paragraphs should each contain a topic sentence, argumentation with a point, proof, and comment, and concluding statement. The conclusion should restate the thesis, review key arguments, and end with a general closing statement. Important points emphasize writing with an objective tone, coherent flow, and using quotes appropriately to support the thesis in 3 or fewer sentences.

Uploaded by

Safa Kamal
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Essay Components: A Detailed explanation

The Introduction:
**Lead or Motivator:
o Opens with a broad, general statement related to the thesis
o Two or three sentences in length
o No specific reference to literature to be examined but suggestions only to the spirit of the
discussion
 Creating the Lead
o Write your thesis statement and underline common nouns
o Compose a general statement based on these nouns
o Ensure statements do not contain specific reference, are serious, and are not quotations or
questions

**Link:
o A statement that links the general opening to the specific text
o Presents the first mention of the text to be analyzed
o Acts as the essays first transition

**Plan of development (Blueprint/Supporting Arguments/Components)


o List of central points to be covered in the essay
o One or two sentences in length
o Each point listed will represent a separate paragraph
o Points in order of discussion from weakest to strongest
 Creating the plan of development
o Brainstorm all possible ideas in support of the thesis
o Select the three strongest arguments and compose short sentences embodying them
o Organize sentences from weakest to strongest
**Thesis
o Establishes exactly what the essay will attempt to prove
o Central opinion boiled down to ONE arguable statement
o Represents a statement with which the reader is forced to agree or disagree and embodies
the individual arguments
 Creating the thesis
o Review the topic selected
o Brainstorm the connections between the literature and the topic selected
o Design a specific question based on this material
 This answer is your thesis
o Test the appropriateness of the thesis by asking the following questions:
 Is my thesis a fact?
 Is the position too broad to be proven in the limits of the essay?
 Is the position so narrow that three strong arguments cannot be raised?
Body Paragraphs:
**Topic Sentences
o First sentence of each body paragraph must be a statement of OPINION
o Represents one of the points from the plan of development (i.e. mini thesis for the
paragraph)
 Creating your topic sentence
o Return to the plan of development and identify the point listed
o Write a forceful statement of opinion which embodies that point
 This limits your discussion to only that point
o Incorporate an appropriate transition to link this paragraph with the previous paragraph

**Argumentation
o Two or three sentences to establish the point ………………………… [****POINT****]
o Include an explanation of the context of the quotation
o Provide proof (i.e. direct quotations) ……………………………………….. [****PROOF****]
o Establish a clear connection between the argument, the topic sentence and the thesis
o Fully explain the relevance of the evidence to the argument, the topic sentence, and the
thesis (this is the mortar of your essay) ………………………………..[****COMMENT****]
 Developing argumentation:
o Refer to your itemized list of points to be developed for each topic sentence
o Review the literature and locate detail to prove each point
o Write notes on each point
o List at least two direct quotations from the literature to prove each point
o Do not merely select quotations which retell the story
o Write notes outlining the connection between the quotation, the topic sentence, and the
thesis
o Organize the points, the proof, and the comments in the most logical order

**Concluding Statement
o A logical conclusion that reflects the entire paragraph
o Takes the paragraph full circle (ties up the bow)
o Reflects the topic sentence
o Ties in with the thesis
o Prepares the reader for the next paragraph
 Creating an effective conclusion:
o Consider the paragraph’s topic sentence
o Review the points raised in the paragraph
o Consider the overall thesis
o Compose one or two sentences which summarize the discussion in light of the topic sentence
and the overall thesis
The Concluding Paragraph:
**Thesis Restatement
o A restatement of the thesis used in the first paragraph
o Change a few words to reflect that the thesis has been proven
o Do NOT alter the meaning from the original thesis
o Maintain continuity by including a transition from the previous paragraph
 Creating your thesis restatement
o Take your thesis from the essay’s first paragraph
o Consider the previous paragraph and insert an appropriate transition
o Change the tone of the statement to suggest that you are confident this thesis has been
proven

**Review key arguments


o Review the key points covered in the essay
o Do not merely list points as though you were adding up a column of figures
o Try to leave the reader with a forceful picture of the key points
o These points must be the same as those listed in the first paragraph’s Plan of development
(Blueprint)
 Creating the review of key arguments
o Make a list of the arguments developed
o Return to your plan of development (Blueprint/Supporting Arguments)
o List the key specific proofs which embody your arguments
o Compose sentences embodying these images

**General Closing Statement (Clincher/Universality)


o End on a general note
o No specific reference to the literature
o Two to four thought provoking sentences that relate to the topic in a general and broad
sense
o Very similar in nature to the essay’s lead
 Creating the closing statement
o Take stock of what has been learned through the essay
o Consider how this could apply to the reader in a universal sense
o Jot down a few key ideas
o Create a general, thought provoking closing
Important points in essay Writing

 Never use first (i.e. I, me, us, we, mine, myself, personally) or second person (i.e. you, yours,
yourself) in a formal essay.

 Always write in the third person (i.e. he, she, it, one, them, their, themselves) to maintain an
appropriate tone of objectivity.

 Write in one tense – best to use present tense.

 Never use abbreviations, contractions, or symbols (unless they are part of a quotation).

 Never use numbers unless in addresses or dates – always write the numbers in word form.

 Never refer to an author using only the first name – always use the author’s surname.

 Never use phrases such as “this essay will prove” or “This quotation demonstrates” or “I.”

 Avoid merely sticking quotes in the essay. Always prepare the reader for the quote by building up
to it, leading into it, and by discussing it afterwards.

 Write an essay that is coherent, flows properly, utilizes transitions, and continually relates to the
thesis.

 Never end a paragraph with a quotation.

 Never begin an essay with a quotation or definition.

 Exhaust discussion of a point before moving on and then never return to the point unless comparing
it to a new point to strengthen it. However, do not repeat yourself.

 Tone is important – write in a persuasive tone without losing objectivity.

 Select quotations carefully. Avoid merely sticking in long passages. Show the reader you can focus
on what best proves your point.

 Avoid using secondary sources to prove your point which you could explain yourself. If you do take
ideas from a source, be sure to document this idea. Failure to do so is considered plagiarism and will
result in a “zero” mark.

Common questions

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Ensuring that a thesis statement is appropriately narrow involves reviewing the topic, brainstorming connections between the literature and the topic, and designing a specific question that will form the thesis. Considerations include confirming the thesis is not just a fact or too broad to be proven within the essay's limits and ensuring it is not so narrow that it disallows raising three strong arguments. These factors help ensure that the thesis is both arguable and manageable within the essay's scope .

To improve coherence and flow, the essay should maintain a third-person objective tone, use present tense consistently, avoid abbreviations or contractions, and carefully select and integrate quotations. Transitions should be used to link ideas smoothly, ensuring that each paragraph exhausts its point before moving on. The essay should maintain focus on the thesis, using persuasive tone without sacrificing objectivity, ensuring that each section contributes to building the central argument .

'Topic Sentences' play a pivotal role in structuring body paragraphs by stating an opinion that represents one of the points from the plan of development, effectively serving as a mini thesis. They should be crafted by writing a forceful statement of opinion embodying the point from the plan of development, with a transition linking it to the previous paragraph. This cultivates a limited discussion focused on a singular point, ensuring coherence and maintaining focus throughout the essay .

Organizing argumentation within a body paragraph is crucial to ensure that the essay presents a clear, logical, and persuasive argument that relates back to the thesis. To ensure a logical flow, one should refer to the list of points to be developed, review literature for relevant details, write notes on each point, list at least two direct quotations to substantiate each point, and outline the connection between each quotation, the topic sentence, and the thesis. This careful structuring of points, proofs, and comments safeguards the coherence of the paragraph and the essay .

Direct quotations should not be used to begin an essay or paragraph to avoid lack of context and engagement with the reader. Effective use of quotations requires preparing the reader by building up to the quote, integrating it seamlessly into the flow of the essay, and discussing its relevance and connection to the topic sentence and thesis afterward. This practice ensures that quotations substantiate and reinforce arguments rather than interrupt the flow of the essay .

The 'General Closing Statement' can be crafted to leave a lasting impact by ending on a broad, thought-provoking note that relates universally to the topic. This involves taking stock of what has been learned, considering its broader applications, and composing two to four sentences that provoke further thought and reflection. This statement should echo the essay’s lead, providing a sense of closure while also encouraging the reader to continue contemplating the subject matter .

Avoiding first or second person in a formal essay is necessary to maintain objectivity and an appropriate academic tone. Writing in third person fosters a sense of detachment, which enhances the persuasive power of the argument by focusing on evidence and logic rather than personal opinion. This choice affects the writing style by making it more formal and authoritative, encouraging readers to engage with the argument rather than the author's personal narrative .

A 'Concluding Statement' should be structured to logically conclude the paragraph by reflecting the topic sentence, tying in with the thesis, and preparing the reader for the next paragraph. This can be accomplished by reviewing the paragraph’s topic sentence and points raised, summarizing the discussion in light of the topic sentence and the thesis, and composing one or two sentences that tie up the argument. This ensures that the argument has come full circle, fostering a smooth transition to the subsequent paragraph .

The 'Plan of development' should be effectively constructed by brainstorming all possible ideas in support of the thesis, selecting the three strongest arguments, and composing short sentences embodying them. The sentences should be organized from weakest to strongest to guide the reader through the progression of the essay. This approach ensures that each point represents a separate paragraph, helping to build upon the argument incrementally and reinforcing the central thesis .

An effective 'Thesis Restatement' can be constructed by taking the original thesis from the essay’s introduction and altering a few words to reflect that it has been proven, without changing the original meaning. This restatement should incorporate a transition from the previous paragraph to maintain continuity and change the tone to suggest confidence in the proof provided throughout the essay .

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