Essay Writing ENG 4 U Connolly Essay Structure

Essay Writing ENG 4 U Connolly

Essay Structure The framework of your writing

Structure n Introductory Paragraph - introduce & ease reader into topic - move from general sentences to specific ones - end with your thesis statement Eg: life – literature – book – topic – thesis life – history – people – topic – book - thesis

Structure n Thesis - An arguable statement, making clear the position the author takes on a topic - Depends upon your purpose & audience (Topic = what the text is “about; ” the subject addressed by a text Eg: greed, love, hope, jealousy, etc. )

Structure n Body Paragraphs - where you prove your thesis n Body Paragraph Structure: 1. Point (topic sentence: proves thesis) 2. Proofs (as many as are practical) 3. Comment (relates proofs to thesis)

Structure n Concluding Paragraph - re-state your thesis - move from specific sentences to general ones - ease reader away from essay, and back to real life again (theme statement)

Essay Format MLA Style

Essay Format: Page 1

Essay Format: Works Cited

Essay Format: In-Text Citation 1. Author’s name in text -- page information in parentheses: eg: Murray claims that food is good for you (35 -7). 2. Author’s name in reference -- name and page information in parenthesis: eg: There are many reasons why food is good for you (Murray 35 -7). 3. Full reference in text -- no parentheses necessary: eg: Murray, in pages 35 -7 of his book, explains why food is good for you.

Hints & Tips Advice for top marks

Hints & Tips n n n n Do not write in 1 st person (avoid “I”) Move from your weakest point to your strongest Do not use contractions Do not use colloquial language Use the present tense Refer to author by last name Develop a creative title that relates to thesis