Essay Format

Essay Format
English
Mr. Beh



INTRODUCTION: 1 paragraph
Attention Getter: quote, joke, interesting fact, strong statement, etc…
Background: creates context for the reader.
Thesis: subject + opinion = thesis
Main Points: Preview the main points that you will cover in your essay.


BODY: paragraphs = # of main points
Topic Sentence: thesis + main point = T.S.
Commentary: explains your opinion on the main point.
Concrete Detail: supports and backs up your opinion.


CONCLUSION: 1 paragraph
Review Thesis: reiterates thesis and main points.
Beyond Thesis: relates thesis to a larger context.



How to start a paper: 1. Choose a subject.
2. Form an opinion.
3. Create main points.
4. Verify your support for each main point.



Once you have chosen the subject you want to write about, you must form an opinion about that subject. This gives you a thesis (subject + opinion = thesis). You must then come up with main points (usually at least three) that you can use to explain and prove your thesis. It is important before beginning to write your paper that you verify that you have support for each of your main points, otherwise they will do you no good and you will have to create other main points.
After completing these steps, you can begin writing your paper. I suggest that you first create an outline that you can follow, to ensure that while writing your paper you don’t wander off topic or change the focus of your writing.