8 Thinking in Threes: Organizing an Essay

Thinking in Threes: Organizing an Essay

Ms. Bergman's CLUE Class

*This is a vegetarian sandwich.

Organizing an Essay

If you have written a good thesis—a three-pronged, parallel preview—you will have created the organization of your paper. Each of the three points from your thesis sentence will magically become one of your topic sentences. 

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Three Ways to Connect Paragraphs and Sentences

• Transition Words

• Repetitions

• Pronouns

Transition Words

Notice how the sentences below progress very differently, depending on the transition words used:

John loves sports; for example, he has a basketball hoop in his driveway, an Olympic-sized swimming pool in his backyard, and a horseshoe pit in his front yard.

Transition Words

More examples:

John loves sports, but he hates to bowl.

John loves sports because his mother and father have always encouraged him and have never forced him to participate.

Transition Words

In the first sentence the transition “for example” lets the reader know that the general statement will be followed with specifics. In the second sentence the transition word “but” lets the reader know that a contrast is coming. And finally, in the third sentence the transition word “because” lets the reader know that the writer is going to give a reason.

Open Ended

Go ahead and try writing a sentence with a clear use of transition words.

Effective Repetition

Repetition helps your reader stay on track.

However, it is possible to overdo it!

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Multiple Choice

Pronouns

Pronouns were invented to help you save space and to save your reader from reading the same word over and over again. But pronouns also serve to link your paragraphs and sentences. Notice the difference between the two passages below. Which sounds better?

• Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open in the year 2000 by an unprecedented 15 strokes. Tiger Woods led wire to wire, shooting 65-69-71-67 in the four rounds of the tournament. Throughout the entire tournament, Tiger Woods did not three-putt a single time.

• Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open in the year 2000 by an unprecedented 15 strokes. He led wire to wire, shooting 65-69-71-67 in the four rounds of the tournament. Throughout the entire tournament, he did not three-putt a single time.

Open Ended

Here's the introduction paragraph to an essay about Thomas Edison. What's the thesis statement?

He was named the man of the millennium by Life magazine; he was Parade Magazine’s top American innovator; and he made it into the top 40 in a book that ranked the most influential persons of all time. Although he died in 1931, no one has come close to the creative energy and productivity of inventor Thomas Edison. His genius was the perfect combination of innovative thinking, hard work, and a positive attitude.

Open Ended

Please write a good topic sentence for body paragraph #1.

THESIS STATEMENT: Thomas Edison's genius was the perfect combination of innovative thinking, hard work, and a positive attitude.

Open Ended

Please write a good topic sentence for body paragraph #2.

THESIS STATEMENT: Thomas Edison's genius was the perfect combination of innovative thinking, hard work, and a positive attitude.

Open Ended

Please write a good topic sentence for body paragraph #3.

THESIS STATEMENT: Thomas Edison's genius was the perfect combination of innovative thinking, hard work, and a positive attitude.

Poll

Let's try a new topic of our own. Select which one below appeals the most to you. As a class, we'll tackle the most popular topic.

• school uniforms

• parenting styles

• music

• friendships

Open Ended

Please write a three-point thesis statement based on the topic. Remember, make it a three-pronged, parallel preview of your essay.

Open Ended

Now think about body paragraph #2. Please write a topic sentence that fits with the first prong of your thesis.

Open Ended

Now think about body paragraph #3. Please write a topic sentence that fits with the first prong of your thesis.

Open Ended

Now think about body paragraph #1. Please write a topic sentence that fits with the first prong of your thesis.