Essay Architecture

What is the purpose of an essay introduction?

• To engage the reader’s interest and provide a brief background of the topic.

• To outline the structure of the essay

• To indicate the parameters or scope that will/will not be covered

• To provide a thesis statement. This is the position or argument you will adopt.

What type of essay requires you to take a position on the assignment topic?

• Analytical Essay

• Narrative Essay

• Argumentative Essay

• Descriptive Essay

An effective essay body paragraph needs to state the topic of the paragraph, relating back to the __________ in the introduction.

An effective body paragraph should...

• expand on the main topic

• define any needed terms

• explain concepts in more depth

• present all perspectives on the topic

Evidence should use __________, which should be paraphrased or quoted, then referenced using the style specified in your course.

To pan for gold in body paragraphs, you need to...

• use your own critical thinking

• present your own writing voice

• show the relationship of the point you are making with the evidence

• ask "so what" then interpret/discuss the evidence

True or false: You should wrap up or conclude your ideas at the end of the body paragraph

• True

• False

An effective conclusion should...

• wrap up your main points

• provide closure to the thesis statement you raised in the introduction

• provide new information

• put your reader to sleep zzz