Part 1 – Introduction
Begin with a compelling introductory technique to capture the reader’s attention. Include a thesis with a significant claim.
Examples of Introductory Techniques:
- Reference to historical or contemporary events, TV show, book, movie, advertisement, etc.
- Anecdote (brief story or example)
- Compelling question or two
- Intriguing or startling statement, perhaps the opposite of the thesis you intend to prove
Example: An anecdote about a senior citizen who is lonely but can’t walk a dog can set up a topic comparing the positive and negative aspects of owning a cat versus a dog.
Thesis Statements: Although the Claims + Supporting Reasons thesis is only one way to write a thesis, it effectively forecasts the organization of the body paragraphs. Therefore, it can be a good choice for first-semester writing students. Here are some ways to use this approach:
Example #1: Although [ABC] is preferable to [XYZ] because Reason 1, Reason 2, and Reason 3, there are benefits to [XYZ].
Example #2: Changes should be made to [ABC] because of Reason 1 and Reason 2. However, some disadvantages should be considered if these changes are implemented. (A thesis may be more than one sentence.)
Example #3: Although [ABC] is better than [XYZ] because Reason 1, Reason 2, Reason 3, and Reason 4, a compromise is necessary since problems could occur with [ABC].
These examples include both the advantages and disadvantages for multiple options. Your writing is more credible when you analyze opposing viewpoints objectively.
Use brief phrases — not complete sentences — for your reasons in your thesis statement to avoid unnecessary repetition in the essay.
Those brief reasons become the focal points of the topic sentences in your body paragraphs if you choose this format for your thesis. There are other ways to write a compelling thesis. The textbook includes other examples.
Part 2 – Body Paragraphs
Never tell a story or refer to you or people you know or characters in the body paragraphs!!! Never ask questions in the body paragraphs because it sounds like you are chatting with an imaginary person. That is a great way to write, but it isn’t the only way. It isn’t appropriate in advanced courses or for formal writing in the workplace.
Analyze the ideas directly instead. Do not include any directly copied words or paraphrased ideas from authors or people you know in the body paragraphs.
Break the topic into logical sections by writing multiple paragraphs. There is no required number of paragraphs.
Example: A block-style or alternating-points outline can show how lifestyle choices and physical or emotional factors may determine whether a cat or a dog should be adopted. See your textbook for comparing and contrasting guidelines.
Topic Sentences: A topic sentence is like the thesis statement for one paragraph. It expresses only one central idea to be developed in that paragraph. For example, do not end with the topic sentence for the next paragraph. Don’t bore the reader with unnecessary words.
Part 3 – Conclusion
Emphasize a significant point in the final paragraph — a recommendation, prediction, hope, warning, etc. Professional writers often come back to their introductory technique(s) in a different way to provide a sense of closure without unnecessary repetition.
Example: Readers like stories with happy endings. In the final paragraph, the writer could come back to the senior citizen and tell a story about that senior citizen’s son or daughter working with a bomb-sniffing dog to keep our airports safe. This approach allows the writer to develop the point about pets being compatible with lifestyle choices. A younger person may find it easier to own or work with dogs.
Multiple Introductory and Concluding Techniques: The anecdote is just one example of introductory and concluding techniques. Other techniques also capture the reader’s attention in the introduction and provide a sense of closure in the conclusion.
For example, you could ask a compelling question in the introduction and answer that question in the conclusion. You could begin with a startling statement about the topic, such as all dogs should be illegal in apartments, and come back to that statement in the conclusion to show why you disagree because of the benefits pets provide to seniors who can’t maintain a house with a yard. You could prove that claim in the body paragraphs.
Examples of Concluding Techniques:
- Recommendation to volunteer in a related community service organization to learn more about one job versus another in the same field
- Prediction that nurses will be allowed to assume more responsibility in the future to lower healthcare costs and to prepare for pandemics
- Warning about rising housing prices making it more challenging to purchase property in desirable areas in the future
- Hope that the Government will offer more time off for military marriage ceremonies
- Call to action to suggest writing to political leaders who can vote for prohibiting citizens from purchasing assault rifles
Write ideas once — not two or three times! Use different information in the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Some high school textbooks encourage unnecessary repetition.
However, writing in advanced courses and workplace writing should be concise!
Point of View
- Don’t use informal second-person pronouns: ex. you, your, yourself.
- Don’t “talk” to an imaginary person when you write. Focus on the ideas and not what you think an imaginary person should think or do about those ideas. Remove those extra layers.
You may use first-person, including I, me, and my.
Consider converting your personal experiences to more formal hypothetical experiences that could apply to people other than you and people you know. Avoid writing the personal experience essays often assigned in high school. Third-person pronouns like they and it may work better. It is politically correct to use the gender-neutral they instead of he or she.
Never use expressions like I think or I believe because the essay is all your own thoughts and beliefs. Don’t make I the subject of the sentence. Instead, find the real subject and verb.
Using Personal Experience Only In the Introduction and/or Conclusion
- You may include a brief anecdote (story or example from your own life) in the introduction and/or conclusion — but never in the body paragraphs. Personal experience essays are often excellent, but you know how to write them.
- Therefore, use a less personal, more objective style of writing in this class — the style most often used in advanced courses and the workplace.
Word Choices
Choose professional but commonly known word choices. Avoid slang or informal language (examples: o.k., okay, stuff, guy, nowadays, kids, mom).