PARTS OF AN ESSAY

1-INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
What is an introduction paragraph?
The introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of your essay.
What does it do?
It introduces the main idea of your essay. A good opening paragraph captures the interest of your reader and tells why your topic is important.
Ho do I rite one?
Write the thesis statement. The main idea of the essay is stated in a single sentence called the thesis statement. You must limit your entire
essay to the topic you have introduced in your thesis statement.
2. Provide some background information about your topic. You can use interesting facts !uotations or definitions of important terms you will
use later in the essay.
!"a#p$e%
"ockey has been a part of life in #anada for over $2% years. It has evolved into an e&tremely popular sport watched and played by millions of
#anadians. The game has gone through several changes since hockey was first played in #anada.

&- 'UPPORTING PARAGRAPH
!"a#p$es o( transition ords that can he$p )ou to $in* )our paragraphs together%
+or $isting di((erent points
'irst
(econd
Third
+or counter e"a#p$es
"owever
)ven though
*n the other hand
+evertheless
+or additiona$ ideas
Another
In addition to
,elated to
'urthermore
Also
To sho cause and e((ect
Therefore
Thus
As a result of
#onse!uently
,-'U--AR. PARAGRAPH
What is a su##ar) paragraph?
The summary paragraph comes at the end of your essay after you have finished developing your ideas. The summary paragraph is often called
a -conclusion.-
What does it do?
It summari.es or restates the main idea of the essay. You want to leave the reader with a sense that your essay is complete.
Ho do I rite one?
$. ,estate the strongest points of your essay that support your main idea.
2. #onclude your essay by restating the main idea in different words.
/. 0ive your personal opinion or suggest a plan for action.
!"a#p$e%
*verall the changes that occurred in hockey have helped to improve the game. "ockey is faster and more e&citing as a result of changes in the
past $2% years. 'or these reasons modern hockey is a better game than hockey in the $12%s.
"ow to write an )((AY
1-Preriting !ssa)s
What is the preriting stage?
The prewriting stage is when you prepare your ideas for your essay before you begin writing. You will find it easier to write your essay if you
build an outline first especially when you are writing longer assignments.
'i" Preriting 'teps%
1/ Thin* care(u$$) a0out hat )ou are going to rite/ Ask yourself3 What !uestion am I going to answer in this paragraph or essay4 "ow
can I best answer this !uestion4 What is the most important part of my answer4 "ow can I make an introductory sentence 5or thesis statement6
from the most important part of my answer4 What facts or ideas can I use to support my introductory sentence4 "ow can I make this paragraph
or essay interesting4 7o I need more facts on this topic4 Where can I find more facts on this topic4
&/ Open )our note0oo*/ Write out your answers to the above !uestions. You do not need to spend a lot of time doing this8 9ust write enough to
help you remember why and how you are going to write your paragraph or essay.
,/ Co$$ect (acts re$ated to )our paragraph or essa) topic/ :ook for and write down facts that will help you to answer your !uestion.
Timesaving hint3 make sure the facts you are writing are related to the e&act !uestion you are going to answer in your paragraph or essay.
1/ Write don )our on ideas/ Ask yourself3 What else do I want to say about this topic4 Why should people be interested in this topic4 Why
is this topic important4
2/ +ind the #ain idea o( )our paragraph or essa)/ #hoose the most important point you are going to present. If you cannot decide which
point is the most important 9ust choose one point and stick to it throughout your paragraph or essay.
3/ Organi4e )our (acts and ideas in a a) that de5e$ops )our #ain idea/ *nce you have chosen the most important point of your paragraph
or essay you must find the best way to tell your reader about it. :ook at the facts you have written. :ook at your own ideas on the topic.
7ecide which facts and ideas will best support the main idea of your essay. *nce you have chosen the facts and ideas you plan to use ask
yourself which order to put them in the essay. Write down your own note set that you can use to guide yourself as you write your essay.
&-What is the riting stage?
The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences.
+i5e Writing 'teps%
$. 'or the introduction write the thesis statement and give some background information.
2. 7evelop each supporting paragraph and make sure to follow the correct paragraph format.
/. Write clear and simple sentences to e&press your meaning.
;. 'ocus on the main idea of your essay.
<. =se a dictionary to help you find additional words to e&press your meaning.
,-What is the editing stage?
The editing stage is when you check your essay for mistakes and correct them.
!diting 'teps%
Gra##ar and 'pe$$ing
$. #heck your spelling.
2. #heck your grammar.
/. ,ead your essay again.
;. >ake sure each sentence has a sub9ect.
<. >ake sure your sub9ects and verbs agree with each other.
?. #heck the verb tenses of each sentence.
@. >ake sure that each sentence makes sense.
't)$e and Organi4ation
$. >ake sure your essay has an introduction supporting paragraphs and a summary paragraph.
2. #heck that you have a thesis statement that identifies the main idea of the essay.
/. #heck that all your paragraphs follow the proper paragraph format.
;. (ee if your essay is interesting.
1-What is the pu0$ishing stage?
The publishing stage is when you produce a final copy of your essay to hand in.
Pu0$ishing 'teps%
$. >ake a paper copy of your essay.
2. (how your work to your teacher tutor or parents.
/. Ask them for hints on how to improve your writing.
Kinds of ESSAY
De(inition !ssa)
When you are writing a definition essay you take a term or an idea and write about what it is. *ften definitions are combined with
classification or other forms of organi.ation in the essay. You need to give a careful definition of the key term before going on to discuss
different types or e&amples.
)&ample !uestion3 Write an essay defining energy resources and discuss the different types.
Introduction3 7efine the key term energy resources.
(upporting paragraphs3 $. 7efine one type of energy resources3 renewable resources.
2. 7efine another type of energy resources3 nonArenewable resources.
(ummary paragraph3 (ummari.e energy resources.
'e6uence !ssa)
In a se!uence essay you are writing to describe a series of events or a process in some sort of order. =sually this order is based on time. You
organi.e the essay by writing about each step of the process in the order it occurred.
)&ample !uestion3 Write an essay outlining the stages of the salmon life cycle.
Introduction3 7escribe what a salmon is like.
(upporting paragraphs3 $. 7escribe young salmon.
2. 7escribe adult salmon.
/. 7escribe what salmon do before they die.
(ummary paragraph3 (ummari.e the main steps of the salmon life cycle.
C$assi(ication !ssa)
In a classification essay you separate things or ideas into specific categories and discuss each of them. You organi.e the essay by defining each
classification and by giving e&amples of each type.
)&ample !uestion3 Write an essay discussing the three types of government in #anada.
Introduction3 0ive background information about government in #anada.
(upporting paragraphs3 $. 7efine and describe federal government.
2. 7efine and describe provincial governments.
/. 7efine and describe municipal governments.
(ummary paragraph3 (ummari.e government in #anada.
Choice !ssa)
In a choice essay you need to choose which ob9ect idea or action that you prefer. You organi.e the essay by describing each option and then
giving your opinion.
)&ample !uestion3 Write an essay choosing between hockey in the $12%s and hockey today.
Introduction3 Introduce the game of hockey.
(upporting paragraphs3 $. 7escribe hockey in the $12%s.
2. 7escribe hockey today.
/. (tate which form of hockey you prefer and why.
(ummary paragraph3 (ummari.e the game of hockey.
Description !ssa)
In a description essay you write about what a person place or thing is like. You organi.e the essay by describing different parts or aspects of
the main sub9ect.
)&ample !uestion3 Write an essay describing the polar bear.
Introduction3 Introduce what a polar bear is.
(upporting paragraphs3 $. 7escribe where the polar bear lives.
2. 7escribe the body of the polar bear.
/. 7escribe what the polar eats.
(ummary paragraph3 (ummari.e what a polar bear is.
In an e&planation essay you e&plain how or why something happens or has happened. You need to e&plain different causes and effects. You
should organi.e the essay by e&plaining each individual cause or effect.
)&ample !uestion3 Write an essay e&plaining why so many )uropeans moved
to #anada during the early nineteenth century.
Introduction3 0ive background information on )uropean immigration during this time.
(upporting paragraphs3 $. )&plain first reason3 poor economy in )urope.
2. )&plain second reason3 better living conditions in #anada.
(ummary paragraph3 (ummari.e main reasons.
Co#pare and Contrast !ssa)
In a compare and contrast essay you write about the similarities and differences between two or more people places or things. You can
organi.e the essay by writing about one sub9ect first and then comparing it with the second sub9ect. A more effective way is to organi.e the
essay by comparing each sub9ect by category.
)&ample3 Write an essay comparing the weather in Bancouver and "alifa&.
Introduction3 Introduce weather in the cities of Bancouver and "alifa&.
(upporting paragraphs3 $. #ompare weather in spring and summer for both
cities. (tate how they are similar or different.
2. #ompare weather in fall and winter for both
cities. (tate how they are similar or different.
(ummary paragraph3 (ummari.e the similarities and differences.
!5a$uation !ssa)
In an evaluation essay you make 9udgments about people ideas and possible actions. You make your evaluation based on certain criteria that
you develop. *rgani.e the essay by discussing the criteria you used to make your 9udgment.
)&ample !uestion3 Write an essay evaluating the importance of the "ouse of
#ommons.
Introduction3 0ive your 9udgment on whether the "ouse of #ommons is
important.
(upporting
paragraphs3
$. )&plain first criteria3 meeting place for government
2. )&plain second criteria3 represent #anadians
/. )&plain third criteria3 make laws for #anada
(ummary paragraph3 #onclude with an overall 9udgment about the "ouse of
#ommons