From Paragraph

to Essay

The overall design or form of

an essay is similar to a
paragraph.
Both the essay and the
paragraph develop a main idea
with supporting ideas and end
the writing with a conclusion.

However, the essay uses paragraphs

to support the main idea and
conclude the writing whereas the
paragraph uses sentences.
Moreover, the essay presents the
main idea or thesis statement at the
end of the first paragraph, which is
called the introduction. The support
for the main idea comes in
paragraphs in the body of the essay.
Finally, the essay is summed up in
the last paragraph, called the
conclusion.

Paragraph
Essay

Structure

Topic sentence
(one sentence)

MAIN IDEA

Thesis

(12 sentences at the end

of the introduction)

Supporting
Sentences
paragraphs

Conclusion
sentence
paragraph

BODY

Supporting

CONCLUSION

Conclusion

A Paragraph

An Essay

Topic Sentence

Introductory Paragraph
(includes the thesis statement)

1st Main supporting + Minor supporting details

1st paragraph

-Topic Sentence (1st Main supporting)

- 1st Minor supporting detail
-2nd Minor supporting detail
-3rd Minor supporting detail (sometimes
optional)
- Concluding Sentence (optional)

2nd Main supporting + Minor supporting details

2nd paragraph

-Topic Sentence (2nd Main supporting)

-1st Minor supporting detail
-2nd Minor supporting detail
-3rd Minor supporting detail (sometimes
optional)
- Concluding Sentence (optional)

3rd Main supporting + Minor supporting details

3rd paragraph (OPTIONAL)

-Topic Sentence (3rd Main supporting)

-1st Minor supporting detail
-2nd Minor supporting detail
-3rd Minor supporting detail (sometimes
optional)
- Concluding Sentence (optional)

Concluding Sentence

Conclusion paragraph
(restating or summarizing the thesis statement)

Three Parts of an Essay

The Introduction
Because it establishes the readers attitude towards
the topic and towards the writer, the introduction is
the most important part of the essay. An interesting
introduction will make the reader want to read the
rest of the essay.
The introduction to an essay should
Get the reader interested in the topic (attentiongetter).
Provide background information about the topic
(factual material).
State the thesis of the essay (main idea).

***You shouldnt talk about too many

different topics and you should have a clear
thesis statement.***
To make an introductory paragraph interesting
for the reader, you can include . . .
-interesting facts or statistics: Ancient
Egyptians used heavy eye makeup to keep evil
spirits at bay and to protect their eyes from
infection.
-an interesting quotation: John Wooden once
said, Never mistake activity for achievement.'
-a question: Whats the one thing you can do to
make the world a better place?

What is a thesis statement?

The thesis or thesis statement of the essay presents
the main idea that the essay will develop.
The thesis creates a focus for the essay and should
not be too broad or too narrow for the
assignment. A thesis that is too broad is a statement
that is too large to be adequately developed in the
length of essay you have been assigned. A thesis that
is too narrow is a statement that is not large enough
to be developed into an essay. A well-focused thesis
presents a main idea that can be adequately
developed in the number of paragraphs or pages you
have been assigned to write.

 Too broad: People are unhealthy for

many reasons.
If youve been assigned to write a short
essay, you wouldnt even be able to list
all the reasons why people are
unhealthy.

Adequate focus: The diet of many

American
teenagers is unhealthy.

 Too narrow: American teenagers consume

too much salt.

Unless you are a nutritionist, its unlikely to

have enough information to develop an entire
essay around this topic.

Adequate focus: The diet of many American

teenagers is unhealthy.

The Main Body

Each paragraph in the body of the
essay develops one main point
(topic sentence) that supports
the thesis of the essay. The topic
sentence should present an idea that
can be developed in one paragraph.

The Conclusion
This is the last paragraph of an essay. It
summarizes or restates the thesis using
different words and the supporting ideas of the
essay. It makes a final comment about the
essays main idea. It may emphasize an action
that you would like the reader to take.
***You shouldnt introduce new ideas in
a
conclusion. A conclusion only
restates or gives further commentary on
ideas discussed in the essay.***

 Inappropriate conclusion:
Since the
newspaper is so valuable, I
believe that everyone should be required
to
subscribe. (starts new
argument)
Appropriate conclusion:
Reading the newspaper helps us develop
our intelligence as citizens by providing
us with
important information about
our world. (sums up paragraph)