. How to Structure and Organize Your English Composition Essays
The title is an
important feature of an essay that students often overlook. A title is a
rhetorical element that gives the reader some idea of what the essay is about.
The title may be one word, or it may be more complex. Some titles are
presented in two parts separated by a colon: the first defines the subject; the
second part explains the essay’s purpose. All major words in a title are
capitalized, but prepositions in a title may be left in lower case. You may be
tempted to augment the title to give a creative look to your paper, but doing
so will only detract from your message. So, never underline or put quotes
around your essay’s title. Underlining is reserved for the titles of books or
other works cited in
The
first paragraph:
1) Begins with a topic sentence that introduces a general theme.
2) Follows the topic sentence with sentences that narrow the focus of the
theme, so that it is less general.
3) Introduces the author of the text you are writing about.
4) Introduces the title of that text.
5) Narrows the discussion of the topic by identifying an issue or problem.
6) Finishes by making a debatable claim (a thesis statement,
which is defined as a debatable point/claim).
Body paragraphs:
1) Begin with topic sentences that clearly relate to the topic, or issue, or
problem, that was identified in the introductory paragraph.
2) Sentences that elaborate on the issue, or problem discussed in the
introductory paragraph, and also demonstrates a clear connection to the thesis
statement.
3) A sentence or sentences that make a claim about the topic, issue, problem.
4) A quote from the text you are analyzing that supports your claim.
5) Your interpretation of that quote, which explains how you arrived at your
conclusion, and also demonstrates a clear connection to the thesis statement.
Body paragraphs employ the One, Two, Three Rule, which is:
1) Make a debatable claim.
2) Support the claim with a quote.
3) Explain the connection between your claim and the quote, which means you
make an intellectual conclusion.
Concluding paragraph:
1) Begins with a topic sentence that clearly relates to the topic, or issue, or
problem, that was identified in the introductory paragraph.
2) Sentences that make connections with, or revisit, points from your
introductory paragraph and your body paragraphs. These points now serve
to close your argument.
3) A synthesis of these points that clearly demonstrates the focus of your
thesis statement.
4) A final comment, or intellectual conclusion of sorts that points out the
larger significance of your argument.