How To Wri

te An
Essay
Essay Form
at, Introduc
Thesis State tions, Body,
ments, and Conclusions
Topic Sente ,
nces
Classification of Essay-Writing
Essays may be classified as:
0Narrative
0Descriptive
0Expository
0Reflective
0Imaginative
Classification of Essay-Writing
Narrative: Descriptive:
In a narrative essay, the A descriptive essay paints a
writer tells a story about a picture with words.
real-life experience. 0The descriptive essay
0A narrative essay strives to communicate a
challenges students to deeper meaning through
think and write about the description.
themselves. 0Colorful words and
0When writing a narrative sensory language is used
essay, it should be ensured to describe an object or a
that the story is vivid and scenario.
captivating.
Classification of Essay-Writing
Expository: Reflective:
In an expository essay, the A reflective essay consists
writer explains or defines a of reflections or thoughts
topic, using facts, on some topic, which is
statistics, and examples. generally of an abstract
0Expository writing nature;
encompasses a wide range 0for example; (a) habits,
of essay variations, such as qualities, (b) social,
the comparison and political and domestic
contrast essay, the cause topics (c) philosophical
and effect essay, and the subjects, (d) religious and
“how to” or process essay. theological topics.
Classification of Essay-Writing
Imaginative:
0Essays on subjects such as the
feelings and experiences of the
sailor wrecked on a desert island
may be called imaginative Essays.
0In such the writer is called to
place himself in imagination in a
position of which he has had no
actual experience.
0Such subjects as "If I were a king,"
or "The autobiography of a horse,"
would call for imaginative essays.
 Essay Format

Introduction
Thesis Statement

Body

Conclusion
 Introduction
0 First part of an essay
0 Try to capture the reader’s attention

Introduction Format
0 1. Attention getter
0 2. State your problem
0 3. Bridge or transition sentences
0 4. Thesis statement (always at the end)
 Ways to Start Your Introduction
0 Strategy 0 Examples
0 Provide some interesting 0 Today’s gnome owners become
background about the topic in tomorrow’s leaders.
the form of a general statement

0 Use a thought-provoking 0 “Gnomes are creatures to be

quotation loved, not feared!”
Dr. S. Rosner

0 Why don’t many people like

0 Ask a question about your topic gnomes?

0 In 1693, the first gnome was

brought to America.
0 State a surprising fact or a
puzzling statement 0 Little Susie looked out her
window, only to see her precious
0 Start with a short story gnome, Willard, was being
stolen….
 Ways to Start Your Introduction
0 Strategy 0 Examples
0 State a common 0 People don’t learn bad
misconception habits from gnomes.

0 Describe a problem 0 Everyone knows what a

problem gnome-napping
has become in our society.

0 Gnomes are just like

0 Give an analogy children.

0 Show how the topic is

related to the reader’s 0 Most people know how
experience difficult it is to take care of
garden gnomes.
 Introduction
0 Make a bridge to connect the attention getting
sentence(s) to your thesis statement
0 Common way to make a bridge is to explain why the
topic is important.
0 This bridge is often a few sentences long.
0 Conclude introductory paragraph with the most
important idea of the essay-THE THESIS
STATEMENT
The Parts of a Thesis Statement
The Functions of a Thesis
Statement
 Example of an Introduction
0 Example
Gnome-Phobia in America
1. In 2004, the Gnome Liberation Front (GLF) was created. This group of people believes that
gnomes should be free, not prisoners of their owner’s garden. 2. The GLF has now begun
gnome-napping, the act of stealing gnomes and “freeing them” in the wilderness; however,
the law is unwilling to do anything. 3. Many police state that the gnomes are not a serious
enough offense to deal with and that they have larger crimes to deal with. This is not
acceptable. The law should be taking the gnome-napping more seriously because people are
committing a crime. 4. Gnome-napping is stealing personal property, and is illegal, morally
wrong, and disrespectful.

0 1. Attention getter
0 2. State your problem.
0 3. Bridge or transition sentences
0 4. Thesis statement
0 **NOTE: This doesn’t mean your intro is 4 sentences long. It just has 4 parts.
 The Body
0 The body is a set of paragraphs that develop
the idea expressed in the thesis statement.
0 Make a list of main ideas that support the thesis statement.
Each main idea becomes the main idea sentence for a body
paragraph.
0 Arrange the main ideas in logical order (time, place,
importance)
0 Plan out each body paragraph by listing major details that
support each main idea
0 Order the details within each paragraph in a logical way.
Each body paragraph may end with a concluding sentence.
 Example Essay Outline
Thesis Statement
Gnome-napping is stealing personal property, and is illegal, morally wrong, and
disrespectful.

Body Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence: Gnome-napping is stealing someone’s personal property, and stealing is illegal.
Main Points: 1.
2.
3.

Body Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence: It is morally wrong to take anyone’s property, whether it is a gnome or a car.
Main Points: 1.
2.
3.

Body Paragraph 3
Topic Sentence: The GLF is incredibly disrespectful because they take items that don’t belong them.
Main Points: 1.
2.
3.
 The Writing Stage
0 After planning and arranging your main ideas and
major details, begin writing your body paragraphs.
0 The number of paragraphs depends on the topic’s
complexity, inclusiveness, and your purpose for
writing.
0 Usually a short essay contains 3 to 5 body
paragraphs, plus an introduction and conclusion
0 Remember to use signal words to make smooth
transitions between sentences and paragraphs.
 Signal/Transition Words
0 For examples: For example, for instance, to
illustrate
0 For organization or chronological order: The
six steps are…, next, finally first, secondly,
third
0 For additional points: Furthermore, in
addition, also, moreover
0 For opposing ideas: On the other hand, in
contrast, although, however
0 For similar ideas: Likewise, similarly, in
comparison
 Signal/Transition Words
0 For exceptions: However, nevertheless, but,
yet, still
0 For emphasis: Above all, finally, more
importantly
0 For understanding: In other words, in essence,
briefly
0 For summarizing: In conclusion, to sum up, for
these reasons, in a nutshell
0 For exams: Remember this, this is important,
this could be on the test
 Conclusion
0 Leave the reader thinking about your topic.
Leave an impression on them!
0 No new information in conclusion
0 Be sure to recap your ideas
0 Should follow logically from the body of the essay
0 Restate your thesis statement in different words
0 You might want to have your reader do
something after reading (“call to action” –
Example: Go write your Senator about this
problem.)