Building an Essay

1
Building an EssayFirst, Pre-write its
important!

• Consider the prompt and decide how you want to
  organize your essay.
• How will you hook the reader? (You may want to
  go back to this after writing your thesis
  statement.)
• What is your thesis or main idea? Write a thesis
  statement to guide your essay.
• What are your supporting details? Can each
  expand into a paragraph?

2
How to begin

• What type of hook or lead will you use to engage
  the reader?
• Consult the handout for ideas.
• Do you want to start with a statistic? Some
  interesting facts? An anecdote?

3
Then, give some background on your topic.

• Why is this topic important? What supporting
  ideas will you use in your essay?
• Dont give too much detail in the introductory
  paragraph just enough to pique interest.

4
End your introductory paragraph by stating your
thesis.

• The thesis or main idea for your essay is best
  placed at the end of the introductory paragraph.
• All paragraphs that follow will back up the
  thesis statement.
• Lets look at the prompt

5

• Writing Situation
• Your principal is considering adding a new class
  to the connections schedule. She is taking
  recommendations from the student body.
• Writing Prompt
• (Expository)
• Ms. Lyons has chosen you to select a connections
  class to solve the problem of student apathy.
  Describe the class and how will motivate
  apathetic students.
• (Persuasive)
• Write a letter persuading your principal to
  incorporate your idea for a new connections class
  into the schedule. Focus on the potential for
  this class to contribute to the overall future
  success of the student body.

6
Your task

• Write an introductory paragraph for the
  persuasive prompt.
• Write an introductory paragraph for the
  expository prompt.
• The paragraphs will begin with different hooks
  and will have different thesis statements. Some
  background information might be similar.