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Components of an Essay
ThesisStatement:Yourthesisismostimportantpartofyouressay.Itiswhatyouwill
spendtheentireessayarguing.Allyourargumentsandevidenceareinsupportoftheclaim
youmadeinyourthesisstatement.Itmustbeveryfocusedandspeci;ic.
Premise:Apremiseisanargumentinsupportofyourthesis.Thecombinationofallyour
premisesshouldmakeyourthesisobviousbeforeyourthesisisevenstated.Eachbody
paragraphofyouressayisitsownpremise.Therefore,inthestandard;ive-paragraphessay,
youshouldhavethreepremises.
TopicSentence:Introduceseachoneofyourbodyparagraphs.Tellsthereaderwhatyou
aregoingtobetalkingaboutinthatparagraph.Canalsobeusedtode;ineatermthatwill
beusedintheparagraph.
MainStatement:Thisfollowsyourtopicsentenceineachbodyparagraph.Itrestatesthe
premisemadeinyourintroductionindifferentwords.Eachbodyparagraphhasitsown
mainstatementbecauseeachbodyparagraphhasitsownpremise.
TransitionSentence:ThelastsentenceineachofyourbodyparagraphsEXCEPTthelast
one.Thissentenceisusedtointroducethetopic/premiseofthenextbodyparagraph.
TheGuaranteedNo-FailureEssay-WritingChecklist
INTRODUCTION
ARGUMENTONE
Sentence # of sentences Y/N
OPENING LINE mentions writer, book, character, or subject matter. 1
If needed, DEFINITION OF A TERM provided clearly. 1
FIRST PREMISE stated clearly. Use transition words to flow. 1
SECOND PREMISE stated clearly. Use transition words to flow. 1
THIRD PREMISE stated clearly. Use transition words to flow. 1
THESIS STATEMENT is very specific. All key words used in essay are there.
1
TOTAL NUMBER OF SENTENCES 6
Sentence # of sentences Y/N
TOPIC SENTENCE introduces the topic and/or defines term. 1
MAIN STATEMENT restates the premise in clear/direct words. 1
POINT #1: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #1: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #1: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
POINT #2: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #2: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #2: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
POINT #3: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #3: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #3: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
TRANSITION SENTENCE hints to the next argument. 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF SENTENCES 12-18
ARGUMENTTWO
ARGUMENTTHREE
Sentence # of sentences Y/N
TOPIC SENTENCE introduces the topic and/or defines term. 1
MAIN STATEMENT restates the premise in clear/direct words. 1
POINT #1: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #1: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #1: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
POINT #2: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #2: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #2: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
POINT #3: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #3: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #3: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
TRANSITION SENTENCE hints to the next argument. 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF SENTENCES 12-18
Sentence # of sentences Y/N
TOPIC SENTENCE introduces the topic and/or defines term. 1
MAIN STATEMENT restates the premise in clear/direct words. 1
POINT #1: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #1: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #1: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
POINT #2: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
CONCLUSION
POINT #2: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #2: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
POINT #3: STATEMENT made supporting the premise of your argument. 1
POINT #3: EVIDENCE of your statement (quote/statistic). 1-2
POINT #3: EXPLAIN connection between evidence, statement, and main statement.
1-2
No TRANSITION SENTENCE needed. 0
TOTAL NUMBER OF SENTENCES 11-17
Sentence # of sentences Y/N
Sentence # of sentences Y/N
THESIS RESTATED: Same idea but reworded. 1
PREMISES RESTATED: Restate your premises using less words in a ca-sual tone.
2
CLOSING LINE to wrap the essay up. 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF SENTENCES 4
