Organizing an Organizing an Academic EssayAcademic Essay

Introduction

Conclusion

Body Paragraphs

IntroductionIntroductionWhat is an essay ?

An essay is a piece of writing that usually has five or moreparagraphs. An essay is written about one topic that hasseveral main points. The main points are introduced in anintroductory paragraph and supported in bodyparagraphs. The conclusion is the last paragraph.

Essay

Introduction

_____________

Body Paragraph 1

_____________

Body Paragraph 2

_____________

Body Paragraph 3

_____________

Conclusion

_____________

Parts of an EssayParts of an EssayAn Introduction

An introductory paragraph is the first paragraph in an essay. It contains two parts.

1. General Statements: a few sentences about your subject that catch the attention of your reader.

2. A Thesis Statement: one sentence that tells your reader the main points of your topic and states the overall “plan” of your essay.

ExampleExampleAn Introduction

General Statements

Thesis Statement

“Some of the most unexpected heroes throughout history have been women. Despite being banned from the battlefield, women have made significant contributions in times of war. Some women have acted as medics, and others, like Mary Anne in Tim O’Brien’s novel “The Things They Carried” were rumored to have joined the special forces and disappeared into the Vietnamese landscape. Whether this sub-plot was fact or fiction, it depicts an important truth. Women have a rightful place to defend their country.”

Parts of an EssayParts of an EssayBody Paragraphs

The body consists of one or more paragraphs following theintroduction. Each paragraph supports the main idea ofyour essay by breaking it down into smaller ideas or sub-topics. Each body paragraph consists of a topic sentenceand several supporting sentences. A conclusion sentencedraws the paragraph together.

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2

Body Paragraph 3Introduction

ExampleExampleBody Paragraph

Topic Sentence

Concluding Sentence

“Mary Anne quickly adapted to life in the Vietnamese bush. She proved that she was able to survive in the wilderness, just like the other male soldiers. Women are perceived as being beautiful, and needing a certain standard of luxury in order to be fulfilled and happy. Mary Anne contradicted this perception on many different levels. As soon as she got to Vietnam, she began evolving. “…she quickly fell into the habits of the bush. No cosmetics, no jewelry, no fingernail filing” (O’Brien 94). This quote demonstrates how hygiene became of little importance to Mary Anne once she became acclimated to life as a soldier. It proves that she had no interest in traditional beauty standards once she was living in the Vietnamese countryside; she adapted just like the men did.

Parts of an EssayParts of an EssayConclusion

The conclusion paragraph is the last paragraph in the essay. Itcompletes the essay by summarizing or repeating the mostimportant ideas. The conclusion can also include an opinion, aprediction, or a solution to a problem.

Body Paragraph 1

Introduction

Conclusion

Body Paragraph 2

Body Paragraph 3

ExampleExampleConclusion

Summary of Main Ideas

Prediction

“In conclusion, women have a definite place in the military. Many women have the capability to perform at the same level if not better than their male counterparts. The chapter, On the Song Tra Bong from O’Brien’s novel highlights Mary Anne’s capacity to adapt to war life. Mary Anne is representative of many women who fight for and defend out country. Men might be threatened by women like Mary Anne because they redefine the way that men previously viewed women, and how gender roles are played out within society.

Overview of an EssayOverview of an Essay

Body Paragraphs

Support the main ideas of the thesis statement

Begin with topic sentences

Introduction

General statements and information about the topic

Thesis statement- lists the main ideas in the essay

Conclusion

Brief summary of main points of the essay

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2

Body Paragraph 3

Practice…Practice…

Now, you are ready to practice what you’ve learned. Develop an outline using the academic essay outline that you took notes on in class. Follow the directions on the bottom of the thesis anticipation worksheet to prepare for your outline.