This document provides guidance on essay organization and structure. It discusses the typical three-part structure of an introduction, body, and conclusion. For each section, it describes the key components and functions. The introduction generally includes general statements about the topic, a thesis statement, and an outline of subtopics. Body paragraphs should each have a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence. The conclusion restates the thesis, summarizes main points, and offers final thoughts without introducing new ideas. Transition signals and strategies for writing effective topic and concluding sentences are also covered.

1. ESSAY ORGANIZATION
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THREE PARTS of an ESSAY
1. Introductory Paragraph
2. Body Paragraphs
3. Concluding Paragraph

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THREE PARTS of an ESSAY
1. Introductory
Paragraph
Generel Statements
Thesis Statement
2. Body Paragraphs
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
Concluding Sentence
3. Concluding Paragraph Concluding Sentence
Final Thoughts
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
Concluding Sentence
1.
2.

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Topic Sentence
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
Concluding Sentence
Supporting
Sentences
Concluding Sentence

5. FROM PARAGRAPH TO ESSAY
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentence 1
Concluding Sentence
Thesis Statement
General Statements
Topic Sentence 1
INTRODUCTION
SupportingSentences
Supporting details
Supporting Sentence 2
Supporting details
Topic Sentence 2
SupportingSentences
Supporting details
Supporting details
BODY
Concluding Sentence
Final Comment
CONCUSION
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1. General Statements 2. THESIS STATEMENT
INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH
An introductory paragraph has 2 parts
Gives the reader background
information about the topic of
the essay.
• It states the main topic of the
essay
• It lists the subtopics of the main
topic
• It is the last sentence of the
introductory paragraph

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SAMPLE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
Driving a car is a neccessity in today’s busy society, and it
is also a special privilege. Therefore, anyone who wants to
drive must carry a driving license. Getting a driving license
is a complicated process. It is divided into two steps:
studying the traffic laws and taking the written exam.

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General Statements
1. TOO GENERAL
Driving a car is a neccessity in today’s busy society, and it is also a
special privilege.
2.LESS GENERAL
Therefore, anyone who wants to drive must carry a driving license.
3.EVEN LESS GENERAL
Getting a driving license is a complicated process.

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A SAMPLE INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH
Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard
pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching television
has become a standard activity for most families. Children in
our culture grow up watching television in the morning, in the
afternoon, and often in the evening as well. Although there are
many excellent programs for children, many people feel that
television may not be good for children. In fact, television may
have an adverse effect on children because some programs are
not suitable for their ages and television causes the children to
ignore their school works.

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General Statements
1. TOO GENERAL
Over the past forty years, television sets have become standard pieces of
equipment in most homes, and watching television has become a
standard activity for most families.
2.LESS GENERAL
Children in our culture grow up watching television in the morning,
in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well.
3.EVEN LESS GENERAL
Although there are many excellent programs for children, many
people feel that television may not be good for children.

11. • The first sentence should be a very general comment
about the subject.
• The second sentence should be less general.
• The third one should be even less general.
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General Statements
You should write at least 2 or 3 general statements
in an introduction.

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A SAMPLE INTRODUCTORY
PARAGRAPH
Being a student at university is the dream of every high school
student. Every student who wants to have a bright future with a
good career plans to study at university. However, the road to
success at university is full of obstacles that might interfere with
students reaching their goals. Therefore, students should be
aware of those difficulties which they face during their university
years. Despite these obstacles, students can achieve their
dreams of getting their degree. In order to be succcessful at
university, students need motivation, and the abillity to
focus on their goals.

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General Statements
1. TOO GENERAL
Being a student at university is the dream of every high school
student..
2.LESS GENERAL
Every student who wants to have a bright future with a good career
plans to study at university.
3.EVEN LESS GENERAL
However, the road to success at university is full of obstacles that might
interfere with students reaching their goals. Therefore, students should
be aware of those difficulties which they face during their university
years. Despite these obstacles, students can achieve their dreams of
getting their degree.

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Main topic of the essay Subtopics of the main topic
THESIS STATEMENT
The last sentence of the introduction
Ex: How to be successful at university?
Ex:
A- Motivation
B- The ability to focus on their goals

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Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
Concluding Sentence
Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
Concluding Sentence
The BODY PARAGRAPHS
There should be at least 2 paragraphs in the BODY
Each of the body paragraps SHOULD support the
THESIS STATEMENT

16. Smoking in restaurants should be banned because…..
a.
b.
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Young people who live at home have several advantages
because they dont have to do the housework and their expenses
are covered by their parents.
Pollution in big cities causes problems such as…….
a.
b.
Two main effects of entering a university can be listed as
a.
b.
Practice 1 p.20
(Complete the thesis statements by adding the topics of the body paragraphs)

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Concluding Sentence
The first sentence of the concluding paragraph.
Repeats the thesis statament in DIFFERENT words.
Concluding
Comment
Writer’s opinion
judgement
advice
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
It signals the end of the essay.
It summarizes the main points.
It gives the writer’s final thoughts.
DO NOT add any new ideas.
DO NOT FORGET to start with transition signals such
as
• In brief, in short, to sum up or in conclusion, etc.


18. 2. Summarize the main point or points of the paragraph.
1. Restate the idea in the topic sentence in different words. Do not copy
the topic sentence.
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18
2. Remind your reader of the
main idea by one of the
following methods
3. NEVER end a paragraph by
introducing a new idea.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
3 tips for a good concluding sentence
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Conclusion Signals
Conclusion Signals
Followed by a Comma No Comma
1. All in all,
In brief
In conclusion
Indeed,
In short,
In summary,
To conclude,
To summarize,
To sum up,
2. It is clear that…………..
These examples show that ……
You can see that…………
1. To summarize, Japanese food is both beautiful and delicious to look at and eat.
Indeed, many U.S. Cities and regions have a special food to enjoy.
2. It is clear that diets don’t work and many even damage a dieter’s health.
TIP 1. Begin with a conclusion signal.
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Synonyms
Condensation
Circumlocution
Phrase Reversal
Active-Passive Voice
Alternate Word Form
HOW TO WRITE CONCLUDING
SENTENCE(S)
PARAPHRASING: Rewriting ideas from a source
in different words without changing its original
meaning.
Strategies for Paraphrasing

21. Synonyms
Original: 65 is the traditional age for workers to
retire in the U.S.
Paraphrase:65 is the traditional age for employees
to retire in the U.S.
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22. Condensation
Original: 65 is the traditional age for workers to retire
in the U.S.
Paraphrase: 65 is the traditional retirement age in
the U.S.
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23. Circumlocation
Original: 65 is the traditional age for workers to retire
in the U.S.
Paraphrase: 65 is the traditional age for workers
to end their professional career in
the U.S.
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24. Phrase Reversal
Original: 65 is the traditional age for workers to retire
in the U.S.
Paraphrase: In the U.S. The traditional age for
workers to retire is 65.
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25. Active-Passive Voice
Original: The company fired 15 workers.
Paraphrase: 15 workers were fired by the company.
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26. Alternate Word Form
Original: A manager’s success is often due to
perseverance.
Paraphrase: A manager often succeeds because of
perseverance.
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!! BE CAREFUL !!
You need to use more than one of
these strategies when rewriting
your THESIS STATEMENTS

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Original Sentence:
Language is the main means of communication among
people.
Unacceptable Paraphrase:
Language is the principal means of communication
among people.
Acceptable Sentence:
Humans communicate through language.
Acceptable and Unacceptable Paraphrasing

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Original Sentence:
For many years, people have dreamed of setting up an
international, universal language which all people could speak
and understand.
Unacceptable Paraphrase:
For many years, people have visioned a common
universal language that everyone in the world could
understand.
Acceptable Sentence:
For a long time, people have wished for an international
language that speakers all over the world could
communicate in.
Acceptable and Unacceptable Paraphrasing

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Practice 2 p.23
My greatest problem in learning English is oral
communication.
Smoking is unhealthy because it can cause heart and lung
disease; moreover, it is expensive.
My major goals are getting a part-time job and mastering the
use of English language.

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Discrimination, lack of economic opportunity, and inferior
education are the three main causes of poverty today.
Practice 2 p.23
(write a concluding sentence based on the information in each thesis
statement)
Students who work while they are studying meet a lot of
people, practice what they have learned and gain
responsibility.

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Try It Out !
Write an introduction for the following topic.

1) Explain the causes of traffic accidents.
Traffic accidents are so common in Turkey. Explain why.
• Poor road conditions
• Exceeding speed limits
• Lack of tolerance
• Overtaking mistakes
• Violating traffic signs
• Lack of preventive penalties

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Try It Out !
Write an introduction for the following topic.

2) Explain the causes of water scarcity.
Why has water become that scarce? Explain.
• Climate changes
• Unplanned and excessive consumption by the industry
• Inadequate water policies
• People wasting water
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