This document provides an overview of the key elements needed to write an effective essay. It defines what an essay is and explains that it is organized around a central thesis. The introduction engages the reader and introduces the thesis, while body paragraphs with supporting details develop the thesis. A conclusion restates the thesis and leaves the reader with a final thought. Other elements like the revision process and common essay types are also outlined to help writers structure and compose their essays.

1. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW WHEN WRITING AN
ESSAY

2. WHAT IS AN ESSAY?
An organized piece of writing that
focuses on a single topic

3. ORGANIZATION
Organized around a thesis
Begins with an introduction
Ends with a concluding paragraph

4. REASONS FOR WRITING AN
ESSAY
 Helps you to express ideas more clearly
and effectively
 It is a required part of almost all
colleges courses

5. DIFFERENT ELEMENTS:
PARAGRAPH VS ESSAY
 Organized around a
main idea
 Introductory sentence
 Developed by
supporting details
 Concluding sentence
 Organized around a
thesis
 Introductory paragraph
 Developed by
supporting body
paragraphs
 Concluding paragraph

6. THESIS
It has to do with what you are writing about
THESIS STATEMENT
Sentence in the essay that states the thesis
Expressed in the first paragraph
Key step in developing an effective essay

7. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
 First part of an essay which has a major
influence on the reader s desire to keep
reading.
 Includes different strategies to get the
readers attention that should be
connected with the thesis statement
 It should conclude with the most
important idea of the essay.

8. BODY OF AN ESSAY
 Set of paragraphs that develop the idea
expressed in the thesis statement
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Provide the content of the essay
Each one should be unique, be unified
around a main idea and arranged coherently

9. CONCLUSION OF AN ESSAY
 Purpose: To leave the reader with a
positive impression, a sense of
completeness and the inclination to
think about the topic
 Should not give more information about
the topic
 Restates your thesis statement in other
words

10. THE REVISION AND EDITING
PROCESS
 Process of reviewing and rewriting to
make your ideas more logical
 Aspects:
I. revision through reading
II. revision through collaboration

11. TYPES OF ESSAYS
Descriptive
Narrative
Cause and effect
Comparison and
contrast
Classification
Problem solution
Persuasive
Mixed pattern
Argumentative
Analysis
Definition

12. BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Types of papers & students samples by the
Roane State Community College. Retrieved
from
http://www.roanestate.edu/owl/Types.html
Accessed on: September 5, 2013