The document provides guidance on writing an essay, including the typical structure and components. It discusses the introduction paragraph, which includes a hook to capture the reader's attention, an introduction of the topic and title, listing three reasons or proofs, and concluding with the thesis statement. It then provides an example introduction paragraph analyzing how disguises and costumes are key elements in the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.

1. Writing an Essay
Lidia Lozada and Nairobi Firpo

2. Essay and Paragraph Structure
Introduction
Paragraph
Body Paragraph #1
Body Paragraph # 2
Body Paragraph # 3
Concluding Paragraph

3. Introduction
Paragraph
Broad Statement
Introduce topic
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
The Point
The thesis

4. Introductory Paragraph
Hook
• Begin with a Hook to capture your reader’s attention
• It is a general sentence about your topic.
Introduce
Topic
• Introduce the topic, the author and the title of the
play **Hint use the essay question to guide you**
Three
reasons
• The next sentence should list your three
reasons/proofs
THESIS • The Thesis
• The specific point you are trying to prove

5. Introductory Paragraph
Hook
•Disguises and costumes are a fun way to explore new identities and take on a new persona.
Introduce
Topic
•Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare explores the use of disguises and costumes
throughout the play.
Three
reasons
•A) Disguises and costumes drive the main conflicts in the plot
•B) Disguises and costumes create humour throughout the play
•C) Disguises and costumes allow characters to explore different class and gender identities
THESIS • Therefore, for these reasons disguises and costumes
are key elements in the play Twelfth Night.

6. Introductory Paragraph
Hook
•Disguises and costumes are a fun way to explore new identities and take on a new persona.
Introduce
Topic
•Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare explores the use of disguises and costumes
throughout the play.
Three
reasons
•A) Disguises and costumes drive the main conflicts in the plot
•B) Disguises and costumes create humour throughout the play
•C) Disguises and costumes allow characters to explore different class and gender identities
THESIS • Therefore, for these reasons disguises and costumes
are key elements in the play Twelfth Night.

7. Disguises and costumes are a fun way to explore new identities and
take on a new persona.
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare explores the
use of disguises and costumes throughout the play.
A) Disguises and costumes drive the main conflicts
in the plot
B) Disguises and costumes create humour
throughout the play
C) Disguises and costumes allow characters to
explore different class and gender identities
Thesis
Therefore, for these reasons disguises and costumes are key elements
in the play Twelfth Night.

8. Paragraph Format
Disguises and costumes are a fun way to
explore new identities and take on a new
persona. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
explores the use of disguises and costumes
throughout the play. Disguises and costumes
drive the main conflicts in the plot, create
humour and allow characters to explore
different class and gender identities. Therefore,
for these reasons disguises and costumes are
key elements in the play Twelfth Night.