This document provides guidance on constructing effective paragraphs for essays. It discusses choosing a topic, researching the topic, organizing ideas, identifying the audience and purpose, and outlining an introduction, body, and conclusion. Specific tips are given on capturing the reader's interest in introductory paragraphs, developing topics in body paragraphs using examples and transitions, and concluding by summarizing or inviting further action. Reference resources on writing essays are also included.

1. Constructing Paragraphs for an Essay University of the Sacred Heart Department of Humanities Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines LAD

2. Objective To construct effective paragraphs for an essay

3. Before Starting to Write Choose a topic to write about Brainstorm Research the topic you selected, and make sure you keep track of your references Review all the information before starting to write Organize the ideas in a logical way

4. Focusing on Content

5. Writing with Attitude Identify your audience Who will read your essay? Identify the purpose and tone of your writing Objective / Subjective Casual / Formal Persuasive / Informative Expository / Argumentative

6. The Basics of Writing When writing, you must do three basic things: Introduce your topic (introduction) Provide details that support your topic (body) Write an appropriate conclusion

7. Outlining Prepare an outline to: Determine which information is related to the topic Organize your ideas (order of importance, chronological order, spatial…) Structure your essay (Introduction-Body-Conclusion)

8. Introductory Paragraphs Capture your reader’s interest through an attention getter by using Incidents Examples Vivid descriptions Statistics Dialogue Unusual or interesting facts Quotes Anecdotes

9. Introductory Paragraphs State the main idea Establish the organization of the essay Introduce important terms or situations relevant to your writing

10. Developing Your Topic Present the ideas that will support your thesis statement Develop one paragraph for each supporting idea Explain each supporting idea as much as you can, even if it seems too obvious

11. Connecting Ideas Use transitional words or phrases to move from one idea to another. (for example, first, next, moreover, finally…) You can do this by Using coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and conjunctive adverbs Repeating key words or phrases

12. Examples of Transitional Words and Phrases First, second, third… Next, next step… Then…, Finally, last… Before, after… Meanwhile Three hours later… In the morning, in the evening… For example Moreover…

13. Conjunctions Coordinating And But Or Nor For Yet Correlative Either...or Neither…nor Whether…or Not only…but (also) both…and

14. Subordinating Conjunctions While So that Because Whenever Since As though When Provided that As soon as Until In order that As long as Unless If As if Though Even though As Than Even if Although That Before After

15. Conjunctions Subordinating After Although As As if As long as As soon as As though Because Before Even if Though Even though Unless If Until In order that When Provided that Whenever Since While So That That Than

16. Conjunctive Adverbs Accordingly Also Besides Consequently Finally Furthermore However Indeed Instead Later Moreover Nevertheless Otherwise Still Therefore Thus

17. Concluding Arguments The conclusion may: Summarize the main points discussed Ask questions that will make a reader think Offer a solution for a problem Make a recommendation Make a prediction Restate the main idea Invite the audience to take action in the solution

18. For More Information… You can visit the following web sites: The Unicorn Pen. http://www.anitraweb.org/write/unicorn/essays.html Index English Grammar and Composition http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm

19. Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines Prepared by: Thalia N. Nazario-Santiago Coordinator for the Center for Languages and Cultures April-June 2003 Revised by: Patricia Kidd Administrative Assistant Revised by: Prof. Delia Serrano January 2005 Thank you!