From Paragraph to Essay

Dr. Abeer Salah

5 Paragraph Essay the FormulaParagraph 1

Introduction

Hook

Background

Thesis as the last sentence

Paragraphs 2, 3,4:

Body Paragraphs

Topic Sentence

Supports

Concluding Sentence

Paragraph 5:

Conclusion

Restate Thesis

SummarizeDr. Abeer Salah

Paragraph 1: The Introduction

• Catchy opening/Hook/Grab reader’s attention

• Background

• Last sentence of the introduction =THESIS• The one sentence that states what the entire essay will prove – The premise

or central argument

• The most important sentence in the essay

• Usually 3 pronged (containing 3 points that will be discussed in the essay)

Dr. Abeer Salah

Introduction: Moves from the General to Specific

• General

• Specific

•Thesis

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Thesis Statement

• Introduces the reader to the rest of the paper.

• States the specific topic/ main argument of the paper.

• May list subtopics or subdivision.

• Is normally the last sentence in the introductory paragraph.

• Must be direct and informative.

Dr. Abeer Salah

Give Me an Example

Smoking should be illegal because it can kill you, can harm those around you, and it is addictive and difficult to stop once started.

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Body Paragraphs (3 or 2 at least)

• Topic Sentence

• Support

• Concluding Sentence

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Conclusion Paragraph

• Restate thesis. Use new words (points in same order)

• Summarize main points of essay. Remind reader what you said.

• End with a lasting impression. Give reader something to think aboutafter finishing essay.

• Should not raise any new points and must be related to the thesis st.and the body of the essay.

Dr. Abeer Salah

Techniques for Conclusions

• Make a prediction.

• Suggest results or consequences.

• Recommend a solution or a call for action.

• Quote an authority on the topic.

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Argumentative Essay

• An argumentative essay is sometimes called a persuasive essay. It isan essay in which you agree or disagree with an issue. As a writer, youMUST take a position and persuade the reader to agree with youropinion by using strong reasons to support your opinion.

Dr. Abeer Salah

Structure of the Essay:

• Introduction:

• In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set thecontext by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the authorshould explain why the topic is important or why readers should careabout the issue. The other point of view is also presented. Lastly,students should present the thesis statement in which they stateclearly which side you are for. A clear, concise, and defined thesisstatement should occur in the first paragraph of the essay.

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Effective Thesis Statements:

• 1. A good argumentative thesis is focused and not too broad.

• Don’t write, “Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.”

• This statement is too general and would be nearly impossible for you to defend. It leaves a lot of big questions to answer. Is all fast food bad? Why is it bad? Who should avoid it? Why should anyone care?

• Do write, “Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because the fast food diet leads to preventable and expensive health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”

• In this example, I’ve narrowed my argument to the health consequences related to a diet of fast food. I’ve also chosen to focus on Americans rather than everyone in the universe.

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Effective Thesis Statements:

2- A good argumentative thesis is centered on a debatable topic.

• In other words, don’t state facts.

3- A good argumentative thesis takes a side.

• In other words, show your reader which side you are for. Don’t be hesitant or unclear.

• Don’t write, “Passive smoking is bad and can cause heart disease and cancer; therefore, smoking should be outlawed in public places, but outlawing smoking is unfair to smokers so maybe non-smokers can wear masks around smokers instead.”

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Examples of Thesis Statements:

• Foreign Aid to Africa Does Not Work

Sending foreign aid to African countries is doing more harm than good, and it should be discontinued; the practice has caused African countries to become vulnerable to inflation, currency fluctuations, corruption, and civil unrest.

• China’s One-Child Policy Should Be Reversed

China’s one-child policy was intended to help control population growth. Instead, it has led to unintended and negative consequences, such as a diminishing labor force, an aging population, the neglect of basic human rights, and an unbalanced gender population. To improve China’s situation, the policy should be reversed.

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Body Paragraphs:

• Body paragraphs should include evidential support.

• Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of ONE generalidea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. It isimportant to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay musthave some logical connection to the thesis statement in the openingparagraph.

• Evidential support: these are supporting details that could be facts,examples, statistics, causes and effects, quotations, or anecdotes

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Conclusion:

• The conclusion should not simply restate the thesis. This is theportion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression onthe mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Donot introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather,synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay.Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, andreview your thesis.

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Conclusion:

• Restates the argument in the thesis.

• It can end with a prediction, advice, suggestion, opinion, or a summary of the major points.

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Some Writing Tips:

• Subordinators: they are linking words that are used to join clauses. When a subordinator is added to a sentence it becomes a dependent clause and the meaning becomes incomplete.

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Subordinators: they are linking words that are used to join clauses.When a subordinator is added to a sentence it becomes a dependentclause and the meaning becomes incomplete

• When

• Because

• If

• After

• Although

• As, just as

• As soon as

• Before

• Even though

• While

• Whenever

• Whether

• While

• Unless

• Until

• Since

• So that

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Coordinators:

• For (to add reason)

• And (to add a similar or equal idea)

• Nor (To add a negative idea)

• But ( to add an opposite idea)

• Or (to add an alternative possibility)

• Yet (unexpected or surprising continuation)

• So ( to add a result)

• Japanese people live long, for they eat healthy food.

• They eat a lot of fish and vegetables, and they eat lightly.

• They don’t eat a lot of red eat, nor do they eat many dairy products.

• Diet is one factor why they live long, but it is not the only one.

• I hate Maths, yet my parents want me to join the faculty of engineering.

• Stress affects our life, so try to avoid stress if you wish to live longer.

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Conjunctive Adverbs: they connect clauses with a semicolon and a comma.

Conjunctive Adverbs

• Also, besides, furthermore, in addition, moreover.

• However, nevertheless.

• On the other hand, in contrast.

• As a result, accordingly, therefore, thus.

• For example, for instance.

Meaning/Use

• To add a similar or equal idea.

• To add an unexpected or surprising continuation.

• To add a complete contrast.

• To add a result.

• To add an example.

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Punctuation:

Commas• Use a comma to separate items

in a series. Use AND before thelast item if you list 3 0r moreitems.

• Use a comma to separate anintroductory word or phrase.

• Use a comma to separate twosentences joined by acoordinator.( and, but, for…)

Semicolons• Use a semicolon to join

sentences without a connector.

• Use a semicolon when you jointwo sentences with a connector.

• Ex. The oceans hold manysecrets; however, newtechnology is helping scientiststo understand oceans better.

Dr. Abeer Salah