Paragraph Writing

Generally, an essay is made up of three main components:
1. Introduction

a. Hook (to capture your reader’s attention)

b. General information on assigned topic (no details)

c. Thesis (one-sentence statement of main idea plus view point)

An introduction should include:

-Background information about the topic or a description of the current situation

Example: Nowadays,…./ It is undeniable that….

-Your opinion

Example: In my view…./All things considered…./I tend to believe that…..

An introduction should not include:

-Your main points

-Supporting evidence of the points

2. Body

a. Sub-point one

– Topic sentence

– Details supporting topic sentence

(supporting ideas can include: logical reasoning; examples; statistics; 

statement by authorities; proverbs; quotations; invented support)

b. Sub-point two

– Topic sentence

– Details supporting topic sentence

c. Sub-point three

– Topic sentence

– Details supporting topic sentence

3. Conclusion

a. Paraphrase of thesis

b. Summary of viewpoint

**Important points to consider:

Coherence & Cohesion

How do we create coherence?

1. Explain the supporting ideas

2. Provide reminders of the precise viewpoint given

3. Use transitional phrases

What do transitional phrases do?

Transitional phrases are used to guide the reader in connecting one thought to another in order to understand the logical flow of ideas. They are used within your paragraphs to connect ideas and thoughts as you are writing, and also as you move on to the next paragraph. Therefore, transitional words or phrases indicate the relationship between paragraphs or parts of a text. They make the text more cohesive by showing how ideas are related to each other. Transitions are like bridges that connect one sentence to another.

Please refer to the following link for a table of transitional phrases: