Transcript The Components of an Essay - Abington Heights School District

The Components
of an Essay
English 1- Student Notes
The 3 Main Components of Essay Writing
 ________________
 ________________
 ________________
What Does an Introduction Do?
 __________________the
reader into
the essay topic
 ___________________ for the topic
 Explains and illuminates the
___________________ of the essay
 Offers an __________________ for
the rest of the paper
Introduction:
An Introduction is an Ice Cream Cone
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Tasty Topping =
__________________________

Ice Cream =
_______________________________
_______________________________
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Cone =
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Chocolate at the Bottom of the
Cone (Nutty Buddy) = __________________
Or…

An Introduction is an Inverted or Upside-down Pyramid
_______________________
_________________ Info
_____________
_____________ Info
____________
Statement
Example of an introduction:
Attention grabber: The role and importance of the arts in schools exists at
the heart of American educational debate.
Background information: Proponents of the arts argue that art
education is necessary for the development of well-rounded
students.
More specific background information: Others
hold the opinion that educators should primarily
focus on raising standardized test scores in core
subjects, such as reading and math.
Precise thesis statement:
Though standardized testing sits
squarely under the political
microscope of today's
society, an education
in the arts provides
lasting and
immeasurable
benefits.
Using a Vehicle in the Introduction and
Conclusion
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What is a vehicle?
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Where do you put a vehicle?
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__________________________________________________
To provide greatest effect, a vehicle should be restated or returned to in the
conclusion
Where / what type of essay is a vehicle best for?
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__________________________________________________________
A vehicle can be a small story or anecdote
(to provide an example or make a point
relating to the topic), a quote, or an idea
Personal essays, narrative essays, informal essays
It can be used for formal essays if applicable to the topic and style of the
assignment
Why use a vehicle?
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It adds interest to the essay; ______________________________
Provides a nice ____________________________
Provides symbolism and adds significance to a topic
Body Paragraphs
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Support the thesis claim
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Include evidence and explain ideas
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__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Contain a topic sentence
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__________________________________________
__________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Contain ______________ that move the
reader smoothly from one idea to the next
Conclusion
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________________________________________
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________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Leaves the reader with a lasting impression that the author
knows the subject and articulates it well
Reconnects to the vehicle in the introduction (if a vehicle
was used)
Literary scholars, Strunk and White, state that writers
should end with a “strong image, but not an over inflated
one. In conclusions, writers should avoid the temptation to
be overly profound or state opinions that do not support
the topic of the essay” (Chapter 5.6).
A Conclusion is a Pyramid
_______
Use different
words, but keep
the same ideas in
the same order
_________
Refer back to
the introduction
and
background
information
____________________
_____________________
___________________________
Reconnect
to the
vehicle used
in the
introduction
Conclusion
Example:
Restated
thesis:
Thus, arts education
provides students with
essential skills necessary for
success in today’s society.
Sum up main points: Though budgets
remain tight and the importance of
standardized test performance weighs heavily on
school districts, the arts must still be integrated
within the curriculum. Training in music, speech, drama,
as well as painting and sculpture helps build a stronger
platform to spur even greater learning in core subjects.
Concluding sentence: The arts need not be at the heart of
American educational debate; they should be at the heart of a
strong American education.