1. ESSAY ORGANIZER
Your Topic
Your Name
Link to your Mindmap
OR
Attach your Mindmap illustration file here
Thesis Statement
I believe that...
Need help?
Is your thesis narrowly focused?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Your Subtopics
Topic
1
Topic
2
Topic
3
Are your topics completely different?
Are your topics interesting?
BRAINSTORMING
SAVE TO YOUR COMPUTER BEFORE TYPING-COMPLETE USING ADOBE READER-SAVE OFTEN
Type of Essay
Persuasive / Argumentative Compare / Contrast Cause / Effect
Definition
Descriptive EvaluationInformational Interview
Literary Analysis
NarrativeDivision and Classification
Other
Free Mind Map Sites
Mind Meister
Bubbl.us
Mind42
* READ - Quick Note
You should test whether or not it is a thesis
statement by imagining the words, "I believe that"
before the thesis statement.
Those three words are not actually part of the
thesis statement.
Research
Most Important Topic / Strongest 2nd Most Important Topic 3rd Most Important Topic / Weakest
Personal
Print FormSubmit by Email

2. Topic 1
Support #1
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
What is one good sentence
to introduce this topic to
your reader?
Support #2
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
Support #3
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
What is one good sentence to
transition into the next paragraph?
Need a transition word?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?

3. Topic 2
Support #1
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
What is one good sentence
to introduce this topic to
your reader?
Support #2
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
Support #3
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
What is one good sentence to
transition into the next paragraph?
Need a transition word?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?

4. Topic 3
Support #1
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
What is one good sentence
to introduce this topic to
your reader?
Support #2
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
Support #3
1-5 sentences
Need a transition word?
Source
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?

5. Introduction Paragraph
Need help?
Ask yourself
1) How can I get my reader's attention?
2) Imagine your reader knows nothing about your topic. What background information could I give my reader about
my topic?
3) Why should the reader care to know this information?
4) What is it you are trying to prove?
Attention Getter
1 Sentence
Need help?
Background Information
2-5 Sentences
- Introduce your topic, but not
your thesis
- Provide insider details that
would help your reader better
understand your topic, without
providing information you are
discussing in your support.
Why should your reader care?
Complete this sentence..
It is important that you read this
essay because...
*Read - Quick Note
"It is important that you read this essay because"
is a way to help you word this sentence and those
9 words should not be copied and pasted into
your essay.
Thesis Statement
(paste the one you already
wrote on page 1)
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Did you avoid referring to yourself or your reader directly?
Would you want to read your paper after reading your introduction?
What was your attention getter? A Question A QuoteA Quick Story An Interesting Fact
A Shocking Statistic An Unusual Statement Other
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?

6. Conclusion Paragraph
Need help?
A conclusion should...
1) Include a brief summary of the paper's main points.
2) Suggest results or consequences
3) Leave a lasting impression
Restate your thesis in
a fresh, new way
Summarize / Reflect / Give
Final thoughts on Topic 1
1-3 Sentences
Need a transition word?
Summarize / Reflect / Give
Final thoughts on Topic 2
1-3 Sentences
Need a transition word?
Summarize / Reflect / Give
Final thoughts on Topic 3
1-3 Sentences
Need a transition word?
Final Thought
1 Sentence
-Contains vivid language
-Compound or Complex sentence
-Leave a lasting impression
-Sums up your essay in one
incredible sentence
Need a transition word?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Did you avoid referring to yourself or your reader directly?
Did you feel your conclusion leaves the reader satisfied and impressed?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copy and Paste your citations you created using Easybib
You will be able to copy and paste this onto your Bibliography page.
Citations
in
Alphabetical
Order
Paragraph Organization- Copy and Paste your sentences in the correct order
Paragraph 1- Introduction
- Attention Getter
- Background Information
- Why should we care sentence
- Thesis Statement
Paragraph 2 - Body Paragraph 1
- Topic Introduction
- Support 1
- Support 2
- Support 3
- Transition
Paragraph 3 - Body Paragraph 2
- Topic Introduction
- Support 1
- Support 2
- Support 3
- Transition
Paragraph 4 - Body Paragraph 3
- Topic Introduction
- Support 1
- Support 2
- Support 3
Paragraph 5 - Conclusion
- Thesis Restatement
- Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 1
- Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 2
- Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 3
- Strong Final Thought
Final page - Bibliography
- On a new page
- Titled - Bibliography
- Use citations created from Easybib
- MLA Format
- Alphabetized
Before you submit checklist
Is your paper in Time New Roman font?
Do you use 12 pt font and double space?
Do you proofread at least 3 times?
Has someone other than you read this paper?
Have I done my best?
Do you get rid of BABY WORDS and use a thesaurus to enhance your language?
Did I rid my essay of unnecessary qualifiers like "Really" "Just" "Sort of" "Like" and "So"
Do I spell everything correctly?
Did I check all punctuation and capitalization?
Did I put everything in my own words to avoid plagiarism?
mrdaley@mrdaley.com