essay writing

1. Essay
Writing
HOW TO EXPAND AND
EXPLAIN YOUR IDEAS
EFFECTIVELY

2. Review Paragraph Basics
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s review
paragraph basics. What are the main
components of a paragraph?
1) Topic Sentence
2) Reason #1 and example
3) Reason #2 and example
4) Reason #3 and example
5) Concluding Sentence

3. Expanding Ideas
In essay writing, we want to expand our ideas
as much as possible, while STILL following
paragraph structure.
The only difference is that the THREE
REASONS in your original paragraph get their
OWN paragraph
Additionally, you introduce and conclude
your writing into separate paragraphs
THIS MEANS YOU ARE WRITING
FIVE PARAGRAPHS

4. Did you say
FIVE
paragraphs?

5. Five Paragraphs!
It’s easy! You follow the SAME structure as
before, and use the SAME ideas as before,
you just use more examples and explanation
to prove to the reader that your opinion is
correct.
The only real new parts are the introduction
paragraph and conclusion paragraph that
introduce and conclude your ideas,
respectively

6. How Do I Do It? Part 1
Start out with what would typically be your
topic sentence as your main opinion
statement – or your “THESIS”.
Your thesis is the main idea that will control
your opinion.
For example, a thesis would be something
like: “School uniforms should be mandatory
in schools.”

7. No “I” in Essay Writing
You may be thinking that you would have
included “I” in a topic sentence, such as “I believe
school uniforms should be mandatory in schools.”
When you want to be persuasive, you need to
make your opinion sound like a FACT in order
for the reader to believe you
Your thesis statement becomes a fact “School
uniforms should be mandatory in schools.” It is
still your opinion, you just take out “I believe.”
This also means no use of personal pronouns, like
“you,” “we,” “our,” “my,” etc. “They” is allowed.

8. How Do I Do It? Part 2
Next, use the Persuasive Writing Organizer
to plan out your ideas and explanations
Your Introduction Paragraph briefly
informs the reader of what to expect in the
essay.
Start off with a general topic sentence,
mention your three reasons (without a lot of
detail), and then state your thesis.
NOTE: Your thesis is the LAST sentence of
the introduction paragraph

9. Persuasive Essay Organizer for
Introduction Paragraph

10. How Do I Do It? Part 3
Your topic sentences for the body
paragraphs should look something like this:
“Firstly, uniforms should be implemented
because they will make schools safer.”
Your explanation will explain WHY schools
will become safer if uniforms are
implemented, as well as examples of what
would happen.

11. How Do I Do It? Part 4
You must also have a concluding sentence
that connects back to your “thesis” – such
as: “Therefore, uniforms make schools safer
and should be a requirement in schools.”
Each body paragraph should be 5-8
sentences long, and include a topic
sentence, explanation and examples, and a
concluding sentence.

12. Persuasive Essay Organizer
for Body Paragraphs

13. Persuasive Essay Organizer
for Body Paragraphs

14. How Do I Do It? Part 5
Your conclusion paragraph briefly reminds the
reader about your ideas, and why they should
believe you.
The first sentence is a restatement of your
thesis using fresh language and a different
order of the words
Then you list your three reasons with a bit of
detail (an example from the paragraph)
You end the paragraph with some general
final thoughts on the topic

15. Persuasive Essay Organizer for
Conclusion Paragraph

16. Let’s Recap
Persuasive Essay Writing is meant to persuade
the reader that your opinion is correct
It does not include “I believe,” but rather a
firm statement that changes your opinion into
a FACT
It has an Introduction paragraph, stating your
topic, 3 reasons and your thesis
It has three specific reasons that are separated
into three separate paragraphs

17. Let’s Recap
It expands on your ideas, and adds further
explanation and examples
Each paragraph has a concluding sentence
that connects back to the thesis
It has a Conclusion paragraph that restates
your thesis in different words, your 3
reasons, and general concluding comments