This document discusses essay structure and outlines the typical parts of an essay: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should contain a general statement about the topic and a thesis statement. The body should have multiple paragraphs, each with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence. The conclusion restates the main points and leaves the reader with final thoughts. Formal outlines use Roman numerals, capital letters, numbers, and small letters to systematically organize essay content.

1. Essay Structure

2. What is an Essay?
The main purpose of any essay is to
discuss, persuade, describe, explain,
interpret or analyze a particular topic.

3. Essay Structure
An essay has three main parts:
•An introduction (introductory paragraph)
•A body (at least one, but usually more
paragraphs)
•A conclusion (concluding paragraph)

4. Essay Structure
INTRODUCTION
General statements
Thesis statement
BODY
A Topic sentence
1 support
2 support
3 support
(concluding sentence)
B Topic sentence
1 support
2 support
3 support
(concluding sentence)
CONCLUSION
Restatement or summary of the main points; final comments

5. The Introduction
An introductory paragraph has 2 parts:
General statement
•Introduce the general topic of the essay.
•Capture the reader’s interest.
Thesis statement
•States the specific topic.
•May list subtopics or subdivisions.
•May indicate the pattern of organization.
•Is normally the last sentence in the
introductory

6. Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs are used to:
• Develop your topic.
• Prove your points.
The body paragraph should have:
• Some sort of pattern (chronological order or
comparison/contrast, or a combination of
both)
• A logical division of ideas (division into
subtopics and discussion of these subtopics in
separate paragraphs)

7. The Conclusion
The conclusion is the final paragraph
in an essay. It has three purposes:
• It signals the end of the essay.
• It reminds the reader of your main points.
You can do this in two ways:
• Summarize your subtopics.
• Paraphrase your thesis.
• It leaves the reader with your final thoughts
on the topic.

8. Essay Outlining
A formal outline has a system such as the
following:
• Roman numerals I,II, and III for the major
sections of an essay (introduction, body,
conclusion)
• Capital letters A,B,C and so on label the body
paragraphs.
• Numerals 1,2,3 and so on number the sub-
points in each paragraph.
• Small letters a,b,c label specific supporting
details.

9. Essay Structure
I INTRODUCTION
General statements
Thesis statement
II BODY
A Topic sentence
1 support
a supporting detail
2 support
3 support
(concluding sentence)
B Topic sentence
1 support
2 support
3 support
(concluding sentence)
III CONCLUSION
Restatement or summary of the main points; final comments