MHS Writing Center
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  • Writing Center Info
  • General Writing Tips
    • Paragraph Structure (CEAL and more)
    • MLA Header
    • MLA Citation
    • Transitions
    • Thesis Statements
    • Redundancy
    • Hooks
    • How to Write an Introduction
    • How to Write a Conclusion
    • Quotations
    • Sentence Variation
    • Steps of the Writing Process
    • Essay Structure and Outlining
    • Showing Versus Telling
    • Analytical Writing Tips
  • Grammar/Mechanics
    • Capitalization
    • Number Rules
    • Who vs. Whom
    • Which vs. That
    • Fragments and Run-ons
    • Commas, Colons, and Semicolons
    • Apostrophe Rules
    • Misplaced Modifiers
    • Passive vs. Active Voice
    • Dash vs. Hyphen
    • Formatting Dialogue
    • Tricky Words
    • Subject/Verb Agreement
    • Pronoun and Antecedent Agreement
  • Research Paper Resources
    • Evaluating a Website
    • How to Paraphrase
    • LARP and History Research Papers
  • Plagiarism
    • How to Avoid Plagiarism
  • SAT Writing Section
  • Writing Lab Reports
  • Writing Contests

Essay Structure

Most essays have a similar structure:
    1. Introduction - the place to make your first impression . You need to draw the reader's interest and lay out your main argument (often called your thesis). See "How to Write an Introduction."

    2. The Body - can be one paragraph or many more! In your body paragraphs, you will prove your argument with evidence and analysis. Make sure to focus on one idea per paragraph, transition between thoughts, and make clear connections to your thesis. Transition between your various ideas!

    3. Conclusion - where you pull together your paper's main ideas and make a larger connection. See "How to Write a Conclusion."

Outlining

Outlining comes after brainstorming in the writing process. To make an outline, write your thesis at the top of your paper. Doing so will help you remember your paper's focus. After that, return to your brainstorming and try to select the main ideas that support your thesis. Each main idea will get its own Roman numeral and will be supported with evidence and analysis. See the sample for a five-paragraph essay (with MEAL paragraphs):

Sample Outline

Thesis =  

I. Introduction (no need to outline this - you will write it later)

II. Body Paragraph 1 - Main Idea

    A. Evidence that supports main idea

           1. Analysis of evidence - How does it support main idea?

                  a. Last Thought/Linking Sentence - tie back to thesis and, if required, transition to next paragraph 

*Note: Some teachers ask you to transition at the end of each body paragraph, and others would prefer to see the transition at the start of the next paragraph. Check with your teacher!*

III. Body Paragraph 2 - Main Idea

    A. Evidence that supports main idea

           1. Analysis of evidence - How does it support main idea?

                  a. Last Thought/Linking Sentence - tie back to thesis and, if required, transition to next paragraph

IV. Body Paragraph 3 - Main Idea

    A. Evidence that supports main idea

           1. Analysis of evidence - How does it support main idea?

                  a. Last Thought/Linking Sentence - tie back to thesis and, if required, transition to conclusion

V. Conclusion
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