ESSAY STRUCTURE

1. INTRODUCTION:

• BACKGROUND AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT
• THESIS STATEMENT- Click here for more
• MAIN POINTS
• The overall message you are trying to convey in your essay should be clearly stated in the introduction.  If you are answering a pre-determined question (such as a take-home exam question) your thesis statement should be a 1-2 sentence answer to that question.  On a larger formal essay project, your introduction should set up the basic issue being addressed followed by the specific historical argument that will be made in the essay.
• Your reader should be able to anticipate the direction your essay will take after reading the introduction.  There should be no surprises hidden within the body of the essay.

2. BODY:

• AT LEAST ONE PARAGRAPH FOR EACH MAIN POINT
• SOME POINTS NEED TO BE SUB-DIVIDED INTO MORE THAN ONE PARAGRAPH (Longer essays will require more detail).
• USE THE P.I.E. METHOD - Click here for more
• The language throughout the essay should be direct and to the point.  I am not impressed by big words and long, complex sentences.  I am more impressed with by good historical arguments in terms that clear.
• Do not assume prior knowledge on the part of your reader, especially on take-home exams.  Remember, these written assignments are the way you demonstrate to me that you know and understand the material.   

• RE-STATE THE ARGUMENT
• USE SPECIFICS
• The conclusion should never contain new information that has not already been discussed in the essay. 

4.  STYLE AND GRAMMAR

• Writing Workshop Powerpoint Presentation
• Commonly Confused Homonyms

5.  INFORMAL WRITING: READING RESPONSES - Click here for more