The Citadel Writing and Learning Center

Making Essays Easy!

Planning & Organizing Effective Papers

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Where Do I Begin?
Before beginning your paper, ask yourself several questions
o o o

What is my topic? What are the assignment requirements? Who is my audience?

o o

How much can I assume they know? What tone should I use?

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Basic Essay Structure

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Basic Essay Structure

The introduction starts with a broad focus and quickly narrows down to the thesis. The thesis is the most important sentence in the paper. It clearly states the argument, and all evidence in the paper should directly or indirectly support it. Each paragraph in the body of the paper is about a different argument and each needs to start with a topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about. The conclusion can branch out from the narrow focus of the paper to discuss the broader implications of the topic.

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Introductions
Effective Introductions Should:
o o o o

Introduce the topic Explicitly state your thesis Contain approximately 4-10 sentences Capture the readers attention

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Strategies for Introductions

Background: May include historical or chronological information. Definition: If the paper focuses on an abstract subject, such as honor, love, courage, freedom, etc., define the term. Question: Make the reader contemplate the topic. The body of the paper must thoroughly answer the question. Quotation: Discuss its significance immediately afterward.

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Writing a Thesis Statement

An effective thesis should:
o

o o

Be a central idea that requires supporting evidence Be of adequate scope for an essay of the assigned length Be sharply focused Not have an immediately obvious answer

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Good and Bad Thesis Statements

o

Bad: The first polygraph was developed by Dr. John A. Larson in 1921. (Too factual) Good: Because the Polygraph has not been proven reliable, even under the most controlled conditions, its use by private employers should be banned. Bad: Mapping the human genome has many implications for health and science. (Too broad) Bad: A person who carries a genetic mutation linked to a particular disease might or might not develop that disease. (Too narrow) Good: Although scientists can now detect genetic predisposition to specific diseases, not everyone should be tested for these diseases.

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Suggestions for Writing Thesis Statements

To craft a complex thesis that contains several ideas, sentence paradigms can be helpful. Examples: o Although ________, ________. o Because ________, ________. o By [doing something], Carl Cadet does [something else].

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Body Paragraphs
Body paragraphs develop the major points of the thesis. Each paragraph is like a miniature paper with a thesis, facts to support the thesis, and a conclusion.

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Body Paragraphs Continued

Begin with a topic sentence (the thesis of the paragraph) that transitions smoothly from previous paragraph and states the point the paragraph will develop. Offer examples, facts, expert opinions, quotations and other evidence to support the main idea. Make sure to analyze this information and show clearly why it supports your thesis! End with concluding sentence to wrap up the paragraph.

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Conclusions
A conclusion should remind readers what your thesis is without repeating exactly what you already said. Drive home your point and perhaps leave the reader with something broader to consider. Leave readers with a sense of closure.

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Strategies for Conclusions

Summarize the essays key points. Propose a course of action Discuss the topics wider significance. Ask yourself, So what? Use an example, image, anecdote etc. that relates to the introduction, so readers come full circle.

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Try to Avoid
Re-wording thesis Incorporating language such as, in conclusion, to summarize, or in closing Oversimplifying Introducing new, unrelated ideas

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Writing an Outline
Outlines come in all forms, from simple and informal to detailed and formal. One of the simplest kinds of outlines is the thesis followed by a list of ideas:

Thesis: Television advertising should be regulated to help prevent childhood obesity. Children watch more television than ever. Snacks marketed to children are often unhealthy and fattening. Childhood obesity can cause diabetes and other health problems.

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More Outlines
A more detailed outline can include the thesis, followed by topic sentences and supporting evidence for each paragraph.
Thesis: Although various methods for limiting or disposing of nuclear wastes have been proposed, each has serious drawbacks. A. The process of limiting nuclear waste through partitioning and transmutation has several negative aspects. The process is complex and costly. Workers exposure to radiation would increase. B. Antarctic ice sheet disposal is a problem for scientific and legal reasons A. Understanding of ice sheet behavior is limited. B. International treaty prohibits it.

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Note on Outlines
Writing something in an outline does not set it in stone. Actually, outlining can help highlight weaknesses in your argument that need to be changed. Happy Writing!

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Questions?
Contact the Writing and Learning Center For an appointment, Call (843) 953-5305 Email wlcenter@citadel.edu For helpful handouts, visit www.citadel.edu/wlcenter

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Writing and Learning Center Hours

Monday Thursday: 8am to 9:30pm Friday: 8am to 4:00pm Saturdays: 2pm to 5pm, Study Sessions for Tours Sundays: 2pm to 6pm, Study Sessions for Tours 6:30pm to 9:30pm, Regular Tutoring