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I. Introduction: Literally introduces the topic and explains its importance to the reader.
II. First Point or Argument
III. Second Point or Argument
IV. Third Point or Argument
V. Conclusion: Wrap-up
The introduction will include the thesis statement – the main point of the essay.
The following paragraphs will provide details that illuminate each aspect of the topic, informing or persuading your readers that your assertion is correct. Each paragraph will begin with a topic sentence, a statement that expresses the main idea of the paragraph, based on the examples and quotations that follow.
Your conclusion should show your readers how each aspect of the topic creates a clearer picture of the topic and its importance.
Transitional Phrases link sentences and paragraphs together. This helps the essay to flow by connecting thoughts and examples in an orderly fashion. Some examples of transitional phrases are:
| First of all | However | But | |
| Secondly | Furthermore | Yet | |
| Thirdly | Consequently | Then | |
| In addition | Therefore | In contrast / By contrast | |
| To summarize | Although | Thus | |
| In conclusion | Nevertheless | To sum up |
For further transitional words and phrases, log onto the MSMC Portal and check out the Graduate Transition Center's Writing Resources.
The first draft of an essay is NOT the final draft.
Always proofread your work, checking for spelling and grammatical errors as well as linguistic flow and word choice. You may revise your essay multiple times -- and each revision will be stronger and more to-the-point than the previous version.
Ask someone else to read your essay. Peer editing is recommended. Also, staff members in the LRC, Graduate Transition Center and/or the library can also review your essays.
Revisions are necessary for submitting your best work to your professors. When other people read an essay, they notice punctuation, grammar, word choice, organizational and/or citation errors.
Scholarly writing requires the use of powerful language.
Using strong words - synonyms for simple words - will enhance your arguments and make your essays clearer and more profound.
Vocabularies can be strengthened by using a thesaurus (Doheny's library has Roget's 3rd Ed. behind the reference desk!). You can also access Thesaurus.com or download an APP on your phone.
Some free, online sites that check for inadvertant plagiarism and/or style and organizational flaws:
These should not replace the human review process (such as asking a friend, colleague, professor, etc. to read your paper), but they can be useful for understanding the value of proper summaraziation and paraphrasing. This will help you to build your writing skills.