Antelope Valley School District

Writing Workshop

How to write an effective essay

AN EFFECTIVE ESSAY CONSISTS OF AN INTRODUCTION THAT INTRODUCES THE MAIN TOPIC/ARGUMENT OF THE ESSAY, A BODY WHICH SUPPORTS THE MAIN TOPIC, AND A CONCLUSION THAT SUMMARIZES THE ESSAY AND LEAVES THE READY WITH A MEANINGFUL TAKEAWAY.

Introduction (Typically 1 paragraph; each paragraph 2-4 sentences in length)

AN EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTION SHOULD..

  • BEGIN WITH A CAPTIVIATING FACT, QUESTION, OR STORY TO GATHER THE READER'S ATTENTION
  • NOTE THE SUPPORTING POINT/TOPICS THAT WILL BE USED IN THE ESSAY
  • HIGHLIGHT THE THESIS (MAIN IDEA/ARGUMENT) OF THE ESSAY

BODY (Typically 2-4 paragraphs; each paragraph 3-6 sentences in length)

THE BODY OF AN ESSAY SHOULD INCLUDE THE SUPPORTING POINTS/FACTS TO SUPPORT THE THESIS. AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO WRITE EACH PARAGRAPH IN THE BODY IS TO FOLLOW THE CLAIM, EVIDENCE, ANALYSIS (C.E.A.) METHOD.

  • CLAIM: THE PARAGRAPH SHOULD START WITH MAKING THE CLAIM FOR YOUR FIST TOPIC. EXAMPLE, "STUDENTS ARE DISTRACTED CELL PHONES, AND STUDENT PREFORMANCE IS PROVING THAT POINT."
  • EVIDENCE: THE NEXT 1-3 SENTICES SHOULD PROVIDE FACTS AND RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS THE CLAIM WHICH WAS JUST MADE. EXAMPLE, "ACCORDING TO THE JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION EDUCATION, STUDENTS WITHOUT ACCESS TO MOBILE PHONES AT SCHOOL 'WROTE DOWN 62 PERCENTS MORE INFORMATION IN THEIR NOTES' (KUZNEKOFF AND TITSWORTH, 2012)."
  • ANALYSIS: THE FINAL 1-2 SENTICES SHOULD EXPLAIN HOW THE RESEARCH YOU JUST PRESENTED, SUPPORTS THE CLAIM WHICH YOU MADE IN THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE PARAGRAPH. EXAMPLE, "IT IS CLEAR THAT THE RISE IN STUDENTS USAGE OF DISTRACTING SMART PHONES EQUATES TO A DROP IN STUDENT PERFORMACE."

FOLLOWING THE C.E.A. METHOD ALLOWS FOR THE PARAGRAPH TO STAY ON TASK, FLOW SMOOTHLY, AND PROVIDE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE POINT/ARGUMENT THE WRITER IS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE.

Conclusion (typically 1 paragraph; 2-4 sentences in length)

THE CONCLUSION OF ESSAY SHOULD...

  • USING DIFFERENT WORDS, EXPLAIN THE REASONS PRESENTED IN SUPPORT OF THE MAIN IDEA/ARGUMENT OF THE ESSAY
  • RE-STATE THE THEISIS OF THE ESSAY
  • END WITH A MEANINGFUL LESSON LEARNED, PRACTICAL APPLICATION, OR STRONG TAKEAWAY FOR THE READER TO CONSIDER