COMPOSITION I

EXAMPLE TYPES

• Scholarly (cited usually)
• Personal experience/testimony
• Expert testimony
• Specific examples
• General examples

ESSAY STRUCTURE

• Introduction; thesis must occur here
• Body: evidence supporting thesis
• Conclusion; thesis must occur again here
• Reasons can be arranged: emphatic (best), chronological, simple-to-complex
• Know this structure well and it will serve you well in your collegiate/formal/professional writing

Introduction

• Start with something general about topic
• Get more specific about topic
• Thesis (most specific)

Body (1)

• Topic sentence starts with "One reason is..."
• Provide example/evidence
• Tie example to reason (explanation)

Body (2)

• Topic sentence starts with "Another reason is..."
• Provide example/evidence
• Tie example to reason (explanation)

Body (3)

• Topic sentence starts with "The most important reason is..."
• Provide example/evidence
• Tie example to reason (explanation)

Conclusion

• MUST begin with restatement of thesis!
• Provide suggestions to fix problem
• General wrap-up

FIRST DRAFT TIPS

• Following one's outline, write the first draft completely!
• Despite the text's idea (writing body first), if one is a linear person, stick with following the essay structure step-by-step.
• Use ACTIVE (present or past tense) verbs for one's essay and third-person voice.

LAST THINGS

• Titles and cover pages should be optional
• Follow assignment boundaries
• FIRST DRAFTS SHOULD NOT BE FINAL/ONLY DRAFTS!
• Write out first draft by hand OR type out on computer

QUESTIONS?