Click on any link below to review the parts of the traditional five paragraph essay:
Creating a Thesis Statement (explains how the thesis can contain the three reasons you will argue later)
BONUS: Thesis Generator
BONUS: Creating a Hook for the Reader
Writing the Introductory Paragraph (relating to the reader, providing background information, naming the book and author)
Writing an Introductory Paragraph (interactive quiz which has you place sentences in order)
BONUS: More on the Introductory (Topic Overview) Paragraph
BONUS: More on Writing a Good Thesis
Constructing Body Paragraphs (including topic sentences, examples, and support sentences)
Writing a Conclusion Paragraph (including going beyond the thesis by discussing the application of your argument; in other words, now that you've proven your point, so what?)
Interactive Quiz on Writing Essays
More Essay Writing Tips (including some sample organizers)
SRJC Online Writing Lab (everything you'd want to know about good formal writing)