As a literature graduate, I’ve written dozens of papers on many subjects. Once you have a topic, there is an easy way to get started. A well written paper is broken up into sections. First, you have to write an introduction. An introduction is like a greeting. You don’t just start a deep intricate conversation with someone without first saying hello. Introduce your topic. Say what you know about the topic within a paragraph. Any background information on your subject belongs in this section. Any introduction is incomplete without a thesis or a point. Why are you saying hello? What is your position on this topic? Near the end of your introduction, make a strong statement. Subject, verb, noun, period. Use strong action verbs. Avoid using words like “seems,””might” or “could be.” Making a clear stance can be intimidating, but it is needed. Your thesis will make your paper have a purpose. It will also make writing your paper easier for you. Now that you have a thesis, you know what you must do. But how?
This is where the “body” of your paper comes in. After your introduction, you now have your readers interested in your point. Why did you make it? What do you have to support it? A body of a paper can contain any number of paragraphs. The most simple papers usually have a body of three paragraphs. Each paragraph will explain parts of why you made your thesis. It is a good idea to leave your best paragraph for last. This is not necessarily you biggest paragraph, but the one that makes the best supporting point to your thesis.
Start these paragraphs with an introductory sentence. Say your thesis is “dogs are good pets.” Your first body paragraph could start with “dogs are friendly.” The rest of that paragraph will be about how they were domesticated. Domestication resulted in said friendliness. Include physical support like quotes from different books. If your topic is on a certain book, include quotes from that book and reviews or articles about that book. Periodicals are incredibly useful when writing papers as they supply numerous views on different subjects. If your paper is a research paper, you will be using periodicals as well as other books on your subject to obtain support. Choose how many quotes you want per paragraph. I recommend around three. Also be sure to provide at least three sentences per quote. These sentences should explain the connection of the quote to the paragraph, and to the thesis. Try to end each paragraph with a closing statement. This will make your thoughts more coherent.
Three paragraphs into your paper, you should feel confident in what your paper is about. After the body of your paper comes the conclusion. Take a step back and read what you have written up to this point. Every conversation has an end. It is time to end yours. How do you wish to leave your reader? Summarize that your thesis is true because of the points your have made. To make the conclusion complete, add what you think this thesis means overall. How does the thesis affect the subject and all those involved?
With these tips, you should have a good start to your essay. You know that you need an introduction with a thesis statement on a certain subject. A body should come after, which includes your support for your thesis along with points and examples. Finally, you need to wrap up your essay with a conclusion that ties up your points and leaves the reader with a final thought.