The Structure of an Essay

1. The Structure of an Essay

2. Parts of an Essay An English essay consists of four main parts: • A Title • An Introduction • Body Paragraphs • A Conclusion

3. I) Title • Your title is important: it is the first thing the reader sees. It should suggest your thesis and include your topic, writer, and work in question. The Roles of Minor Characters in Don Aker'sThe First Stone

4. II) Introduction The first paragraph must contain: • an introductory statement or lead, and elaboration sentences • a THESIS, which consists of i) a position or argument ii) a plan of development

5. Thesis Statement: • Do NOT begin your thesis statement with phrases such as, "In this essay I will..." or "The purpose of this paper is...". Be concise. Example: Don Aker uses literary devices in the novel, The First Stone

6. Plan of Development: • This is a short, concise summary or outline of the subtopics you will use to prove your argument. Example: Foreshadowing, flashback, and irony are three examples of literary devices evident throughout the novel.

7. III) The Body: • The body of an essay consists of separate paragraphs, each dealing with one of the subtopics listed in the plan of development. Example: Body Paragraph One: Irony Body Paragraph Two: Foreshadowing Body Paragraph Three: Cliffhangers

8. Suggestions for Good Body Paragraphs • First, find proof (quotes) from the novel which strongly support your thesis. • Write a clear topic sentence. • Introduce your quote with a clear explanation of the circumstances surrounding the quotation. • Copy the quotation word for word from the text

9. Do NOT's in Creating Paragraphs • Do NOT begin or end a paragraph with a quotation. • Do NOT use an excessive number of quotations. • Do NOT write a quotation without introducing it with an explanation.

10. IV) Conclusion The conclusion of an essay also consists of three distinct parts: • a) the THESIS creatively restated • b) the subtopics summarized • c) a general closing statement Do NOT introduce NEW information or give your personal opinion of the work of literature

12. Groups Group One Kayla Broomer Trai Shea Devon Haddlesey Brandon Junkin Group Two Matt C Sam Groen Courtney Griffin Lucky Gionette Both male and female characters play vital roles in Reef’s character development. Select three male OR three female characters, and for each provide three examples indicating their influence on Reef. Don Aker uses symbols in The First Stone. Choose three types of symbols (e.g. people, places, events, objects), and for each explain the contribution of three examples.

13. Groups Group Three Austin Wilkins Taylor Bain JaslynDamant Luke Anderson Ben Waterson Group Four Miranda Fargo Jamie Walker Mason McCallum Jamie Harvard Conflicts are necessary for the development of The First Stone. Select three types of conflicts (e.g. person vs. person, person vs. self), and for each explain the contribution of three examples. Each character in The First Stone has an important role in the novel due to his/her personality traits. Choose three minor characters (e.g. Jink, Frank, Brett, Alex), and for each define his/her contribution to the novel due to three personality traits.

14. Groups Group Five Taylor Cramp Nick Katcher Bethany Patterson Nathan Kendrick Jake Dejong The First Stone has many qualities which contribute to its appeal to young readers. Identify three aspects of the novel that are appealing to a young audience, and for each provide three examples for support.