Main Elements of Education

Body Paragraphs

The introduction will contain three main elements: a lead to get the reader’s attention, the overall topic of the paper, and a thesis statement that establishes your full position. The introduction must include a thesis statement. This is an important part of the paper. This is where you clearly state your position that you will evaluate in the paper. Remember to include three reasons or supports for your thesis.

These are the reasons you will explore in your body paragraphs. For example, chocolate labs make the best dogs because they are loyal, good companions, and good with children. (But remember, you are not writing about dogs. This will be a draft of the paper you began in Week 1.)

Each body paragraph should discuss one of your reasons or one support piece of your thesis. For example, the first paragraph of the above thesis would be about how chocolate labs are loyal, the second about how they are good companions, and the third how they are good with children. Your final body paragraph should address any counterarguments that someone might have against your position. It will also provide a rebuttal to that counterargument. Your body paragraphs are typically where you will use the research you completed in Week 2. This draft requires use of a minimum of two outside sources.

Conclusion

The conclusion must be strong and not leave the reader hanging like at the end of a bad movie. It also should not be merely a summary of what the reader just read. Instead, focus on what you learned during your research. The conclusion is your last chance to convince your audience to believe what you say. Use this opportunity to leave them with your most important points. When writing your conclusion, it can be helpful to utilize a strategy to best capture the reader. Here are a few strategies you can try: Back Where We Started Revisit your introduction.

How did you get the reader’s attention?

If you revisit the quote, anecdote, example, or startling fact you used in the opening, you can remind the reader where you started and how much you’ve covered in the essay. This is a kind of echo that can make your essay feel complete.

you gave specific points and evidence to persuade (or inform, entertain, etc.) your reader. In the conclusion, you take a step back and show the reader how those specifics all lead to a bigger picture. What is the overall point/argument you want the reader to understand? Help the reader understand why it all matters. You can do this by asking challenging questions of the reader, giving an analogy to help the reader get perspective, or by pointing the reader to the future. Sum It Up With this straightforward approach, you take all the points you made in the body paragraphs and add them together for the reader. Show exactly how they are related and what they add up to. Think of it like a math equation.

Don’t repeat what you said exactly, but show how the pieces fit together. Storybook Ending If your topic is appropriate, try ending with an anecdote or story that gets the reader to understand your larger point. Being creative with your ending can help you connect with the reader and frame your argument in a different way that leaves the reader thinking. You are welcome to try any of these techniques for writing your conclusion. Whichever technique you choose, make sure that you stay true to the purpose you established in your thesis statement. Follow through on that promise to the reader. Follow the Institutional Writing Guidelines Format your paper according to the Institutional Writing GuidelinesPreview the document.

Make sure all sources used in your paper are documented according to these standards. Prompt Write a complete first draft of your position paper, using the topic and position you selected in Week 1 and following the Institutional Writing Guidelines. Submission Requirements: Full draft must be a minimum of 500 words. Include at least two outside sources, documented per the Institutional Writing Guidelines. Submit both a clean copy of your draft and writing center documentation.