Structuring Your Essay

Remember, for HW you need to finish the questions on the "Alphabetism" article and finish annotating what kinds of paragraphs the author uses.

Also, you need to write 2-3 sentences explaining YOUR structure (whether it is from my list of essay organizing strategies below or you make up your own "recipe").

Here are types of paragraphs you might use (this can also give you ideas as to how you can expand your essay, if need be).

• Introduction
• Narration/anecdote
• Explanation of argument or opinion
• Definition of major terms or ideas
• Personal example
• Research example 
• Book/movie/game etc. example
• Counter point
• Compare/contrast
• Wrapping it up/Conclusion

Here are different strategies for organizing the order of your paragraphs (you can make up your own name for your special recipe of structure)

• The Chronological:  showing development over time (works great for a personal essay).
• The Traditional:  Start off with an illustrative anecdote, present your argument, give examples, then wrap it up.
• The Traditional Twist:  Like the traditional, but you also address the counter argument and tear it down.
• The Full Circle:  Like the traditional, but you refer back to your initial anecdote in your conclusion.  Such a lovely way to finish off an essay.
• The Step by Step:  You give the reader step-by-step directions (this can be used ironically to great effect)
• The Effect and Cause:  I switched this around because usually you address the effect first then analyze what caused this (this is especially true in our human nature essays).  This should also integrate research as much as possible.