Essay Development
Blinn College – Bryan Writing Center
Spring 2022
Essay Development
Once you have chosen a topic for your paper, establish an outline to follow. An outline should be easy to understand and
clearly communicate the purpose of your paper. After outlining, it becomes easy to add, remove, or change details in your
paper as you research your topic and shape your ideas. See the examples of informal and formal outlines on pages 11-12 of
A Writer’s Reference.
The five-paragraph essay model includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Using this basic format,
you can create an outline for virtually any writing assignment. You must decide (based on the assignment’s specific
requirements listed in the prompt) how many paragraphs your essay will have and how long your paper will be, but it
should include these three essential parts:
• Introduction (includes a hook, background information, and thesis);
• Body Paragraphs (include main points and supporting examples discussed in detailed paragraphs);
• Conclusion (restates the thesis in an original way to include what you/the reader learned from your essay and uses
a conclusion strategy).
1. Introduction
An introduction is your only chance to make a good first impression on readers, so draft an effective one. It should
identify what your paper will be about and grab the reader’s attention. It usually includes your thesis statement, which
can be made up of more than one sentence (see Thesis section below). Be aware that you do not have to draft the
introduction first; doing that can actually make it more difficult. Many writers draft the introduction last to ensure that
it reflects the content of the paper. An introduction should do the following:
• Hook the reader’s attention on the subject and arouse curiosity;
• Give background information by focusing your topic and purpose (informative or persuasive) and quickly
summarizing the history or context of the problem;
• Provide your thesis statement, including the topic, claim, and main points of the essay (evidence or reasons that
support the claim). Below are more details about the thesis statement.
Thesis
A thesis is the answer to a research question; it should state the main points of your paper’s discussion and how you
will inform the reader about the topic. The thesis helps familiarize the reader with your paper’s outline and main ideas.
A thesis basically includes the following (in any order):
[topic + claim + evidence]
or
[what your paper will discuss + the message/position + main points or reasons supporting the claim]
Here is a thesis example applying this concept: “Pennies should remain a part of America’s currency because they
1increase government profits, 2save consumers money, and 3are vital to America’s history and culture.”
Topic = pennies;
Claim = should remain a part of America’s currency;
Evidence, or Main Point 1 = increase government profits;
Evidence, or Main Point 2 = save consumers money;
Evidence, or Main Point 3 = are vital to America’s history and culture.
