Essay Structure for Grade Ten Academic
Learning goal: to be able to develop arguments in a five-paragraph
structure in a more in-depth and sophisticated structure.
Introductory Paragraph
General introductory sentence
Example: “The effects of love often lead to a lack of rational thought.”
List of arguments in the order in which they appear in the
essay
Example: “In the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare,
because of their hasty marriage plans, a lack of proper
communication results in Juliet’s drinking of a fatal poison.
Also…(second argument). Lastly…(third argument).
Thesis: one sentence that states the overall argument of your
essay. This is specific to the text being discussed in the essay.
Example: The actions of Romeo and Juliet are irrational and unreasonable
in nature. This leads not only to their tragic deaths, but also to the
untimely demise of other major characters.
Body Paragraphs
SEEEEAC
Each body paragraph should
SEEEEAC
SEEEEAC
o Be in SEEEEAC format
o Contain specific examples,
in the form of properly
introduced and integrated
quotations
o Use transition words and
phrases to signal shifts in
direction both between
examples, as well as from
examples into analysis
o Specific, detailed analysis of
quotations
o Formal, sophisticated
analysis of each argument
in terms of its relation to
the thesis statement
o Be written in formal
language (free of slang,
contractions, first and
second person)
o Use present tense and
active voice
o Be written in a scholarly
and sophisticated tone
Concluding Paragraph
Concluding paragraph is a restatement in varied language of
introductory paragraph, in reverse order.
Restatement of thesis in different
words
List of arguments
General concluding sentence that
leads the reader to further thought