Academic Support Center
Writing Center
Basic Parts of an Essay or Research Paper
Resources: Capital Community College Foundation, Grace Fleming
from about.com; and The OWL at Purdue website
A solid essay or research paper needs to be composed of a thesis statement,
introductory paragraph, topic sentences, transitional sentences, and summary
paragraph. When these elements are used in conjunction with one another, the
paper becomes a well written document full of logical ideas that blend well
together to form one main idea.
The parts of an essay or research paper consist of the following:
The Opening or Introductory Paragraph
 The introductory paragraph is the first paragraph of your essay.
 It introduces the main idea of your essay.
 A good opening paragraph captures the interest of your reader and tells
why your topic is important.
The introductory paragraph should start with a great first sentence.
It is true that the first impression—whether it’s a first meeting with a person or
the first sentence of a paper—sets the stage for a lasting opinion. To get your
paper off to a great start, you should try to have a first sentence that sparks
interest and engages your reader. Think of your first sentence as a hook that
draws your reader in. As you researched your topic, you probably discovered
many interesting anecdotes, quotes, or trivial facts. This is exactly the sort of thing
you should use for an engaging introduction.
In a typical essay, that first sentence leads into two or three sentences that
provide details about your subject or your process. All of these sentences build up
to your thesis statement.
While the opening paragraph should indeed be written in such a fashion that
would encourage the reader to want to read the paper, the introductory
Created by Austin Peay State University, 22 March 2012; revised 27 January 2017.
paragraph is supposed to serve as an introduction—or an overview—of what the
paper is about.
What information is needed for the introductory paragraph? How do I write
one?
The introduction for formal papers consists of all or as many of the following
elements as appropriate to the paper’s topic:
1.
who the paper is about
2.
what the paper is about
3.
where the topic takes place
4.
when the idea (s) occurred
5.
how the event(s), technique(s), and/or idea(s) transpired
6.
significance of the topic
Things NOT to do in an introductory paragraph
 Apologize. Never suggest that you don't know what you're talking about or that
you're not enough of an expert in this matter that your opinion would matter.
Your reader will quickly turn to something else. Avoid phrases like the following:
In my [humble] opinion . . .
I'm not sure about this, but . . .
 Announce your intentions. Do not flatly announce what you are about to do in
an essay. Avoid phrases such as “In this paper I will…” or “The purpose of this
essay is to…” Get into the topic and let your reader perceive your purpose in the
topic sentence of your beginning paragraph.
Use a dictionary or encyclopedia definition.
According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, a widget is . . .
Although definitions are extremely useful and it might serve your purpose to
devise your own definition(s) later in the essay, you want to avoid using this
worn-out beginning to an essay.

The Thesis Statement
Among this wealth of information, the introductory paragraph MUST contain the
thesis sentence, also known as the thesis statement, or simply called “the thesis.”
The thesis is the core idea (topic, focus) of the paper. It serves as the paper’s
purpose, or the reason for writing about a given subject.
Where does the thesis statement belong in the introductory paragraph?
The thesis is typically expected to come at the end of the first (opening)
paragraph, but some professors have different expectations for thesis placement.
Some instructors teach the thesis is written as the first sentence of the entire
paper. Others teach that the thesis is written in the middle of the opening
Created by Austin Peay State University, 22 March 2012; revised 27 January 2017.
paragraph. Regardless, the thesis sentence must be present and clearly stated.
Without it, the rest of the paper will lack clear focus and structure.
Like the basic foundation is the starting point for building a strong house, the
thesis statement is the starting point for building a solid essay or research paper.
The thesis statement
1. concisely expresses your main idea.
2. is proved and supported by the body of the essay.
Your thesis statement should do more than state a fact; rather, it should make
some statement of significance based on your own ideas.
Broad and general  Parents should raise their children to be good citizens.
Better  Parents should raise their children to be solid citizens who build
productive lives and contribute to their communities.
How to Develop a Thesis Statement
Think beyond the superficial layer of introducing a basic idea. After writing a
thesis statement, ask yourself, “Why should the reader care?”
Go deeper with your main idea than merely writing, for example, “The Battle of
Fort Donelson was important.” Consider adding a reason “because.”
Example The Battle of Fort Donelson was important.” (because?)
Revision The Battle of Fort Donelson was strategically important because the
Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers were formed as current modes of
transportation.
Topic Sentences
Topic sentences are generally the first sentence of every paragraph in the body of
the paper. Like the thesis sentence tells the main idea of the overall paper, the
topic sentence alerts the reader of the main idea of that particular paragraph. In
addition, the topic sentence needs to directly relate to the thesis statement.
For example, if the thesis statement reads, “Odysseus is a hero because he is
clever, strategic, and unselfish,” the first topic sentence needs to reflect on the
thesis statement’s first main point:
“Odysseus is a hero because he is clever.”
Created by Austin Peay State University, 22 March 2012; revised 27 January 2017.
The body of that paragraph would thus focus only on the quality of his being
clever, and nothing else.
When discussion of this quality of cleverness is complete, a transitional sentence
(the last sentence of the paragraph) draws a conclusion and sets the stage for the
paragraph that follows.
For example: transition sentence: “Odysseus’s cleverness shows he is able to
outwit his enemies and thus shows his strategic powers.”
Note that the second main idea in the thesis statement is “Odysseus is strategic.”
The topic sentence for the paragraph that follows needs to reflect this quality as
well as link onto the idea of the transitional sentence of the paragraph before.
Continue the use of writing strong topic sentences and subsequent transitional
sentences in the same pattern so that all of the thesis statement’s main ideas are
discussed.
If the topic sentences reflect directly back to the main idea of the thesis
statement, the entire essay would form a solid foundation of sub-ideas that link
onto each other.
Transitional Sentences
Transitions help ideas to flow from paragraph to paragraph. They come at the end
of the current paragraph and link it to the beginning of the paragraph that
follows.
Transitional sentences are constructed by weaving together the main idea from
the paragraph before and the main idea of the upcoming paragraph to create a
sentence.
One common method to link ideas is to use key words and/or similar phrases that
link.
Examples
Note that the first paragraph of any paper is the introductory paragraph. The
body of the paper begins on Paragraph 2.
 Paragraph 1 main idea (thesis statement): Apples are a durable fruit.
 Paragraph 2 main idea (topic sentence): Apples are easy to pack for lunch
because they are not messy.
Created by Austin Peay State University, 22 March 2012; revised 27 January 2017.
 Example transition sentence that comes at the beginning of Paragraph 3
(topic sentence): While they are durable, apples are also easy to take for
lunch.
Each idea (discussed in a corresponding paragraph of its own) needs to link
together to form the final product of an entire essay.
Conclusion or Summary Paragraph
What it is
The conclusion or summary paragraph is the final paragraph of the essay,
research paper, informative paper, and most all other written material.
For creative writing or informal papers, such as personal essays, the last
paragraph can be considered the conclusion in which the story, situation,
recollection of events, etc. merely ends.
For formal papers, such as essay tests, informative essays, research papers,
literature papers, etc., the last paragraph supports the paper’s thesis statement
and summarizes the information that is contained in the body of the paper.
The summary is similar to the introductory paragraph except that the summary
also offers the significance of the topic(s) that were discussed.
A conclusion does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the
evidence provided.
Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize
the information presented in the body of the essay.
What it does
The summary in the conclusion should
1. reiterate the thesis statement/sentence
2. summarize the paper’s major points
3. restate or re-emphasize the significance of the topic(s)
4. reach a conclusion that is based on concrete facts
5. state a conclusion as a result of facts and explanation
NOTE: A writer cannot have a conclusion without evidence (facts) and analysis
(explanation).
What it does not do
The summary in the conclusion paragraph does not
1. present new ideas or topics that are not pertinent to or discussed within the
paper
Created by Austin Peay State University, 22 March 2012; revised 27 January 2017.
2. sound like an emotional appeal, a political statement, an editorial, a personal
challenge or attack, or an inappropriate personal opinion
3. mention or introduce characters or people who are not discussed in the paper
4. suggest results that have not been proven with facts
5. discuss preventative measures or resolutions that are not discussed in the
paper
6. retell all of the details that should have already been discussed in the body of
the paper
7. repeat all of the information that has already been discussed
Basic Formula
1. Restate why the topic is important.
2. Reiterate and review your thesis.
3. Review and summarize the main points. (Your main points should be found in
your topic sentences.)
4. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should
be completed in light of your work or describe how the “narrowed” topic can
apply to the “bigger picture.”
How to Write the Summary or Conclusion Paragraph
The first sentence (topic sentence) should state the conclusion in which the facts
and arguments have been proven to the reader.
Example If the paper’s assignment required the writer to name three Italian
Renaissance artists, two of their main works, and how their art impacted Europe,
the topic sentence for the summary paragraph can read:
“Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rafael each contributed important works of art and
sculpture to Europe that still affect the region today.”
The remainder of this paragraph should explain, but in a summarized format, why
this statement (the conclusion) is true and important.
Example: for the same question used in the example topic sentence above, the
conclusion briefly explains important and significant facts about the artist, their
associated works, how they and/or their arts affected Europe during the
Renaissance, and how their art affected the centuries to come.
Created by Austin Peay State University, 22 March 2012; revised 27 January 2017.