The Essay Map
Adapted from www.slideshare.net
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What makes an essay?
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An essay:
» Focuses on one
main idea
» Consists of several
paragraphs that
develop this main
idea using supporting
evidence with the
purpose to explore,
explain, evaluate, or
reflect
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What is the Essay Map?
» It is a visual, easy-to-remember
format for creating an essay. EACH
and EVERY PART of an essay has a
purpose, and connects to the main
idea of your essay. Using this format
will make your writing clearer and
more focused, with better supporting
details.
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What are the key parts of an
essay?
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Start Taking
Essay Map Notes
Now!
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Key Part:
Thesis Statement (TS)
» This is the IDEA that your paper
will EXPLORE and PROVE.
» It should be ONE SENTENCE long
» EVERYTHING in your paper will
help prove this statement.
» It is based on the EVIDENCE you
have found.
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Sample Thesis
Statement
» I believe in being a good
father and provider to my
child.
» Notice this is one sentence long,
and focuses on a life belief of
being a good parent.
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Key Part:
Body Paragraphs
I.
A.
Definition of a body paragraph:
A unit of writing that presents and
develops ONE main point which
supports the Thesis Statement.
1.
2.
EVERY sentence in a paragraph
relates directly to that point.
A standard essay has three or
more body paragraphs.
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B. Body Paragraph’s
Key Parts
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1. Main Point of the Paragraph
(MPP):
a). This is the topic sentence.
i.
ii.
It is ONE sentence long.
It connects directly to the
Thesis Statement
iii. ALL other sentences in the
paragraph connect to it / help
prove it.
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Sample MPP
» The day my daughter was born, a whole
new sense of responsibility came into my
life.
ALL sentences in this paragraph will help show what new
responsibilities he had as a father.
Note how it connects with the Thesis statement -read the
MPP, then say “helps prove that, he believes in being a
good father and provider for his child. ”
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2. Supporting Sentences
a) These sentences give specific
information that supports the
main point of the paragraph.
b) There are two kinds:
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i. Supporting Ideas of the
Paragraph (SIP)
(a) This is an IDEA that helps prove the
MPP.
(b) It INTRODUCES specific details that
prove the MPP
(c) It does not include specific details those come next!
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Sample SIP
(SIP) Now I had the responsibility of
taking care of someone else other than
myself. This was an entirely new concept
for me.
» This sentence helps prove the MPP by
telling the reader that the writer, for
the first time in his life, had to take
care of someone else, but doesn’t give
SPECIFIC details - yet!
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ii. Specific Details with
Explanations (SDE).
(a) These are SPECIFIC DETAILS that
prove or show the Supporting Idea of
the Paragraph.
(b) Each SDE is an example - it should be
more than one sentence long.
(c) It contains details that allow readers
see, hear, smell, feel, or
qualify/quantify the main point of the
paragraph.
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Sample SDE
(SDE) Now I had diapers to change, bottles to fix, puke
stained clothes to wash, and that is just to start. Not
to mention that all that stuff costs money. As she has
gotten older, she has grown exponentially smarter. I
can now see her trying to do all the things that I do.
Several days ago I was sitting on the couch reading
the newspaper. When I looked to my right, there was
my daughter holding a Sesame Street book upside
down trying her best to read it. She was trying so hard
to be just like me.
This gives a specific example that helps prove the SIP.
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3. Clincher / Concluding
Sentence (CS)
(a) This is a concluding sentence
that summarizes your
paragraph’s main point.
(b) It is OPTIONAL - long
paragraphs need one, but short
ones don’t.
(c) It is ONE sentence long.
Sample CS
» (CS) This was an example to
me that as her father, I have
the responsibility of setting a
good example.
» Notice that this connects
directly to the MPP.
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How do the parts fit together?
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Body Paragraph Map
Main Point of the Paragraph
Supporting ideas of the paragraph
Specific details of the paragraph
Concluding Sentence (CS)
•If you have
more than one
supporting
idea in the
paragraph,
each one
should have
its own
supporting
details that
follow.
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How do I know when to start
a new paragraph?
You should start a new paragraph:
•When you begin a new idea or point. New
ideas should always start in new paragraphs.
•To contrast information or ideas. Separate
paragraphs can serve to contrast sides in a
debate, different points in an argument, or any
other difference.
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How do I know when to start
a new paragraph?
You should start a new paragraph:
• When your readers need a pause. You
would create a break if the paragraph
becomes too long or the material is
complex.
• When you are ending your introductory
paragraph or starting your conclusion
paragraph.
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Key Part:
Introductory Paragraph
1. Definition: This paragraph
introduces your essay.
A. It has THREE functions:
1. Catch the reader’s attention
2. Introduce your topic
3. Present your Thesis Statement
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II. Introductory
Paragraph’s
Key Parts
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A. Lead
1. Short story, description, a
series of questions or facts,
or background information
2. Connects to your main topic
3. Gets the reader’s attention
- makes them keep reading
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Sample Lead
» When I was fifteen years old, I was
caught stealing a deck of cards from a
convenience store. …When we finally
arrived home, my father said to me,
“Son, you don’t know how much what you
have done has hurt your mom and me.
But one day, when you have kids of your
own, you will know how much you mean
to us.” I didn’t know how true those
words were until my daughter Kiara was
born.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
**Write the lead AFTER you write the
body paragraphs - you can’t introduce
someone you haven’t met!**
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B. Thesis Statement (TS)
The final sentence of your introduction
is the central idea that your paper
will explore and prove.
Example:
(TS) I believe in being a good father
and provider to my child.
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How do the parts fit together?
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Introductory Paragraph Map
•Note the
shape: the
intro starts
broad, and
narrows to a
focused thesis
statement.
LEAD
Thesis Statement
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Key Part:
Concluding Paragraph
1. Definition: This paragraph
concludes your paper.
A. It has THREE functions:
1. Recap your thesis statement
2. Review your main points
3. Leave the reader with
something to think about
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II.
Concluding
Paragraph’s
Key Parts
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A. Restated Thesis
Statement (RTS)
1.
It is a recap of the central idea that your paper
explored and proved.
2. It is worded differently from your TS, but
makes the same point
Example:
(RTS) I have been gifted with the privilege of being
a father, and it has changed who I am today.
Having a child has made me a much better
person than I was before.
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C. Ringer (R)
1. Is ONE SENTENCE long
2. Connects to your main topic
3. Leaves the reader with
something to think about.
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Sample R
» (R) The only sad part is, she
may never understand until she
has kids of her own.
» Note how this connects to the lead,
and leaves the reader with
something to think about.
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How do the parts fit together?
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Concluding Paragraph Map
Re-stated
Thesis
Statement
•Note the shape:
the conclusion
starts with a
narrow focused
re-stated TS, and
widens out to a
broad statement.
Ringer
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How does it all come together?
Introduction
Thesis St.
Body
Paragraph
Body
Paragraph
Body
Paragraph
Conclusion
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• These are guidelines that will help your
writing be clearer and more organized.
However, in practice the boundaries
between paragraphs may be not as clear,
so prepare to deal with doubts and
uncertainty as you determine a main point
for each paragraph and its connection to
the central idea of your essay.
• An essay is like a quilt where all pieces fit
together in harmony.
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