The document provides information on writing essays, including outlining the main parts of an introduction, body, and conclusion. It discusses how the introduction should grab the reader's attention and introduce the thesis statement, while the body should include a topic sentence, supporting details, and transitions for each paragraph. Examples are given of attention-grabbing introduction sentences and how to write a clear thesis statement that sums up the main point of the essay.

1.  1. GED Practice
 2. Make Up Spelling Test (Study while absent
students take test)
 3. The Parts of the Essay (Introduction)

2.  You were asked to submit your sales report
yesterday, weren't you?
 Which is the best way to write the underlined
portion of this sentence?
 (1) your sales report yesterday, weren’t you
 (2) you’re sales report yesterday, weren’t you
 (3) sentence needs no correction. 
Theyour sales report yesterday, and weren’t you
 (4) you’re sales report yesterday, werent you
 (5) your sales report yesterday, were’nt you

3.  Introduction
 Attention Grabber
 Thesis
 Body
 Topic Sentence
 Supporting Details
 Transition (Anchor Sentence)
 Conclusion
 Summary of Main Points
 Sense of finality

4.  The introduction to an essay serves two main
purposes:
 To grab the attention of the reader
 To introduce the thesis statement

5.  To catch the attention of the reader, you need a
catchy opening.
 Which ones would make you want to read on?
 It’s midnight, and you’re relaxing on the front porch of
your home, when suddenly a thunderous explosion
rattles your house.
 The automobile, owned by most Americans, is a self-
propelled vehicle used to travel land.
 The word cannibal comes from the Carib West Indians,
a ferocious and warlike people, who skinned their
enemies and ate them.

6.  The thesis statement is a single sentence that
sums up what the essay is about.
 Example: Fast driving causes accidents and
increases air pollution.
 We know that this essay intends to discuss
the consequences of fast driving, not an
encounter with a unicorn in the forest.

7.  Helps you organize your essay.
 Example: To do well on an essay exam, you
must know the material, understand the
question, and organize your answer.
 You will talk about each item in this order:
 Knowing the material
 Understanding the question
 Organizing your answer

8.  Reflects your understanding of the topic and
your feelings about it.
 Example: Females are the stable element in
baboon society. (This would require your
understanding of the topic)
 Example: Affirmative action gives everyone
an equal chance. (Announces the writer is in
favor of affirmative action)

9.  The entertainment industry should start giving Oscars
to the best benefit show.
 The qualities I like best in a teacher are fairness,
knowledge, wit, and compassion.
 Religious symbols, such as crosses and menorahs,
should be kept out of our public parks.
 People usually go into debt for three reasons:
unemployment, lack of budgeting, and running credit
cards to the limit.

10. ▪ Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics was
very hot. Several days in a row during the
first week of competition the temperature
topped 90°F with humidity over 80%.
Fortunately, the first week was taken up
with mainly swimming. There’s no
question, as the games once again proved,
that sultry weather affects athletic
competitions.

11.  1. Identify the thesis.
 2. Look at the opening sentences. Are they
good attention grabbers? If so, write what
you like about them. If not, rewrite one or
two to make them more interesting.

12.  A thesis statement is
 Topic + position
 Example: Doing crossword puzzles is addicting
and educational.
 Topic: Crossword Puzzles
 Organizing features: two subtopics; 1) addicting;
2) educational
 Position: The writer enjoys doing crossword
puzzles