Introduction to Academic Essays AK

Organization: Introduction Paragraphs

1. EXERCISE: Identify hooks and general topics

   1. Hook: fact, General topic: student stress
   2. Hook: problem, General topic: successful business people

2. EXERCISE: Analyze a thesis

   1. yes
   2. yes
   3. no
   4. no
   5. It is the right level of specificity
   6. stated

3. EXERCISE: Identify effective thesis statements

   1. Describe your city
      1. No, announces
      2. X
   2. What are the qualities of an influential leader?
      1. X
      2. X
   3. How can young adults overcome feelings of homesickness?
      1. No, too general
      2. X
   4. How is writing different from speaking in a foreign language?
      1. X (but could be too specific for a thesis)
      2. No, too general

4. EXERCISE: Evaluate thesis statements

   1. No, announces
   2. No, incomplete sentence
   3. Yes
   4. No, too many details
   5. No, question
   6. No, too specific, fact
   7. No, too general (useful vs best place)
   8. Yes
   9. No, incomplete sentence
   10. No, too general, does not clearly relate to the prompt

5. EXERCISE: Write a thesis

   1. Answers will vary, no example provided

Organization: Body Paragraphs

1. EXERCISE: Analyze a topic sentence

   1. Yes
   2. Yes
   3. Yes
   4. Yes
   5. No
   6. It is the right level of specificity

2. EXERCISE: Identify topic sentences

   1. D
   2. B
   3. C
   4. B
   5. D

3. EXERCISE: Write topic sentences

   1. Answers will vary, no examples provided

4. EXERCISE: Identify good supporting sentences

   1. Yes
   2. Yes
   3. No
   4. Yes
   5. No

5. EXERCISE: Identify good concluding sentences

   1. Yes
   2. No
   3. No
   4. Yes
   5. Yes

6. EXERCISE: Write concluding sentences

   1. Answers will vary, no examples provided

Organization: Conclusion Paragraphs

1. EXERCISE: Identify effective restated thesis statements 

   1. B, D

2. EXERCISE: Restate a thesis

   1. Answers will vary, no examples provided

3. EXERCISE: Write a conclusion paragraph

   1. Answers will vary, no examples provided

4. EXERCISE: Identify types of paragraphs

   1. Conclusion
   2. Body
   3. Introduction

5. EXERCISE: Analyze an essay

   1. Answers will vary, no examples provided