English Essay Outline
An essay is short literary composition based on a single subject, used to give the personal opinion of the writer on the subject. An English essay is written by students for their English subject.
The following is an English essay outline:
1. Introduction
Your introduction paragraph should include the following:
- Background information. It is necessary that you provide enough background information on your topic so that the reader can understand it.
- Thesis statement. Your thesis statement should state your essay’s topic, make your essay’s purpose clear and provide an overview of the three main supporting points in your essay.
2. Body Paragraph 1
The first body paragraph should:
- Begin with a topic sentence that identifies one main idea that you will discuss as support for the thesis statement.
- Include supporting sentences. Use specific details, proved through closely related examples to explain the main ides. The paragraph should have at least five to eight sentences.
- Include paragraph unity.
3. Body Paragraph 2
This paragraph and any subsequent body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that indicates that a new idea is being introduced. Ensure that there is coherence. This paragraph should include:
- Transition words at the beginning of your body paragraph to move from one idea to the next within your essay.
- Clear connections among the paragraphs.
4. Body Paragraph 3
- You should begin this paragraph with the final topic sentence that relates back to the remaining point mentioned in the thesis statement.
- Prove this main idea with specific examples, details and relevant support.
- Ensure that you maintain paragraph unity. Each sentence must relate to your topic sentence.
5. Conclusion
Your conclusion should revisit the overall purpose for writing and invite your readers to consider the implications of why your ideas are important. Ensure that you do not introduce new, unrelated ideas in the conclusion. The conclusion should:
- Restate your thesis statement. If you choose to restate the thesis, do not repeat the same wording in your introduction or body paragraphs.
- Summarize your major points.
- Leave the reader with a final thought to think about.
6. References
Include a bibliography of the sources that you have cited when writing your essay. You should provide evidence for the sources which you have drawn ideas from to support your topic sentences.