Illustration Essay Outline
An illustration essay is form of informative writing whose aim is to learn how to express the existence of an object or occurrence using a given method. An illustration essay depends on research as compared to analysis in order to prove a specific point. It uses many descriptions to provide the reader with examples.
Illustration essays focus on formulating the thesis statement in the introduction and then developing it by giving illustrative examples in the body paragraphs.
Illustration Essay Outline
The following is an illustration essay outline:
1. Introduction
Your illustration essay should start with an introduction paragraph. This paragraph should contain between five to fifteen sentences and includes:
- Hook. A hook is an interesting sentence at the beginning of the introduction used to grab the reader’s attention. It could be an interesting fact, relevant statistics, rhetorical questions, quote or a personal anecdote.
- Background sentences. These sentences provide background information on your topic to allow the readers to fully understand the concept that you are illustrating in your essay. You could define important vocabulary, provide historical or social context or give relevant personal background for individuals included in your illustration essay.
- Thesis statement. This is the last sentence in the introduction paragraph. Your thesis statement should guide your research to make it more effective. A good thesis statement should be clear and argumentative. Your thesis statement for this essay should focus on identifying the subject that you are illustrating and how you are going to support the illustration.
2. Body paragraphs
The body paragraph is supposed to support the thesis statement. Each of your body paragraphs should have a different item of evidence that proves the validity of the thesis statement. You should support each body paragraph with examples that prove and support your main ideas. The body paragraphs should contain:
- Topic sentence. This sentence identifies the paragraph’s topic and how its relation to the thesis statement.
- Research sentence. This can be a direct quotation or a paraphrase of important ideas collected during research. You should cite any research sentence that supports your topic.
- Background sentence. You can provide one or more background sentences depending on the complexity of your topic.
- Analysis. Analysis sentences are meant to explain the relevance of your research sentences to the topic and thesis statement. Analysis sentences should use analysis words such as portrays, proves, communicates and illustrates.
- Concluding/transition sentence. The concluding/transition sentence wraps up the body paragraphs as well as leads the reader into the next idea in the following paragraph.
3. Conclusion.
This is the last and shortest paragraph in an illustration essay. Your conclusion paragraph should restate the main points in your body paragraphs in order to prove to the reader that you have proven your points in the essay. You should also restate your thesis statement in this paragraph and avoid introducing any new information.