The first step you should
take in writing a position essay is writing the outline.
An outline should lead to the following elements of the
essay:
The first paragraph consists of
several sentences, culminating in a thesis statement. The
thesis statement is usually one sentence with three
points that are expanded in the second, third, and fourth
paragraphs.
Each of the second, third, and
fourth paragraphs is about one of the points in your
thesis statement, in the order you stated
them.
Begin each of these paragraphs with
an introductory sentence to give a general idea of what
the paragraph is about. The second sentence would then be
an example of the paragraph's main idea. The third and
fourth sentences might provide supporting examples of the
second sentence. A fifth sentence could present another
example of the paragraph's main idea. Then the sixth and
seventh sentences would present supporting examples of
the fifth sentence. The eighth sentence is the last
example of the paragraph's main idea. The ninth and tenth
are supporting examples of the eighth sentence. The
eleventh sentence is the conclusion on the
topic.
The fifth paragraph is your
conclusion. The very first sentence should be a
restatement of your thesis statement. The rest of the
fifth paragraph concludes your essay. Briefly summarize
your essay's main points. Conclude your essay with one or
more of the following:
- ask a provocative
question.
- evoke a vivid
image.
- call for some sort of
action.
- end with a warning.
- suggest results or
consequences.
Return
to your place in Unit Two.
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