2. The basic school essay is organized in a five-
paragraph structure:
1. Introduction
2. Body Paragraph One
3. Body Paragraph Two
4. Body Paragraph Three
5. Conclusion
3. 1.Introduction
The introductory paragraph should do 2 things:
--grab the reader’s attention so he/she wants to read
more
--tell the reader what the essay will be about
When you explain what the essay will be about, you do this
in a sentence that is called a “thesis statement.”
The thesis statement usually comes at the end of the first
paragraph.
It answers the question that was asked of you in the essay
prompt, and it briefly supplies the information that you
will write about in each of your body paragraphs.
4. Let’s look at an introductory paragraph for the
following essay prompt:
Why is learning English important to you?
In your essay, identify the reasons why learning
English is important to you. Use your personal
observations, experience, and knowledge to
support your essay.
5. Many people speak The writer introduces
the topic of the essay and
English around the world, and it provides a bit of
is a universal language. People information to make the
who were born in the United essay more interesting.
States are lucky, because they
grew up speaking English every
day. I wasn’t so lucky, but now I
am taking classes to improve my
English. Learning English is The thesis statement
starts here. We see the
important for me so that I can
reason learning English
earn more money, help my is important to the writer
family, and meet new people. and 3 reasons why.
6. 2. Body Paragraph One
The first body paragraph should discuss the first point in
your thesis statement.
Let’s look at the thesis statement again:
Learning English is important for me so that I can earn
more money, help my family, and meet new people.
In this case, Body Paragraph One should explain how
learning English will give the writer the possibility to earn
more money.
7. If I learn English, I can Transition to 1st point in
thesis statement
make more money. Right now,
my job is to clean homes and
offices. It’s a hard job, and I
don’t make much money. But
it’s hard for me to get another
job. My English still needs some
improvements, and when I go to This explains how
learning English can help
interviews, it’s hard for me to the writer make more
speak to the people. When they money.
see that I don’t speak good
English, they immediately think
I can’t do the job. If I learn
English, I can get a better job
and make more money.
8. 3. Body Paragraph Two
The second body paragraph should discuss the second point
in your thesis statement.
Thesis statement:
Learning English is important for me so that I can earn more
money, help my family, and meet new people.
In this case, Body Paragraph Two should explain how
learning English will allow the writer to help his/her family.
9. Another reason learning English is Transition to 2nd point
important for me is so that I can help my in thesis statement
family. My husband doesn’t speak English. Example of how it will
help family and details
It’s my responsibility to speak when we go to
Another example and
restaurants, stores, or the doctor. Also, I need
details
to understand letters and notices that arrive
at our house. Sometimes they are very
important, and if I can’t understand them, we
can have some problems. I also need to
know English to help my daughter. She is in Another example and
elementary school now, and I want to help details
her with her homework when she has
problems. Also, I need to speak to her
teacher, and I want to volunteer at her school.
If I can’t speak English, life in the USA is
much more difficult for my family.
10. 4. Body Paragraph Three
The third body paragraph should discuss the third point in
your thesis statement.
Thesis statement:
Learning English is important for me so that I can earn
more money, help my family, and meet new people.
In this case, Body Paragraph Three should explain how
learning English will help the writer meet new people.
11. Finally, I really want to learn more Transition to 3rd point
English so that I can meet new people. I’m a in thesis statement
sociable person, and I like to talk to
Explanation of
everyone. The problem is that right now I
problem
can only speak to people that speak Spanish.
I’m too shy when I must speak English. It is
OK to speak to Spanish speakers, but I also
want to talk to other people, especially Details
Americans. I think if I meet new people, it
will help me learn more about the culture
here and also learn more English. For
example, my cousin has a friend from
Georgia. They do lots of fun activities
together, and my cousin is learning a lot. He
is even going to celebrate Thanksgiving with
his friend and his friend’s family. I think
meeting new people is important, but now I
sometimes feel isolated or lonely.
12. 5. Conclusion
The conclusion paragraph ties everything together from
your essay and restates your thesis statement with
different words.
When I lived in my country, I Connects to the rest
didn’t understand how important English of the essay
could be. I only realized it when I came to
the United States. Learning English is a Restates the thesis
necessity for me now, and I hope that statement, using
when I speak English better, I will be able different words
to make more money, assist my family
more, and make new friends.
13. Let’s compare the thesis statement with the
statement in the conclusion:
Learning English is Learning English is a
important for me so that I necessity for me
can earn more money, help now, and I hope that
my family, and meet new when I speak English
people. better, I will be able to
make more
money, assist my
family more, and
make new friends.
They say the same thing, but the words are slightly
different. Don’t repeat the thesis statement 100%.
14.
15. Inadequate
English important to me. I like. I like my teachers. They nice. English is
fun. We play lots games. My favorite game hangman. I like learn new
words because they help. I hope I learn english soon. My boyfriend
study English to.
16. Marginal
I think learning English is important. It’s important because I in
the United States, and people speaks English in United States. I
want learn English. It’s important so I can live here without
problems. If I live here without problems, I be more confident. I
can speak to people in supermarket and doctor office. That is
important. I need to do that. Now I’m afraid.
Learning English is important too because I want a job. If I no
speak English, I can’t work. I need English to talk to people. I
want to be a hair stylist. People talk a lot with hair stylists. I need
English. It is important.
17. Adequate
English is an important language in all the world. Many people speak it both
in the USA and in other countries. Learning English is important for me so I
can get a job, communicate in my every day life, and help my children with
their homework.
I need to get a job, but it’s difficult now because I don’t speak English
good. I can’t speak at interviews. I’m scared. I think people laugh at me. I
need a job.
Every day life is hard. I need to go to the supermarket, but
sometimes I don’t understand what the boxes say, and I am afraid when I
have to pay. Also, I can’t go to the doctor alone because I can’t explain.
I must learn English to help my children with their homework. They
are in school, ages 9 and 12. I need to read and write for my children. I need
to speak to teacher. English is very important for my children. They speak
English better than me. It’s difficult for me to help.
English is difficult for me, and I need to learn it. It is important for
me because I need a job, I can’t communicate, and I want to help my children.
18. Effective
Many people speak English around the world, and it is a universal
language. People who were born in the United States are lucky,
because they grew up speaking English every day. I wasn’t so lucky,
but now I am taking classes to improve my English. Learning English
is important for me so that I can earn more money, help my family, and
meet new people.
If I learn English, I can make more money. Right now, my job
is to clean homes and offices. It’s a hard job, and I don’t make much
money. But it’s hard for me to get another job. My English still needs
some improvements, and when I go to interviews, it’s hard for me to
speak to the people. When they see that I don’t speak good English,
they immediately think I can’t do the job. If I learn English, I can get a
better job and make more money.
19. Effective (Continued)
Another reason learning English is important for me is so that
I can help my family. My husband doesn’t speak English. It’s my
responsibility to speak when we go to restaurants, stores, or the
doctor. Also, I need to understand letters and notices that arrive at our
house. Sometimes they are very important, and if I can’t understand
them, we can have some problems. I also need to know English to
help my daughter. She is in elementary school now, and I want to help
her with her homework when she has problems. Also, I need to speak
to her teacher, and I want to volunteer at her school. If I can’t speak
English, life in the USA is much more difficult for my family.
20. Effective (Continued)
Finally, I really want to learn more English so that I can meet
new people. I’m a sociable person, and I like to talk to everyone. The
problem is that right now I can only speak to people that speak
Spanish. I’m too shy when I must speak English. It is OK to speak to
Spanish speakers, but I also want to talk to other people, especially
Americans. I think if I meet new people, it will help me learn more
about the culture here and also learn more English. For example, my
cousin has a friend from Georgia. They do lots of fun activities
together, and my cousin is learning a lot. He is even going to
celebrate Thanksgiving with his friend and his friend’s family. I think
meeting new people is important, but now I sometimes feel isolated
or lonely.
When I lived in my country, I didn’t understand how
important English could be. I only realized it when I came to the
United States. Learning English is a necessity for me now, and I hope
that when I speak English better, I will be able to make more
money, assist my family more, and make new friends.
