Academic Writing Tips

Basic Organization of an Academic Essay

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• Objectives
• Sample Essay
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• Quiz

• An introduction must have three topic sentences.

  True False

• Each paragraph of the body has one controlling idea.

  True False

• All main ideas are mentioned in the introduction, body and conclusion.

  True False

• What is one possible purpose of a closer?

  Choose an answer... To summarize the essay. To get the reader's attention. To make a call to action. To give credit to sources.

• Which of the following statements is false?

  Choose an answer... The thesis statement should mention all the main ideas. The thesis statement ends the introduction. The thesis statement is the main idea of the entire essay. The thesis statement should be made up of several sentences.

• Identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in the United States.

  This is an example of a good... topic sentence opener detail thesis statement

• To be an effective CEO requires certain characteristics.

  This is an example of a good... thesis statement topic sentence opener detail

• Evidence has shown that music education promotes cognitive development, so funding music programs at all levels of the school system should be a high priority for state governments.

  This is an example of a good... closer opener detail thesis statement

• Ancients Greeks looked upon irrational behavior as a physical problem – caused by an imbalance of body fluids called "humors" – or by the displacement of an organ.

  This is an example of a good... opener detail thesis statement topic sentence

• As you can see, it is not important to know everything, but it is important to know how to find the answer. There will not always be a teacher nearby with the answer. You have to learn how to research, how to dig through sources to find what you need to know.

  This is an example of a good... thesis statement detail closer topic sentence