Elements of Composition: Introduction, Body and Conclusion – JSS1 English Lesson Note (First Term)

An essay has three basic parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. The introduction interests the reader and presents the thesis statement. The body, made up of paragraphs that each carry one main argument in a topic sentence, supports the thesis. The conclusion sums up the arguments and shows that the thesis has been proved.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• name the three parts of an essay;
• state the three things a good introduction must do;
• write an introduction using one of the six methods given;
• explain the use of a topic sentence in a body paragraph;
• describe what a conclusion should contain.

What is the structure of an essay?

Writing an essay requires a lot of knowledge from the writer, but the first thing to know and remember is the structure of the essay. Every essay is written according to a basic structure that does not change: an introduction and a body, followed by a conclusion.

The structure is the core of every essay and helps the writer build a well-founded piece of writing. To write an essay well, keep in mind the main points about what each part of the structure should contain.

What is the introduction of an essay?

An introduction does not need to be long (and should not be), but it is an important part of an essay. A weak introduction can cause readers to lose interest in your essay from the start, whereas a strong introduction will engage your readers and make them want to continue reading. The introduction is the first part of your essay that your audience will read, so it is important to make a good first impression.

An introduction needs to do three things:

1. Spark the interest of readers.
2. Move readers gracefully toward the thesis statement.
3. Present the thesis statement of the essay.

How do you write a good introduction? Six methods with samples

1. Begin with background or historical information

Example:

Theft is not a new crime. Throughout history, unscrupulous individuals have pretended to be people they are not, often with the goal of political, social, or financial gain. With the right appearance and demeanour, people have falsely presented themselves as kings and bishops. Today, in our information age, identity theft is a far more prevalent problem. With access to names, Social Security numbers, and other personal information, thieves can steal identities, leaving the victims struggling to clear their good names. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime.

2. Begin with a quotation

Example:

Theft is not a new crime. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago claims that he “who steals my purse steals trash / . . . But he that filches from me my good name / Robs me of that which not enriches him, / And makes me poor indeed” (3.3.157-161). Today, identity theft is a new way that thieves steal both the “purses” and the good names of innocent victims, and these thieves are enriching themselves at the expense of their victims. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime.

3. Begin with an interesting or surprising fact

Example:

Theft is not a new crime. Fraud is the fastest-growing crime in the United States. In 2004, over nine million Americans, or approximately one person in 24, became victims of identity fraud or identity theft, at a cost to the economy of 52.6 billion dollars (“2005 Identity Fraud Survey Report”). Because many cases of identity fraud and identity theft may go unreported, the numbers could be even higher. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime.

4. Begin with a definition of an important term

Example:

Theft is not a new crime. Our identity is what makes us unique. It is “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual,” and when one is a victim of identity theft, it is this “distinguishing character” that is stolen: one’s name, address, Social Security number, employment history, credit history, and more. It therefore is no wonder that victims of identity theft often feel a deep sense of violation as they struggle to reclaim their good names. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime.

5. Begin with a short narrative

Example:

Theft is not a new crime. Joe Stevens was finally ready to purchase a home. He spent years putting money into a savings account, paid off his credit cards, and diligently paid every bill on time. Confident of his good credit rating, Joe visited the bank to inquire about a mortgage, but he discovered startling information: Joe defaulted on a home loan, had $40,000 in credit card debt, and had a car repossessed for lack of payment. Joe Stevens, like many Americans, is a victim of identity theft. Instead of preparing to move into a new home, Joe began the long road to restore his good name and reclaim his identity. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime.

6. Begin with a question

Example:

Theft is not a new crime. How would you feel if you knew, at this moment, that some criminal is writing your name, address, and Social Security number on credit card applications and plans to charge thousands of dollars worth of merchandise on those credit cards? More importantly, how do you know that this is not happening? Millions of people have become victims of identity theft, and they often find out only after thousands of dollars have been stolen using their names. Identity theft is a serious problem that claims millions of innocent victims, and the government must implement better regulations to help put an end to this crime.

What is the body of an essay?

The body is the main part of your essay. It needs to contain plenty of textual evidence and strong support, not filler. The body of a basic essay may have as many paragraphs as are necessary to prove the argument of the thesis statement.

Each paragraph should have one main argument to analyse, stated in one solid sentence called the topic sentence. The number of body paragraphs therefore equals the number of topic sentences. Each body paragraph must be connected to the next one with a logical link.

First paragraph of the body

The first paragraph of the body should contain the strongest argument, the most significant example, the cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point.

• The first sentence should include the “reverse hook”, which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the introductory paragraph.
• The topic of the paragraph should be in the first or second sentence, and it should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.
• The last sentence should include a transitional hook to tie into the second paragraph of the body.

Second paragraph of the body

The second paragraph of the body should contain the second strongest argument, the second most significant example, the second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow-up to the first paragraph of the body.

• The first sentence should include the reverse hook, which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the first paragraph of the body.
• The topic of the paragraph should be in the first or second sentence, and it should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.
• The last sentence should include a transitional hook to tie into the third paragraph of the body.

Third paragraph of the body

The third paragraph of the body should contain the weakest argument, the weakest example, the weakest illustration, or an obvious follow-up to the second paragraph of the body.

• The first sentence should include the reverse hook, which ties in with the transitional hook at the end of the second paragraph.
• The topic of the paragraph should be in the first or second sentence, and it should relate to the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.
• The last sentence should include a transitional concluding hook that signals to the reader that this is the final major point being made in the essay. This hook also leads into the last, or concluding, paragraph.

What is the conclusion of an essay?

The conclusion is usually written in one solid paragraph. It sums up the arguments of the essay, which were stated in the topic sentences, and so presents substantial evidence to prove the thesis statement. It should also state why the general conclusion of the essay matters.

Evaluation

1. Mention and explain the types of pronouns you know.
2. Explain briefly the structure or elements of a good composition.

Assignment

Weekend assignment

Pick out the pronouns in the following sentences.

1. We are going on vacation.
2. Don’t tell me that you can’t go with us.
3. Anybody who says it won’t be fun has no clue what they are talking about.
4. These are steep stairs.
5. We ran into each other at the mall.
6. I’m not sure which is worse: rain or snow.
7. It is one of the nicest Italian restaurants in town.
8. Richard stared at himself in the mirror.
9. The laundry isn’t going to do itself.
10. Someone spilled orange juice all over the countertop!

Composition

Write a good composition on any one of the following topics, using what you have learnt about the elements of composition.

1. My Best Friend
2. A Visit to the Hospital
3. My Last Birthday Party