Essay Structure
| Section | Purpose | Typical Length |
|---|
| Introduction | Hook → context → thesis statement | 10% of essay |
| Body Paragraphs | One main idea per paragraph with evidence | 80% of essay |
| Conclusion | Restate thesis → summarize → final thought | 10% of essay |
Paragraph Structure (PEEL)
| Element | What It Does |
|---|
| Point | Topic sentence — states the paragraph's main idea |
| Evidence | Quote, data, or example that supports your point |
| Explanation | Analyze the evidence — how does it prove your point? |
| Link | Connect back to thesis or transition to next paragraph |
Thesis Statement Quality
| Weak | Strong |
|---|
| "Social media affects mental health" | "Instagram's algorithmic promotion of idealized body images correlates with increased anxiety among teenage girls, as measured by a 40% rise in reported symptoms since 2015" |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|
| No clear thesis | Write your thesis first — every paragraph must support it |
| Quoting without analysis | Always follow a quote with 2-3 sentences of your own analysis |
| New ideas in conclusion | Conclusions summarize, not introduce — save new ideas for another essay |
Pro Tip: Write your introduction LAST. You can't introduce what you haven't written yet. Draft the body paragraphs first, then craft an introduction that accurately previews what follows.