Homework Helper: Writing Skills

Writing Skills

Write a First Draft

1. Every essay or paper is made up of three parts:
   
   
   • Introduction
   • Body
   • Conclusion
   
   
2. The introduction is the first paragraph of the paper. It often begins with a general statement about the topic and ends with a more specific statement of the main idea of your paper. The purpose of the introduction is to
   
   
   • let the reader know what the topic is
   • inform the reader about your point of view
   • arouse the reader's curiosity so that he or she will want to read about your topic
   
   
3. The body of the paper follows the introduction. It consists of a number of paragraphs in which you develop your ideas in detail.
   
   
   • Limit each paragraph to one main idea. (Don't try to talk about more than one idea per paragraph.)
   • Prove your points continually by using specific examples and quotations.
   • Use transition words to ensure a smooth flow of ideas from paragraph to paragraph.
   
   
4. The conclusion is the last paragraph of the paper. Its purpose is to
   
   
   • summarize your main points, leaving out specific examples
   • restate the main idea of the paper

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