Parts of an Essay
This paragraph introduces the topic and ends with a main argument.
What is the introduction paragraph?
What is the purpose of an introduction paragraph in an essay?
To introduce the topic and present the main argument (thesis).
What is the purpose of a body paragraph in a formal essay?
To support the thesis using examples and explanation.
What is the purpose of a conclusion paragraph in a formal essay?
To restate the thesis and give a final closing thought.
Read the sentence:
“Heroes are important because they show courage and help others in difficult situations.”
What part of the essay is this MOST likely from?
What is a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
These are the three parts of an introduction paragraph.
What are hook, background information, and thesis statement?
What are the THREE required parts of a strong introduction paragraph?
Hook, background information, thesis statement.
What are the THREE main parts of a body paragraph?
Topic sentence, example (evidence), explanation (analysis).
What TWO key things must a strong conclusion include?
Restated thesis + final insight or message (closing thought about the topic).
Read the excerpt:
“What makes someone a true hero? Throughout history, people like Hercules and Terry Fox have shown courage and sacrifice in difficult situations.”
What part of the essay is this MOST likely from?
What is an introduction paragraph?
A student writes a paragraph that gives examples of Hercules, Terry Fox, and Malala but does NOT explain what they mean.
What part of the essay is this student missing within the body paragraph structure?
What is explanation (analysis)?
A student writes:
“Heroes are important people in society. They are brave and help others. This essay is about heroes.”
What is missing from this introduction to make it strong?
A clear thesis statement with a deeper argument (theme like courage, sacrifice, or perseverance).
A student writes:
“Hercules is strong. He fights the Nemean Lion. This shows he is a hero.”
What important part of a body paragraph is missing or underdeveloped?
Explanation / analysis (why the example proves heroism or connects to the thesis).
A student writes:
“Heroes are important. They are brave and help people. The essay was about heroes.”
What is missing for this conclusion to be effective?
A restated thesis with deeper meaning and a final insight (theme like courage, sacrifice, or perseverance).
Read the excerpt:
“In conclusion, heroes like Hercules and Malala show that courage and sacrifice define true heroism, not fame or strength.”
What part of the essay is this?
What is a conclusion paragraph?
“Hercules is strong. He fights monsters. He is a hero.”
Explain why this does NOT fully function as a proper body paragraph.
It lacks explanation/analysis. It only states facts (summary) without explaining how the example proves the thesis or connects to heroism.
Why is this introduction weak for a Grade 9 formal essay?
“Heroes are good people who do good things and help others.”
It is too vague, lacks a hook, does not include background detail, and has no strong thesis or argument about heroism.
Why is this body paragraph weak for a Grade 9 formal essay?
“Terry Fox ran across Canada while sick. He was very brave.”
It only summarizes events and labels them as “brave” without explaining how this shows sacrifice or connects to a bigger idea about heroism.
Why is this conclusion weak for a Grade 9 formal essay?
“Hercules is a hero. Terry Fox is also a hero. That is why heroes are good people.”
It repeats examples instead of synthesizing ideas, does not restate a thesis clearly, and lacks a final insight about what heroism means (no theme or deeper reflection).
Read the excerpt:
“Hercules completes the Nemean Lion task. This shows he is strong and brave.”
What is the structural problem with this part of the essay?
It is missing explanation/analysis—it only describes the event and labels it, without explaining how it connects to the idea of heroism or courage.
Two students write conclusions:
A: “In conclusion, heroes are good people who help others.”
B: “In conclusion, heroes show courage and sacrifice, proving that heroism is defined by choices, not strength or ability.”
Which conclusion is stronger, and justify your answer using essay criteria.
B is stronger because it restates the thesis and includes thematic meaning (courage, sacrifice, and interpretation of heroism). A is too general and lacks depth or insight.
A:“Heroes are strong and help people. This essay is about heroes and what they do.”
B:“What makes someone a true hero? Throughout history, heroes have shown courage and sacrifice in difficult situations. A true hero is someone who chooses courage over fear and makes sacrifices for others, showing that real strength comes from selflessness.”
Which is stronger and why? Use essay criteria in your explanation.
B is stronger because it includes a hook, background information, and a clear thematic thesis. It also moves beyond listing traits and makes an argument about heroism (courage and sacrifice), which shows deeper thinking and aligns with formal essay expectations.
A:“Hercules fights monsters and is very strong, which makes him a hero.”
B:“Hercules faces impossible challenges like the Nemean Lion, showing that courage means acting despite fear. This demonstrates that heroism is defined by choices rather than physical strength.”
Which is stronger and why? Justify using essay criteria.
B is stronger because it includes explanation (analysis), connects the example to the theme of courage, and explains the meaning of heroism. A only summarizes events and does not show deeper thinking or link back to a thesis.
A:“Heroes are brave people who help others. That is why heroes are important.”
B:“In conclusion, heroes demonstrate courage and sacrifice, proving that true heroism is defined by choices rather than strength or fame. Mythological heroes like Hercules and real-life figures like Terry Fox both show that perseverance and selflessness shape true character.”
Which is stronger and why? Justify using essay criteria.
B is stronger because it restates the thesis in a developed way, synthesizes mythological and real-life examples, and provides a final insight about the meaning of heroism. A is too general, repetitive, and does not show thematic depth or connection to evidence.
A:“Heroes are brave and strong people. They help others and do good things.”
B:“Hercules faces dangerous challenges, showing that courage means acting despite fear. This reveals that heroism is defined by choices, not just strength.”
Identify: