Every paper must begin with a thesis paragraph. A simple thesis paragraph essentially tells your reader what you will prove (the thesis) and establish the support you'll offer to prove your point. For instance, for last week's essay an acceptable thesis would read something like this:
I agree with the critic's analysis of Vonnegut's portrayal of TV. I believe this to be true based on the way TV is shown in "Harrison Bergeron" and my personal experience.If you disagree with the critic, you would change agree to disagree.
The thesis paragraph also acts as an roadmap for your reader to understand what will appear in your body paragraphs. In our example, body paragraph 1 will provide your discussion of how TV is presented in the story (and how it is -- or isn't -- desensitizing, numbing, and thought-stifling). Body paragraph 2 will contain your discussion of your personal experience with TV (and, again, how it is -- or isn't -- desensitizing, numbing, and thought-stifling).
Transition words are an excellent way to flow your writing from one paragraph to the next. (And don't forget to indent your paragraphs about an inch instead of skipping a line.) Furthermore is a good word to begin your second body paragraph in an essay like our example where the second body paragraph builds on the the ideas of the first. (However is a good transition word if the second body paragraph provides contrast to the first.) Therefore is a good transition word for moving into your concluding paragraph.
Your concluding paragraph/conclusion can be as simple as a brief summary of your thesis paragraph. An acceptable concluding paragraph for the sample essay would be:
Therefore, based on Vonnegut's protrayal of TV in "Harrison Bergeron" and my personal experience, I feel confident in saying the critic was right when he said that TV "has a desensitizing, numbing, and thought-stifling" effect on society.Again, substitute wrong for right if that's what you're arguing.
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