Need a little guidance to get started on that essay? Take it from someone who’s earned As and Bs on essays and a 5.0 on the GRE — you’ll want to use some commonsense and a bit of strategy. You’ll need an introduction paragraph and a conclusion paragraph, but the number of body paragraphs depends on your specific assignment. Start by reading the prompt carefully, looking for clues to the content you will need to present. If the instructor has provided a rubric, read through all the evaluation criteria to determine what will be required to earn an A or a B.
You may find yourself stumped on the introduction; that’s okay because you really have more information to present in your body paragraphs. If need be, skip your introduction paragraph at first. In the case of a GRE writing prompt, you’ll be expected to write a six paragraph essay; so, you need to find four talking points to write four body paragraphs. Keep in mind that body paragraphs should include at least five sentences, a topic sentence, and transitions from one paragraph to the next. As long as you follow these guidelines, you should find yourself on the right path.
After you’ve crafted your body paragraphs, you’ll need to wrap things up with a summary of your essay. Restate your thesis and talking points. A great way to impress your reader is to either offer an alternative point of view or a question to leave the reader thinking about your topic. If you have skipped your introduction paragraph, now is the time to reconsider its structure. Start off with a hook — a thought-provoking question, an anecdote, etc. Give some background about your topic. State your thesis, and provide the talking points that will support your thesis statement.
Voila! An easy formula to write a great essay every time! If you’re stumped on the number of body paragraphs, a good rule of thumb is that one double-spaced page should include two paragraphs. If you are required to write five pages, that leaves you with ten paragraphs. Subtract your introduction and conclusion, and you are left with eight body paragraphs. Simple!
