Essay Writing Guide

# Essay Writing Guide ## Basic Structure 1. **Introduction** - Hook, background, thesis 2. **Body Paragraphs** - Topic sentence, evidence, analysis, transition 3. **Conclusion** - Restate thesis, summarize, closing thought ## The PEEL Method - **P**oint: State your argument - **E**vidence: Provide support - **E**xplain: Analyse the evidence - **L**ink: Connect back to thesis ## Writing a Strong Thesis A thesis should: - Make a specific, arguable claim - Give a reason or preview of your argument - Be one or two sentences long **Weak**: Social media is bad. **Strong**: Social media negatively affects teenagers' mental health by promoting unrealistic body image standards and reducing face-to-face social interaction. ## Useful Transition Words - To add: Furthermore, Moreover, In addition - To contrast: However, Nevertheless, On the other hand - To conclude: Therefore, In conclusion, As a result