Stage 4 - Synthesize
How do I put together an essay or written assignment? There are three parts to a written assignment:
- Introduction
- Main Body
- Conclusion
Introduction
An introduction should tell the reader what you are going to talk about. An introduction should outline your argument or hypothesis with reference to the original task given to you by the teacher. It should briefly list supporting statements which you will explain more fully within the main body of the assignment. You can include a quote, facts or figures that will gain the reader's attention while supporting your argument. However do not include information that has no relevancy to what you are going to say.
Main Body
The Main Body consists of a number of paragraphs each putting forward a new idea or statement. A paragraph consists of:
- A topic sentence
- Supporting or explanatory sentences
- Concluding sentence
- Linking or directional sentence
A topic sentence - informs the reader what the main point or idea is going to be in the paragraph. The topic sentence is usually the first or second sentence in the paragraph. This topic sentence is then supported by other sentences that explain, elaborate and expand on the original idea
Supporting sentences are followed by the concluding sentence which rounds off what has just been said and leads the reader into the next idea.
A directional or linking sentence leads the reader from one idea into another ideas in the next paragraph, like a signpost.
Conclusion
The concluding paragraph summarizes the main points in your assignment. A conclusion can also give a result and outcome of an argument. If it is a report, this is where you state your opinion or recommendation. Never introduce a new idea into the conclusion.
Hint: Look at each topic sentence and include these points or statements in your conclusion.
It can finish with a quote for dramatic effect if the quote supports your conclusion