Introduction

1. Begin with a broad, conclusive hook. This will be the

meta-theme of the paper. Example from a paper on The
Great Gatsby: When citizens exhibit a flagrant disregard
of morality and law, societies quickly crumble.
2. Thesis. This needs to specify and codify the hook in
relation to the prompt/subject. Ex: This atmosphere as
shown in F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby with
blatant corruption and illegal activity eventually seems
to become all but incompatible with a meaningful
incarnation of the American Dream.
3. One sentence laying foundation for first body
paragraph. (These are mini-theses for each point you will
argue.) Ex: Though Gatsby was a bootlegger, he was driven
by hope and love, rather than the greed that motivated his
status-obsessed guests.
4. One Sentence for second body paragraph. (Just like the
sentence you just did)
5. One sentence for third body paragraph.
6. Restate the hook and thesis into a single transition
sentence into the first paragraph. The 1920s as the
epitome of excess and reactionism symbolized a sharp

break in the American tradition; one that no one seemed

to mind.
Notes/Advice: Some say the thesis should go at the
bottom of the intro instead of the top, which I think is a
huge mistake. The point of a paper is to make an assertion
and then support it. You cant support it until youve made
it.

Body #1
1. Rewrite first body paragraph thesis.
2. Support the mini-thesis with evidence and analysis.
3. Restate body paragraph thesis in the context of thesis as
a whole.

Notes/Advice:
-Begin with your strongest piece of evidence
-Introduce quotes/points like this: Broad->Specific>Analysis/Conclusion
-Always integrate the quote, and try to incorporate
analysis into the same sentence. As a general rule never
use more than 5-7 of the authors words. Normally you can
use even less: It was Jay, who despite the corruption

around him, looked forward to what was described as an

orgiastic future.'

Body #2
1. Rewrite second body paragraph thesis.
2. Support mini-thesis.
3. Restate body paragraph thesis in context of the
paragraph above and thesis as whole.

Body #3
1. Rewrite third body paragraph thesis.
2. Support mini-thesis.
3. Restate body paragraph thesis in context of the
paragraph above and thesis as whole.

Conclusion
1. Restate hook/meta-theme.
2. Specify this with restatement of thesis once more.
3. One sentence for each body paragraph, surmising its
assertion.

4. One sentence for each body paragraph, surmising its

assertion.
5. One sentence for each body paragraph, surmising its
assertion.
6. Rewrite hook and thesis into a conclusion sentence.
7. Last sentence must transition to a general statement
about human nature. The American Dream and any
higher aspiration requires a society that both looks
forward and onwards as well as holds itself to corrective
standards.