A basic introduction will be about 3-4 sentences long.
Body paragraphs will make up the bulk of your essay. At a minimum, a body paragraph needs to be 4 sentences long. However, a good body paragraph in a short essay will be at least 6-8 sentences long.
A good conclusion for a short essay will be 3-4 sentences long.
For example, let’s say you’re writing an essay about recycling. Your first point might be about the value of local recycling programs, while your second point might be about the importance of encouraging recycling at work or school. A good transition between these two points might be “furthermore” or “additionally. ” If your third point is about how upcycling might be the best way to reuse old items, a good transition word might be “however” or “on the other hand. ” This is because upcycling involves reusing items rather than recycling them, so it’s a little bit different. You want your reader to recognize that you’re talking about something that slightly contrasts with your original two points.
Provide a quote: “According to Neil LaBute, ‘We live in a disposable society. ’” Include statistics: “The EPA reports that only 34 percent of waste created by Americans is recycled every year. ” Give a rhetorical question: “If you could change your habits to save the planet, would you do it?”
Here’s an example: “Recycling offers a way to reduce waste and reuse old items, but many people don’t bother recycling their old goods. Unless people change their ways, landfills will continue to grow as more generations discard their trash. ”
Here’s how a basic thesis about recycling might look: “To reduce the amount of trash in landfills, people must participate in local recycling programs, start recycling at school or work, and upcycle old items whenever they can. " If you’re writing an argument or persuasive essay, your thesis might look like this: “Although recycling may take more effort, recycling and upcycling are both valuable ways to prevent expanding landfills. ”
A good body paragraph in a short essay typically has 6-8 sentences. If you’re not sure how many sentences your paragraphs should include, talk to your instructor. Write a new paragraph for each of your main ideas. Packing too much information into one paragraph can make it confusing.
If you begin your essay by writing an outline, include your topic sentence for each paragraph in your outline. You might write, “Local recycling programs are a valuable way to reduce waste, but only if people use them. ”
Your evidence might come from books, journal articles, websites, or other authoritative sources. The word evidence might make you think of data or experts. However, some essays will include only your ideas, depending on the assignment. In this case, you might be allowed to take evidence from your observations and experiences, but only if your assignment specifically allows this type of evidence. You could write, “According to Mayor Anderson’s office, only 23 percent of local households participate in the city’s recycling program. ”
In some cases, you may offer more than one piece of evidence in the same paragraph. Make sure you provide a 1 to 2 sentence explanation for each piece of evidence. For instance, “Residents who are using the recycling program aren’t contributing as much trash to local landfills, so they’re helping keep the community clean. On the other hand, most households don’t recycle, so the program isn’t as effective as it could be. ”
For instance, you could write, “Clearly, local recycling programs can make a big difference, but they aren’t the only way to reduce waste. ”
You could write, “By participating in local recycling programs, recycling at work, and upcycling old items, people can reduce their environmental footprint. ”
As an example, “Statistics show that few people are participating in available recycling programs, but they are an effective way to reduce waste. By recycling and upcycling, people can reduce their trash consumption by as much as 70%. ”
Give your readers a call to action. For example, “To save the planet, everyone needs to recycle. " Offer a solution to the problem you presented. For instance, “With more education about recycling, more people will participate in their local programs. " Point to the next question that needs to be answered. You might write, “To get more people to recycle, researchers need to determine the reasons why they don’t. " Provide a valuable insight about your topic. As an example, “If everyone recycled, landfills might become a thing of the past. "
