Introduction Paragraphs: grab the reader’s attention, provide relevant background information, and convey the writer’s intentions for the essay.
Thesis Statements: contain a specific controlling idea, a debatable assertion, and a clear preview of the essay.
Topic Sentences: orient the reader toward the specific point and purpose of each body paragraph.
Transitions: smoothly signal movement from one idea to the next.
Conclusion Paragraphs: provide a comprehensive review of the essay and demonstrate its “big-picture” value.