Guide to Writing a Basic Essay: Sample Essay

The essay below demonstrates the principles of writing a basic essay. The different parts of the essay have been labeled. The thesis statement is in bold, the topic sentences are in italics, and each main point is underlined. "A dog is man's best friend." In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as housepets is their ease of care. Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions.

Writing the Essay Intro and Conclusion Your essay lacks only two paragraphs now: the introduction and the conclusion. These paragraphs will give the reader a point of entry to and a point of exit from your essay. Introduction The introduction should be designed to attract the reader's attention and give her an idea of the essay's focus. Begin with an attention grabber. Conclusion The conclusion brings closure to the reader, summing up your points or providing a final perspective on your topic. All the conclusion needs is three or four strong sentences which do not need to follow any set formula. Free English Grammar Lessons and Tests