HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR ESSAY
An orderly house helps visitors feel at ease, get around the house, and focus on connecting with the hosts. An organized essay helps readers feel at ease, and get around the essay. Easy-to-follow organization helps readers to focus on connecting with the writer and their ideas.
Minimally, we use these basic methods below:
5-PARAGRAPH ESSAY
The typical 5 paragraph essay includes the following:
I Introduction (w/background and thesis)
II-IV Supporting Body Paragraphs
V-Conclusion
With the RAINBOW METHOD, a writer color codes each section, each rhetorical technique in order to see connections more clearly. For example supporting point #2 might be highlighted in green in the 2nd paragraph as well as the conclusion.
CEC (Claim-Evidence-Commentary)
The CEC organization is intended for argumentative paragraph writing.
Claim-Start with a statement of your position on the topic.
Evidence-Provide evidence that proves your position, your claim.
Commentary/Reasoning-Provide step by step reasoning, conclusions, opinions, connections.
Wrap it up with a concluding sentence.
DO NOT EXPLICITLY POINT OUT EACH RHETORICAL MOVE. (i.e. "My thesis is about...".
DO NOT MOVE RANDOMLY FROM IDEA TO IDEA.
DO CONSIDER THE PURPOSE OF EACH SENTENCE.
DO CONSIDER HOW EASILY YOUR AUDIENCE CAN FOLLOW YOUR IDEAS.
DO CONNECT SENTENCE TO SENTENCE, POINT TO POINT.
DO USE TRANSITIONS.