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A traditional essay organizational and developmental pattern, the "thesis-support" essay is familiar to most students coming from public schools. It clearly reflects the old maxim, "tell'em what you're gonna tell'em; tell'em; then, tell'em what you told'em." In other words, the "thesis-support" essay reflects the familiar structure of introduction, body, and conclusion.

While the details of each component above are elaborated at length in other sections of the course, generally, the important features of each one can be identified here.

The Introduction
The introduction should include three elements: 1) an effective title (not just a topic), 2) an interest device that stimulates the reading audience's enthusiasm for the topic, and a 3)thesis sentence.

The Title
A good title is more than a topic (example: "Photo Radar Ticketing"; that's only a topic, not a title). A good title not only identifies the topic but provides a critical perspective to stimulate the reading audience's interest and to suggest the perspective or point of view that the paper will develop. Better than "Photo Radar Ticketing" as a title, try something like "Photo Radar Ticketing: An Invasion of Privacy or a Sensible Solution for Public Safety?" Clearly, the second option narrow's the focus to a specific aspect and suggests the type of paper that will follow, an analysis of two sides of a controversy and probable evaluation.

An Interest Device
An interest device is the use of a writing technique that will stimulate the reader's attention from the beginning of the paper. You might begin the introductory paragraph with a startling claim, a quotation from someone respected by the audience, a brief anecdote, or a literary allusion. There are many, and you may choose to combine two, maybe even three in order to secure the reader's attention. The real purpose of the interest device, however, is to provide a climate of acceptance for the thesis sentence that is usually placed last in the introductory paragraph.

The Thesis
Often not fully developed until well into the process of pre-writing, the brainstorming and clarification of a topic, the thesis is a one-sentence controlling statement for the paper that follows. A thesis is a claim, that is, a statement of alleged fact. Although it may be stated generally, a specific thesis is a claim that can outline the body of the paper that follows.  Below is an example of both a general and specific thesis sentence:

A General Thesis

A Specific Thesis

The advantage of the specific thesis is obvious: it outlines the body of the paper that follows.

The Body of the Essay
The body of the essay is composed of paragraphs that develop topic sentences which, in turn, support the main idea established in the thesis sentence. There are many modes of developing the content of paragraphs.  Essentially, however, the paragraphs found in the body of thesis-support essays are composed of explanation of the main idea of the topic sentence and explanation of the explanation. Patterns of explanation in paragraphs are called the "primary" and "secondary" development of paragraphs.

The Topic Sentences
Topic sentences address key concepts identified in the thesis sentence found in the introduction. Notice that the example of the thesis above announces three divisions of the body of the paper. The first division will address the economic benefits of photo-radar ticketing. The second division will explore the economic benefits, and the third division, the impact on safety. Topic sentences placed at the beginning of the paragraphs in the body of the paper might read like this:

1) Photo-radar ticketing will resolve political jockeying by those of influence in local courts.

2) Another reason why photo-radar ticketing is justifiable is its ability to reduce the costs of traffic enforcement to local communities.

3) In addition to its political and economic advantages, photo-radar ticketing clearly will reduce the level of risk and personal liability each officer faces every time he or she has to pull over another vehicle for a traffic violation.

Notice that at the level of topic sentences the main ideas, more generally expressed in the thesis, may now be stated more specifically.

Primary and Secondary Development
How you develop a response to a topic sentence varies according to the needs of the audience. You have to ask, "What does the audience already know about the main idea announced in the topic sentence?" What you anticipate it already knows will determine to what degree you must provide explanation (primary development), to what extent, in fact, you must provide explanation of the explanation (secondary development).

Modes of Development
Paragraphs may be developed through a number of patterns or "modes of development" and their various combinations. Paragraphs may include definition, quotation, allusion to references, comparison or contrast, examples, argumentation, summary, anecdote, interpretation, paraphrase of sources, evaluation, and judgment, to name only a few.

The Conclusion
While most people assume that the conclusion calls for a summary, "tellin'em what you told'em" may not always be appropriate, especially in the case of very short essays. To summarize what you have developed in only a few paragraphs runs the risk of patronizing an audience with the obvious which can only serve to offend them. Combinations of strategies like echo, projection, expansion, and evaluation can close an essay effectively while providing even more incentive for thoughtful reflection by the reader.

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