NEED TO RESPECT BOUNDARIES, NOT TAKE WHAT ISTHREE-PART ESSAY STRUCTU...

3.Need to respect boundaries, not take what is

Three-Part Essay Structure

yours, not get too involved in your life—otherwise, they will not be welcome. (It’s okay toIntroduction: Tell your readers what you arenot be friendly and not be helpful, I can live withgoing to tell them. (State your thesis.)that—but it’s not okay to not respect boundaries.)Body: Tell them. (Develop your ideas and pro-Ex: physical boundaries (yard, house) andvide specific support for your thesis.)social boundaries (private family business)Conclusion:Tell them what you have told them.Here, the characteristics that make good neighbors are(Restate your thesis.)organized by order of importance. The most importantcharacteristic and most compelling examples come last.

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^TRONG

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^UPPORTING

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^ARAGRAPHS

Ex:Outlining your ideas not only sets up an effective organ-

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physical boundaries: don’t just walk in; it’sization. It can also show you if your essay is sufficientlynot your house, don’t take thingsdeveloped. For an essay to be effective,each paragraph

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old neighbors, the Wilcoxes, takingmust be effective, too. And that means each para-things from our shed without askinggraphmust be sufficiently developed.

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social boundaries: don’t be nosy; it’s notWhile there is no magic formula, there are some gen-your family; respect privacyeral guidelines regarding paragraph length. A paragraph

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what happened when Uncle Andy’swith just one sentence—unless that sentence is specifi-neighbors got too nosycally set off to create a special effect—is too short. It

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neighbors got involved in divorcedoesn’t sufficiently develop its idea. A paragraph with ten

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made painful experience more com-sentences, on the other hand, is probably too long.plicated and confusing for everyoneThere’s likely to be more than one idea developed in thatparagraph. (Remember, a paragraph, by definition, is aNotice now how clearly the order of importancegroup of sentences about the same idea.) For an essay oforganizational pattern stands out, especially in the lastthis type, paragraphs of three or four sentences eachsection. And because this outline is so detailed, it offersshould be enough to explain and provide specific detailsa guide for just about every sentence in the body of theand examples for each of your supporting ideas.essay.To help you develop your paragraphs, expand youroutline. For each main supporting idea, list at least oneStep 5: Write Your Essayspecific detail or example. Imagine each paragraph as aNow that you have a clear, detailed outline, you can beginmini-essay, with its own thesis (topic sentence) and sup-to write. If you can quickly think of a catchy way to beginport (specific examples and details). Notice, for example,your essay, terrific. If not, don’t spend precious minuteshow the outline above can be expanded as follows:trying to come up with the perfect opening line. Youdon’t have the time. Remember, you only have 45 min-Introduction: Good neighbors are friendly,utes for the whole essay—planning, writing, and editing.helpful, and respect boundaries.You need to start writing as soon as you organize yourthoughts. One good way to jump right in is to paraphrase