Essay Writing (Content): 3-Part-Layout for Your Content

Thursday, January 24, 2019

3-Part-Layout for Your Content

3-Part-Layout

The 3-part-layout is a standard in all English writing. Our writings, whether complex and long—such as in an essay—or informal and brief—such as in an email all follow a 3-part-layout.

In more formal writings, full paragraphs must be used.

However, in classroom discussion and emails, clarity and correctness are required yet without the necessity of full paragraphs.

See the common types of writing you may experience and review the 3-part-layout expected for each.

In an essay:

Introduction paragraph—at least 3 sentences (‘hook,’ details, and thesis)

Body paragraphs—at least 5 sentences for each body paragraph (topic sentence, detail, support for detail, analysis, evaluation/argument, and closing sentence)

Conclusion paragraph—at least 3 sentences (restate thesis in new words, wrap up ideas from the body of the essay, leave readers with a final, intriguing thought)

In a paragraph:

Topic sentence—addresses the point that will be discussed in the paragraph (no source usage allowed).

Details and developing ideas—this section will have 3+ sentences to develop the topic mentioned in the first sentence of the paragraph (source usage allowed).

Closing sentence—summative sentence to tie everything together while reflecting back to the topic sentence (no source usage allowed).

On a discussion board message

Introduction—can be a sentence or a paragraph (no source usage allowed).

Body—multiple sections that address aspects of the writing prompt. Each section should be at least 3-sentences long, but if further development is used, great! (source usage allowed).

Closing—can be a sentence or a paragraph that wraps the message up, while reflecting back to the point of the writing prompt (no source usage allowed).

In an email:

Introduction section—can be a sentence or a paragraph

Body section—multiple sections that convey the reason for the email. Break each new topic/idea into a new section.

Closing section—can be a sentence or a paragraph that concludes the email, while reflecting back to the point of writing the email post in the first place.