ABSTRACT
A well-written, well-documented essay or research paper has three basic parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Creating a coherent dynamic document is a product of explicit choices for linking different properties of the paper or essay as illustrated on the previous page. Dynamic, coherent writing requires that each topic sentence asserts some truth, value, or qualifier about the validity of one of the reasons stated in the thesis sentence of the paper or essay. That topic sentence controls the quality and quantity of the evidence presented in the paragraph. Essays and essay exams demonstrate the student’s specific knowledge of a subject. Writing a thesis sentence is one of the most important parts of any research paper. The thesis sentence tells the reader what the author’s main argument is, and how the author plans to support the argument with evidence. Writing a good explanatory paragraph takes as much skill and attention as shifting gears in a car.
