The introduction should contain your thesis statement and a "hook" that entices the reader's interest. A hook can be a compelling quotation, a question or a fact that relates to the subject of your essay. The thesis statement is usually a single sentence contained within the introduction stating what the essay is about, or the writer's interpretation or opinion of a subject. The introduction is typically one paragraph long and serves as an outline for the scope and content of the essay. The last sentence of the introduction should transition the reader into the first paragraph of the essay. (See Reference 2.)
A topic sentence is typically the first or second sentence of a paragraph, stating what that paragraph is about. Readers will scan the first few sentences of an essay to determine the content of the paragraph. It is common to place the topic sentence as the first sentence of the paragraph; however, you may also place it as the second sentence and use the first sentence as a transition from the previous paragraph.
The body is the section in which you provide examples and arguments to support your thesis statement. A classic format for the essay often consists of three paragraphs for the body. You should refer to your thesis statement and state the subject of the first paragraph within the first or second sentence of the body. The second paragraph should provide a transitional final sentence that foreshadows the upcoming discussion of the third paragraph. The beginning of the third paragraph should include a reference to the material contained in the transitional sentence of the second paragraph.
The conclusion reinforces the main idea of the essay and restates what the essay is about. For argumentative essays, the conclusion should logically follow from the arguments discussed in the body. For narrative essays that relate your individual experiences, the conclusion should reinforce your opinion of the events recounted in the essay or reinforce your reasons for recounting the experience. The final statement in a persuasive essay should motivate the reader to change his viewpoint or to take action. In general, the conclusion should echo or restate the thesis statement and summarize the body of the essay.