Writing a one-paragraph essay can be a daunting task because you get to explain your ideas in a limited amount of words. You, therefore, have to choose what to include or leave out from large amounts of information. Most assignments you get in college require you to write standard essays and not one-paragraph essays. Therefore, most people have no idea how to craft one in case the need arises.
Worry no more because the following article will give you a detailed review of the format, process, and crucial tips to follow when crafting a one-paragraph essay. Kindly read on and get enlightened.
Format of a one-paragraph essay
Your one-paragraph essay should feature a thesis, a body point, concrete detail, commentary, and conclusion. Let’s take a look at what each entails;
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Thesis Statement
Commence your exposition using a thesis statement that outlines your position. Ensure you include the proposition in the main sentence without using many words because the essay should be short and precise.
The thesis statement should be dazzling and exact to make the reader aware of the structure.
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Body Point
In a standard exposition, the body point assumes the role of the topic sentence. In a one-paragraph essay, it is the significant point you write to explain the thesis statement straightforwardly.
Ensure the sentence upholds your proposal and directs the reader’s focus toward the proof you will use in solid detail.
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Concrete Detail
Support your thesis statement and body point using relevant examples, preferably from the source you obtain your information. The concrete detail section should have at least one of the following;
- Examples of happenings and facts to support your thesis
- A basic outline of a process or procedure
- Discussions regarding cause and effects
- Information about people, events, or places relevant to the paper
- Data and statistical evidence to explain the main argument
Make use of direct citation or rewording from the work to render your one-paragraph essay original. Incorporating an incidental reference to the main body helps add quality to your work.
Also see: Can an Essay Be One Paragraph?
Afterward, acknowledge the sources used by writing the author’s name and the various pages you acquire the information.
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Commentary
The commentary is the section where you clarify and translate the concrete detail. Use your own words to explain what the content means or the relevance of the theory.
You may make use of examination, translation, contention, knowledge, or reflection.
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Concluding Sentence
The concluding sentence wraps up the passage. It ensures you finalize your one-paragraph essay with a meaningful conclusion. Do not introduce new facts in this section.
Instead, end the paragraph with a fitting summary that persuades your audience about the exactness of the explanation. Make sure the reader does not ask “so what?” after reading your work.
Note: you need to incorporate a minimum of two concrete subtleties. Additionally, each solid detail should have two critiques. Consequently, your one-paragraph essay will feature around 10-14 sentences.
An Alternative Approach to Crafting a One Paragraph Essay
Following the above format may prove to be overwhelming. Especially if you have numerous pieces of content that you consider relevant for your one-paragraph essay. To help ease the process, first, write a long paper and afterward trim it down. However, removing information that you may have previously deemed essential is inevitable.
When you choose this method, highlight the key points as you proceed. After writing the long paper, review the content to ensure every sentence provides a different contributing point. If you find two or more sentences conveying the same idea, merge them into one sentence.
The next step is conducting the necessity test. Carry out this step if you still have trouble shortening the composition. You remove one sentence at a time and check whether your point remains relevant. If you remove a sentence and it does not affect your writing, consider it an unnecessary inclusion.
A quality one-paragraph essay should have one or two arguments with detailed explanations. It eliminates the probability of having not well-evidenced multiple points.
Primary Stages of Crafting a One Paragraph Essay
You are now aware of what consists of a one-paragraph essay. Let us shift our focus to the elaborate process you should follow when composing one.
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Preparation
Use the preparation phase to decide on your subject, examine the relevance of the topic, and make a paper layout to help ease the process of writing.
Ensure you conduct thorough research on the idea at hand so that you can have enough content to refer to when composing the main essay. Use the research to create a draft.
Here are some additional tips you can utilize to make the preparation phase straightforward;
- Comprehend your task by outlining the objective of the essay
- Allocate time for each section depending on topic complexity and the allocated time
- Think of a thesis
When you get a reasonable idea of what you need to address, the order to follow, and the proof that you will utilize, go ahead and start composing.
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Composing
Here, set out your contention in the main body, use solid proof to explain the relevance of your topic, and wrap it up with a definitive conclusion.
Remember that you are composing the main thing, and you should follow all the above-stated guidelines without fail. Consequently, you attract a higher grade.
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Revision
Check your essay and ensure you have addressed the main point without straying. Remember that a one-paragraph essay is short. You should, therefore, get to the point and avoid too much fluff. Afterward, proofread your work and check for spelling and punctuation mistakes.
Ensure your essay is well organized for the reader to have an easy time going through your work.
You now have the format and stages you should adhere to when crafting your one-paragraph essay. How about some tips that you can use to write an excellent one-paragraph essay.
Tips for Crafting an Excellent One Paragraph Essay
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Craft the Body First
You may have no idea how to start your essay and end up wasting a lot of time on the section. Avoid this setback by first crafting the main body as you have already researched the key points.
You will notice that when you write down the main body, crafting your introduction and conclusion becomes a straightforward task.
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Avoid Generalizations and Overstatements
Getting straight to the point when crafting a one-paragraph essay is vital because it does not feature a lot of words or content. To protect your evaluation, do not put down unclear articulations.
Qualify your clarifications and use short and precise statements to remain relevant.
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Use Strong Transitions
Some of the strong transitions you can use are also, therefore, furthermore, thereby, and so on. They help construct and join your sentences so that the reader can have an easy time when reading.
They also make your writing look more aesthetic. Resist using weak transitions such as this shows that or I think that. Additionally, do not overly depend on listing words such as next, first, secondly, etc.
Conclusion
The above information will help you craft a one-paragraph essay if you get an assignment requiring you to do so. Prior research, developing an outline, proper citation, and following the recommended format are the most crucial steps to follow.