STAAR_essay.txt

Ideally, your essay should contain four paragraphs, though if you are a strong writer, you can break this mold. 


The four paragraphs include an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 


Your introduction can be about three sentences: a hook, the bridge / background information, and a thesis.  


The hook might be an anecdote, a quote, a fact/statistic, a strong statement or declaration, a description/snapshot, or figurative language. 


The bridge should connect the hook to the thesis and can include relevant background information about the text. 


The thesis answers the question of the prompt and introduces the focus of the essay. 


If you are writing about a text, make sure to include the title and the author in the introduction. 


Each body paragraph should explore a reason that supports the thesis.