Finding Three Points to Develop Your Subject

It is sometimes difficult to think of three main points for the body paragraphs. However, there are a number of common waysto divide a general subject into three parts. For example, if your general subject is the effects of computers,there are several possible ways you could divide it. You might think about time and describe the effects of computers in the past, present, and future. Or you might consider people and write about the effects on children, adults, and the elderly. Still another way would be to analyze the effects of computers on society, economically, educationally, and socially. The following chart provides additional suggestions for how to divide a broad subject.

Place	People
1. local 2. national 3. international 1. home 2. work 3. school 1. land 2. sea 3. air	1. students 2. workers 3. retired people 1. family 2. friends 3. co-workers 1. children 2. adults 3. the elderly
Time	Society
1. past 2. present 3. future 1. childhood 2. adulthood 3. old age	1. economic 2. political 3. social /educational /religious 1. business 2. science 3. the arts

For each of the following essay topics, think of three main that you could develop into an essay. You may use ideas from the chart or come up with ideas of your own.

E.g Topic: The Effects of Pollution

Main Points: a Land

b Water

c Air

1. Topic: The Benefits of Learning English

Main Points: a

b

c

2. Topic: The Impact of Natural Disasters

Main Points: a

b

c

3. Topic: The Role of the Media in Our Lives

Main Points: a

b

c

4. Topic: The Changing Role of Women

Main Points: a

b

c

5. Topic: The Causes of Illiteracy

Main Points: a

b

c

Choose one of the five topics above and write a draft of the three body paragraphs on a separate sheet of paper. Exchange papers with a classmate. Read your partner's para­graphs carefully and write an introduction for his or her essay. Return the paper to the original author. Save your paper.

The Conclusion

The final paragraph of your essay is the conclusion.

The purpose of this last paragraph is to summarize, without using the same words, the main points you have made in your essay. Your concluding paragraph should also leave your reader agreeing, disagreeing, or at least thinking about your thesis.

Just as there are several ways to write an introduction, there are several common ways to write a conclusion.

A. Summarize your main points

When you use this method of finishing your essay, you simply restate the main points you presented in your essay. Make sure that you do not repeat your words exactly, however. It is essential that you figure out a new way to say them.