This is often the last part of the term paper that you'll write. Be sure it communicates precisely the topic of the essay and/or inspires your audience to read on.

Compose an opening paragraph which contains these four elements:

1. (a) Literature Papers: the name of the author and the title of the novel/story you're analyzing. (Refer to authors by their surnames in your essays.),
    (b) Liberal Studies Papers: if appropriate, the name of a book or film that you are analyzing,

2. A clear identification of your topic, the subject you wish to discuss in the essay,

3. A clear statement of your thesis, the principal idea or opinion you wish to defend regarding the subject you have chosen to discuss, and

4. A clear summary or indication of the approach you will adopt to defend your thesis, or the sources to which you will refer in defending your thesis.

Many writers begin with a general remark about their subject (related to the specific topic), and then zero in on the specific topic and their thesis.

Consider this opening paragraph your working thesis, which you are free to modify and refine as your research and writing progress. Be sure the scope (size) of your topic is appropriate for the length of paper requested. Likewise, the thesis should be precise and manageable, as  well as defensible. You can judge the latter quality by summarizing the sources of support for your thesis. Three principal sources of evidence are generally considered adequate.

The body of your essay should contain these elements:
1. Any necessary definition of terms (unless this has been handled in the introduction),
2. Any necessary background information about your subject or, in literature, about the plot, but not a plot summary,
3. The elaboration of your argument, following the organizational plan outlined/suggested in your introduction, always referring to concrete examples in the text,
4. Quotations and/or paraphrasing from primary and/or secondary sources to illustrate your points, and
5. Appropriate paragraph divisions and transitional devices.

You may be tired at this point, but don't let your readers down: be forceful and memorable in your choice of concluding words. Leave us with a positive impression.
The conclusion may contain these elements:
1. A concise, forceful summary or restatement of your findings (Do not introduce any new ideas here.),
2. A general statement which flows naturally from the subject discussed in the paper and, perhaps,
3. A pithy quotation which neatly sums up your presentation.

Append to your paper a list of the works you have quoted or paraphrased in your paper. You should use a method such as that prescribed by the Modern Languages Association (the MLA) to list your works cited. Acknowledging the sources of the ideas and data that appear in your paper is essential. It gives credit to the person who originally published the material. It allows your reader to judge the quality of your sources, and to follow them up, if so desired. Not to acknowledge your sources constitutes intellectual theft, an action punishable by expulsion from the College. (See the Seneca College policy.)